I need something to get my butt off the couch.

12/21/2008 06:36:34 PM · #1

For the past month and a half I have not picked up my camera or at least haven't shot anything worthwhile. I seriously need some sort of inspiration or incentive to get my butt off and do some photography. The problem is I have no studio lights and I live in a regular suburban area with nothing, except cars, houses and parks... Next semester I have photography in school and maybe that will inspire me to do stuff, but I feel like I need to shoot something before that.

Tell me what do you guys do when you have this kind of itch =S

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

12/21/2008 06:51:51 PM · #2

bump

dahkota

Canon EOS-7D

12/21/2008 06:53:20 PM · #3

Do what art school students do - practice on fruit. Here is an inexpensive light box to build to practice lighting and shooting still lifes. (Or, with more time and money, try this one.) when i got bored, I practiced shooting things...

All done in the lightbox I built (the second link).

Lonni

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

12/21/2008 06:58:47 PM · #4

I join a side challenge. The DPC Olympics really inspired me to shoot every week, and a previous one on portraits really made me take shots I wouldn't have normally taken.

12/21/2008 07:02:24 PM · #5

Originally posted by Lonni:

I join a side challenge. The DPC Olympics really inspired me to shoot every week, and a previous one on portraits really made me take shots I wouldn't have normally taken.

:) I invented the DPC Olympics, but i actually stopped doing after first season cause I didn't want to let the team down when i couldn't enter anything. I don't raelly wanna enter challenges necessarily just shoot stuff.

Side-challenges may be a good idea actually. thanks

any other suggestions.

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

12/21/2008 07:16:34 PM · #6

Try this or maybe this. In either case, electricity is the key!

bvlindalou

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

12/21/2008 07:18:56 PM · #7

Originally posted by Dr.Confuser:

Try this or maybe this. In either case, electricity is the key!

OUCH do we have to go that far???

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

12/21/2008 07:20:31 PM · #8

Originally posted by cujee:

...The problem is I have no studio lights and I live in a regular suburban area with nothing, except cars, houses and parks... ...

"Regular suburban areas", I imagine, will be less "regular" in, say, twenty years. Perhaps you can record what you see as characteristic of an era. The trick (and effort) is conjure an irregular perspective/stance to be able to tell the particular pertinency of any given subject...

Tilting your head might help. :-)

12/21/2008 07:21:50 PM · #9

Originally posted by Dr.Confuser:

Try this or maybe this. In either case, electricity is the key!

my butt is too numb from the snow, so I probably wouldn't even feel that.

Neil

Fujifilm X-T30

12/21/2008 07:24:28 PM · #10

Go to the library, or the bookstore, and get a copy of this book. Then follow the exericises. Many are right in your backyard.

It will change your photography.

//www.amazon.com/Photography-Art-Seeing-Perception-Workshop/dp/1552636143/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229905410&sr=8-1

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D

12/21/2008 07:28:02 PM · #11

thanks i'll consider taking a look at this book :)

taterbug

Nikon D300

12/21/2008 08:15:15 PM · #12

I'll whole heartedly second 'The Art of Seeing' book/workshop. I used some of the ideas from that book recently in a discussion I gave at my photography club, got some great feedback from members, they really liked it.

Dirt_Diver

Nikon D3s

12/21/2008 09:19:11 PM · #13

Get a job, :)

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

12/21/2008 09:21:38 PM · #14

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:

Get a job, :)

hah! fat chance. :) No I will be getting a job in the summer of course. But I don't see how a job will help me with me being lazy to get up and do photography. Perhaps my title is very misleading.

lovethelight

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

12/21/2008 09:29:49 PM · #15

I got some very serious inspiration today, maybe these can inspire you too!

There is some great work on that site, unique and inspiring.
Yay
-Claire

Dirt_Diver

Nikon D3s

12/21/2008 10:03:07 PM · #16

Originally posted by cujee:

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
Get a job, :)

hah! fat chance. :) No I will be getting a job in the summer of course. But I don't see how a job will help me with me being lazy to get up and do photography. Perhaps my title is very misleading.

Oh no I read your OP, I was just suggesting getting paid for photography... When people are willing to pay you for your images/time it is a good motivator to getting you off the couch.

Sigma 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

12/22/2008 10:10:07 AM · #17

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:

Originally posted by cujee:

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:
Get a job, :)

hah! fat chance. :) No I will be getting a job in the summer of course. But I don't see how a job will help me with me being lazy to get up and do photography. Perhaps my title is very misleading.

Oh no I read your OP, I was just suggesting getting paid for photography... When people are willing to pay you for your images/time it is a good motivator to getting you off the couch.

ohhh okay. Well i highly doubt anyone will pay me if I don't have extensive equipment such as lights. I guess I can go outdoors and do stuff, but it's freezing in the winter here and no one will do any outdoor shots now. Plus I've never ever done a paid shoot before, and I don't have a site or anything to promote myself. I might be able to do some sports photographs since I have the 70-200, which helps.

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

12/22/2008 10:32:56 AM · #18

If all you really need is to get off the couch...light it on fire!!! You've have a reason to get off your butt, and it will give you some cool photo's to take. *grin*

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

12/22/2008 10:47:06 AM · #19

Originally posted by NathanW:

If all you really need is to get off the couch...light it on fire!!! You've have a reason to get off your butt, and it will give you some cool photo's to take. *grin*

that's a good idea :P I kinda don't wanna burn my house down. But we'll see what happens *grins*

justamistere

Nikon D3s

12/22/2008 12:09:03 PM · #20

I'm not sure I can help you, you live on the Moon.

IreneM seems to not get out of her kitchen much, yet does well in theat niche, try macro shots.
Shoot anything, just do it. Natural Light is great! Make use of each glimpse of it.