Meaning, what are some things you excel at and/or enjoy shooting, or things you don't do quite as well at, think you need to work on more, or avoid doing for one reason or another? Also, is there anything you have not done, or done very little of, that you would like to try? Let's get some discussion going here.



For me, I'd say my favorite things to shoot are easily live bands and nature, and I have noticed I have started taking a lot more landscape shots and enjoying it since I got my Tokina 11-16mm. I've noticed that those are the pictures I typically get the most positive responses from as well. I also enjoy macro photography quite a bit, but I don't do it enough to consider it a favorite subject. Those are my favorite subjects, but as for things I excel at, I don't really think I have a real strength. I like mix it up when it comes to what I shoot, constantly trying a little bit of this, a little bit of that. That said, I feel like I'm pretty well rounded instead of excelling in one or two areas like those of you who specialize with birds, or portraiture, or landscapes, etc, etc, etc.


One of my least favorite things to do is probably portraiture, which is really unfortunate for me because that's what I mostly have people ask for when they want me to do any kind of pictures for them. I've done it, and will do it, but I just feel like I am not that great at it. I think my biggest problem is learning how to do lighting right. Some of you are absolute wizards when it comes to your portraiture, multiple lights, reflectors, stands, etc, that's a lot for me to wrap my head around. On top of that, I don't really have the budget to be buying all those rigs and multiple lights, I only have the on camera flash from my T3i, and a 320EX. Another big reason I am not a big fan of portraiture is the level of interaction between the subject and the photographer. I just have a hard time telling people what to do, how to sit, when to smile, etc. I guess it's because I'm kind of a shy guy.

The things I would like to improve upon the most are the two things I enjoy shooting the most. Live band photography, and nature, particularly wildlife. If I ever became proficient enough at either of those to make money off them, or even a job of it, I would be very satisfied as a photographer. When it comes to other things I'd like to try, I've recently started using my tripod more, particularly for long exposures, and I would like to continue experimenting with that. I plan on purchasing a CPL soon to further the possibilities of what I can shoot. I know I just said I wasn't a big fan of it, but I would also like to try out more portraiture, especially using my flash off camera. That will be a lot of trial and error I am sure, but the only way I am going to get better is with practice. I feel like the most underused and most under-appreciated lens in my bag is the 50mm f/1.4. I'd like to start using that more, maybe even bringing just that along somewhere so I am forced to use it. I'd also like to try some street photography with it, take the grip off and travel light, just snapping shots while walking around downtown.


Well, enough of me rambling on, let's see what you all have to say!