Composition troubles,..

[faeriegodess612]

WOW!! You said it, Heidi. That is quite a list! Thanks for the list Ken. I hope you copy-pasted that instead of typing it all out. lol,...that'd be A LOT to type. Thank you Susan for the link. I'll have to bookmark that too.

Any other comments or ideas( if there are any more ideas,..lol ) are still appreciated. Thnx guys.

[Ciscley]

There are functional photographs (like, I need a new desktop wallpaper, let me go take a picture), there are opportunistic photographs (ooh, BFF has a new baby, must get a photo of the little darling) and then there are those photographs that we feel compelled to take, that we are passionate about, that make us artists and not just hobbyists. (sp?)

When someone is first introduced to photography, like with any art form, they spend the majority of the time learning the tools and the basic techniques/rules. Digital photography has sooo much of a learning curve that just getting that part down can take a LONG time.

But once you can reliably capture the image you want to capture, then you have to figure out what images you want to capture. What your personal passion is about photography.

If you've figured out what that third class of photos is for you, you'd know it. Critiques from others (like that professor you mentioned) helps you become a better technician, but exposure to your craft, practice and experimentation (like from working your way through that OMG! list of Ken's or doing a project like 365) is what helps you find what your passion is, what your "eye" loves to look at. And that's what the real equipment in photography is - the eye behind the camera.

I think knowing what is pleasing to your eye, what gets you off, floats your boat, defines your "style" is the crossroads you're at right now.

[Ciscley]

Wow, that reply sounds a lot more pompous posted than it did in my head.

Cliff notes version - you are going through normal angsty artist growing pains. It's good for you. Your confidence level will go through the roof once you get through this phase.

[milosh]

Wow, what a list Ken!
That can keep us shooting for a whole year!

Originally Posted by Ciscley

There are functional photographs (like, I need a new desktop wallpaper, let me go take a picture), there are opportunistic photographs (ooh, BFF has a new baby, must get a photo of the little darling) and then there are those photographs that we feel compelled to take, that we are passionate about, that make us artists and not just hobbyists. (sp?)

When someone is first introduced to photography, like with any art form, they spend the majority of the time learning the tools and the basic techniques/rules. Digital photography has sooo much of a learning curve that just getting that part down can take a LONG time.

But once you can reliably capture the image you want to capture, then you have to figure out what images you want to capture. What your personal passion is about photography.

If you've figured out what that third class of photos is for you, you'd know it. Critiques from others (like that professor you mentioned) helps you become a better technician, but exposure to your craft, practice and experimentation (like from working your way through that OMG! list of Ken's or doing a project like 365) is what helps you find what your passion is, what your "eye" loves to look at. And that's what the real equipment in photography is - the eye behind the camera.

I think knowing what is pleasing to your eye, what gets you off, floats your boat, defines your "style" is the crossroads you're at right now.

Great post, not too pompous but very inspiring. I think I'll even keep it for future reference, until I get through that "crossroad".

[Gonzo13]

I went through that myself. It might help to look through your pictures and see which ones you like and had fun taking. Then go and take more pictures of that subject. You might also look at technical items and try to get those down better like flash, aperture, focal length and such. You might also want to go through the "How I took it" section and play with some of the ideas in there.

I recall when I went on my Honeymoon almost a year ago I took 629 pictures in 5 days, alot were just slight changes on the original image (aperture, angle, shutter). On this New England trip that I just got back from I shot 626 images in 7 days, 105 of those were from the first baseball game that I ever photographed. There weren't as many near duplicates because I new what I wanted and could get it because I knew the technicals of my camera. This is just my experience with my photography though. Yours is different.

[FoG]

I think to an extent we all go through this at times. I know I did before I came here now my pics have gone up a notch and I have a vault of knowledge to improve things further ... partkly what you will be experiencing is a point and shoot limit .. ie your ability now out weighs what your camera can do .. as much as I know it is the photographer pushing the shutter release that makes a pic it is also to an extent the equipment I have had a wander through your Flickr you have talent and a good eye ... if expeense is a problem try e-bay and get either a more flexible camera P&S Superzoom ? or a lower end DSLR and see if you get further ... whatever you do do not give up as you have some excellent work in your Flickr and lovely shots. go to the share your shots and have a mooch through the posts there, you will seee a wide range of ability from pro to novice but without fail all try hard ... keep it up !

and WOW what a list *gets pen and paper*

[Fotogreen]

I was reading through the list and I saw "divorce situation". I wonder what's that look like? Kind of funny too.

[faeriegodess612]

Awww, I love you guys! :P

Ciscley:
I didnt think that sounded pompous,...sounds like you have more experience than me, and are speaking from it.

Gonzo:
I'd love to play around with all that, but I've just got a point and shoot.

FoG:
Yeah, I'm kinda figureing out still how to trick my camera into doing what I want. Like how to set it to flash, even on a sunny day, to increase my shutter speed. I'd love to start saving for a Nikon D60, but the current economy is affecting my hours at work. Thank you for the encouragement and for looking at my stream.

Fotogreen: LOL,..I didnt see that, I wonder what thats supposed to look like too. Is that supposed to look like me taking my #&$%head husband to sign divorce papers, and how the bank teller who notarized the papers, told me later ( cuz it was my bank) that she could see why I wanted a divorce? lol


Thank you all for the ideas and words of experience and encouragement.

[Gonzo13]

The DSC-W120 still has some range to play with adjustments on it. Not as much as a D60 but still it has some. I started shooting with a kodak easyshare. When I got my Rebel XTi the transition was easy because of all the stuff I played with on the kodak. You can also play with angles, focusing distance (dpreview said it was like 4 inches or maybe cm). You might also look at finding a cheap used film SLR and playing with that. It could change your whole outlook on photography.

Every once in a while I get a roll of film and go out with my Canon Elan just because it's something different. Good Luck.

[darker1985]

Some excellent posts here and very helpful.

I go through this stage, I am probably still in that stage right now. I am just deciding what route I want to take with my photography, I know for sure I love Sports Photography and I love Street Photography (Just haven't had the confidence to do it yet) I also love Journalism, I like to capture an event the way I see it. Portraits and Fashion is something I would like to improve on a lot more and landscape too.

I think I will follow the Sports as the main interest, mainly because I am a sports person and I have passion for it which helps me when I come to taking photos.

I guess you just have to keep learning, keep going at it through the tough days and just learn from mistakes. I know I will get to where I want to be, It is just taking those first steps.