How do you keep taking pictures...

[JTurner538]

As an photographer in training I often get back rolls of film (i'm a traditionalist) and just know that this roll is going to be beautiful. The pictures always look great through the viewfinder. Instead of 20+ good pictures from a 36 roll I often end up with 10 or fewer good pictures. I'm curious as to how all of the "established" photogs out there kept it up in order to get good enough to end up with 20+'s instead of -10's.
Justin

[Chunk]

As an photographer in training I often get back rolls of film (i'm a traditionalist) and just know that this roll is going to be beautiful. The pictures always look great through the viewfinder. Instead of 20+ good pictures from a 36 roll I often end up with 10 or fewer good pictures. I'm curious as to how all of the "established" photogs out there kept it up in order to get good enough to end up with 20+'s instead of -10's.
Justin

When looking at a live scene the eye and brain combine to focus and concentrate on the subject and pretty much ignore all the other stuff in view. When viewing a subject through the viewfinder you need to conciously consider what else is in the frame and whether you want to eliminate some by zooming or changing the point of view or isolate it using depth of field by changing your camera's settings or lighting conditions or other methods. You also want to compose the shot to be attractive.
Why don't you load a couple of your shots with a discription of what you hoped they would be over on the critique forum and the friendly folks there will make some suggestions on things you can try.

[mtbbrian]

20 out of 36 good images is a lot, even from a seasoned pro.
Out of 36, there might be 20 good images 10 of which might be great images and say 3 or 4 are awesome images.
You have to be a hard "self editor". Economically, it SUCKS, but photographically it is the way it is.
What to do about it?
Keep shooting so that you get better. I have even heard of photographers, doing "dry shooting" that is with no film, in order to "warm up" as it were.
You have to remain passionate about photography too!
I'd say coming here will improve your photography too, s you can tell there are a lot of passionate photographers here! And make sure you post stuff here often and especially on the Critique Forum!
Brian

[adina]

I used to get frustrated and throw my camera at the wall....after a few times it got to be rather expensive, and I decided I needed to try something else.

Honestly, 10 from a roll is great. I usually get one or two that I really like, and a couple more that I kinda like. But I'm getting a little more discriminating. What I do now is look at the ones I don't like so much, that I thought I would when I shot them. And then go thru the whole "what can I do differently next time" thing.

adina

[almo]

As an photographer in training I often get back rolls of film (i'm a traditionalist) and just know that this roll is going to be beautiful. The pictures always look great through the viewfinder. Instead of 20+ good pictures from a 36 roll I often end up with 10 or fewer good pictures. I'm curious as to how all of the "established" photogs out there kept it up in order to get good enough to end up with 20+'s instead of -10's.
Justin

"Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop." Ansel Adams

[megan]

"Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop." Ansel Adams

I went to a Joel Peter Witkin lecture last week - he said some years, he's luck to create 3-4 pieces. Then again, his work is slightly more intricate with made-for-shoot sculptures, but still...

Megan

[another view]

All good advice here so far. Depends on what you're shooting as far as what the "keeper ratio" will be. If you're shooting sports you'll lose some just because they're not in focus or you cut someone's head off or whatever. A few will probably stand out, but you might shoot over a hundred to get them. Putting the camera away after you got a good shot might mean you'll miss a great shot, too. OTOH, studio product shots would give you a higher keeper rate. Wedding and event photography has to have a high rate too, just the nature of it.

So it's a hard question to answer, but in a lot of situations I don't get 10 on a roll (or that ratio with digital) that are ones that I'm crazy about when I'm shooting personal stuff.

[Lionheart]

As an photographer in training I often get back rolls of film (i'm a traditionalist) and just know that this roll is going to be beautiful. The pictures always look great through the viewfinder. Instead of 20+ good pictures from a 36 roll I often end up with 10 or fewer good pictures. I'm curious as to how all of the "established" photogs out there kept it up in order to get good enough to end up with 20+'s instead of -10's.
Justin

Hi Justin:
10 keepers per roll is actually pretty good. I should be so lucky if I get even that high a ratio film or digital. I've got pro photographer friends who shoot film and I've seen them throw out entire rolls of film without a single keeper, and I know amateur wannabees who take their sweet time composing and thinking through their comps who keep pretty close to all their shots. I think a lot of it has to do with patience and careful thought process prior to taking the shot, and some are more disciplined in this area than others. Just my observation (aka 2 cents).

[almo]

As an photographer in training I often get back rolls of film (i'm a traditionalist) and just know that this roll is going to be beautiful. The pictures always look great through the viewfinder. Instead of 20+ good pictures from a 36 roll I often end up with 10 or fewer good pictures. I'm curious as to how all of the "established" photogs out there kept it up in order to get good enough to end up with 20+'s instead of -10's.
Justin

My best advice to you is not to get upset at poor results. Every image is a great one because it shows us what we need to do to improve our work.

The only other thing I can suggest is that you should find another reason to shoot. If the ratio of good to bad pics per roll were my only measure of the validity of photography I would have quit a long time ago. Look inside yourself and find the reason you love to shoot. I can sometimes go weeks without a worthwhile shot, but the drive to shoot is incessant. It won't leave me alone. One week ago today I was at a park shooting the sunset when a couple of children decided I was taking pictures of them. It all ended up with the cops at my house wanting to see why I was at the park, and wanting to see my photos. Even with a scare like that the drive within me to use my camera was there the next day. Numbers are numbers, but it's what is inside of you that counts. If you don't have it inside then you need to find a new hobby.

almo

[Lionheart]

My best advice to you is not to get upset at poor results. Every image is a great one because it shows us what we need to do to improve our work.

The only other thing I can suggest is that you should find another reason to shoot. If the ratio of good to bad pics per roll were my only measure of the validity of photography I would have quit a long time ago. Look inside yourself and find the reason you love to shoot. I can sometimes go weeks without a worthwhile shot, but the drive to shoot is incessant. It won't leave me alone. One week ago today I was at a park shooting the sunset when a couple of children decided I was taking pictures of them. It all ended up with the cops at my house wanting to see why I was at the park, and wanting to see my photos. Even with a scare like that I the drive within me to use my camera was there the next day. Numbers are numbers, but it's what is inside of you that counts. If you don't have it inside then you need to find a new hobby.

almo

I have the drive to shoot all the time, and I don't even stop to think what others might be thinking of my intentions.
I can relate to the dry spells too. I've gone months with nothing worth keeping, but I keep everything anyway, just in case one day while reviewing them I find a creative crop that might create a good photograph.

[carney2]

If I were consistently doing 10 out of 36 really good images I'd give up my day job.

[mjs1973]

I think everyone involved with photography gets frustrated with all of the non-keepers that we end up with. The trick is not to let those images discourage you. I myself veiw all of those images that I'm dissapointed with as learning tools. "Oh, that didn't turn out at all like I wanted, so now I'm going to go back and try it again, and do a few things differantly." I think there is value in every image that we make as photographers, pro or novice alike. There is something to be learned from every image that we make. What works, what doesn't. It's all just sitting there for us to see. The trick is taking that information and learning from it and using it. I have only been getting serious about photography for about 6 months now, and I only have 2 or 3 images that I want to frame and hang on my wall.

Stick with it and try to focus on the positive aspect of the images you make. Wall hanger or not, there is something to be appreciated in all of them.

Michael

[Lava Lamp]

As an photographer in training I often get back rolls of film (i'm a traditionalist) and just know that this roll is going to be beautiful. The pictures always look great through the viewfinder. Instead of 20+ good pictures from a 36 roll I often end up with 10 or fewer good pictures. I'm curious as to how all of the "established" photogs out there kept it up in order to get good enough to end up with 20+'s instead of -10's.
Justin

It gets worse. Since I've gone digital, I may take 100 shots to get the one I want. It takes more than that sometimes with hard subjects, like a bird in flight.

It also gets worse in that you'll never feel like you have 20+ keepers. Once you do, your standards will get higher and you'll beback to keeping 10 or less.

[walterick]

Shoot more rolls of film so the 10 adds up to 50 by the end of the day

No, seriously I'm with Adina in that I'll get one or two good ones per roll of 39 and I'm also with Lava Lamp that over the years, the more "keepers" I get the higher my standard of what a "keeper" is becomes.

See what you have to look forward to? LOL

Just keep shooting, that's what's important.

Rick

[mjs1973]

I shot over 50 pics tonight in a very short time, with a grand total of ZERO keepers! Was I dissapointed? A little. Am I discouraged? HELL NO! I'm going to give it another try tomorrow... and if that doesn't work out, there's Friday, and Saturday.... you get the picture. (no pun intended) ;)

Michael

[JTurner538]

I had noticed that the board had grown a little quiet so I figured I'd post a question that would get the fingers typing. Fear not though....my love for photography is as strong as ever...i was just curious as to how everyone else dealt with the little dissapointments that go along with photography...expecially film photography. Thanks again guys and gals!
Justin

[another view]

It also gets worse in that you'll never feel like you have 20+ keepers. Once you do, your standards will get higher and you'll beback to keeping 10 or less.

Very true. Interesting to go back thru old work and see the keepers from back then, I remember being excited about a few of them at the time but they might not make the cut today... I see that as a good thing though, shows I've improved (hopefully).

The little disappointments? There can be many, any specifically? Speed has a post about the lunar eclipse last night, and it started to cloud up at the worst possible moment - but there's nothing you can do about that. He did get some nice shots and I'm sure he'll be out there next time.

At some point, you'll recognize a good photographic opportunity and really want to work with it, whatever it is. Those good opportunities don't come along every day (usually) and those are the times to use film. It keeps me inspired looking for them.

[shadz]

I was told by a good friend, who's been a photographer a lot longer than I, "If I get one (good) shot out of a roll of film, it's a good day." (For him, good = outstanding.) Maybe that has always colored my expectations, as I don't let "the ratio" bother me. When I was shooting film only, it was pretty discouraging, mainly because of the cost. I shot a LOT of film. I shoot mostly digital now, which has controlled those costs a bit, and my ratio of keepers has gone way up recently, which surely means I'm about to get picky.

I have a shot of my niece, playing on an old cannon barrel. It was one of my first shots with BW film (nuttin special) and my, at the time, brand new 70-300 sigma zoom. It is still one of my favorite photos.

Really though, I get antsy when I don't get to get out and shoot. I've even resorted to shooting the kid's and my toys it's been so cloudy, rainy, yucky here. ;)

Care to see? My Pictures

Cyas.

Danny

[MaxPower]

I can see JTurner's point since I've been coming to this board, I get a little discouraged as well by looking at all of the beautiful photos that everyone shoots. Such talent here!!!

Currently I shoot film as well, but my main problem is that I rarely get to shoot anything worth while (I can only shoot so much of my Boy - although he is my favorite subject) Using film if I shoot just to shoot, I feel as if I am wasting my film - It can get costly.

Another problem I face is that since I don't shoot a whole roll at one time, I tend to forget my settings so I can improve on the next shot. At least with digital, this can be easily recorded.

This is why I can't wait to get my grubby little hands on a Digital SLR. As soon as the bank account allows me, I'll be getting one.

But as with everything else in life practice makes perfect.