Frustrated!

[Aboiement]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

I can relate to the OP. I still can't get my head around the fact that a camera lens sees in 2d rather than 3d like the brain does and that's why my photos lack impact.

Also, lighting and composition are the key elements that give a photo that certain je ne se que. I have a book on off camera flash that I got for Christmas that's helping a bit.

I've got to get back into the swing of things. I've been so discouraged this past 6 months or so and I am a perfectionist by nature and want to do as well as the pros right from the start with the limited kit that I have then wonder why my photos suck. Ugh!

Simple.

Light = 3D

[gptwins]

So, I think I was in the OPs predicament back in 2005/6. As a kid on through the high school years, I shot film. Then college and work took over my time and I bought a point-and-shoot. When I decided to book a trip to Hawaii for 2006 I wanted a new SLR. Won't go into why mine was not good anymore. After studying the market, I decided that digital was the way for me to go.

I bought my camera in time to learn how the camera works from a technical stand point. Coming from a Yashika FX-2 I was not ready for the automation in the new SLRs. The learning curve would have been the same had I chosen a film camera. The only automatic function my old FX-2 had was a light meter. Needless to say, my 2006 photos of Hawaii are not that great. When I returned in 2010, my images improved greatly. In the four years in between, I upgraded my camera body to something better than I had. I upgraded my lenses to much better quality. Most importantly, I had four years of practice.

I don't carry a camera everywhere or everyday. If I can find time to shoot 60 to 80 times a year I'm sure you can too. There are several challenges available to you like the 52 or 365 challenge. 1 pic a week or day. Be sure to post them somewhere. Facebook, fliker, or just here. It encourages you to act.

[Jonbar18]

Originally Posted by dmann

+1

I have taken pictures for a number of years, I'm only 28 so how ever many years that allows for. But got my t1i 2 years ago and actually started studying a year ago. You can see a huge difference in my work in that short time. Not all good mind you, when you take a learning curve you tend to backslide a bit. I am continually learning though and my images will start to reflect that.

Just don't throw in the towel no matter how discouraged you get and remember you are doing it for fun.

This. There are many ups and downs in your photography skill.

When I started learning about composition, lighting, etc. my photos with my P&S got better and better. Then I got my DSLR, moved into manual, and then they sucked ass. But I learned about exposure, and how I camera works, and I got better until I could take a great picture. And then I started getting into creating pictures, and I just can`t get my thought process into a 2D image, so they suck ass. The thing is though, they don't suck ass, they're just regular bad, but as you learn more and more, and as your images get better, you get more critical, and see your photos as getting worse. Keep learning, and you'll see your photos as worse, but trust the random people on the internet who tell, they are in fact getting better (family is not exactly an impartial jury)

[Ambrosia76]

Originally Posted by Rentham

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to be jerk. Honest.

The biggest problem I see is that you obviously don't shoot enough. I see this occasionally with people who hark back to their "film days" and claim to have been shooting for 15+ years. I look at their work and it is still very much in the beginner stages. Something about their stated experience and actual work doesn't jive. I'm not saying my work is anything special, but if it is at the same level 10 years form now I will most assuredly quit.

Are you shooting every day or every week? Are you challenging yourself and shooting with intent? Or are you just picking up the camera when you have an assignment or get inspired? In short, are you doing the work?

If the answer to these questions is "yes" and you're not improving, then it probably is time to move on. But I'm willing to bet the answer is no, you're not doing as much of the work as you should be. That's the good news. You can work harder and see the payoff almost immediately.

ok this is probably my #1 issue, I hardly have time to shoot and when I do I always feel rushed. If I can hang on piddling with it for the next 2 1/2 yrs til hubby finishes school and I a retire and am not working myself to death I will have all the time in the world.

I have thought of going to one of the local colleges and taking a class, I took one in high school but that was of course with the 35mm camera. The only thing is I have looked into the local courses and they tend to center more on photo processing than the actual taking of the photos.

I would just like to see some consistence in my ability to take a decent photo.

[mosgood]

Originally Posted by Ambrosia76

ok this is probably my #1 issue, I hardly have time to shoot and when I do I always feel rushed. If I can hang on piddling with it for the next 2 1/2 yrs til hubby finishes school and I a retire and am not working myself to death I will have all the time in the world.

I have thought of going to one of the local colleges and taking a class, I took one in high school but that was of course with the 35mm camera. The only thing is I have looked into the local courses and they tend to center more on photo processing than the actual taking of the photos.

I would just like to see some consistence in my ability to take a decent photo.

That's interesting that you are finding courses available that deal with post production, but little or nothing on the actual photography aspect. We need to change locations, because where I am I can only find courses for beginning photography & nothing for Photo Shop. I'd love to take a course or 2 on post production.

What about carving out some "you" time, where you can spend a couple of hours or so with your camera doing what you enjoy? Would your hubby be ok with that?

[Ambrosia76]

Hubby isn't the problem, my job is I am always working, and when I am not working I am working know what I mean.

[mosgood]

Originally Posted by Ambrosia76

Hubby isn't the problem, my job is I am always working, and when I am not working I am working know what I mean.

Yeah I know what you mean. Still ya gotta make some time for stuff you like to do! Life is too short not to enjoy it.