Time is something I waste a lot. I am very bad at managing it. I think I need to spend less time on this website, and more time out shooting! Anyways, my question is how much time do you guys spend a week with your camera in your hand, or about how many photos do yo average a week?

I know I definitely need to spend more time shooting. I think my camera only clicks, oh I don't know... about 150-200 times a week?

P.S. I had the biggest grin on my face when I woke up to my photo being published!

It always depends ..... normally I'm shooting on the weekend only - 1-2 hours or more with 100-200 pictures ( finally resulting in a few good ones only ).
Having a job / paid shooting I'm coming easily to 500-1000 pictures, at least every 1-2 months. And then I'm sometimes not even touching my camera for weeks as I have no inspiration, no time, etc....
You can see, it's very different.

I just woke up--middle of the night--and after making the requisite stop in the bathroom decided to see what's up on 1X. When I first woke up, your photo was on my mind...imagine that. I was thinking about what great and wonderful images we are privileged to view every time we go to the home page.

Anyway, congratulations.

As for me, I'm sure I will shoot a lot more once three things happen: 1) I abandon my resistance to the expense and finally buy a high-quality digital camera (not necessarily dslr) or two and some lenses; 2) I build my natural light studio in my back yard--I'm working on it; and 3) convert part of my wife's crafts room into a darkroom where I can process 4x5 sheet film.

I'm an older guy, a lifelong enthusiast, and my image production peaked long ago. But I'm still deeply interested, keep my eyes open and make notes of images I want to capture or create when the time is right.

And I still wake up in the middle of the night, ready to be amazed and inspired by what I see here on 1X.com.

In last time (cca 6 months) I´m not shooting ... I don´t have many free time :(
If I have time, I don´t have ideas ... and reversal.
And so - I don´t shooting idly better.
But I hope and rejoice that I find a little bit free time and I shall go shooting :)

Too little!

Since New Year I have only taken about 200 pictures and 150 of them are of my newborn son :-)

At the moment I have a hard time finding time, with two small boys, a girlfriend and a full time job!! There is not much time left :-((((

But I was out the other night :-)

/Wulff

I'd be lucky if I got that in a month - damn!!

Thanks!!

My original 150-200 a week is an overstatement... I probably only shoot for an hour or two a week, with around 100 photos most likely..... too little for me I feel. Inspiration is a problem, but I'll just hop on here for a few, look at some awesome photos, listen to some music, and then I'll be inspired!

It's very different for me, too - I can happen that I shoot two times a week, but usually I would say I'm only out shooting one time in a few weeks.
The reason for that is that for my photo tours there is much research and preparations and also long distances I have to travel -
Usually I go out for a tour with a detailled plan and concept, if the whole distance are > 500-800 km these tours are around 13-15 hours, I have to say after such a long tour my creativity is really empty for some days or even weeks!
There is always the moment you realise you cannot take any more good shots, that's the moment you have to go home :)

For someone who works with a view camera and sheet film, that sounds like an immense number of exposures. That's the thing about view cameras...one is forced to slow down and think about things before clicking the shutter. And everything is manual. Many decisions have to be made, with a large potential for mistakes that won't be known until after the film is developed. It's slow, zen like.

Bite the bullet and do it already King - think of it as a reward for the pain you'll have after your surgery. One of the guys at my work has had both knees done (not at the same time) and he's all the better for it now. Only thing is he triggers the airport metal detectors every single time and has come to know the "pat-down" very very well :))

It's coming up to almost exactly a year since I got my most recent camera. Last photo I took today was number 16,501 - so I guess that averages a bit over 300 a week

I was think pretty much the same thing as King as I am now shooting mostly 135 film. You do really find yourself shooting a LOT less and, hopefully, better!!

True...I shot only 88 frames the last two weeks (2 x 36 + 1 x 16), but I didn't have less fun. :)

Although I shoot digital, with every time I go out shooting I come back with less pictures..... It's always just better to really take your time and make 10 perfect shots then 150 medium ones

I go out shooting when have free time. As i take photos most of time faraway from home, less time i have, spend a lot driving. About quantity, depends what i se ... if i see nice scenes i shoot, if no, no shoots.

Shooting like crazy is not for film photographers, or you spend days developing film and scanning it. Normaly i shoot 1 or two rolls of medium format when i take the Mamiya 6x7 and have 10 or 20 photos or if i take the Mamiya 645 AFD i have 16 or 32 photos. I allways burn entire roll when i put it in camera.

I appreciate all the information, everyone. It seems like a lot of people here shoot film... I have never even used it! I kind of want to try it. Not because I would want to stick with it (I will always be a digital user) but to see what it is like. I am sure the level of difficulty is higher than digital. And who knows, maybe I will learn a few things or two by using film?

10 perfects shot in one session, you must be a genius!! I am luck if I get one or two a week that I think are anywhere close to "perfect". Now 10 I like or maybe really like, possible but not often!!

First thing you will learn is that cameras have their back than can be opened.

...and at *exactly* the wrong time!

And the second thing you will learn, although I never seem to have, is that there is no image to look at on the back of the camera after you press the shutter!

3-4times yearly:-(

Almost everyday. I´m running a "webcam" from home, manually done with the camera, as en experiment.
I shot to pay the rent too and if I go for a walk I almost always bring the camera with me, I need to take pictures. Inspiration is outside so I don´t generally walk with a plan on mind this limits me I think, so I keep eyes and mind open just to see. I don´t have the feeling of loosing time if afterwards I dump most of the images i just love to try it.

Like most amateur photographers, I have to juggle time at work, with my family of two kids and my other passtime of walking and running over the mountains. During the Winter months when useable light is limited I try and get out with my camera at least once or twice a weekend but when the light is available from Spring onwards then I try and get out 4 or 5 times a week, weather permitting.

Actually I spend more time planning, travelling and getting to locations than the time actually taking shots.

Take this weekend for example, I had a few days available for photography and have had my mind on photographing a particular mountain from a location that would be unfamiliar to most. I spent a lot of time studying maps and reading walking guides then pinpointed a place I wanted to be, 5 hours drive, a night in a hotel, another hour drive and a two hour walk into the mountains and I was there. There is a risk to this approach as many things can conspire to twart your attempts at decent shots and so it transpired, unfavourable weather conditions and difficult composition characteristics meant an unsuccesful trip, photographically. However, I don't consider it a wasted attempt as I've experienced a new location, walked in a beautifully remote Scottish glen and got much needed excerise. I took about 6 shots of the mountain anyway but have deleted them as they don't come up to my expectations on fuller inspection.

Another two hour walk out and a night in another hotel plus the 5 hour drive home rounded out an unsuccesful phototrip of this mountain but at least I know that the particular angle I envisaged needn't be tried again..... ;-)

JP

I usually manage to do about 3 hours every 2/3 weeks - usually on a Saturday or Sunday. In between I might mess around a bit
at home, however, those 'play shots' usually do not come to much. I had an opportunity to go and do my part for Thomas H's book
on Aachen last weekend, and have to say that I loved that opportunity to have the whole day to walk around and take many images.
To me it has become a simple equation - for any one time I make the effort to go out and take pictures, I shall return with (at least) one decent image. Surely not 1X stuff, but still pleasing enough to keep.
I am usually much more productive when in South Africa - I have come to associate my time there with 'photo-time', and that alarm starts
ringing in my mind every late afternoon when the sun gets weak.
Here in London it has become an elective process: 'Hey - better take off my tie and go out there and walk and fish because my library is empty'.

I make between 600 and 1000 picture every week. Depend on what is on the plan. Fortunately my better second half love photography too. Some weekends there are 2000 clicks. During the week I hang out here and read the comments and join the pictures shown here. But sometimes when I out for street pictures I have just nothing.

Robert

You seriously need to buy a film camera!! It's almost impossible to imaging that one could "see" 2000, even 1000 well composed, thoughtful shots in one week, much lees one weekend!! You, sir, are in serious shotgun mode!! Slow down and think a bit before blasting away just to fill up a card. Film is good for slowing you down and making you think before you snap!!

Okay. I'm going to bite the bullet and go buy a film camera. I think it would be cool to try out.

Now, let me ask you film guys.... I want a 35mm camera, and would like it to be a Nikon, since I hope to use some of my Nikon glass with it. Any suggestions as to what is a good camera to buy?

F100 or F80 (also know as N80) readily available on ebay for not too much!! Do you have an older manual focus AI or AI-S lenses?? The F100 will meter with those and will use any more modern lens including VR. The F80 will not meter with them but will work with any modern also.

I have both and use them often. The F100 is a little heavier, but built better. The F80 is perfect with a couple of primes for a long hike or climb. I also have an older FG and a couple of AI-S primes that makes a very nice walking around kit too!

I read a lot of good things about those two cameras. So you would recommend an automatic 35mm camera, vs a full manual camera, such as the Nikon FM2n?

I don't own any older AI or AI-S lenses by the way. Wouldn't mind to have some though, as some are actually pretty good for the price from what I have heard.

Nothing is impossible! I do have also film camera:-)

Clyde, I also do film but less. When I going to some of the villages for example the motifs run over me and I do not get a second chance. So I take what I can. For a portrait shooting I need not more than 100 and mostly less in one hour. But for street on a good day 600 is almost normal. One time there was a similar discussion here on 1x (sorry do not find it back) for the amount of pictures. It was interesting to see the differences between the photographer as for the amount of the pictures they take.

Yes you are right when you say think before you shot but in many situations you do not have much time to think. Another example are fashion shoots. I attend many as assistant and this guys who shooting for fashion catalogues fill up a 32 GB card in one hour!

I will not say that all are good which I take but a lot of are be.

How much I take is also depend on the mood I am in. Sometimes my cameras are a gun and sometimes a recorder.

Robert

I agree with Clyde.
At the moment I use a Nikon F801 and F301. Good gear for low budged!!! And you can use all pro Nikon lenses on this one except aperture control which remains manual!

Robert

No recommending one over the other. Just telling you about what I am familiar with. I am older and sometimes need the help of auto focus, although I much prefer to shoot manual focus. I also prefer the Aperture priority mode of shooting. With the lenses I already owned the F100 (which I got for a steal in mint cond) was an excellent choice for me. I bought the F80 mostly out of curiosity because Richard bragged so much about owing 3. I think I paid less than $80 for mine.

thats so true. makes me feel stupid every time i have a look at the back of a film camera.

i didnt touch a camera since last august. i kinda had the feeling i was falling into a pattern, or a clichee. i might have a year without photography to get out of that feeling.

:-)
Speaking of digital, I try hard no to look at the LCD after a shoot (and BTW that is better for the battery charge). Can't resist everytime but I try, I try... it's much more interesting to look at all the pictures much after, on a big screen, some of them you don't remember you did, some of them you think were bad finally look good, and the other way round of course (never delete a pic only based on what you see on the LCD....)

So... I guess I am the only one that always carry the camera everywhere, huh? lol
I may take about 1000 per week... some i carry the camera but never shoot... most of the times i take 1000 photos in a week... 999 are erased from the card lol
More seriously... yes... I carry the camera with me everywhere that I can even if not with the intention to shoot.
I guess i may take around 100 pics a week in average... and yes... 99 get erased ;-)

about 11 years ago i started learming kung fu with one of the best masters in the world. his student even took gold medal in takwandooo olympics and he has many student champions.. he would teach me a punch and then will tell me to do a thousand or two thousnads punches of the same punch. after a few days he will look again and make small changes.,,, and back to making thousands of punches again and again.....
practice makes perfect but we must make small adjustments along the way ....
the pros they take thousands of images every week..... i read somewhere that even with film area ng photographers did 40 rolls per week

i believe practice makes perfect and that a master is needed to guide you along

I make a lot of images, although I am not consistent - it depends a lot on time, weather, whatever.

I really think that you guys who are encouraging others to shoot less are missing the point. When I go out, I usually have one or more concepts that I'm working on in my head. Some of these are long standing, there's for example one flower shot I have in my head that I've tried for 3 years to do now (it's a wildflower, so the window of opportunity is small), and I have made many pictures of this flower by now, but none gets the idea that I have in my head. But, on the other hand, if I stuck to just working for this one or few ideas, then I would miss out on all the other things that come up as you walk around, as you look at stuff. The beauty of it all is in experimenting, in looking at things from all sorts of angles, all sorts of lights, from close, from further away, seeing new things, arranging things differently. I think it would be so much better to encourage people to shoot more rather than less, film or digital. Shoot 12 rolls in a couple hours, so what, experiment!

Well said, thanks for that Ursula!

The way of a Samurai!!!!! I will sign this Sasson! So you are a master in Takwandoo? Lets write about this in OE-Mail!!! I have great interest!

Robert

But i think Macro photography needs a lot of patience and a good sense of the beauty of the nature. I admire people who have this patience. I still need to learn this. As i tried this photography i purchased a lot of equipment and did go out and shot like crazy and thought "wow what nice pictures" but at the end nothing i had for use after i look calmed at my pictures. But i agree that a plan is needed equal for what needs to be photographed. This is i do and than i try many of camera set ups and many compositions. Digital makes it easy. Film is interesting in a way that i need wait for the development of the film rolls. Both is nice but digital is more fast.

Robert

kung fu i studied and mostly focused on the internal art (chi kung) althougth i did some fighting as well
what was nice was that she won gold medal in takwandoo even thougth she was from kung fu background....
but yes this is my approach to photography and but i am still looking for a master to teach me :)
i will email you

It cost my clients over $1,000,000 in film and processing for my experiments...and that was in the old days.

Nowadays, my "experimental" budget is limited to a single 36-exposure roll of color slide film and development and, guess what, I don't know the results of the first exposure any sooner than the results of the last exposure on the roll.

I like the instant gratification and swifter learning of digital.

Just be careful, not all that we learn is worthy to keep...

But to cut it out before even trying in the fear that it might not be worthy to keep seems all wrong :)

Who suggested that?? I have had sessions where I shot a card full many times. I just in a more meditative mode right now with the camera...
I was just warning King that there are bad habits that the digital can foster, at least for me.

I would actually LOVE to spend a few days with you watching and learning how you shoot and process images. Your stuff is mesmerizing!!

I was at the Botanic Garden in Claremont last Sat. I used my little LX-3 as a "proofing" camera and when I got a shot that I liked I pulled around the F100 with the 60mm Micro and shot the same shot again. King, sorta like the old Polaroid backs and then shoot the film, huh?

Yeah, you're right, you didn't suggest that. I do, however, often find it rather depressing when people are encouraged to shoot less rather than more. That whole concept seems so backwards to me! The way I understand what you guys are saying when you encourage people to shoot less is that it would be better to be careful when shooting, to have a clear idea, to compose just so, to go for the kill so to say, pretty much each and every time. I figure that must be good for some people. But, it also seems like a rather restrictive approach, because it restricts what I do to what I have planned to do beforehand, controlled, calculated. To my way of thinking, it is more effective to have all of those things in mind, yes, but to not restrict yourself to them but instead experiment, experiment, experiment. That's where, to me, it's important to encourage people to shoot MORE. Not to go out there and fill cards for no good reason, but to not get stuck with just what's planned and controlled, but try different lights, approaches, points of view, shoot more. Does that make sense?

Yes perfect sense. I have done both approaches, like I said, right now for me it's a slower thing that feels right. I have no doubt that there will be days when I fill up a couple of cards or shoot several rolls of film, just not right now...

Good enough. :)

I started shooting the minimun possible when I was student ´cause I had no money but the fortune of owning a great Mamiya C220. As an example during a three weeks hitchhike trip in 1985 I took just three rolls, merely 36 images. Later I saved money to buy a 35mm camera and got more shots for less money so I took more and more images. When this matter named photography became my work then I had to shot more but shooting film was a matter to consider the ratio of benefits/expenses. Almost everyshot was seriously considered.
Nowadays with digital I had the feeling that I almost shot for free, I have not the economical limit related to shooting so I experiment, learn and have more decent shots, OK, the keepers per shot ratio has decreased but who cares. Don´t missunderstand me, I´m not kindda machinegun photographer, I still have the film sense of control but I´m now more free to keep shooting. In some aspects I miss some film qualities, but I apreciate digital too.
Just one point, todays young photographers learn astonishing quick thanks to the ability to shoot more and experiment. If they could learn the basics of darkroom before getting into photoshop then should be perfect.