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09/01/2004 12:36:28 PM · #1 |
| How do you guys end up making time for photography in your lives? I suppose many of us are tied into a 40+ hour a week job that has nothing to do with anything artistic at all. If you are lucky enough to have a job that allows you to be creative, then I tip my hat to you! (I'll hopefully get there one day) Many of the photographs that inspire me are taken in places I couldnt dream of affording to go to. Places that take days to get to. I love taking city shots and things around the neighborhood or on the way to or from work but I need more. |
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09/01/2004 12:42:29 PM · #2 |
I'm an onthe way to/from work guy, too. At least I get to practice on my co-workers, when I'm not bogged down with work...
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09/01/2004 01:27:08 PM · #3 |
I quit my job, signed my assets over to Canon, live in an imaginary mansion in the mountains and went on a diet of love and air.
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09/01/2004 01:29:09 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by zeuszen:
I quit my job, signed my assets over to Canon, live in an imaginary mansion in the mountains and went on a diet of love and air. |
Now I can't wait for the Zeuszen interview :) |
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09/01/2004 01:49:48 PM · #5 |
I'm more wondering about when we'll see the Zeuszen obituary... Those Low carb/low fat/no food diets will kill ya!
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09/01/2004 01:52:15 PM · #6 |
I am still trying to figure out how all of you do take these great shots, become masters of Photoshop and NeatImage, read and research new techniques, memorize and absorb stats on various lenses and shutter methods, post on DPC, create set-ups for DPC challenges, takes 100's of shots a day and examine the EXIF info to learn what worked and what didn't and still have time to eat at one meal a day. Work? I figured you were all indpenedently wealthy! LOL
I am still trying to find the time for any one of the above!!!!! Well, I do seem to find time to post on DPC . . . .
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09/01/2004 01:59:08 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Kylie:
I am still trying to figure out how all of you do take these great shots, become masters of Photoshop and NeatImage, read and research new techniques, memorize and absorb stats on various lenses and shutter methods, post on DPC, create set-ups for DPC challenges, takes 100's of shots a day and examine the EXIF info to learn what worked and what didn't and still have time to eat at one meal a day. Work? I figured you were all indpenedently wealthy! LOL
I am still trying to find the time for any one of the above!!!!! Well, I do seem to find time to post on DPC . . . . |
Speaking for myself, it's been a journey more than something I made time for. If you try to learn it all as a whole I think photography will devour you. I think we've all realized that in the right circumstances (light, etc) you can take a photo you enjoy without any advanced techniques, gear, or photoshop. You just have to take a lot of pictures. No problem - that's fun :)
The longer you do it, the more you notice that... "if I could only find a way to selectively lighten part of my image..." leads you to need to learn a new skill. And you research it, and use it. Then another thing pops up... "wow, I need to master that USM!" and so on. Not every shot needs every technique, so you learn what you need as you have time. You get through the editing basics, then you go back to needing to master some kind of shooting technique, a new lense, etc. And the process begins anew.
Do whatcha can when time allows, stick with it, and one day you'll find that you can pick out specific techniques to suggest when critiquing images because you've "been there." Just stick with it and make sure you are having fun - the rest comes naturally with time.
Message edited by author 2004-09-01 13:59:51.
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09/01/2004 02:16:21 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by cghubbell:
Originally posted by Kylie:
I am still trying to figure out how all of you do take these great shots, become masters of Photoshop and NeatImage, read and research new techniques, memorize and absorb stats on various lenses and shutter methods, post on DPC, create set-ups for DPC challenges, takes 100's of shots a day and examine the EXIF info to learn what worked and what didn't and still have time to eat at one meal a day. Work? I figured you were all indpenedently wealthy! LOL
I am still trying to find the time for any one of the above!!!!! Well, I do seem to find time to post on DPC . . . . |
Speaking for myself, it's been a journey more than something I made time for. If you try to learn it all as a whole I think photography will devour you. I think we've all realized that in the right circumstances (light, etc) you can take a photo you enjoy without any advanced techniques, gear, or photoshop. You just have to take a lot of pictures. No problem - that's fun :)
The longer you do it, the more you notice that... "if I could only find a way to selectively lighten part of my image..." leads you to need to learn a new skill. And you research it, and use it. Then another thing pops up... "wow, I need to master that USM!" and so on. Not every shot needs every technique, so you learn what you need as you have time. You get through the editing basics, then you go back to needing to master some kind of shooting technique, a new lense, etc. And the process begins anew.
Do whatcha can when time allows, stick with it, and one day you'll find that you can pick out specific techniques to suggest when critiquing images because you've "been there." Just stick with it and make sure you are having fun - the rest comes naturally with time. |
Very well said and pretty much where I have ended up. I agree with you - the key for me is to have fun. This is really for me, and no one else. And I have the rest of my life to keep learning more about it. Thanks for the reminder!
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09/01/2004 02:34:53 PM · #9 |
I have a hard time finding the time myself. Doing science (I hope) and raising to young children takes most of it.
Going all over the world and finding great places is though not the main thing in making good photography (although it may help). The most creative and best photographers are them who can make interesting images out of ordinary things you can find anywhere.
Think also that getting master of photoshop or other photoediting programs is far from timesaving. I´m still pretty naive about thous things but the more I learn the more time it takes to edit. |
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09/01/2004 02:59:40 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by garlic:
I have a hard time finding the time myself. Doing science (I hope) and raising to young children takes most of it.
Going all over the world and finding great places is though not the main thing in making good photography (although it may help). The most creative and best photographers are them who can make interesting images out of ordinary things you can find anywhere.
Think also that getting master of photoshop or other photoediting programs is far from timesaving. I´m still pretty naive about thous things but the more I learn the more time it takes to edit. |
From my observation, the only thing you consistently need photoeditors for is sharpening since very few camers can do that as well. I'm not saying that PS can't improve on most anything, just saying that you can get most of the way to "great photography" by mastering your camera, lenses, etc. Don't underestimate the role of the the initial exposure in producing high quality images. When I have a successful trip, my images usually only require a few minutes of levels and a quick pass through USM. That's about 5 minutes tops. I tend to prefer photography that realistically depicts history over artistic photography, so your mileage may vary with your goals.
You're absolutely right about making great photos with what's around you. I'm just finishing one of John Shaw's books, and he has many great shots taken near his home, or a neighbor, etc. It's so easy to close your eyes when you're not in stunning surroundings, but one of the greatest things (for me) about photography is learning to see beauty in things I used to walk right past.
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09/01/2004 03:11:20 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by cghubbell:
You're absolutely right about making great photos with what's around you. I'm just finishing one of John Shaw's books, and he has many great shots taken near his home, or a neighbor, etc. It's so easy to close your eyes when you're not in stunning surroundings, but one of the greatest things (for me) about photography is learning to see beauty in things I used to walk right past. |
I think that was my first real discovery of photography - that it can let you see your world in a whole new way. I constantly strive for that, but fail in my vision at times. Can you tell me which of Shaw's books you just finished and which you feel you have valued most? Thank you!
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09/01/2004 04:10:25 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Kylie:
Can you tell me which of Shaw's books you just finished and which you feel you have valued most? Thank you! |
I just finished John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide. My most valuable lesson from this book was improving my understanding of using the SLR's spot-meter for shooting in manual mode. He has a variation on the Zone System which I found much more intuitive, and thus far it has really helped me. I also completely agree with his philosophies about accurately capturing natural history, and ethics in the field.
I'm in the middle of reading John Shaw's Close Ups in Nature which shares some text with the former book. I primarily purchased it for studying his technique in composition, although I learned much from it as well.
If you're inclined to polish your workflow towards making money from photography, his book on ]The Business of Nature Photography is also excellent. I learned quite a bit about the reality of Nature Photography vs. the "dream" of it. Also picked up a few tips on what I ought to be doing now to be more organized when the time comes.
His writing style seems to work for me... I'm sure there's a lot of other great books out there, I just haven't made time for them yet :)
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09/01/2004 04:33:18 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by cghubbell:
Originally posted by Kylie:
Can you tell me which of Shaw's books you just finished and which you feel you have valued most? Thank you! |
I just finished John Shaw's Nature Photography Field Guide. My most valuable lesson from this book was improving my understanding of using the SLR's spot-meter for shooting in manual mode. He has a variation on the Zone System which I found much more intuitive, and thus far it has really helped me. I also completely agree with his philosophies about accurately capturing natural history, and ethics in the field.
I'm in the middle of reading John Shaw's Close Ups in Nature which shares some text with the former book. I primarily purchased it for studying his technique in composition, although I learned much from it as well.
If you're inclined to polish your workflow towards making money from photography, his book on ]The Business of Nature Photography is also excellent. I learned quite a bit about the reality of Nature Photography vs. the "dream" of it. Also picked up a few tips on what I ought to be doing now to be more organized when the time comes.
His writing style seems to work for me... I'm sure there's a lot of other great books out there, I just haven't made time for them yet :) |
Thank you much!!!!!!!!!!
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