I wouldn't say it's prejudice. I've helped so many people out of the creative doldrums this way, I just realise it works. You have to remember, I'm not advocating that this is how everyone should create images (although I genuinely think it is a way to produce very interesting SERIES of images) - that's something everyone in the thread seems to be insisting is the case, but my answer was to the OP... no one else. I just realise that it WILL help HIM, as I've seen it help so many others like him. IF walking around with a camera isn't working for you, you'd be a fool to carry on doing it if at that stage you aren't able to get anything from the images. In this instance however.... the OP needs something to shoot, and for whatever reason, he can't find anything. That may be his fault, it may not be.... however, setting himself a project will get him back in the saddle will it not?
And I'm saying there's no need to run out of things to shoot if you look hard and carefully enough.
The problem is that most in here are looking for "impressive" things to photograph, and will not notice the things that are genuinely interesting. The other thing is.... as I keep saying, everything I've written in this thread is aimed at the OP... not you.... or droj... the OP. He's done walking about... he's bored... Now if he's a beginner (I've no idea if that is the case however), he's on the cusp of thinking, "b****x to this", and putting his camera away to gather dust. Telling him to go back out there and look harder won't work. If I was talking to Keith Arnett, then obviously that would be a different matter as the guy did a whole project on dog turds.... however... as you well know... this is mainly an amateur photography forum and work like that is generally not appreciated - and when discussed brings out the trolls and the "emperor's new clothes" brigade.
If someone is feeling there's nothing to shoot in their local area, a debate about whether there really is or not won't help him. I'm sorry... he's complaining of having nothing to shoot. A project will definitely give him something to shoot. I stand by my comments.
I know we'll never agree on this because what photography is about to you and me seem to be diametrically opposed. Your (to my mind rigidly academic) approach works for some,
I genuinely feel your view of me is biased however, as you know I'm an academic. I've also spent a long time shooting commercial photography, and social portraiture... just like a great many do.... to survive and pay the bills. I'm not trying to ascribe one single approach to everyone. However, this guy at the top of the thread?.. He needs structure and motivation. Telling him to get back out there will achieve nothing. I could teach him to see things in his locale that would inspire him if I was there, as could you no doubt, but right here, right now... the guy wants something to shoot in an environment he has convinced himself is devoid of subjects.
Only by taking photos do I work out why I took them and then use that knowledge to go take more, which in turn lead me to other areas of investigation.
Great.... but the OP is sitting inside not taking any photos, so that's not gonna happen any time soon in this case. I'm trying to motivate him by giving him a way of generating ideas. Everyone else is just telling him to go back out there and shoot. You can quote Winogrand at him all day long... The guy is bored of his area because he's looking at it as an "area". He's looking for "things" to photograph. The problem is the "things" he's looking for are not necessarily the same "things" you, or I, or Winogrand, or Eggleston would be looking for. However... a project would get him back out there, and would make him realise there are other "things" available. The net result would be the same Dave.
Can't say I've noticed anyone on here practicing conceptual photography, by the way, but so be it, or it might've just escaped me.
It's escaped you then. There's enough on here hidden amongst the sunsets, shots of kids and B&W "street" to keep me interested.
And who's to decide about cultural relevance?
I don't believe anyone has been discussing cultural relevancies in this thread.