Shoot something different (but don't generalize).


Photographer: Al Jurina
This post may or may not be controversial, but it will, at least, be explained from my own personal opinion. Here goes: Shoot something you love most of the time, but shoot   other things as well, to keep creativity going and to learn new things.

There are some photographers who burn out, because they shoot the same thing all of the time. Maybe it's people, maybe it's landscape, fine art, it doesn't matter. They only shoot the same thing, so their minds only focus on one thing. This can get old after too long.

Then there are those who shoot everything. They don't commit to anything except taking the photo. They don't care what they shoot, as long as they can shoot. This kind of behavior can lead to burn out too, because once the passion of shooting fizzle's out, there's nothing to bring it back.

So here's my idea (and I'm sticking to it!): Find one thing that you really love to shoot, and only shoot that thing. Learn it inside and out. Up and down, learn it until you can no longer find a new way to photograph it. And just when the passion for shooting that one thing fizzles you out, go shoot something else for a while. In fact, don't even wait until you get bored, just make sure that the weight of what you are shooting always leans towards the one subject that you are most passionate about shooting. Let me give an example, based on how I do it:

I love taking photos of people. In fact, I consume hours and hours of learning, blogs, online videos, and countless hours of practice on learning how to shoot people better. Within that, I challenge myself with different ideas, but I keep those ideas mostly centered on portraits. However, when I get the chance, I completely abandon portraits. Sometimes I'll go for a walk and photograph anything BUT people. Just to keep my eyes fresh. Sometimes I'll focus on landscape. Other times it is close-up macro photography. In the end, I'm always back to photographing people. However, the things I've learned by photographing other subjects can always come with me. It's a cycle of learning that has enabled me to keep my photographic creative juices flowing. 

Popular posts from this blog

What camera should I buy? (2018 edition)

Image
This is probably one of the most asked questions by anyone looking to get into photography. To be fair, there are way too many choices out there, so let's do our best to tackle this question as objectively as possible. First off, I need to let you readers know that I have owned and used a tremendous amount of different cameras over the years. From smartphone cameras to point-and-shoot models to industry-leading DSLRs to mirrorless and everything in-between. That being said, I obviously have my preferences. This post will not spend time on that. I'll try to be as quick and concise as possible. Here goes: 1. Get what you can afford, but be reasonable. Seriously. If you can't afford much, I would advise save up to expand your options. If you are looking for the perfect camera, then you will be majorly disappointed, because it doesn't exist. I DO know that unless you are willing to spend more than 100 dollars, then you probably wont' find anything worth buying...
Read more

How to photograph your family holiday time.

Image
In my family history, one of the most consistent activities that occurred during the holidays is that the camera was ever-present. You knew that you were getting your photo taken during this time. As time when on and I began to get into photography, I joined in this trend as well. Soon, however, I started to find myself asking, "what should I focus on for these photos?" This was because every holiday was looking the same. I wanted to somehow make holiday photos a little more interesting. Not just for the viewer, but for me as the photographer. Here are a few tips that I have found useful for keeping holiday photos a bit more interesting for everyone: 1. Start a tradition: These kinds of photos, although kind of cheesy, can be fun. Get the kids in front of the tree, pose everybody with wrapping paper head-pieces, or come up with a new idea. The tradition photos have the less likely chance of promoting any grumbles, as they are "tradition after all". Try t...
Read more