What’s Your Preference?

zetson · #1 (**permalink**) 05-26-2010, 11:20 PM

Hello, my name is zetson.

I started photographing in November 2007 when I bought my first DSLR (Nikon D40) while traveling in Japan. A couple of months later I joined this forum, and became pretty active. I learned A LOT by seeing others people photos, commenting them, giving and recieving critique and getting feedback from other users. I spent hours everyday at the forum and got to know a lot of good people.

After I bought a couple of Nikon strobes (also in Japan) I found that shooting with multiple flashes opened up a new photographic world to me. I realized that by adjusting power and placement of each strobe, I could make a subject look completely different and started understanding how important light is in photography (AKA light drawing...) I started flashfrog.net, a blog dedicated to my strobes and how I use them. Around that time I started uploading photos to my flickr account and was amazed by all the feedback. It kept me motivated and started thinking about photography 24h. Everywhere I looked, I thought of it as a subject. Tried to imagine exposure, different angles, light and weather, even when I didn't have my camera with me.

My flashfrog blog grew and was referenced in several photo sites on the net. I just couldn't wait for the next time I would shot a picture and describe how I took it. I spent hours on each shooting and at least the same time on writing the article.

Suddenly, like a blink of an eye lasting for nine months, my son was born in March 2009. I shot some baby pictures in the beginning, but realized that I didn't have time to set up the lighting equipment as I wanted to. It was difficult to catch that special moment when I needed to prepare for ten minutes each time. So I just bounced it. Quick and easy.

There are three things that parents don't have when a child is born: Sleep, energy and time. Since I was so used to shooting RAW, I just couldn't dare thinking of all the work I had to do to each baby photo to make it perfect in post-processing. And since my camera equipment was not always in reach, after awhile I just grabbed my wife's camera and pointed and shot. After some months, I shot nothing but baby photos with the P&S camera. Occasionally I shot some photos like I used to, but they weren't very thought-through. I put them out on Flickr, just to have put something there. I didn't enjoy it as I used to do, when I had more time to make plans.

Then, during the autumn of 2009, something terrible happened: I started loosing interest for photography. I didn't even look at my camera bag. All the knowledge I had recived during the years at DPS started fading away. I left the camera when I went on holidays. When the nothern lights swept across the sky, I didn't take my camera out. Even on Christmas, my son's first Christmas, I just took four pictures - with my cell phone...

My son grew older, and wasn't as time consuming as he used to be. Still, my interest for shooting pictures of gone. Completely. I didn't read anything about photography in the net. I even removed "Photography" from Favorites in my StumbleUpon account.

I found the camera bag some days ago while cleaning out the apartment. I made a list of what equipment I had and found out the value of each object. I wanted to get rid of it all. I was troubled by having a bag with that many investments in it, being unused. While looking through my lenses, I found the Nikon 35mm f2. I wanted to test it, since I remembered that I had some color issues with it while shooting low-lit subjects. I took some snapshots of my son at f2.8 while looking out the window. I was stunned. These photos were light years betters the shots I had taken with the Ixus with on-camera nuclear bomb flash. I imported them to Lightroom (a piece of software I had regretted buying), started working with them and had a very good time. The day after I took my camera out for a walk, something I hadn't done for 6-7 months. It was just random shooting at 35mm, but it was solely to bring my interest back. It did. Now I can't leave the house with out my light camera bag. I'm using only 35mm lens with external flash, but setting up some flashes again is on my definitely-to-do-list. I also started reading lens reviews again, and was amazed that Nikon had released both new lenses and cameras

This is the first time I log on to the DPS forum since I lost the interest, and discovered the new layout. Looks good. Can't wait to look at your pictures again! But here in Norway it's 1.13 AM now, so I'd better go to bed. But I get this means that I'm back again and I look forward to see you all again.

Zetson

private · #2 (**permalink**) 05-26-2010, 11:33 PM

WOO HOO! Welcome Back Zetson! I for one missed ya!

RLucas · #3 (**permalink**) 05-26-2010, 11:33 PM

Very cool post Zetson! It is very timely for me. I have been in the ebb state of mind for a couple of months now. It's good to know other people go through this as well. I stay on here mainly because of all the cool people I have met, and hopefully I will snap out of it soon.
BTW, I added you as a contact on flickr. If your work now is better than that great stuff from 2009, I really can't wait to see it!

Cheers, and welcome back!

Luke

lputman · #4 (**permalink**) 05-26-2010, 11:39 PM

ZETSON....you have been missed! I'm so glad that you and your awesome photos will once again grace the pages of the DPS forum!

naeno · #5 (**permalink**) 05-27-2010, 11:39 AM

Welcome home! It's nice to see you back!

Dodge · #6 (**permalink**) 05-27-2010, 01:22 PM

Hi Zetson,

Great to hear you got your Mojo back mate.

PhotoPatzer · #7 (**permalink**) 05-29-2010, 05:12 PM

Welcome back, Sir!

Chip · #8 (**permalink**) 05-29-2010, 07:21 PM

Glad to see you back, Zetson.

Saralonde · #9 (**permalink**) 05-30-2010, 12:46 AM

Zetson, I'm so glad to see you back. I used to visit Flashfrog and wondered what happened to you. I think most of us go through some down times with photography now and then, but our love for it always brings us back!