Help me hit that Golf Ball!!!

[theantiquetiger]

In the past year or so, I have purchased nearly $4000 in equipment, watched hours and hours of blogs, videos, but still cannot get that shot. I treat images like a golf shot, anyone can hit a golf ball, it takes hours of correct practice to hit it consistently and make it go where you want it to go. In the 1000's of photograph golf balls I've hit, I've only hit it correctly a half dozen times. I have an eye for subject and I know what I want to accomplish, but still my images just look like snap shots, not works of art.

People tell me to watch this blog or that blog, but I know what and how to do what they are talking about.

I do feel I get out there to shoot and lose my mind, cannot remember a thing, like writers' block or psyching yourself out when you step to the plate in baseball.

Any suggestion?

[Runmonty]

If you find out please let me know - I share your frustration.

I think perhaps you sell yourself short sometimes. Some of your photos (particularly of your kids) have been "on the green". I loved your girls with the umbrella.

Everything I see and hear about this comes back to the same thing - Take more shots, critically evaluate and repeat taking more shots.

I wonder if a specific project may help? (if your work commitments allow). I don't know - just throwing it out there. I feel I have had some benefit from my windows project

For me I find the assignments on this site valuable for making me expand my comfort zone and making me shoot things I normally wouldn't. (the light painting one is one example that springs to mind).

I have also noticed by following some random people on Flickr, that only a few people have a high success rate. I have started following some people based on a couple of brilliant photos, only to be disappointed by their more mundane stuff that is posted on a regular basis. I guess, for most, not all shots are winners

I too will be interested to read the advice of other members of the forum.

[Realist]

I suppose some people are born with an artistic sense, but it doesn't come to me that easily either. I suppose you could compare this to any sort of sport. You practice religiously yet progress is slow, almost unnoticeable, but there's progress. There's no learning how to be a master overnight, and to be honest not everyone will be a master. It takes a dedication and a devotion to not give up and press on. I think knowledge is helpful, but practice and experimentation is what will build your skills.

[Iguanasan]

Great topic for a blog post

Seriously, though, I think you guys are selling yourselves short as I think I often do myself, either that or I suck too.

I struggle every day to make a decent shot and generally consider many of my shots crap but others seem to like them. Artists, in general, are never satisfied with their work. There is always something they could have done differently to achieve what they feel is a better result. The hardest person to please is yourself.

Interestingly, enough, I have the same issue with karate - a martial ART. I've managed to reach the level of sandan, jun shidoin (third degree black belt, assistant instructor) and many days I feel like I don't have a clue about what I'm doing. However, as I often say to my kids, much to their chagrin, it's all relative. If I compare my current self to what I was like when I was a white belt, or a yellow belt, or an orange belt, I'm way ahead. I'm just never satisfied with my current self and so I continue to strive forward.

All art is about the journey and not the destination. If you listen to "accomplished photographers", many of them - at least the ones with normal egos - will tell you they feel the same way and meanwhile you are blown away by their results.

I try not to send people to another podcast out of respect for Marko, however, I'm sure he won't mind this one. If you haven't listened to this particular episode of the Candid Frame, then please, do so - The Candid Frame: A Photography Podcast: The Candid Frame #89 - Stephan Oberhoff This episode was kind of pivotal to me. I believe you'll find it well worth the 1 hour investment.

After all this I may just put this answer on my blog

[theantiquetiger]

When I bought my new lens yesterday, I was telling them I'm still struggling with the camera, still learning it. I let him talk me into a Promaster video on the Canon 60D. Boy, was that a waste of time and money. It went over the VERY basics of camera usage. If you are going to purchase a camera like a 60D, at least know the basics of general use of any camera. The only thing it taught me was to reformat the card every so often to help keep the speed of the camera.

[Bambi]

well if you want my two cents here it is:

I echo what others say about how we are not satisfied with our work. That is good as long as it pushes you to improve but not if it stops growth.

FWIW I saw the most gain in my photography by two things: taking lots of shots and studying not only my successes but my failures have taught me even more- especially the 'near misses'. I studied them and then tried again. And again and again. Not that I rate myself that high but I have fun and am still advancing so what the heck.

Another piece of advice that I might give is to stop buying stuff and studying stuff and just go out and take photos. and more photos. Learn the equipment that you have.

When I take a photo I try to stop and think about what it was that attracted me to take the shot and how would I convey that to the viewer.