same old, same old

[lizziebelle]

lineup, originally uploaded by Lizzie~Belle.

I've taken this picture before. Granted, this one is much better than the other one that I took with my old camera, but it's nothing new. I've been finding myself in a bit of a rut lately, taking mostly the same old things, trying to get a better shot of the familiar and time-worn favorites.

My picture of the day set is starting to get boring. I need to shake things up, which is one of the reasons I started this project. It wasn't too hard in the winter to find new and different things, because I was searching for new and different things to photograph.

But now it's summer, and there are flowers everywhere, and of course I want to take a picture of each and every one, but I don't want my photo a day project to be three months of flowers in the middle. Ya know?

So I want you to give me an assignment. Think of something interesting that you haven't seen me post before. Something out of the box. I will do my best to fulfill your requests. Help me to stretch my photographic muscles! I'm thinking I might do a contest later, and you'll get to vote for the winner. And of course win a prize. :)

Comments

[stinabat.livejournal.com]

first, love the rose. it looks like porcelain.

second, how about something gritty? something with lots of texture? something very urban?

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Ooh, good suggestion!

[anghara.livejournal.com]

What's the weirdest place you remember seeing a fire hydrant? Go take a picture...

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I'll have to work on that! I took one at the park a while back; I'll have to keep an eye out for unusual fire hydrant placement! Thanks!

[lamentables.livejournal.com]

I've been noting a big step in the quality of your photos recently (and totally failing to congratulate you on it, sorry). I have also noticed that you've been all flowers all the time and, whilst I don't think there's anything wrong with that, I completely recognise the feeling of being in a rut.

I was also going to suggest urban things...not sure how apt these are for your locale, but:

railings/fences/barriers
traffic lights & road signs
shop fronts
billboards/posters/lost dog signs
abandoned stuff

Or a week of a single colour? I'll give you blue to start with.

Things in the office - stationery supplies, chairs, mugs.

If you're walking in the usual places - dead or dying flowers, fallen petals, decay

Shadows. Shadows are always good. Ditto reflections.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks! A compliment *and* lots of suggestions. Excellent. :)

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

I know that feeling of being in a rut. That's how I used to be with landscapes and the photo-a-day helped shake me out of that because in January and February, the landscapes were dreary and grey so I was actively looking for different things.

However, I too seem to be stuck on flowers at the moment! :)

Perhaps next month I'll set myself a theme such as buildings, just to get away from all the pretty? Not that there's anything wrong with pretty and I've been loving your flower pictures, but sometimes it's good to stretch in a different direction.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I won't stop taking pictures of flowers, but I must remember to take pix of other things as well. :)

[firespirit1.livejournal.com]

Portraits. You seldom take photos of people.

How about doing a series of action photos? Objects, people or animals in motion

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

That's a very good idea. I know I need to work on portraits. I'm thinking that this is something I can work on at Brushwood, if people are amenable. :)

[dreda.livejournal.com]

I would strongly second the idea of photos of motion - you take beautiful still shots, but I suspect that motion is a whole different set of muscles.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Good point. I think I'm going to have my hands full at Brushwood! ;)

[sea-dark-wine.livejournal.com]

I was going to say portraits, too. I know they're more challenging since you do have to interact with the people! Brushwood sounds like a great opportunity.

[bettyw.livejournal.com]

Are there settings on your camera that you don't frequently use? If so, try things with them. If you can control the shutter speed enough, try taking some night shots @ Brushwood (either use a stick/chair/etc for a tripod, or try for some abstract images of moving lights).

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

I don't have much control over shutter speed, but there are settings I haven't tried yet, and I did plan to take some night shots at BW. :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

I feel like I should be able to smell that rose through my computer screen. :) Beautiful!

How about something "Gothic"? (Interpret that however you'd like.)

And/or how about photographing a dog or dogs that you see out and about? (I love random dog photos!)

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Both good ideas, thanks! I was thinking about dogs when I was at the park today. :)

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Insects. Or architecture...

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

I've done a lot of bugs lately, so architecture it is! Thanks!

[writerjenn.livejournal.com]

The main character in L.K. Madigan's FLASH BURNOUT is taking photography, and the book contains a bunch of different photography exercises you could try.
I would suggest closeups of patterns and textures. Like: crumpled foil, or a pine cone, or a pebbled walkway, or a tree branch, or fabric, etc.

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Ooh, another good suggestion! I'm going to be busy for weeks! :)

[leenah.livejournal.com]

my first thought was: Floors.

ground. bottom. where you place your feet, what's beneath you.

:)

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Added to the list!