Just been looking back

[Deleted member 21335]

At photos I first took when I bought my first camera back in 2009. Firstly i notice how technically bad they were and how I didn't have a clue what I was doing. However, they do seem more creative than the stuff I take lately, despite them being OOF, blurred and just generally rubbish. My photos from the last 18 months are technically fine, as in, sharp, well exposed and composed pleasantly, generally following the 'rules (guidelines)' but none are particularly creative, nor do they have any sort of emotional connection and leave me feeling flat and underwhelmed. I have realised the fun has gone out of it and I no longer enjoy taking/editing/posting photos because i am worrying too much about getting them right. Is there a way to go back whilst keeping the technicals correct?

 

[faddius]

I look at younger people's streams on Flickr. They're a lot more creative and the shots just seem fun, fun to of shot, fun to view. They may not be composed very well all the time, or even correctly exposed, but you can generally see what they're trying to create using their imagination.

Aim for people in the mid teen age bracket and you'll see what I mean.

 

[Deleted member 21335]

I look at younger people's streams on Flickr. They're a lot more creative and the shots just seem fun, fun to of shot, fun to view. They may not be composed very well all the time, or even correctly exposed, but you can generally see what they're trying to create using their imagination.

Aim for people in the mid teen age bracket and you'll see what I mean.

I totally agree and have seen something like this before. I believe there was a study done where they gave cameras to a load of school children and told them to be creative. The shots they produced, as you say, although not technically good as you describe, where creatively great. Then, they went on to teach them about correct exposure, sharpness etc and the pictures became better technically but less emotive and creative.

 

[faddius]

I totally agree and have seen something like this before. I believe there was a study done where they gave cameras to a load of school children and told them to be creative. The shots they produced, as you say, although not technically good as you describe, where creatively great. Then, they went on to teach them about correct exposure, sharpness etc and the pictures became better technically but less emotive and creative.

That study sounds familiar actually. I have a couple on my contacts list as its just nice seeing something different and creative now and then.

 

[DuncanDisorderly]

I went through this too, it's just a phase.
Once the technical stuff starts to come more instinctively you will find more of your original style emerging.
Don't let it worry you, get out there and keep taking photos

There are a few things you can do to speed up the process.
A couple of good suggestions have been made already.

Another is to force yourself to be creative.
For example, we had a recent meet where a group of us let ourselves be trapped on Worms Head by the tide. Normally we would have 'done' Worms Head and been ready to go home, but we were trapped. It was a question of "OK, what now?", and that's where the creativity and the day's best photos happened.
That's a bit extreme, but I highly recommend finding a quiet corner of a beach and spending half a day just in that corner. Well worth a go!

Another idea is the mini-project.
A recent example for me was TP Day; the challenge was to take an image that summed up how I see my photography - it took some planning! I ended up sleeping on Pen-y-Fan and got a shot of the milky way over Corn Du.

In both these suggestions, creativity is needed to meet the challenge.
And that's a great thing to practice and get better at!