All the gear, some idea but no idea where to start!

[Adam]

As I added in the willy waving thread, I have upgraded my kit from a 550D with kit lens and nifty fifty to a 60D. By way of background, the 550D was bought to take pictures of my boy before he was born as photography is something that has always interested me.

The 550D served us well, it was taken in to the operating theatre when my son was born which led to a great video of his first few moments and some pictures the midwive took of our new family (even with live view she chopped by head off in nearly every picture!). I used the camera infrequently but we have some fantastic pictures, it was always something that I thought was under utilised, time and inspiration was always the issue.

So I upgraded to the 60D for no real reason, if only to make myself guilty having something of value sitting there and not being used. I've done my research and added both a Tamron 17-50mm non-vc and Sigma 30mm 1.4 which seem a good combo and upgrade to the kit lens. I've thrown a fair bit of money towards the body and lenses lately and now I need to justify having this over a £100 point and shoot camera.

I feel I have a good handle on the technical and theory side of things and have nearly finished understanding exposure by Brian Peterson which was very helpful. My real issue is finding time and inspiration to use it. I'll naturally take pictures of my son growing up but I want more from it having seen the quality of the pictures on both this and other forums. I'm not the most creative person but I find the idea of capturing moments and memories really appealing.

A lot of background but I guess my question boils down to how I can take the next steps to becoming a better photographer. I know the issue is time and bothering to getting it out and about. Other people must be in the same situation as myself and have managed to overcome these issues to ensure that photography becomes a hobby that just happens as part of every day life?

 

[Nexus]

I think you already know the answer in a roundabout way from what you are saying.

To become a better Photographer is like anything, you need experience and that experience comes from taking photos and doing so of different things and different lighting conditions. Not every photo you take will be amazing, even for pros that is the case, however you will know what you need to do to get the shot you want over time.

Getting your camera out and actually shooting is something that only you can really motivate yourself to do. If you can't do that, then it will remain as you say, just something you pull out when you want to document a family occasion.

If you aren't getting the inspiration, perhaps try things like:

- Join a photo competition that has a theme (OCUK has one).
- Join online photo sharing sites and look for groups that shoot the kind of photos you like and look for advice.
- If you have a favourite sport or hobby, perhaps look at shooting something involving that.
- Just get out on the street and shoot anything that interests you.

 

[niko]

there's a saying
"the best camera is the one you have with you"
basically start carrying your camera as often as you can .a good bag makes this easier

 

[Auraomega]

"the best camera is the one you have with you"

This. You obviously need a photographic eye (which you pick up over time) but all the photographic eye in the world makes no difference if you've not got your camera with you!

I pretty much never leave the house without my camera, and considering I shoot the D3 and a 28-70 f2.6 (I.E. a huge and heavy duo) it's not something to take lightly, however there have been a few occasions where I've managed to get photos that are simply stunning for no other reason that I happened to have it with me; right place, right time. An example of right place, right time here.

Lately I've been cycling more and that camera is cumbersome, not to mention the food/drinks, waterproofs, etc. I've been looking seriously into a Fuji X100, a compact camera with an SLR size sensor, it's lightweight and will fit in the pocket, maybe if you're finding the 60D too much to carry everywhere something like the X100 would be a good idea?

 

[Raymond Lin]

there's a saying
"the best camera is the one you have with you"

Chase Jarvis.

"Images are not about Dynamic range and Mega Pixels, they are about stories and moments."

basically start carrying your camera as often as you can a good bag makes this easier

But that's not what he meant.

It starts from the old saying that it's the photographer, not the gear....etc and that it is better to have a camera, any camera with you than none at all.

So if you in a situation that you want to photograph, and only have your iPhone with you and you can make some wonderful images with it. Much more so than with no camera.

 

[AHarvey]

A chase jarvis video where he refers to himself in the first person? Every time i've seen him it's always been 3rd person, very surreal

 

[niko]

Chase Jarvis.

"Images are not about Dynamic range and Mega Pixels, they are about stories and moments."

But that's not what he meant.

It starts from the old saying that it's the photographer, not the gear....etc and that it is better to have a camera, any camera with you than none at all.

So if you in a situation that you want to photograph, and only have your iPhone with you and you can make some wonderful images with it. Much more so than with no camera.

i understand that Raymond,i was miss quoting ,to emphasise that the op will find lots more things to photograph if he carries his camera with him ,but i am sure you knew that ,

 

[shaggyd]

I always carry my mobile (Samsung Galaxy SII) as it has a decent 8MP camera for those spur of the moment opportunities when I am walking the dogs, commuting to work, etc.

 

[Didmatt]

If you can next time your in town or on your lunch goto a good book shop and have a look through photography books (i.e coffee table ones) and see what you like the look of. For me I always find inspiration from looking at books, photo sites etc. Often photographers will put there settings in the back of books and I just started by borrowing some and see how my images would look with using them, i.e shooting waters at F22 instead of f5.6

 

[Rojin]

I don't consider myself a photographer as such, as I don't do photography just for the sake of it, I just photograph the events and places I go to. I need to make more time so I can indulge and make it more of a hobby, but unless they make it a 4 day weekend it ain't going to happen!

The weddings I've got involved with this year are all in the run up to my brothers wife's sisters(!) weddings that I agreed to do at the start of the year. I wasn't originally intending to carry on with it after this, but I might do in order to fund the hobby... and pay some bills!