Winter blehs

[DigiSLR]

I'm currently feeling a little post holiday "bleh" as well as the crappy weather latety around the area.

Photography is only a hobby for me, as I have a full time job that has nothing to do with it. Lately I've been wanting to go shoot, but the weathers been poor. I'm looking for some advice on what everyone who doesn't have a studio does during times of bad weather, and possibly the feeling of not being so artistic.

Do you grab your gear and go drive around and look for something "interesting to shoot"? Do you plan on goining somewhere specific with a particular subject in mind to shoot? Or, perhaps, you just don't go shoot at all.

I want to get out, but I can only do so on my off days, and I'm looking for a few ideas and some motivation...

Thanks for any input!

[iCe]

Some of us just got back from Anahuac NWR

I just got back crom Cameron Prairie NWR in Louisiana. I may have some stuff to show in a little while.

Just a few threads.

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[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

USe the tone of the weather in your pics! You can SHOOT 24/7 365 just the look and atmosphere changes.

So try to figure out how to use that bleh heavy thick clouded grey greenish sky to it's best advantage. Will converting the image to B+W give you a better pic? What about shooting with an IR filter? etc
If you have access to a model dress him/her in a brialliant color-red, yellow, orange, hot pink, etc-fill flash her/him/them so that she/he just blasts out of the frame with color.

[johnastovall]

I never just go out to "shoot." I find having a specific project with a place, time and lens help me to focus on the images. I have some things I shoot all the time under different times, weathers, lenses. Also remember the best light is early morning or late evening (at least for me). You have a studio. Where you live. Look at the work the great Czech photographer, Josef Sudek, all done with things like, eggs, onion, bottles and light from a window in his house.

When you hit a dry (as in imagination) time, read some thing to challenge you with new ideas and images. LensWork is the best for this that I've found. Then pick up Brooks Jensen's book, LETTING GO OF THE CAMERA: Essays on Photography and the Creative Life.

[kenw]

I stay bit bit less esoteric.....

I do shoot less, but edit more. It allows the creative juices to flow, to experiment with textures, colors, etc.

[Stephen H]

Try to work with the weather, rather than against it.

If the weather is gloomy, grab your umbrella and go photograph something gloomy. Cemeteries come to mind. Think "Black and White", too- there's not a lot of color left, so take the remainder out as well. I was out at the arboretum several days ago when it was rainy, and just about had the outdoor parts to myself.

Or try some indoor stuff. Make a little Stonehenge out of dominoes. Photograph pennies or stamps and see how close you can get.

[ddphotography]

I feel the same way, I just got a new camera for Christmas and I want to go shoot something besides my dog!! Don't get me wrong, she's pretty cooperative most of the time, but there are moments when even she runs when she sees me with the camera!! My kids most definitely run at full speed in the other direction. Luckily we have a home basketball game Tuesday night so I am going to go practice under those lighting conditions then!! Can't wait!!

[SaundraU]

The Zoo, the smaller Zoo, The flower gardens in the area, WMA's

I've been known to shoot in all weather but modify my techniques alot. I try to stay under cover as much as possible (i.e. at the barn I stay under the eaves and shot telephoto, shot indoor places more, or keep dry in gotex.)

[CaptainTom]

We all want to go out and shoot the space shuttle lift off, or statue of Liberty, etc.
Take a look at the little things around the house.
Get out into your yard or street and see what is there.
Some of the best photos are of objects that are not even recognizable.
Experiment.

[babybluetx23]

I went the other day and shot the Old Slaughterhouse In Downtown Ft Worth which is Gloomy by itself but then I came home and played with them in Photoshop and came up with this:

[rusty_tripod]

I tend to agree with the original post about the blahs. I just finished driving across Texas to accompany my son on his journey to Virginia. It was grey, wet, and windy the full time. Did not see the sunshine.

Nevertheless, there are things I would have shot except for the need to keep traveling and the rain. I did shoot tombstones at the family cemetery when we were they, despite the lighting.

Flew back into Phoenx last night where we have plenty of sunshine. It is not cold or windy. So, soon, I will finish out the roll in my camera. Before you ask, I did not shoot anything that would be worthy of posting.

Rusty Tripod

[SaundraU]

Here's a few shots from before the storm and during!

[SaundraU]

Bw

[SaundraU]

Stormin'