Now What to Shoot?

I'm setting up a 35mm B&W darkroom again after many decades and retirement some time ago. I found a Nikon F Photomic, the Apollo model, in fine shape and still finding it hard to believe my first camera is again in my hands.

In those days I lived urban and there seemed to be always something perfect to shoot, print, and share with friends. It was wonderful, enjoying those excesses and being a part of what we felt was a resistance, bringing examples of people and scenes that seemed all new then.

Now living in a carefully crafted area of recently built stucco chains where all is cheerful and not a cloud darkens either the weather report nor a face, I'm at a loss to find something interesting to shoot.

As an example, one night in the late 60's I rode my motorcycle out to the airport, a great place to watch and shoot people. It had been recently remodeled, and coming into one of the new waiting areas I found several dozen, mostly well dressed men sitting in rows in formed plastic seats, each seat offering a small coin operated TV pointed to them. I found one of these TV seats on Google, pictured below, my own prints long gone now.

In my youth and enthusiasm for life and conversation I simply found this shocking and worthy of at least one roll of, of course, Tri X. The emptiness it showed, judgmental of course, seemed like a warning.

My job now is to find that feeling again from my own eye, and from my own, now blunted awareness.

" I'm at a loss to find something interesting to shoot@

Interesting

Just shoot anything and everything. Among that muddle you will find interesting.

" I'm at a loss to find something interesting to shoot@

 

Interesting

 

Just shoot anything and everything. Among that muddle you will find interesting.

Yes, I'm certain once I've shot a few more rolls those should show me where my current focus lies.

Thanks SCL, I'm certain you're right once I get out and get used to actually looking again instead of just passing by. But so glad I've started this, perhaps my visual rut is deeper than I thought.

Thanks bethe, I mixed up the D-76 and fixer today and it was even better than cooking. The smells really took me back. The bath darkroom after ten minutes proved to be light tight, so that's coming soon also.

I'm at a loss to find something interesting to shoot.

Ahh, great, then you're standing at a wide open door!

Two more thoughts that might be helpful:

To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them. —Elliott Erwitt

Look and think before opening the shutter. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera. —Yousuf Karsh

Ahh, great, then you're standing at a wide open door!

 

Two more thoughts that might be helpful:

Re-reading my post today I felt how ridiculous it is to be sitting at home 'whimpering about what to shoot'... So yes, out today looking.

Thanks!

Re-reading my post today I felt how ridiculous it is to be sitting at home 'whimpering about what to shoot'... So yes, out today looking.

 

Thanks!

One more idea. Look around your house and find uninteresting looking things to photograph. Think, how you can portray them to create interest and imagination. or ... photograph around the house to express certain moods or states of mind ... for instance, frustration. Imagine you are locked in a house with a camera and no none else ... Can you talk to the house using your camera?

I have left and returned to photography at various levels over the last 40+ years. Each time that I come back, I find that my interests have changed. I no longer want to be Ansel Adams as I did in my youth (although I would still love to be Edward Weston . . . ). Over time, my interest in portraiture, both formal and informal, has grown greatly.

If I were in your situation again, there are a few things that I would try: The first is to try something that you have never done. Even if it's only to work with a film that is drastically different from you have used in the past. Another, which really can include the first, is to give yourself an assignment. If you have never done much portraiture, go to a park or to the city and don't leave until you have talked to and photographed 10 people that you didn't know before. Create a new gmail account and give each of them the email address and ask them to reach out so that you can send them prints. Pets are a great opener.

If you mostly did portraits, go to the florist (or the supermarket) and get a variety of flowers to do some closeup studies or still lifes.

Lots of people have done photos in their own backyards, but the most successful ones were the ones who were already successful before they did that.

Some people even shoot trees, others water towers:rolleyes:

One more idea. Look around your house and find uninteresting looking things to photograph. Think, how you can portray them to create interest and imagination. or ... photograph around the house to express certain moods or states of mind ... for instance, frustration. Imagine you are locked in a house with a camera and no none else ... Can you talk to the house using your camera?

 

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This is an excellent idea Supriyo. It combines emotions and how I'm seeing familiar things, but right in front of me.

Thanks!

I have left and returned to photography at various levels over the last 40+ years. Each time that I come back, I find that my interests have changed. I no longer want to be Ansel Adams as I did in my youth (although I would still love to be Edward Weston . . . ). Over time, my interest in portraiture, both formal and informal, has grown greatly.

 

If I were in your situation again, there are a few things that I would try: The first is to try something that you have never done. Even if it's only to work with a film that is drastically different from you have used in the past. Another, which really can include the first, is to give yourself an assignment. If you have never done much portraiture, go to a park or to the city and don't leave until you have talked to and photographed 10 people that you didn't know before. Create a new gmail account and give each of them the email address and ask them to reach out so that you can send them prints. Pets are a great opener.

 

If you mostly did portraits, go to the florist (or the supermarket) and get a variety of flowers to do some closeup studies or still lifes.

This is an interesting idea, but very challenging. I don't generally engage with people though I'm told frequently by my good lady wife that's a poor road to follow. I certainly do see the value in it, but again, very challenging.

Thank you.

Lots of people have done photos in their own backyards, but the most successful ones were the ones who were already successful before they did that.

 

Some people even shoot trees, others water towers:rolleyes:

Yes I'm better at inanimate objects. We did spend Saturday morning photographing a wonderful bridge I found just North of Nogales over Potrero Creek. It's perhaps only 75', but has great bolted gussets with all members of pre-rusted steel, which have developed a fine patina, with some lighter streaks from various scars. It was a great experience, hoping to develop the TX400 roll tomorrow, and will shoot again there next time with color.

Thank you.

This is an interesting idea, but very challenging. I don't generally engage with people though I'm told frequently by my good lady wife that's a poor road to follow. I certainly do see the value in it, but again, very challenging.

 

Thank you.

People are those inconvenient items that block one's view of a subject, or worse, insist on being photographed.

To no particular purpose, in the film Three Days of the Condor, Faye Dunaway's character is a photographer whose pictures, as I recall, are devoid of people.

There is dialogue on the subject..... somehow intertwined with steamy scenes?

Kathy

: Sometimes I take a picture that isn't like me. But I took it so it is like me. It has to be. I put those pictures away.

 

Joe Turner

: I'd like to see those pictures.

 

Kathy

: We don't know each other that well.

 

Joe Turner

: Do you know anybody that well?

 

Kathy

: I don't think I want to know you very well. I don't think you're going to live much longer.

 

Joe Turner

: I may surprise you.

To no particular purpose, in the film Three Days of the Condor, Faye Dunaway's character is a photographer whose pictures, as I recall, are devoid of people.

 

There is dialogue on the subject..... somehow intertwined with steamy scenes?

 

Love to see this Film. My favorite all time film, 'Closely Watched Trains', 1966 Czechoslovakia, beyond the humor and wonderful vulgarity always has me sitting upright for the length of the film. B&W of course, but each scene could be a memorable still.

I think to not worry about it. Sometimes there does seem to be nothing to photograph: well of course, you can always photograph something (your foot?), but does it interest you? If not then just don't do it until you do find something that does. Enjoy your time off. So far I usually always enjoy "the chase", but for most people the interest waxes and wanes, which seems quite natural to me.

3 days of the condor was a film, if I remember, reflecting post-Nixonian paranoia, about how the government can't be trusted and may well want to kill: you even if you work for it. Mediocre thriller from what I remember. Plus ca change...

To no particular purpose, in the film Three Days of the Condor, Faye Dunaway's character is a photographer whose pictures, as I recall, are devoid of people.

 

There is dialogue on the subject..... somehow intertwined with steamy scenes?

 

I remember that movie, it is very good and still relevant:)

AH, what to shoot...

Anything, everything. I'm just learning "photography" but have ebbs pointing and shooting pocket sized digital cameras for a while now, at least 10 years. I've always f found something to point at and shoot. With my new-to-me medium format 500cm camera, it has moved to whole other levels... mostly levels of money but hey.

LOL leave the house (or don't) and see what you find. Motorcycle, eh? bike shows, bike nights at bars. Car shows, drive-in car shows, drive in move theaters for that matter... trains, train tracks (BE CAREFUL), railroad yards, city streets, people... go wild man. The sky is the limit, wait- there are no limits.

Oh, and POST pix. Because, you know- pix or it didn't happen, as my friends like to say.

AH, what to shoot...

 

Anything, everything. I'm just learning "photography" but have ebbs pointing and shooting pocket sized digital cameras for a while now, at least 10 years. I've always f found something to point at and shoot. With my new-to-me medium format 500cm camera, it has moved to whole other levels... mostly levels of money but hey.

 

LOL leave the house (or don't) and see what you find. Motorcycle, eh? bike shows, bike nights at bars. Car shows, drive-in car shows, drive in move theaters for that matter... trains, train tracks (BE CAREFUL), railroad yards, city streets, people... go wild man. The sky is the limit, wait- there are no limits.

 

Oh, and POST pix. Because, you know- pix or it didn't happen, as my friends like to say.

Great advice! I think when I posted this originally I must have felt overwhelmed by all the options, and couldn't center on one point. I've now developed the first 400TX roll I took of misc here, and a pony truss bridge I pass frequently. Some look interesting, and I picked up some Dektol today, so I'll be looking at them soon.

On posting here, which I do intend to do, I don't have a scanner and without one there seems to be no method of posting them. That was the most seductive thrill of an iPhone. Any suggestions on this tech issue?

Thanks Ricochetrider!