I love to travel. If money were no object, I’d travel as much as possible. There are very few places in the world I don’t want to see. And when I travel, I bring many camera options. I want to have variety and choice in what I use to shoot what I see on my adventures. Of course this often means I don’t make a choice, and I shoot the same scene with every camera in my arsenal, but that’s not what this post is about! Excitedly, I board the plane or hop in the car, dreaming of all the photographs I’m going to take during my travels.
Then, when I get home, I invariably realize I didn’t shoot a thing. Okay, that’s hyperbole. I do shoot when I travel, but I always shoot so much less than I expect. And, I always feel regret about all of the photographs I didn’t take. I’m keenly feeling this awareness right now as I recently returned home from a trip to New York City. It was kind of a Mortal Muse meet-up as I spent the trip with Debra, a current Muse, and Lindsey, a recent Muse alumnae, and we also met up with current Muse, Christy (and got to meet her beautiful new babe!). We invited instant photographers to join us for a Polaroid photo-walk in Brooklyn, so we got to meet some new friends on the trip, too. It was awesome to spend a weekend with friends who are also photographers. And, you would think I’d find a photographic rhythm for the weekend and return home with a treasure trove of photographs. Yet, I didn’t.
While looking through my paltry sum of photographs that I shot over three days in vibrant, inspiring NYC, I got to thinking about the reasons why I don’t shoot when I’m traveling. I journaled about it one morning as I was feeling disappointed that I had so little to show of my trip. Here’s what I discovered about my roadblocks to shooting:
1. In general, I’m an under-shooter. I know many over-shooters, but I tend to take less photos overall. I think this has developed over time as I shoot more film. I think I’ve gotten a little stingy with the shots I take. I need to break this habit.
2. I’m totally out of practice. I’ve spent the last year immersed in 365 Impossible Self-Portraits, thus, primarily taking photos of myself every day. I’ve hardly shot any other type of photography in a full year, and I’m completely out of practice. My eye and “seeing photographs” again needs some attention.
3. I get overwhelmed, photographically, in a new place. This overwhelm is especially acute in an urban setting like New York City. I’m not use to the scale, the scope, the size of the city and I get a bit lost in how to shoot it. The enormity of the skyline, the height of the buildings, the pulse of the city…I want to capture it all but my uncertainty as to how best to do so leaves me not shooting.
4. Not “wearing” my camera is a problem. I realized that as we walked around the city, my cameras were nestled in my camera bag. So, every time I wanted to take a photo, I had to dig in my bag to get a camera out. I didn’t have a camera swinging from a strap around my neck, always at the ready. And this is a roadblock! Keeping the cameras tucked away means it’s kind of an ordeal to stop, pull out a camera, get it adjusted, etc. Having quick and easy access to a camera would certainly have enabled me to shoot more. Convenience is important.
5. I’m too social. I am an extreme extrovert and I love being with people. Meeting new people brings this out even more as I want to connect and chat it up with people I’ve just met. This is a serious roadblock to shooting. I realize that I get so caught up in talking and connecting with others, even on a photo-walk, that I don’t focus on taking photographs.
6. Being uncomfortable, temperature-wise or for any other reason (e.g., hungry, needing to use the facility, tired), gets in the way of shooting. Looking back on our weekend in NYC, I was cold most of the time. I felt chilled and windblown. I wanted to get where we were going, get inside, and warm up. If I’m uncomfortable and want to get inside, I’m definitely not taking my time, enjoying my surroundings, and taking photographs.
Understanding these roadblocks to shooting is very helpful. I feel more compassion for myself about the lack of shots I took on this trip, and I have stopped feeling so much regret and frustration. Moreover, I now am aware of how to make my next trip more productive and engaged photographically.
What about you? Do you have your own roadblocks to shooting?
Meghan of Life Refocused
Meghan, I totally get this! The physical weight of my cameras is my roadblock. I’m trying to find a bag that can accommodate them all and yet not knacker me too much. I suspect this actually means taking one fewer cameras, but I am heartbroken at the very thought.
Glad I’m not alone, Kirstin! I totally get the weight of the cameras. I, too, carry too many cameras with me and that gets uncomfortable. Keep us posted on the bag search!
My biggest road blocks are that I start to feel hemmed in by my own expectations. One example — when I first started taking photos with stock photography in mind, I was so inspired and took a ton of photos, but after a while, I found I’d stopped taking any photos unless I knew they might work for stock. I wouldn’t take a photo if I knew I wouldn’t be able to clone out a label or some text or I knew I wouldn’t be able to get a model or property release. I’m working on getting past that now.
Something that helps me a lot with #3, which I suffer from regularly, is to just take photos, even if I know they’re crap. Sometimes I really just need to warm up, and I need some throw-away photos to get me there. I know that’s harder with film, but a phone camera could be helpful for this too.
Thanks for sharing your roadblocks, Deirdre. I really resonate with the self-expectations we have. That is definitely a roadblock I could add to my list. And the issues with focusing on stock photography make sense! Good for you to recognize that one. Thanks for your input 🙂
I’ve noticed the same about myself but usually it is because I’m connecting with the other photographers that I am with, which is never something to regret. If I spent more time shooting, I am not sure I would have as strong or deep a connection as I do with the fellow photogs I had hung out with. Just a way to put a positive spin on it 🙂
Agreed, Cara!! I don’t regret for one second the connections I’ve made with other photographers. Perfect re-frame on this!!
Ps two more thoughts: just another excuse to go back! And people shoot far too much these days anyway. You don’t need oodles of photo just a set of really good ones.
And YES to both of these thoughts! I’m ready to go back to NYC tomorrow (want to join me?!) and a set of photos I love, regardless of size, is all I need.
Great list! And I’ve felt the same way before, especially since my last few trips, I’ve only shot film and definitely pace myself with the amount of photos I take. One of my road blocks is feeling self conscious with my camera! I feel like everyone’s watching and thinking, “why is she taking a picture of that dead tree?” therefore, I know I have missed opportunities I wish I would have taken. That also has affected what I want to shoot more of, and that’s the people around me…family and friends – people in general. I feel like they’ll be all too aware of a camera and so I shy away from taking out.
Oh, I get feeling self-conscious. I often have my Polaroid cameras with me, and while I like being an “ambassador” of sorts about instant film photography, there are times I want to be in my own process and not get into a big conversation about the cameras, etc.
Meghan: I totally get this…I have the problem when I come back home from a trip. I need to become more open to my local surroundings and take more local photos. On my last trip to New York (which was a few weeks before you) I used just my iphone to take photos. I have found when traveling there that my big camera is too cumbersome and heavy for all the walking that we do. With my phone, I keep it tucked into a pocket and can easily pull it out when something inspires me. and YES, NYC is overwhelming to shoot. I love color so, window displays, flowers, traffic and architectural details keep me focused…
Yes, Sarah! I also need to shoot more locally. I get bored with where I live and feel uninspired. That’s a roadblock for me, too.
My two roadblocks are the weight of the camera (shooting now with a 24-70 when traveling) and being with others.
The latter is my own problem as I worry that I’m taking up too much time shooting, especially when I’m with family or friends who aren’t photographers. I need to either schedule time on my own to shoot or just do it.
On the weighty camera, I have been thinking of investing in a higher end point & shoot that is smaller and lighter but better photo quality than my iPhone.
On the iPhone note, it’s been a great practice to shoot more because it’s so convenient.
I’m off to NYC at the end of the month and I WILL take more photos. Like you, on my last trip I came home with hardly any. Or not as many as I’d hoped to take.
Yes, the weight of the camera — I have the 24-70 lens, too, and it can feel like a beast! I also feel like I’m “bothering” people when I’m shooting and worry that I’m holding the group up. We have to push past those feelings. Have a great trip to NYC!
Yes, I struggle to take travel photos that I really like, too. And I’ve figured out why. One is, as you say, sensory overload. The other is that I’m more of a contemplative photographer, I need time to think about what I’m doing. Depending on one’s travel companions, travel photography often {always?} requires you to be quick on the draw. I am not. Good post … glad to know I’m not the only one who struggles with this.
I’m glad to know I’m not alone, too, Dotti!! I resonate with being a more contemplative photographer, too. Adding it to my list!
I loved reading this because I too can relate to so many of your thoughts, minus the extrovert one;) I hate wearing my camera around my neck and I don’t I always hold it in my hand and often the strap will sneak into pictures and then I have to re-take the shot. Well anyway, I’m most excited about your met up because although I say I’m not an extrovert, I do love the connections we make here. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this. I love that you took 365 of SP’s that’s a big deal. A real big awesome deal!!
Me? It’s two things. First, I too suffer from “camera-in-bag” syndrome; even when I’m in the truck.
Second, it’s having others with me.
From last post that was cut off.
When I have others with me, I have to consider their time and needs. When I’m alone I can focus on the shot (no pun intended).
Great article!