What's your excuse for not going out and taking photos?

[Maris]

My excuse? For every hour I go out and do camera work I spend 20 hours in the darkroom making photographs on paper and film. I guess that constitutes a very different scenario compared to people who think photography begins and ends with a camera click.

 

[Svenedin]

My excuse? For every hour I go out and do camera work I spend 20 hours in the darkroom making photographs on paper and film. I guess that constitutes a very different scenario compared to people who think photography begins and ends with a camera click.

Absolutely. I have a big backlog of negatives. Winter does have the advantage of making darkroom work a more attractive proposition. Mind you, you are in the Southern Hemisphere so in Spring!

 

[jimjm]

My excuse? For every hour I go out and do camera work I spend 20 hours in the darkroom making photographs on paper and film. I guess that constitutes a very different scenario compared to people who think photography begins and ends with a camera click.

I'll have to agree with this. Darkroom work is as much a part of the enjoyment as taking the photos.

I should have worded this: "What's your excuse for not MAKING photographs", as this woman's story inspired me to start working on some projects and prints I've been putting off for far too long.

 

[naeroscatu]

Thank you for the story, very inspiring. I have little to no excuse. Still working every day is not an excuse. I could still go in the darkroom evenings or week-ends but I lack energy.
I'm not the lazy type, perhaps it is accumulated stress; not sure butt I appreciate a kick in the but once in a while. One thing is certain, I have not abandoned photography. Here, I said it

 

[removed account4]

I
I should have worded this: "What's your excuse for not MAKING photographs",

im still making them but not so much with a camera so i am not taking them

 

[Rick A]

I don't make excuses. An excuse is nothing more than a lie dressed in reason's clothing. I do have a couple of reasons though, I don't want to, and you can't make me. Works for damned near everything.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

im still making them but not so much with a camera so i am not taking them

If I understand you correctly, I've done the same thing. Up in Washington I became so overwhelmed with autumn colors that I felt I was just repetitively making the same types of photos and still not capturing what I "saw".

One day last month I deliberately did not take a camera with me on my walks; this was difficult. At one point I paused and looked at the late afternoon sun backlighting the trees in someone's yard. The colors were spectacular and scintillating in a light breeze. I watched this carefully for over a minute, taking in every detail. Actually thinking of what you'd written in a thread long ago, I realized this memory would be better than any photo I could make - a photo which I would glance at only on few occasions. Later, I walked past a small tree, stopped, and looked at it. There were small red berries on it, illuminated by the sun - another image saved in my mind but not on film.

 

[removed account4]

If I understand you correctly, I've done the same thing. Up in Washington I became so overwhelmed with autumn colors that I felt I was just repetitively making the same types of photos and still not capturing what I "saw".

One day last month I deliberately did not take a camera with me on my walks; this was difficult. At one point I paused and looked at the late afternoon sun backlighting the trees in someone's yard. The colors were spectacular and scintillating in a light breeze. I watched this carefully for over a minute, taking in every detail. Actually thinking of what you'd written in a thread long ago, I realized this memory would be better than any photo I could make - a photo which I would glance at only on few occasions. Later, I walked past a small tree, stopped, and looked at it. There were small red berries on it, illuminated by the sun - another image saved in my mind but not on film.

yup exactly !
ive been practicing being "present" a lot ...
also making photograms and sun prints to clean my head..
=
sounds like your experience is now burnished into your memory

 

[Chrismat]

Well, it now get dark at around 4pm so I can't really do anything until the weekends. Come winter (soon) it'll be too damn cold to take most photos. Nothing irritates me more than having to stand still with my fingers freezing setting up, adjusting shutter speeds, etc.

 

[railwayman3]

Too many negs awaiting indexing and printing, slides to label, sort and scan, films still to process, old cine film to edit, plans to try alternative processes (a cyanotype kit from last Christmas still to open and use), several other hobbies to progress, family to visit, classical music to listen to. (Oh, and there's work still to be fitted in somewhere, for a year or two yet.)

 

[KenS]

'Twas -12 Deg C with the 60 klick wind out of the west. (bad enough to make use of a dark-cloth more than 'just dfficult').... and... She Who Must Be Obeyed drove off with the car.... with my gloves on the driver's seat

Ken 8-(

 

[Pentode]

Well, it now get dark at around 4pm so I can't really do anything until the weekends.

That's my situation, too, and I often work weekends as well. I'll continue to shoot during the winter, though, just not as much. In the meantime I have a backlog of rolls to develop, film to scan and some modifications to my very tiny darkroom so I can fit my enlarger in there. Once I do that it may be a long while before I'm out shooting again - I've wanted the ability to print at home for a long time.

For a more immediate answer to the OP's question, It's cold, dark and raining outside and I just had a tooth pulled. If anyone's looking for me, I'll be on the couch!

 

[Pioneer]

Being happily retired I have no problems making photographs either out or in. Once I have finished developing and printing the latest batch the question does occasionally pop into my mind; what am I going to do with all these prints that are slowly but surely filling every space in my small house?

 

[kingbuzzie]

I've been thinking what is to keep me from setting up a tiny studio in my office? Also a lack of imagination. Anyone recommend a film photobook of studio macro photography?

 

[BMbikerider]

It could be rubbish weather or I am in my workshop restoring my classic BMW motorcycle.

Being asked to do household jobs is a certain recipe for me to find inspiration to pick up my camera and go out.

 

[markjwyatt]

If I understand you correctly, I've done the same thing. Up in Washington I became so overwhelmed with autumn colors that I felt I was just repetitively making the same types of photos and still not capturing what I "saw".

One day last month I deliberately did not take a camera with me on my walks; this was difficult. At one point I paused and looked at the late afternoon sun backlighting the trees in someone's yard. The colors were spectacular and scintillating in a light breeze. I watched this carefully for over a minute, taking in every detail. Actually thinking of what you'd written in a thread long ago, I realized this memory would be better than any photo I could make - a photo which I would glance at only on few occasions. Later, I walked past a small tree, stopped, and looked at it. There were small red berries on it, illuminated by the sun - another image saved in my mind but not on film.

Yes. Too bad though that you did not capture it. Then you could share it with us also.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Yes. Too bad though that you did not capture it. Then you could share it with us also.

What led me to leave the camera at home was that I felt I had been unsuccessful in capturing what I truly saw. Although I had many nice photos that showed autumn colors, when I looked at those photos something was missing. So, during my walk I simply observed and committed to memory what I was seeing. I think my recollection of this has more meaning to me than whatever I would have photographed that day.

 

[jessy]

Rainy season i'm not going to out and take photo

 

[Theo Sulphate]

I have a Nikonos V for rainy days in the pacific northwest.

Good news is that I can make excellent photos in terrible rainy, windy weather (*).

Bad news is that I have to walk around in terrible rainy, windy weather.


(*) the 35/2.5 W-Nikkor is outstanding - better than 35/2 Summicron

 

[removed account4]

Yes. Too bad though that you did not capture it.

he DID capture it !

 

[Helinophoto]

My excuse? For every hour I go out and do camera work I spend 20 hours in the darkroom making photographs on paper and film. I guess that constitutes a very different scenario compared to people who think photography begins and ends with a camera click.

My excuse?
"I am suffering from this condition...you know, it's very serious"

"What's it called again....?"

"Ah yeah....cantbearsed, it's the dreaded cantbearsed disease".

No, seriously....I have no other excuse than no inspiration, no ideas, nothing to shoot, too dark, work takes up my daylight and my girlfriend takes up my weekends, too late in the day, tomorrow will be better.

Amazing how little that needs to be done to avoid doing something.

 

[mshchem]

I broke my 5th metatarsal in my left foot. I have 15 rolls of 120 Fujichrome and Ektar just sitting there looking at me. Missed the fall colors. My cats are getting really annoyed at me sneaking up on them, on my knee scooter, snapping 12 fps DSLR shots while they are taking a knap!

I've been scrubbing everything in my darkroom. I get another Xray on Friday 16th, hopefully I will get my "walking papers"

Mike

 

[faberryman]

Why would I need an excuse when I am not photographing? I work on a project by project basis with time between projects when I do other things. I have more than one interest.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

If I'm not out with the camera, I'm in the darkroom...and versa vica vica versa. So, I'm almost always doing something photographic. OR there's a hockey game on TV.

 

[Arthurwg]

Too cold today, snow on the ground. Maybe tomorrow.