Inspiration

Keep an eye on metcheck.com

If you see a slot where there is less than 20% cloud cover between 6 and 9am get yourself out of bed and out of the house with your camera.

I find that watching how the light changes starting up to 2 hours before the official sunrise time is one of the more inspiring things you can do.

If you have a camera with you then all the better, and what you do next is up to you whether it's a walk on foot around an urban area, or getting to the coast, into the countryside etc.

By the way, your 2nd light trails shot is quite good and you've learned a lesson with the ISO setting. One other thing I'd mention is that there seems to be a bit of flare in the centre of the image, did you use a hood? (as this would probably reduce flare)
 
Like others say, always take your camera with you wherever you go, and try and look at the world through a photographic view. This time of the year is pretty miserable and doesn't inspire me much, and coming back from holiday in Africa really doesn't help!

Whilst I was on holiday I took my camera everywhere, even on drives to the local shops etc, there was even one time when I was on safari I just wanted to walk to the restaurant at the lodge and decided to go back for my camera, on the way there again I saw a fantastic looking lizard that I wouldn't have been able to photograph if I hadn't gone back for the camera.

I'm not the best photographer by any means but I like this photo just because of the above.

lizard.jpg


Try different things, maybe look on Flickr, that usually gives me some motiviation to try things.
 
This is what happens when decent kit gets within reach of the masses, they have no idea what to use it for and end up taking photos of "nothing" and trying to pass it off as art.

That said, your light trails look lovely. My advice would be to test the limits of your camera using the kit lens and then move on from there.

Why not try a bit of sports photography?
 
I'm in the same boat but its the weather that making it difficult for me. I was really hoping for some snow so i could get some decent shots of that, looks like I'll have to wait another year for that now :(. I hate taking pictures when the Sky's overcast etc, the pictures always look really bland and boring.
 
overcast skys make for good shots in forests, with water and the like. lets you do longer exposures, creating nice effects without needing ND filters.
 
GeX said:
like others, i just wonder around and take photos of what i what i see. i know from past experience i do see things differently to other people sometimes and it's my view of a subject i try to capture. of course snooping around old buildings has led to some great picturegraphs too :D
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I've got the extremely annoying habit of spotting great shots that I can't get to. I swear I'm driving myself nuts doing it. There are a lot of buildings in my town that would be great to take shots of from above or on top of buildings across the road from them, but you can't! :(
 
I know when you have an expensive camera you are quite protective of it, but my advice is to try to get used to taking it everywhere with you. Always at the times you dont have it something will inspire you and you will want it! Happens when you least expect like on an everyday walk to work say.
 
todd flanders said:
This is what happens when decent kit gets within reach of the masses, they have no idea what to use it for and end up taking photos of "nothing" and trying to pass it off as art.
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god, you're a miserable git. everyday beauty appreciated and shared through the eyes of an individual is art.

and take your camera EVERYWHERE. last thing you want is to miss anything. Mine's always on my back or in the boot of my car, even when I go to work in case there's a nice sunrise/set or a field of animals or anything to capture on my journey! take photos of everything and you'll start seeing patterns in what looks good and what doesn't. fundamentally, observe the rule of thirds (I happen to think nearly any photo can look great if it's divided in this way) and start to stray from it once you gain confidence/experience.
 
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I have the same problem from time to time. What I usually do is use a lens I haven't used for a while and go out and just look at things through it to see how it looks.

Head in to London or something and take in the sights or head to the coast. Or get some filters and have a play about with those.

I started out only interested in wildlife but after a while realised living in London meant I would be limited to what I could shoot on a regular basis so I started trying my hand at portraits etc and off the back of that have had a couple of paid shoots now.

I also just ordered myself a 10 stop ND filter to start experimenting with long exposures during the day.

Last but not least, try browsing flickr etc and get inspired but others work...thats always a firm favourite of mine. Especially if you see a photo and think 'thats really nice but it would be better if...' then you go out and try to improve on it for yourself.

:)
 
SilverPenguin said:
I also just ordered myself a 10 stop ND filter to start experimenting with long exposures during the day.
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How much did that cost you? I'm assuming you already have all the other bits needed. I spent a few hours looking on the web this afternoon, and basically got nowhere. I was looking for a 4 stop and either 8 or 10. Never really found anywhere that wasn't charging extortionate amounts, and the ones I did find on the bay were £5 which I was more than a little suspicious about. Then I gave up.
 
ElDude said:
How much did that cost you? I'm assuming you already have all the other bits needed. I spent a few hours looking on the web this afternoon, and basically got nowhere. I was looking for a 4 stop and either 8 or 10. Never really found anywhere that wasn't charging extortionate amounts, and the ones I did find on the bay were £5 which I was more than a little suspicious about. Then I gave up.
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I got a B&W screw in type so it rewuires no other bits. It cost me £55 delivered :)
 
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