Wednesday
Mar252009
Man, I Miss My Photography!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 9:56PM
So, here I am, sitting at my PC at half past nine at night, feeling tired after a hard days work, thinking about things to write, and looking back over some of the posts in my blog.
You see I got a new job a couple of months ago, and it's great, but I just don't get the time to use my camera's as much as I used to, and it got me wondering about what that it is that I like about photography so much and why I took it to heart as my main hobby.
I broke my elbow badly just before Christmas 2007, I spent about a week in hospital waiting for an operation, then a few months after at home recovering, so I had plenty of time to read, as I couldn't do much else.
I had an old Kodak digital, but hadn't been that much interested in photography as a hobby, but in those long months with my arm in a special cast I read a few photography magazines, and bought a Fujifilm S5700 just after Christmas 2008.
To start off with the Fuji was simply an answer to a problem I had - no digital video camera - and I needed one for reviews on Sciuridae.co.uk, and I also thought it would make a great new section on that site, but my interest quickly blossomed and I decided to create this blog / website for the dozens of articles I wanted to write.
Robnunnphoto.com has become something of an obsession, and even with my arm in a sling I spent many happy hours out shooting with my new digital camera, covering miles on photowalks, discovering parts of Gosport that I never knew existed. I started the Podcast to talk about and share my experiences, a flickr group, and made lots of great new friends on that photo-sharing site, especially from the S5700 Flickr group.
As I look back at most of my images I cringe. Sure, some are OK, but my early experiments with post-processing, cropping and HDR were "interesting" to say the least. I feel that I'm a little more conservative now, but I've still got a long way to go.
I digress. What is it the I love about photography? Photographs? I like looking at photographs, especially books, but I don't need a camera for that. My photographs? A little, but to be honest once they're up on Flickr I don't look at them too much. Post processing? A necessary evil on my old, slow pc.
I think its the whole experience, rather than one particular part. I like to look out of the window, see the great light, grab my camera, then go out walking just looking for moments and places where I see something that captures my eye and I try to record it. I like the physicality of being out for hours, in all weathers, not knowing what I might find, if anything at all.
I like the relaxation of spending time, mostly alone, focusing on one thing - taking photographs - when all the worries of "normal life" drop away, and it's all about the present, from step to step, where a turn of the head, or a change of direction can suddenly reveal a stunning vista.
Getting home, putting the kettle on, downloading my photo's then working on them is OK, but as I said before it can be a little slow, but I do enjoy the surprise of watching flat colour photo's being transformed into high-contrast black and whites, or detailed HDR's.
After uploading them to Flickr I like the wait for comments, to see what other people think, then writing a post or podcast about it, then thinking about the next photowalk.
That's my problem you see, I like the whole thing, all aspects of photography, especially shooting outside, but I just don't seem to have the time at the moment. I leave for work at about Seven in the morning, and don't get home until twelve hours later. Week-ends and days off are filled with DIY and the garden, so I need a new strategy.
Lunch breaks are too short - I normally only grab less than half an hour, and to be honest I don't really enjoy shooting indoors at home at night.
I think the answer is more sleep. If I can get up an hour earlier, by going to bed earlier, perhaps I can squeeze in a few short photowalks before work, and get back into the groove of my photography - the hobby I love.
Cheers, Rob.
You see I got a new job a couple of months ago, and it's great, but I just don't get the time to use my camera's as much as I used to, and it got me wondering about what that it is that I like about photography so much and why I took it to heart as my main hobby.
I broke my elbow badly just before Christmas 2007, I spent about a week in hospital waiting for an operation, then a few months after at home recovering, so I had plenty of time to read, as I couldn't do much else.
I had an old Kodak digital, but hadn't been that much interested in photography as a hobby, but in those long months with my arm in a special cast I read a few photography magazines, and bought a Fujifilm S5700 just after Christmas 2008.
To start off with the Fuji was simply an answer to a problem I had - no digital video camera - and I needed one for reviews on Sciuridae.co.uk, and I also thought it would make a great new section on that site, but my interest quickly blossomed and I decided to create this blog / website for the dozens of articles I wanted to write.
Robnunnphoto.com has become something of an obsession, and even with my arm in a sling I spent many happy hours out shooting with my new digital camera, covering miles on photowalks, discovering parts of Gosport that I never knew existed. I started the Podcast to talk about and share my experiences, a flickr group, and made lots of great new friends on that photo-sharing site, especially from the S5700 Flickr group.
As I look back at most of my images I cringe. Sure, some are OK, but my early experiments with post-processing, cropping and HDR were "interesting" to say the least. I feel that I'm a little more conservative now, but I've still got a long way to go.
I digress. What is it the I love about photography? Photographs? I like looking at photographs, especially books, but I don't need a camera for that. My photographs? A little, but to be honest once they're up on Flickr I don't look at them too much. Post processing? A necessary evil on my old, slow pc.
I think its the whole experience, rather than one particular part. I like to look out of the window, see the great light, grab my camera, then go out walking just looking for moments and places where I see something that captures my eye and I try to record it. I like the physicality of being out for hours, in all weathers, not knowing what I might find, if anything at all.
I like the relaxation of spending time, mostly alone, focusing on one thing - taking photographs - when all the worries of "normal life" drop away, and it's all about the present, from step to step, where a turn of the head, or a change of direction can suddenly reveal a stunning vista.
Getting home, putting the kettle on, downloading my photo's then working on them is OK, but as I said before it can be a little slow, but I do enjoy the surprise of watching flat colour photo's being transformed into high-contrast black and whites, or detailed HDR's.
After uploading them to Flickr I like the wait for comments, to see what other people think, then writing a post or podcast about it, then thinking about the next photowalk.
That's my problem you see, I like the whole thing, all aspects of photography, especially shooting outside, but I just don't seem to have the time at the moment. I leave for work at about Seven in the morning, and don't get home until twelve hours later. Week-ends and days off are filled with DIY and the garden, so I need a new strategy.
Lunch breaks are too short - I normally only grab less than half an hour, and to be honest I don't really enjoy shooting indoors at home at night.
I think the answer is more sleep. If I can get up an hour earlier, by going to bed earlier, perhaps I can squeeze in a few short photowalks before work, and get back into the groove of my photography - the hobby I love.
Cheers, Rob.
Reader Comments (2)
Hiya Rob,
Bit of a let down to have all the time in the world, finding an obsession, (and photography soon becomes one!), then losing that time you once had. Been there a few times myself!
Now I find I have all the time in the world and no money to buy what I need. (Hence the darkroom being so neglected!) It's such a hard balance to get right, enough money AND the time.
I was fortunate enough to buy a decent PC when I had the opportunity in the full knowledge that PP would be a necessity. You can imagine the years of frustration I spent with film until I had the equipment required to build my own darkroom. It just wasn't 'happening' until I was able to take control of my negatives and make my own prints!
(I actually spent more than twice the amount on a PC than I did the digital camera, but I also could have bought so many cameras for the final cost of the darkroom!!)
You've hit the 'nail on the head' with regards to photography. Whenever I'm asked what it is about photography I enjoy, my honest answer is 'Everything'!
However, I've had to be more of a realist with regards to it all, the chances of being 'discovered' are in fact quite slim. I don't want to take the route of a commercial photographer to pay for what should be enjoyable, (dealing with bridezilla's and screaming children are not as much fun as you think!) But, now that my children are growing up, gaining their own incomes and even leaving home I've realised that the opportunity exists now. Part time work or even a job share is becoming a more practical solution, if I can cover the rent and bills then the rest of the time is my own. (We also have a simpler life, no car, no subscripton services and our idea of a holiday is 5 minutes without the children around!!)
So in the meantime the darkroom still sits there ready, this PC should last a few more years and more importantly, I've never lost the passion.
You've produced some good work Rob and you've learned a hell of a lot considering you only seriously picked up a camera about a year ago. Above all, you've been gracious in sharing those experiences which has helped many people learn along with you. Not a bad start to it all!
Looking back at your own work and 'cringing' at some of it is actually the best step you'll ever take - it means you know and want to improve your work. Far better than 'thinking' you're there or sticking to tried and tested shots. (Although we all look forward to the day when we take a shot and know it was our best work - but there's always the next 'best' shot to take!)
The days are starting to draw out again, meaning more opportunities in the mornings as well as lighter evenings and you'll be surprised what you'll do to get a shot. I've had times myself in the past of going to bed the moment it gets dark just to get up at the crack of dawn. Winter months are always the worst, going to work when it's dark and returning when it's just as dark.
Put that on top of film developing and printing time and you can see why I went digital!
I honestly think you have had the best start to it all. The little fuji means you have to push that bit harder than most and jumping 'back' to older SLR technologies has given you a better understanding and appreciation for it all. 'Back to basics' is something a lot of people could do with for self improvement. (You don't buy a full concert grand piano to learn how to be a pianist!)
I think you've personally done very well Rob and often look forward to your next path and set of shots. The most important thing is pretty much what you've written here - you LOVE it and that passion burns just as bright.
All the Best,
Victor
Hi Victor,
Many thanks for you comments, you're right about photography being an obsession, and its definitely about the whole process, from idea to completion, rather than just the final photograph itself.
Sometimes I think I should be more selective, and just upload what I think are the very best photos, rather than groups of shots from photowalks. Then I remember that for me, at my point in photography, its more about the journey than the quality of the finished work.
At the moment I'm definitely someone who goes out looking for random shots, rather than pre-visualising a photograph then executing the idea - maybe that will come in time.
Thanks again,
Cheers, Rob.