How to keep yourself motivated to learn
- Thread starter alitech
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Looking at other peoples shots.
The problem is I walk a fine line between wanting to get better and wanting to give it all up and admit defeat.
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its difficult to find time as well as im working full time as well as gettin my photography business off the ground. i managed to do a workshop then get out as much as possible
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How about a project/challenge? I started a 365. I only carried it on for 6 months as it happens but in that I learnt an awful lot. It get's you thinking and planning and researching techniques etc... It is tough to find the time with a full time job etc of course but I just squeezed stuff in as and where I could and carried a camera everywhere.
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**** a 365 challenge
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have you a website
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You could try to get shots accepted by some micro stock firms. The high acceptance standards demand good technical skills, and you'll need to be pretty original and inventive with your work. The real sites are free (if they want to charge for membership, they're a scam site), and they do pay commission for any shots they sell. But don't get too excited; fees are pretty miserable these days, and you need to sell a goodly number before you can cash in.
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People do all sorts. I approached it as a bit of a diary and registered with
http://www.blipfoto.com/
It's ideal for this sort of thing as it tracks entries by date.
My approach was to either take a picture that was autobiographical, so maybe something that happened that day and then write a few sentences about it, or on other days, I'd have a photo planned that I wanted to take and I'd go out and do it. I also kept a notepad on me and anytime I thought of a shot I'd like to take, I wrote it down for those time when I'm short of ideas. Other times I'd have a look through flickr etc to get inspiration. You can learn a lot looking at other peoples images and reading about how they were taken. On that note, learn how to read exif data so that you can work out why a photo technically works or maybe why it doesn't.
Like I say, I only lasted 6 or 7 months but that was fine for me as I got out of it what I wanted which was to learn a lot in a short space of time. By the end, I had stopped enjoying it as I felt under pressure to take photos that I didn't want to take so I stopped but it had fully served it's purpose and I'd recommend it.
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how do i join a tp meet
Sound advice gad. I will definitely look into this one.
Meetings.. now thats another idea I like. Whats "TP" by the way?
I looked into this and in London there around around 50 clubs you can join for free. Free meetings and events on a weekly basis. I thought that was quite cool, but then you will have to make time for the meetings though.
Meetings.. now thats another idea I like. Whats "TP" by the way?
I looked into this and in London there around around 50 clubs you can join for free. Free meetings and events on a weekly basis. I thought that was quite cool, but then you will have to make time for the meetings though.
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Sorry I'm not sure how much this will help, but I don't need motivating if it's something I really want to do. And if I don't want todo it, then I don't!
I don't want to get left behind. I want to grow as person. If you don't put the work in, then you get nothing out.
If you are really trully struggling to learn, if it feels like too much hard work, then it's probably not the right thing to set your sights on.
Photography and turning pro/starting a business etc doesn't feel like work to me, I do it for hours every evening after doing the whole 9-5 job and I have to stop myself to get to bed before 1am. I get a real buzz out of learning new stuff thats going to help me be better. I always have at least 3 books on the go at a time. I just can't enough of it. Advertising, business, marketing, web design, SEO, photography and customer service etc
I'm learning as much as I can, in order to be as prepared as I can, in order to be as successful as I can.
The fact that I enjoy it so much, gives me endless energy to dedicate to it, and to get better at it.
Phew sorry for that got carried away.
I don't want to get left behind. I want to grow as person. If you don't put the work in, then you get nothing out.
If you are really trully struggling to learn, if it feels like too much hard work, then it's probably not the right thing to set your sights on.
Photography and turning pro/starting a business etc doesn't feel like work to me, I do it for hours every evening after doing the whole 9-5 job and I have to stop myself to get to bed before 1am. I get a real buzz out of learning new stuff thats going to help me be better. I always have at least 3 books on the go at a time. I just can't enough of it. Advertising, business, marketing, web design, SEO, photography and customer service etc
I'm learning as much as I can, in order to be as prepared as I can, in order to be as successful as I can.
The fact that I enjoy it so much, gives me endless energy to dedicate to it, and to get better at it.
Phew sorry for that got carried away.
No not at all Chris. Thanks for sharing, I am sure lots of us will find your post filled with enthusiasm and motivational tips. Please continue to share your ideas.
Let me give you taste of my personal circumstances.
I am a die hard techie. I am enthused with everything tech. My day job is Web and e-commerce project management which is a job and a half if you ask me. I work in a multinational publishing company. I sometimes get back 8 or 9 in the night. I am married and have a 2 year old trouble maker. I need to spend as much time as I can with her before she goes to bed. I then have some dinner and catch up with the Mrs. After which I get straight back to work. I am running a home business. A voucher codes website.
http://www.123vouchercodes.co.uk. (Mods please dont consider this a plug, I have 3 people working on SEO for me already)
I have to administrate this website and all the outsourcing I have done for it, including data entry, development, SEO and article writing, negotiating deals with a few stores out of 5000 every day etc etc. This takes me well into the early hours after which I am about to pass out. I then start another day.
I have a blog that I sometimes write on, when I get the chance. Check it out, I have not had a chance to put anything about my photography hobby on there yet, I will come to it.
http://www.alistechblog.com
ANyways, long story short, I am genuine interested in photography and learning it as much as I can. I just think with my workload, I may need to give this up. I dont want to though, not for a minute. This is the one thing that I want to keep it. I have gained and lost interest in a lot of things over the years (guitars, cars, home theatres, ethical hacking, blogging etc etc) but I dont want to let go of this one.
Let me give you taste of my personal circumstances.
I am a die hard techie. I am enthused with everything tech. My day job is Web and e-commerce project management which is a job and a half if you ask me. I work in a multinational publishing company. I sometimes get back 8 or 9 in the night. I am married and have a 2 year old trouble maker. I need to spend as much time as I can with her before she goes to bed. I then have some dinner and catch up with the Mrs. After which I get straight back to work. I am running a home business. A voucher codes website.
http://www.123vouchercodes.co.uk. (Mods please dont consider this a plug, I have 3 people working on SEO for me already)
I have to administrate this website and all the outsourcing I have done for it, including data entry, development, SEO and article writing, negotiating deals with a few stores out of 5000 every day etc etc. This takes me well into the early hours after which I am about to pass out. I then start another day.
I have a blog that I sometimes write on, when I get the chance. Check it out, I have not had a chance to put anything about my photography hobby on there yet, I will come to it.
http://www.alistechblog.com
ANyways, long story short, I am genuine interested in photography and learning it as much as I can. I just think with my workload, I may need to give this up. I dont want to though, not for a minute. This is the one thing that I want to keep it. I have gained and lost interest in a lot of things over the years (guitars, cars, home theatres, ethical hacking, blogging etc etc) but I dont want to let go of this one.
Hmmm
Just thinking out loud. I may combine my web interests and make an online photo blog. Just a casual upload of my best shots now and then with captions, dates and geo locations for the world to see.
Setting up a wordpress blog is really a quick one for me. I can get a nice theme to go with it tailored for this sort of thing and give it a whirl.
hmmmmmmmm
This might keep me wanting to come back and updating it.
Can connect it to post to twitter, facebook, pinterest etc when a new image is uploaded so I can see comments and feedback on individual shots.
What do you guys think.
Just thinking out loud. I may combine my web interests and make an online photo blog. Just a casual upload of my best shots now and then with captions, dates and geo locations for the world to see.
Setting up a wordpress blog is really a quick one for me. I can get a nice theme to go with it tailored for this sort of thing and give it a whirl.
hmmmmmmmm
This might keep me wanting to come back and updating it.
Can connect it to post to twitter, facebook, pinterest etc when a new image is uploaded so I can see comments and feedback on individual shots.
What do you guys think.
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alitech said:
I think its a great idea.
There's lot great reasons to have a blog, as it can provide you with an audience and motivation to post your best photos regularly.
Also you can use it as a sort of journal, to track your progress on what you are shooting, what you are stuck on and what your goals are.
My blog started off like this, just me ranting to myself about all the awesome photos I couldn't do or didn't know how to do. I would set myself the goal of learning the technique and then sharing my experience and tips in a follow up post. It works really well for me, and the people who seem to keep reading my blog!
Well said
I did my City and Guilds and loved it, kids came along and all on hold, but slowly getting back to it.
Do a not book of ideas, and stick other pictures from mags etc that you like and inspire you.
I like this stuff, it floats my boat
http://www.davenewbould.co.uk/
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Based on your work/life balance I'd start with a 52week challenge rather than a 365 challenge!
I'm guessing with your jobs that you spend a lot of time online, so you could find some photographs/photographers that you like and then work out how they achieved the elements you like and try to replicate them?
I'm guessing with your jobs that you spend a lot of time online, so you could find some photographs/photographers that you like and then work out how they achieved the elements you like and try to replicate them?
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Unless you have fantastic natural ability, like most things in life, you get what you put in.
I'd love to go pro, start a photography business etc etc but to do that you need to make time and have commitement.
For me, having a full time job and a wife (yip, she is considerate but there is only so much time you can drag her around and ask her to hold lenses whilst you set up a tripod) that is only ever going to be a pipe dream.
Just enjoy taking pictures. When you're feling motivated, go out and take shots. When you're not, dont.
I'd love to go pro, start a photography business etc etc but to do that you need to make time and have commitement.
For me, having a full time job and a wife (yip, she is considerate but there is only so much time you can drag her around and ask her to hold lenses whilst you set up a tripod) that is only ever going to be a pipe dream.
Just enjoy taking pictures. When you're feling motivated, go out and take shots. When you're not, dont.
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Hi Ali. Sounds to me like you've already got a lot on your plate. I'd have thought that capturing some shots of your little one and your wife would be a priority as you won't get those chances again - the little ones grow up all too quickly. Get your wife on board, make time to go out and take the camera with you. I can see you taking pics of the toddler puddle jumping, at the play park, in the woods etc. That's where I would go. I'd not stress about doing anything else until I had more 'leisure' time.
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Join a local camera club. If you are that keen you will find a few hours a week for your hobby. If you can't find a few spare hours a week, then park it until you can. Don't beat yourself up about it.
Works just an incovenience to my life.
I often take pictures at work, its the best of both worlds
Now thats an idea.. what do you do? Cant imagine carrying my camera around work, that'd be silly and I'd probably get spat on eventually.. ok maybe not but you get the gist.
I am an engineer so we often take pics to do with work, we have also been known to dress up on night shifts and produce silly posters that the boss tells us off for too!
What do you do? Most people are ok with it as long as you ask
Weekends are the only days i can try taking photos but it is very difficult with the changing weather conditions.I try to send photos for the competitions which makes me to take think before pressing the shutter and makes me go out.I have not won anything but i will keep trying.
I'd second a 365 project or something a little less time-consuming like a 52 (one shot a week) either using the themes in the 52s forum on this very site, or making your own goals/targets for the particular shot you want each week.
I also find that looking at other peoples shots on here, other forums or Flickr/500px seem to get me motivated. I see a great shot of something I'm interested in (e.g. night shots/light trails) and try to understand the settings used/how it was done and use that to try new things when I next go out shooting.
I also find that looking at other peoples shots on here, other forums or Flickr/500px seem to get me motivated. I see a great shot of something I'm interested in (e.g. night shots/light trails) and try to understand the settings used/how it was done and use that to try new things when I next go out shooting.
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Ultimately you have to work out what draws you to photography and remind yourself of that whenever you get bored. You can't force it, but you either want to take pictures or you don't.
I find the technical challenge to be the big draw for me. I can compose a shot, but focussing on improving the quality of each shot and the range of techniques and understanding of when and how to make best use of them (and not use them needlessly) is what keeps me going. Every time I feel I'm getting the hang of it I find I've actually just marked off another minor milestone and see the vast mountain of knowledge ahead of me still to climb - take a deep breath and then head on forwards again.
Ask for detailed critique of your shots and don't take it personally. Ask people what technically you could have done to improve it and you'll learn fast the mistakes you commonly make and suddenly get your head around a whole new technical aspect to play with. Also look through other people's shots, check the notes or EXIF details and try to work out how they have achieved it. If all else fails ask them.
Try shooting film and see if using a fully manual film camera without being able to chimp and having to weigh up each shot more makes it more interesting for you. I switched to film and haven't wanted to go back to digital since and really feel far more connection to the shots I take.
Another good way to stay inspired is to have different interests and projects that way something always fits the location and conditions you have available. 5 second portraits, people taking 5 minute breaks in the city, abstract elements of urban landscapes, manmade meets nature, movement, human connections, just make a few up and keep them in mind as you walk around so you have a choice of subjects and ideas to play with and can start to connect up images into sets.
If all else fails, buy some new kit every so often to compel you to go out and use it. But try to buy only items that you've found that 2-3 times recently you would have benefited from having. Filters, a tripod, a handheld light meter.
The last one is my biggest mistake - I just keep buying up film cameras on a whim as I like their aesthetics and like playing with different cameras.
I find the technical challenge to be the big draw for me. I can compose a shot, but focussing on improving the quality of each shot and the range of techniques and understanding of when and how to make best use of them (and not use them needlessly) is what keeps me going. Every time I feel I'm getting the hang of it I find I've actually just marked off another minor milestone and see the vast mountain of knowledge ahead of me still to climb - take a deep breath and then head on forwards again.
Ask for detailed critique of your shots and don't take it personally. Ask people what technically you could have done to improve it and you'll learn fast the mistakes you commonly make and suddenly get your head around a whole new technical aspect to play with. Also look through other people's shots, check the notes or EXIF details and try to work out how they have achieved it. If all else fails ask them.
Try shooting film and see if using a fully manual film camera without being able to chimp and having to weigh up each shot more makes it more interesting for you. I switched to film and haven't wanted to go back to digital since and really feel far more connection to the shots I take.
Another good way to stay inspired is to have different interests and projects that way something always fits the location and conditions you have available. 5 second portraits, people taking 5 minute breaks in the city, abstract elements of urban landscapes, manmade meets nature, movement, human connections, just make a few up and keep them in mind as you walk around so you have a choice of subjects and ideas to play with and can start to connect up images into sets.
If all else fails, buy some new kit every so often to compel you to go out and use it. But try to buy only items that you've found that 2-3 times recently you would have benefited from having. Filters, a tripod, a handheld light meter.
The last one is my biggest mistake - I just keep buying up film cameras on a whim as I like their aesthetics and like playing with different cameras.
This.
Look for a striking image that really inspires you. Then examine why. Sometimes it's the sheer technical brilliance of such a tricky shot or superb post production. Other times an image may have plenty of "flaws" technically but something magical is in the image. Some of HCB most amazing images were not that technically superb...but to use his own phrase it was all about "the decisive moment" and the "moment" he captured was sometimes just magnificent.
Pick a few shots and try to emulate not the shot but the factor in that shot that made you stop and look again.
Pick a few shots and try to emulate not the shot but the factor in that shot that made you stop and look again.
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Pegasusl said:
Couldn't have phrased this post better myself!
I find that finding inspirational work usually sparks an enthusiasm to go out & shoot. Without that, I'd have never have found a range of concepts, techniques or that element thats me look again.. & again. I try to reflect those inspirational aspects in my own work when shooting & it helps to improve in new ways :}
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