How committed are you?

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nomorem6

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Chris
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As the title asks...... how committed are you to your photography? Not in terms of how much kit you have compared to the next person or how much you spend each year but in terms of DO YOU PUT THE EXTRA EFFORT IN.

For example...
Would you wade out into a lake in January in your shorts because you could get a better angle for a particular shot or,

Would you keep the button pressed down when a bull is coming at you or,

Would you photograph a friends wedding just for the experiance even though the idea of getting it wrong scares the hell out of you.

They're just examples but, how far would you go for your photography? This isn't supposed to be a 'who's got the biggest balls thread'. (i.e. I hung from a 1000 foot cliff by my finger nails kind of thing) but more a question of when have you gone beyond what you were comfortable with and why you did it.

:popcorn:
 
I got up early a couple of times in the summer. Does that count? So far not really encountered and bulls or 1000' cliffs though.
 
I stayed in bed the other day until noon, so I would be better prepared for photographing the sunset :)
 
i've stood out in gail force winds and sleet to attempt night shots .... not taht they were any good as my tripod was swaying. also torrential rain at several agricultural shows i was taking pics at, that count?
 
nomorem6 said:
As the title asks...... how committed are you to your photography? Not in terms of how much kit you have compared to the next person or how much you spend each year but in terms of DO YOU PUT THE EXTRA EFFORT IN.

For example...
Would you wade out into a lake in January in your shorts because you could get a better angle for a particular shot or,

Would you keep the button pressed down when a bull is coming at you or,

Would you photograph a friends wedding just for the experiance even though the idea of getting it wrong scares the hell out of you.

They're just examples but, how far would you go for your photography? This isn't supposed to be a 'who's got the biggest balls thread'. (i.e. I hung from a 1000 foot cliff by my finger nails kind of thing) but more a question of when have you gone beyond what you were comfortable with and why you did it.

:popcorn:
Click to expand...



100%, the most worrying situation I have been in is when I got within 2 ft of a Highland Cow with my Wide Angle. We were face to face, and I was terrified. I know it could go for me, I continued. It went for me, I ran, and jumped a fence. I was fine, but scared.
 
EdinburghGary posted a link earlier to an image he has on the BBC. Great shot by the way.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7752579.stm

Check the 10th image and the story that goes with it.

I've taken a few risks but I'm not going to die for a picture. Having said that there is probably good money to be made getting the image of someone else doing it :)

John
 
Well ive been in the middle of prickly bushes and stung to pieces standing in netltes chasing bees
 
I made a close relative physically sick when leaning over a cliff keeping one hand on a tree. oops. Wasn't remotely scared tbh.

BUT, what scares the living daylights out of me, is the thought of photographing people in the street at anything under 250mm :eek:
 
Ive stood infront of 4x4 trucks as they would try to climb a hill, and the more high powered ones would get their front wheels normally a good 8 feet airborn.. you just have to remember to get out of the way before they land on you :p

Regards, James
 
i have blagged my partner into posing naked for me
i have dedicated the next three years to learning photography
i have waded in rivers, stood in the cold for ages waiting for the sun to come out from a cloud
i have walked nine miles to catch stonehenge in the morning

i love photography, and i dont feel the need to buy the biggest and the best equipment, in my experience, the best equipment often makes the worst photographer
 
I often wade to the waist in icy water filled with nasty stuff to do underground photography. Unless it causes serious pain, then I will do anything if it means getting a good shot.
 
babytiger said:
Well ive been in the middle of prickly bushes and stung to pieces standing in netltes chasing bees
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And we both end up with flu standing in pouring rain or freezing conditions looking for one shot (beechams does not help Jamesons 12yr old does)
 
I ruined my favourite suede boots when i sank in a marsh photographing a decaying old rowing boat :'( ......i didn't realise it wash marshy till it was too late... about 12 inches too late:lol:
 
I went to a load of gigs, got completely mashed, took home a few women. Just to get into the mind of a rock star for my next photoshoot. DEDICATION:thumbs:

Dean:)
 
Dangermouse1964 said:
And we both end up with flu standing in pouring rain or freezing conditions looking for one shot (beechams does not help Jamesons 12yr old does)
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Well, it does taste more like medicine than whisky.:naughty: Something more Scottish is the key I think.:thumbs:

I'm not dedicated enough at the mo. I've also given myself 3 years (by which time I'll be 50) to become good enough to at least earn a bit of extra from photography. But with a new job this year I just haven't had the time or the commitment to get out and take shots, dangerous or not.
Next year however will be different. :thumbs:
 
Not this committed:

m05_17178177.jpg


One of the shots from Mumbai - I'd have been out of there faster than I care to think about.

(Rest found at The Big Picture)
 
I built a hide the other day, yesterday when I went for 1-30mins it was raining and freezing, and I gashed my eyebrow on a twig, today it was dry, and freezing, and I sat there for 2hrs the kingfisher never turned up, but it was near me, in a place behind me in a small lodge in fact there were two,and a snipe, the lady who does the bird counting said she saw 5 snipes on Tuesday, but no chance of getting a shots at them, on the way back I saw a goldcrest but didnt get a good shot at it, Im not put off just more determined than ever
 
I was out most of today trying to get to grips with Histogram settings suffering with a trapped nerve in my neck :)And ive been out and about with EG a few times does that count :)
 
Frost on tripod and clothes last Xmas ,does that count :shrug::D
 
Foggy said:
Not this committed:

m05_17178177.jpg


One of the shots from Mumbai - I'd have been out of there faster than I care to think about.

(Rest found at The Big Picture)
Click to expand...

The guy with the camera was probably the safest person there. They love their publicity!

But still!! I'd expect more camera shake too. :shake:
 
I trespass at every opportunity. I go out of my way to gain access to the best wildlife area's I can that is not controlled by SSSI.

I aim to outwit the farmers and landowners and feel good about having spent a couple of hours well concealed right under their noses. My local haunt has recently been fenced with barbed wire and all it has done is presented me with another challenge.

This is not a recommendation, it is not big or clever but I have to admit I get a rush from getting a shot that in my area would seldom present itself.
 
I am not 100% committed unfortunately. Wish I could be but work is a pain in the arse. I cannot get out there in summer for sunrise or sunset because of work, other than on my 2 days off. Ideally I wouldn't work other than photography related, but that aint gunna anytime soon:shake:
 
Foggy said:
Not this committed:

m05_17178177.jpg


One of the shots from Mumbai - I'd have been out of there faster than I care to think about.

(Rest found at The Big Picture)
Click to expand...

That's a hell of a shot. These guys are crazy and will shoot at anything that moves. That's the first time I've seen that shot.
 
Just going through the Big Shot gallery, extremely upsetting but people need to see it.
 
I've just travelled 200 miles, I'm in a hotel, just so I could get to the Garry Edwards training day.

I almost got blown off of Bedruthen Steps in Cornwall last weekend trying to get a shot

I got up a silly 'o'clock on holiday a couple of years ago to catch the sunrise on the Med

But mostly I bought a 40D when the Mrs said no - I think that's fairly committed :lol:

Steve
 
I'm committed in terms of practice, particularly when it comes to Motorsport. Happily go along to 'events' where I'm one of maybe 2 or 3 spectators, and shoot for 6 or 7 hours, regardless of how dull the cars or action are or how cold/windy it is. Will be up and out in the fog tomorrow morning to shoot at a trackday, love it.

I've managed to get out on 30 weekends this year to shoot Motorsport, drove up to Silverstone for the Britcar 24hr two days after I was taken to hospital with what was (and still is) kidney stones, painkillered up and managed 9hrs there, was worth it for sure. The only thing that stops me doing more is fuel costs, I would have visited Brands and other circuits more this season if a day there didn't cost the best part of £60 every time.
 
well i did the shoot a mates wedding ......:nuts:

1st one


no pressure you got a big camera you will be fine... was what i heard...

i said no god knows how many times..
but did it in the end


mind you they wanted all and i mean all the photos..


i would not reccomend doing a mates wedding.....:nuts:


md:thumbs:

oh and then some :D
 
I should be committed!

I have shot a friends wedding just for the experience (she would not have had one otherwise!)

I went off in the camper and spent a week hillwalking in Scotland just because it had snowed. It was -7 deg!

I shot a Pagan Handfasting Ceremony and the subsequent celebrations and got home at 5am.

I've dragged my long suffering other half up to the Lake district in the camper and got him up at 5am to go out togging. Believe me that it takes dedication to shift him from a warm bed at that time of the morning when it's still dark.
 
iv just looked at the Big Picture (Boston.com) website, the picture of the firemen!! i think i know them..

Pew, Pew, Barny,Mcgrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, but Grub seems to be missing, im sure he's on thier watch!!
























:coat:
 
Well I can't say I wild camp just to photograph but it plays a big part.

A hard slog up steep mountain sides with tent and camping gear plus camera equipment really takes it out of you. Then sleeping on less than a 1cm thick roll mat between me and a hard ground is not comfortable considering I tend to sleep on my side.

The only part I do that is purely for the photography is to get up at 4am in the morning to catch the sunrise and that's really hard. Sometimes I peek out my tent hoping the weather isn't good enough just so I don't have to get up. The transition between the warmish sleeping bag and the instant hit of the cold night air coupled with damp clothing and boots makes it an uncomfortable experiance. To topple all that sometimes the light just doesn't play ball and I come away with nothing.

So why do I keep doing it?

The hard exercise pulling up a mountain side with a pack so heavy it feels like you are bouncing with every step and the shoulder straps feel like they are going to chop your arms off at the shoulder takes me to me limits of my endurance. This pumps adrenaline and endorphins rush through my body giving me a natural high. I then put up camp and continue to the summit's as the sun starts to set. Still on a high I watch the sun go down and light and colour play tricks in the clear mountain air. Then I indulge in my passion of photography trying desperatly to creatively capture all this beauty causing my emotions stir as I see scenes that I could never have imagined appear before me. Then as the light fails I walk back to my tent and crack open a wee dram I brought with me. I then lye down as the the night sets in and look up to the unpolluted clear skies of the milky way and watch satellites race past.

Sometimes I fail completely and come back with little photography to show but I will have learnt something from it and most importantly I have experianced it.

I live for my next wild camp.
 
siejones said:
Well I can't say I wild camp just to photograph but it plays a big part.

A hard slog up steep mountain sides with tent and camping gear plus camera equipment really takes it out of you. Then sleeping on less than a 1cm thick roll mat between me and a hard ground is not comfortable considering I tend to sleep on my side.

The only part I do that is purely for the photography is to get up at 4am in the morning to catch the sunrise and that's really hard. Sometimes I peek out my tent hoping the weather isn't good enough just so I don't have to get up. The transition between the warmish sleeping bag and the instant hit of the cold night air coupled with damp clothing and boots makes it an uncomfortable experiance. To topple all that sometimes the light just doesn't play ball and I come away with nothing.

So why do I keep doing it?

The hard exercise pulling up a mountain side with a pack so heavy it feels like you are bouncing with every step and the shoulder straps feel like they are going to chop your arms off at the shoulder takes me to me limits of my endurance. This pumps adrenaline and endorphins rush through my body giving me a natural high. I then put up camp and continue to the summit's as the sun starts to set. Still on a high I watch the sun go down and light and colour play tricks in the clear mountain air. Then I indulge in my passion of photography trying desperatly to creatively capture all this beauty causing my emotions stir as I see scenes that I could never have imagined appear before me. Then as the light fails I walk back to my tent and crack open a wee dram I brought with me. I then lye down as the the night sets in and look up to the unpolluted clear skies of the milky way and watch satellites race past.

Sometimes I fail completely and come back with little photography to show but I will have learnt something from it and most importantly I have experianced it.

I live for my next wild camp.
Click to expand...



great read mate and would love to do a trip with you one day



md:thumbs:
 
siejones said:
Well I can't say I wild camp just to photograph but it plays a big part.

A hard slog up steep mountain sides with tent and camping gear plus camera equipment really takes it out of you. Then sleeping on less than a 1cm thick roll mat between me and a hard ground is not comfortable considering I tend to sleep on my side.

The only part I do that is purely for the photography is to get up at 4am in the morning to catch the sunrise and that's really hard. Sometimes I peek out my tent hoping the weather isn't good enough just so I don't have to get up. The transition between the warmish sleeping bag and the instant hit of the cold night air coupled with damp clothing and boots makes it an uncomfortable experiance. To topple all that sometimes the light just doesn't play ball and I come away with nothing.

So why do I keep doing it?

The hard exercise pulling up a mountain side with a pack so heavy it feels like you are bouncing with every step and the shoulder straps feel like they are going to chop your arms off at the shoulder takes me to me limits of my endurance. This pumps adrenaline and endorphins rush through my body giving me a natural high. I then put up camp and continue to the summit's as the sun starts to set. Still on a high I watch the sun go down and light and colour play tricks in the clear mountain air. Then I indulge in my passion of photography trying desperatly to creatively capture all this beauty causing my emotions stir as I see scenes that I could never have imagined appear before me. Then as the light fails I walk back to my tent and crack open a wee dram I brought with me. I then lye down as the the night sets in and look up to the unpolluted clear skies of the milky way and watch satellites race past.

Sometimes I fail completely and come back with little photography to show but I will have learnt something from it and most importantly I have experianced it.

I live for my next wild camp.
Click to expand...

Sounds like fun. Can I come? :D
 
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