Do you get tired of Landsape and Nature images?

It can happen, and it's happening to me. Even as a landscape and nature photographer, I am exposed to so many images at the couple of forums that I check in with throughout the day, that I'm bored with all of them. I even am now bored with my own. I've been adding architectural imagemaking to my skills to help round out my interests. My current exhibition at a gallery in my home town has no images of 'grand landscapes' this time. I'm tired of them. There are so many good ones here at NPN, but they all look the same after a while; colorful skies, soft flowing water, flowers and rocks in the foreground with killer mountains in the rear. There's too many of us that became good at it. I think I need a vacation, and a break from the internet. That sounds healthy.

To honestly answer your question, yes. But, I'm mostly bored with my own work. A few months ago I started experimenting with IR photography to try something different and it's renewed my interest, but I think a break is in the cards for me. I find myself more and more going out to shoot and just enjoying the natural surroundings rather than shooting as much as I usually do. I think it's natural and healthy to take a break from time to time.

Yep... It's like tequila (even real good tequila) the first couple of shots are delicious and to much, well, you'd wish you never started. My posts are much fewer and farther apart. i think it's cyclic - both personally and photographic/forum based websites in general go thru an apogee (where I'm at) and a perigee.

I must add: I never tire of the photographic process. I still enjoy exploring with the camera. It's just that I'm a bit down on the posting/viewing/critique thing right now.

And just one more thing...
What I don't get is that we are more willing to say hi to a newbie than to give a hearty congrats to a long time participant who is being honored by having his/her portfolio highlighted for the month. Can someone please explain that dynamic to me!
End of rant...

In all honesty - no. Can't get enough of it. I get bored almost instantaneously with images of buildings and people though.

Guy

I'm right there with Guy two thirds of the way. I love nature photography. Especially grand scenics. I hope to shoot a good one some day. I'm also immediately bored with pictures of people but architecture can be interesting.

Cheers,

ES&S takes you to so many varied places, with so much varied light and season, I can't imagine I'd ever grow tired. Constant source of wonder, inspiration and desire!

I do, however, find myself going through an ebb and flow cycle into the flora forums, I'll take a few weeks off, and thence find myself commenting on every picture for a month. I don't know why it is I do this, but it feels healthy...

I get bored to some extent. A simple sunset shot that would have thrilled me many years ago now needs to be something much more complex, moody, thoughtful, dynamic, etc. for me to be excited with it. I even get bored with my own work in some ways, but that's just natural - an image simply isn't going to have the same impact the ten thousandth time you view it.

What I never get tired of is the creation process. I am constantly and unrelentingly inspired to create. I am fascinated with what the next exploration of nature and landscape will yeild in photographs, and where it will take me. So long as I am interested in nature itself, I'll always be interested in preserving my vision of it and sharing this with others.

I get tired of landscape photography quickly, because it's not my area of inspiration, and also because I find most of it treading so exactly in the footsteps of those who have gone before that fresh looks are rare.

I have been fascinated by nature, however, my whole life, which has led to decades of intense interest in sitting or laying in one place in the woods for hours at a time and simply watching, touching, listening, smelling, tasting, occasionally catching glimmers of things that fall between those five senses.

So my writing and teaching have been all about nature for over 30 years. It's only the last four years that I've started to express that love and fascination with a camera. Tired of it? No. If I eventually tire of photographing nature, I'll find a different outlet of expression. When I get tired of expressing life in the woods, I'll get done with life.

I have only just started with Nature photography but I must say I fear this outcome even now. Most photos have been done to death. They may be great, but we have all seen them before. This certainly applies to every photo I have taken to date. Someone else has already done it better. Mine are mundane and ordinary, and even with a universe of photos to choose from I am not sure I would ever buy any.

So why do it? The pursuit is a substitution for things I used to do such as hunt. I no longer wish to do that but I miss the time afield being AFTER something. I am involved with my surroundings again much as I was as a kid. I am learning again, not only about how to photograph but also about things I observe in nature. I have watched Bobolinks from time to time all throughout my life but it was only as I photographed them that I realized that the female carried a bug around in her beak as a display. I never knew that before and did not find it when I looked up Bobolinks to confirm it. I have watched enough now to know that its true and although a "small" discovery for me it is interesting.

Its not really the end result, "it's not so much the gold I'm after as the finding of it" (paraphrased)

lol, hence the reason why I shoot a billion different things and styles. When I'm doing it though, I'll never tire of that. But I have noticed that when I see photos in real life galleries nowadays I just don't feel excited at all. Not even at Tom Till's gallery. After seeing NPN almost everyday, everything else is kinda ho-hum.

I do get excited to see good photojournalism always though because there's rarely anything done the same way twice.

I agree with what has been said above... I never tire of the search. To photograph an ordinary object or scene differently than done before, to find a new and exciting subject, to go places and do things I would not have done if not searching, attempting to insert my own artistic vision into an ordinary subject, to enjoy being creative in using PS... there are so many avenues to explore and so little time in our busy days. Photography and art give me an outlet to express myself and enjoy and explore. I have down times, but I'll never tire of it.

nope, not even a little. Love to see what others feel are important or represent the beautiful world we live in. I love it all, nature, landscapes, animals etc... And I learn a lot from viewing others work and reading their comments.

As far as looking at other's images, there isn't a canned answer for me here. It depends on a lot of things. Are the photos interesting and special in some way...did it capture a special moment in a special place? If it is a flat, stagnant mid day type image...Yes...I get bored of them immediately even though I know those are mostly evolutionary photos along the learning process for most.

If there are hords of ocean images with sweet sunset conditions or spring wildflower blooms, or Autumn forest shots posted at the same timeframe, they start to blend together and lose meaning for me. I personally have refrained as much as I can from posting images taken RIGHT after I shoot them. Sometimes, it's because of a seasonal type shot that everyone else is posting...and other times it's because I need to put some time between my shots to dismantel the personal, emotional bias I have because of the experience.

I'll never get tired of getting out there...and I also love the excitement/anticipation of working the image and seeing what the final product will look like.

With that being said, I'll admit something that bothers me that I cant figure out right now...and it has similarities to this post. It's not to do with boredom, but more of self confidence. I have a pretty good idea of what I like in an image, and of course, if I post something in ESS I feel more comfortable with it...but I'm always not 100 percent confident others will like it. I think I focus a little too much on how I think others will like the image, instead of being completely true to my artistic preferences.

nope.. 20+ years... the more i see the more i learn

I agree that, for several reasons (e.g., popularity of photography, easier access to wilderness, digital capture, and internet overexposure), images that used seem original have now become ubiquitous (insert "Wave" or Antelope Canyon photo here). However, I am not out there just to take photographs. I am there to get away from my office, the city, and hopefully, the crowds, and to see and experience nature and wilderness in ways that are, I believe, enhanced by being a nature photographer. I am certain I will never get bored with the experience and, although it may seen contradictory to say it, it is still possible to take original and compelling photos of the natural landscape as demonstrated here at NPN on a regular basis.

Never. I do sometimes tire of seeing the same iconic images (mine and others), but good landscapes get my blood pumping.

I will never be bored of natural landscapes and nature even in my own limited local areas of the West I work because the immensity and complexity of nature is far beyond what any one person can really get to know during our deceptively short adult lifetimes. I will admit that when I first put away my old 35mm SLR gear and went to 6x7 and then later 4x5, whole new worlds of possibilities opened up and reinvigorated the scope of where my body of work might go. But even if that had not happened, the vast range of photographic possibilities never cease to amaze me. For many years I was just a serious amateur and maybe not having the commercial business pressures on what I was doing was key to finding ways of enjoying what I was doing as an outdoor activity versus it being simply work.

When I look at other serious landscape and nature photographer's work in our western states, one of the first things I often see is how many of them tend to be driving around to all the same icon and well known places and rarely into the truly vast out of the way and backcountry areas. A zillion sunset images taken down at the beach and monotonously similar pictures of Bambi, Yogi, and Daffy. Yes so indeed one does see a repetition in a lot of work from well known photographers. Part of that is simply good business of course by laying down a credible foundation. But carving out one's unique niche that can stand out too is something one will also see. I have to laugh at how much more there is that no one has bothered to mine.

I have always been one to have a keen interest in natural history of these places I visit and am quite convinced such is key to a continued long term greater appreciation and enjoyment of such experiences. As an example when I visit our wonderful Colorado Plateau areas, my modest investment reading a number of geology books about the area payed off greatly in being able to work those areas efficiently in addition to having continued fascination and enjoyment of more deeply understanding what I was looking at.

For those more oriented to creating and producing fine art prints, technology has been changing so fast the last 15 years that what is being done today is often so much better than just a decade ago that such provides much fertile ground for unique creation. Just think of he incredible march forward in printing technologies. All that does help excite and renew my passion to get out and be creative. ...David

The possibilities in landscape photography are endless. If you tire of the grand vistas, you can work a more intimate scene. If you tire of the literal, you can create a variety of abstracts. If you tire of one location, there are infinitely more around every corner. I'm not going to get tired of photographing the land any time soon, and I do almost 100% of my photography within a half hour's drive from my home. As far as the photography of others is concerned, I'm excited by something I see on NPN at least a few times a week, and I love to see how the different characters here interpret the world (even when it's the same places).

My simple answer is no. I learn from everyone I look at. I strive to be different and create something that I can be proud of. "Being there" is half the experience and coming back with something I know was representative of the subject, light, conditions, along with my vision is why I love photography. Seeing others images only motivate me more. I am amazed on the quality of images here on NPN.

Keep em coming!
JG

In the 17 years that I've been shooting, and combined with my job running Galen Rowell's stock collection, I must have seen several million photos by now. In my old job, and to this very day, I scan over every image in a magazine, or online gallery, or other photographers web sites. Do I get tired or bored? Yes, but not with the extremely good to exceptional quality work. That continues to inspire me, and makes me say "wow" about whatever story the photo happens to be about. But the chaff that doesn't rise to that level usually gets little more than a passing glance. As with many other styles and genres where the bulk of wha I see is kinda 'average', I only ask one thing; "Just show me something special". And like with my own work, I'm always on the lookout for that something special.

What Gary said is right on. A lot of people are shooting the same places with the same cameras and lenses and getting me-too photos. However, in the hands of a master like Gary, Marc or Guy, to name a few, even these places can be seen afresh. And, there are a lot of other places where very few photographers go that can make stunning images.

Galen Rowell made memorable photos of Patagonia, Yosemite and the Eastern Sierras but he also did awesome images of in hills of the CA Bay Area. When I'm out shooting in these hills, I rarely come across other photographers or find their "tripod holes".

In ES&S, we see many awesome images from Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, New York. Certainly not destinations for "Grand Landscapes".

- Dan.

Hi Jeffrey,
Yes, I find myself becoming bored to some extent occasionally. It's the worn out cliche's that are the stuff of picture postcards and calenders that get really old with me. The things that you decribe

but they all look the same after a while; colorful skies, soft flowing water, flowers and rocks in the foreground with killer mountains in the rear.

sometimes loose my interest but maybe for a different reason. You see, where I live we don't have much opportunity for grand vista's. We don't have any mountains. Our streams are a far cry from those of the Pacific N/W. Our landscape is rather plain and mundane and so I've been forced to make the best of what I have. It's the challenge of adjusting my vision to find beauty and interesting images in ordinary Eastern Ontario that keeps me inspired and interested. Unfortunately, this approach, however necessary, often fails the expectations of other photographers, and so I find myself drawn to the work of those photographers who, likewise, cannot walk out the front door and shoot The Grand Tetons.

I am very fortunate to be able to do some intersting comercial work with conferences and rock concerts which helps me hone my skills in other area's.

Bob

Yes, sometimes. In fact, you are right. There are a lot of photographers out there, and they do their thing very good. But many stick to the same formula that you have mentioned. A beautiful, well executed, well composed photo is the outcome, that would work for the average viewer, but not for the demanding eyes we photographers have. Such a photo also lacks fire, and passion. Many photo's are just like this: rocks, log, frozen water or bunch of flowers in the fg, then some midground and finally a peak, hill whatever in the background, coupled with great light. They look good, they are beautiful, yes it even takes experience, patience and an eye for composition, but they are not unique in the sense of innovation or creativity, because that is the way 90% of the landscape-photo's are composed. I have to admit, eventhough I am impressed by Galen Rowell and his work as a whole, there are some photographs of him that I find rather generic and uninspired, although they are praised by many. But the thing is, sometimes the images that were created following standard composition-rules look so darn good because the result is just so beautiful and entertaining to look at.
One way to work around this, is not to do the grand vista-images and focus on the smaller, more intimate scenes. At least they are probably always a little bit more unique because it is highly unlikely that one will find the same intimate scene. Or another way is to do the grand view in a different way, whatever that different way may be. But this is up to the photographer. If one is bored by his own work - well, I think he should try something different then - in the sense of composition or usage of light. When I am bored by my work - and that happens often - I have a good sign that I am not creative, and I push myself to do things different the next time.
But the creation process itself is what we all like the most I guess, that's why we keep doing it. It is the urge to create. Sometimes the outcome is generic, but sometimes the outcome is great - and that's the point when pure satisfaction comes in - and this keeps us going. Stopping photography because one is bored by his or others' work is cynic, it is simple impossible then to create something better.
This also applies to other arts. Does one really need another song, no matter what genre? It all has been written. Does one need a another painting of slightly overweighted half-naked women (I am referring to the baroque-paintings). Or Vivaldi's work. There is a reason why "the four seasons" is well known, but not his 300 other violin pieces - they all sound the same. And he did not invent that style anyway, he stole it from Corelli.
Sorry for my rant, I stop it. But you get the idea.

Great topic Jeffrey!

In short, yes. And I am afraid this is a general trait of human nature - no matter how beautiful something is, if we are exposed to it all the time, we loose our appreciation. Only when we experience a world with the absence of this do we come back and appreciate what we actually have.

A couple of years ago I would be so excited about pictures of beautiful scenery, with nice light, and now I just find it quite difficult to get moved. I feel I have lost something and I have to make an effort to appreciate the beauty of images and nature that surrounds me.

Thanks, everyone, for the fantastic response. I feel invigorated again by so many well thought out and expressed points of view. Many of you went beyond the actual topic to include discussion of the creative process, which ties in well. Oh, yes, I love making images, and traveling, and playing with the gear required to get the results I seek. I just got bored looking at so many images. One thing that helped me out with this was getting a show at a local gallery, and discussing many images with viewers and admirers. Their enthusiasm rubbed off on me, and I regained what I once had.

Ready as ever for the next road trip!

I find I'm sort of in-between. I do get tired of seeing photos that are the same-o same-o. There seems to be so little creativity in far too many photos. I'm talking about long exposure waterfalls and the like. I still get very excited when I see something really GOOD though. I do see some of those here, and that's one reason I hang around. Those shots I don't get tired of. As for my own photos, I have become increasingly picky and hard to please. I compare it to my deer hunting. Just like deer hunting, when I started out I would photo just about anything and was happy just to get a recognizable image. By now though, I have shot so many deer and so many photos I only hold out for something special. I figure I only get about half a dozen photos per year that I am really happy with. I've learned that if the light and everything else isn't just right, don't even take the camera out of the bag. I take photos pretty much every day, but if I only took one photo per month that was a real screamer, I'd be happier.


Kent in SD

Light light light (and vitally, composition). It doesn't have to be dramatic in-your-face light spilling like a searchlight from above, but could be soft overcast glowing light seeming to almost come from below. Whats important is that the photog has used the conditions to their advantage. I dont care what the subject matter is, whether landscape, people, architecture, macro, sport, whatever...if the image shows careful use of good light that demonstrates great observational skill, and is backed up with obvious technical ability and intelligent composition, then I'm a happy consumer. I like images that challenge me more than try to soothe me, I want to look at a picture and see that the photog has used their brain, isn''t patronizing me and has an expectation that I will use some of MY critical faculties to get the best out of their work. Otherwise it's just popcorn.

www.john-macpherson-photography.com

Now, THAT I can always go for....