Falling into the same trap, or, those who do not heed history are doomed to repeat it...

[Yeats]

I do photography primarily as a hobby, so my two rules are:

1) Photography and related activities should be enjoyable
2) See rule 1

I don't pursue photography as some kind of art or commercial venture so I don't make myself do anything if it ultimately doesn't interest me.

I'm still trying to figure out which genres interest me, and to what degree.

Thx for sharing your story.

2 years ago I started photography with the Olympus E-P1. It was and is still my first love.
After a few weeks with the kitlens I bought the Pana 20mm pancake for indoor shooting. The Oly 45mm followed. Then I sold both to buy the Pana Leica 25mm.
After a while I tried my first legacy lens. The OM 50mm 1.8f. Now I have 30 legacy lenses.
I sold my Pana Leica to fund the Pancolar 80mm 1.8f.
In the mean time I bought and sold 2 Nexes and an E-PL5. None of them gave me the same feeling as the E-P1.
A real man's retro well built camera. Altough I must say that the E-PL5 with the VF2 was a real good combo.
The Nexes on the contrary I didn't like.
Now I have the X-E1. Finally I found a worthy follow up for my E-P1.
I only shoot legacy glass. I haven't got any AF lenses anymore.
I invest in old glass which keep their values and from time to time I buy a new body.
That's my story. What can happen in 2 years time he

I can relate! It's funny how highly personal our chunks of metal, glass and plastic are.

I shoot both old & newer glass, and there are times when I am really, really simply in the mood for the characteristics of the older lenses.

 

[Yeats]

Then you need to decide to either put more effort into what you are doing or accept that you really don't want to

Nic makes a good point. An excellent one in fact..

All I can say is push yourself a few times and see if the means justify the end, if the results of more effort also result in more pleasure or if you feel the same. If the reward is greater you probably won't even think of extending yourself the next time, you'll just do it. If you enjoy your results but they don't make you particularly happier than when you don't push yourself photographically, then you can continue doing what you are doing and have been doing without second guessing whether or not you should be working harder for it all.

Yup, you are absolutely right!

------------------------

Adding, since you wanted to know our personal experiences..

I would love to do Haikyo [what you guys are calling Urbex] however I don't feel as a female and probably even as a male, it's always so safe to do, particularly alone. John I admire you and fear for you sometimes. I would love travel photography but we don't travel all that often and vacations that come so seldom should be enjoyed for what they are and should not become photoshoots. Landscapes and star-scapes and macro-scapes: I am hindered by location [chicago burbs, yeah sunset over the 7-11 with free light pollution] or equipment.. or health.. and so I am in a state of apathy. My husband shoots more with his cellphone. Would.. putting the effort into it as I suggested to you, excluding health or travel/gear costs result in renewed desire and more pleasure from my photos-- probably. I just have too many obstacles.

That is why.. I think you owe it to yourself to try a few things, to really.. seriously try to accomplish a few of your desires and IF.. those things please you then continue to do them, as you can, and if those things don't add anything particularly special to your shooting, then be happy with what you have been doing and don't second guess yourself. Without the obstacles the only thing holding you back is you

Not only do I have the "obstacles", in that due to the health of several family members I am restricted in my ability to travel and am essentially "on call" 24/7, as I've gotten older I've grown increasingly aware that my life isn't my own... it is my responsibility to keep myself alive and functional, simply because of my responsibilities. Photography often has to get squeezed in.

John is a bit bold but not alone [no pun intended] in his private practice of urban exploration. I've heard of photographers going out alone before but have also heard of them doing it in small groups as well. In most cases it is illegal on the grounds of trespassing which is why people are so secretive or even solitary about doing it. I've heard of them running into trouble in no-so abandoned buildings that they thought were empty.. from wild dogs to people involved in illegal activities and being that the way of egress into many of these places are tunnels like what John used for the old sanitarium to cracks in the walls etc, they aren't so easy to get back out of in a hurry if you need to exit fast. A lot of times I will see demolition sales and enter those houses where there is some risk of entering a condemned house however there are people on the grounds and it is legal on the basis you are looking for treasures from trim to flooring to fixtures. Or in my case photographing them. It's not as exciting but I'm just not brave enough to go into some old apartment complex alone... nor a farm field at night etc. Women get raped, they get beaten and they get found dead in some swamp for less and I just don't feel an urgency to play that hard. I will instead enjoy the fruits of those that do and keep my fingers crossed they remain safe. Not all places are dangerous, but many can be.

I found this to be a good read on it: The Hazards of Haikyo and Urban Exploration

Dangerous stuff. Thanks for the link!

 

[Luke]

Let me just add that some are born to be specialists while others excel at being generalists. For whatever reason I wish I were a specialist. But if I'm honest with myself in photography, I'm more of a generalist. Now that I am embracing it, I enjoy it a bit more. I'm not trying so hard and just seem to enjoy whatever photo opportunities come my way. A lot of the times, that just means snapping candids of my pets.....I know it's not art, but I like playing with cameras, and I love the dogs and cats. And sometimes I like to push myself to try something new.... or I'll just shoot flower macros....or head out to the park and look for new angles. I don;t understand architectural photography, but one day soon, I'm going to head downtown and try my hand at that. And if I fail......no biggie. I enjoy time spent with my camera. ANd I learn a little each time.....even when I don't get anything great.

A little self-analysis is good, but too much is terrible

 

[Gary]

I've been seriously shooting since grade school (developing and printing film) . When I shot professionally, I was driven by the competition. Now, I shoot for the challenge. Regardless of what I'm shooting, I am always motivated to capture the exceptional image, always trying to better my last photo.

=G=

 

[Isoterica]

Not only do I have the "obstacles", in that due to the health of several family members I am restricted in my ability to travel and am essentially "on call" 24/7, as I've gotten older I've grown increasingly aware that my life isn't my own... it is my responsibility to keep myself alive and functional, simply because of my responsibilities. Photography often has to get squeezed in.

That was why I was so taken with Macro, because you can be in your house and still discovery tiny worlds.

Let me just add that some are born to be specialists while others excel at being generalists. For whatever reason I wish I were a specialist. But if I'm honest with myself in photography, I'm more of a generalist. Now that I am embracing it, I enjoy it a bit more. I'm not trying so hard and just seem to enjoy whatever photo opportunities come my way.

A little self-analysis is good, but too much is terrible

Well said, don't think about it too much, just be honest with yourself and enjoy!