Maybe revisiting old shots is a double edged sword of happiness and sadness. : )
When did you start becoming happier with your photography?
- Thread starter Panza
- Start date
Maybe that's something that I should consider. Especially since I'm having so much fun just shooting casual landscapes and things that interest me vs studio and event work. When I used to sell art for commission work I hated art, I eventually vowed never to sell art for money again and only do it for recreational fun. Since then I've come back to loving my art tools.
I came to this realization a long time ago... ; ) But I figured that the bare minimum I would need is a camera that would let me learn in M mode so I went to DSLRs. I had a D610 for a very short period in time and felt I didn't need it and sold it for what I got for it, am I crazy?I think I became the happiest during my first show. Acceptance and praise of your work by strangers is very empowering (especially when they buy). My latest injection of happiness is the realization that I don't need a big camera or the highest rated sensor to produce decent pictures.
Not crazy (unless I am too!). I sold my D610 and all my Fx lenses to move to an Oly EM1 and Pro 12-40, couldn't be happier!
What exactly did you find about the mirrorless OMD appealing? (I know its a top rated camera)
Everything. But mostly Body/lens build quality, the new pro lens lineup coming out, size, weight, shutter speed (and no slap), IQ. Everything is about 1/2 the size of Fx. Here's some good reading using the new 12-40 2.8 pro, he also has a nice review of the EM1
The Olympus E-M10 and 12-40 f/2.8 Pro Zoom Mini Review | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS
I have much to say on this, and will compose a longer comment later. For now, what has really made me happy, was showing some of my work to an interested new friend. She told me that her 14 year old daughter was showing a lot of interest in photography, and was curious about photoshop (I use photoshop often to create some of my photo-art [phart, and I phart often lol ], and asked me if i would mind spending a little time showing her a thing or two. THIS MADE ME HAPPY! I am far from great, but it will be fun to show a young girl a few things to get her interest to grow.
Michael J.
Senior Member
Just got again happier when I bought the 35mm 1.8 DX.
Rock Daddeo
Senior Member
Definitely when I started post processing my photos with PhotoShop/Lightroom. More creative control and I'm a control freak.
Instead of being disappointed with 99% of my shots, now I'm disappointed in only 90%.
Instead of being disappointed with 99% of my shots, now I'm disappointed in only 90%.
I recently invested in a 13x19 Canon printer. I wanted the ability to make large prints and passport photos but I understand what you mean by this. I never thought that I would want my own picture hanging up in someone's house, but Christmas is around and it's a nice gift. Especially when the photo is of family.
I'm not going to lie, every time I buy a new lens, it's like something inside of me just lights on fire and I feel like a kid with a new toy. I instantly want to play with it, use it, and go out of my way to make that focal length work. The 35/1.8DX was one of my first prime lenses and 50mm has been my favorite focal lengths for over years now
Pan,
You sound exactly like me. "I" think I take some pretty good shots but I don't know if it is low self esteem, OCD or what but I'm always afraid of "If ever I was asked to do a photo shoot for someone", it won't be good enough......"In my mind". I think that is my problem. The person may love the photo but I will always second guess myself if it could have been better or feel embarrassed that I used "Auto" mode instead of "Manual"....I recently designed and purchased 100 business cards from Vistaprint. If ever I have the nerve to hand one out, and I get a phone call to do a shoot......I will probably be throwing up in the bathroom all day before the shoot.
On the other hand, I bump into other photographers now and again and they give me links to their websites, etc, to be honest some where not that good (IMO) so I guess we need to just take the plunge at some point and start small. I would love to do this for a supplemental income if I ever got the guts to hand out my first business card.
You sound exactly like me. "I" think I take some pretty good shots but I don't know if it is low self esteem, OCD or what but I'm always afraid of "If ever I was asked to do a photo shoot for someone", it won't be good enough......"In my mind". I think that is my problem. The person may love the photo but I will always second guess myself if it could have been better or feel embarrassed that I used "Auto" mode instead of "Manual"....I recently designed and purchased 100 business cards from Vistaprint. If ever I have the nerve to hand one out, and I get a phone call to do a shoot......I will probably be throwing up in the bathroom all day before the shoot.
On the other hand, I bump into other photographers now and again and they give me links to their websites, etc, to be honest some where not that good (IMO) so I guess we need to just take the plunge at some point and start small. I would love to do this for a supplemental income if I ever got the guts to hand out my first business card.
Very much summed me and my thoughts up there Smoke!!
I wasn't happy with anything i did until i bought a D300S. It was at this point where i went fully manual, and still continue to never ever come out of it. I had so many awful images, with my previous D90 in 'running man' mode etc. It isn't until i look at the exif data on those D90 pics now, where i see and understand where it all went wrong. It usually lay in the ISO being up in the multiple 1000's region which the D90 just couldn't handle. I still continue to distrust the camera making any decisions for me, but that doesn't mean i always get it right, or that i'm very happy with my photography
Thanks for the great reply Smoke! I'm so nervous and unsure of myself that I don't even have business cards. People tell me to make them but it's a daunting task. Grats on making them!!
I have my next event tonight and I'm so nervous, I have my camera bag packed and ready. Two cameras and one back up. I even asked for tips on the forums for where I feel my weakest. I'm going to do the best I can.
I've practiced much much more with shooting manual and when I mean practice, I practice like I used to practice for sports in highschool. Sometimes standing on different corners waiting for people or cars to pass by and going to places with different lighting just to shoot what I see.
I use my A and S modes more and have yet to come back to full-Auto mode since. Today I will also be testing my manual focus abilities too for low light without flash, but if need be and things fall short, I can go back to my flash and my A/S modes. I think the fastest way to learn is to push yourself to the limit, I'm still learning and I think I always will be.
Michael J.
Senior Member
Just a few minutes ago I started loving photography when I was looking my photos I took the past five years. I saw that every photo I took brought me a very, very tiny step to a photographer. I hope that the first step is done soon, and I can take the next step to be a photographer when I am in a retiring age, and my grandchildren, I hope that I get some, keep asking me during walking around our hometown :"Grandpa, tell us how to take a photo of this beautiful flower, this interesting scene, or this sunset". After I know that someone likes my photos. That makes me now loving my photography.
I become more and more critical. I was going through a shoot just before and became fully aware that what I was deleting were shots I'd be very happy with not that long ago. But these days not much makes the cut.
If I'm birding and it doesn't have that sharpness or the wings are not in the right position, or the bird looks into the wrong direction it's a goner. If I take 200 shots, if 20 of those survive it has been a good day. And of those twenty, there are often multiple of one bird of which I only select the best.
I got a 1TB drive and that won't be full within my life-time.
If I'm birding and it doesn't have that sharpness or the wings are not in the right position, or the bird looks into the wrong direction it's a goner. If I take 200 shots, if 20 of those survive it has been a good day. And of those twenty, there are often multiple of one bird of which I only select the best.
I got a 1TB drive and that won't be full within my life-time.