What makes you go out and take photos? And how do you do it?

I'm, for the most extent, an event photographer - an event is happening; I have to get shots of the performances and then I take a more photojournalistic role to record the night and get a photographic overview of what it's about, who turned up and capture the 'feel' of the event as a whole.

When it comes to times like now, I want to just go out and take some photos for myself, but there's nothing 'happening' - I'm a little stumped.

So how do you find things that are photographic? Is it a case of just walking round with a camera and seeing what you see? Do you go to special places? Do you wander around looking for shots and come back with a camera when you think the light will be right? Do you get inspiration and then go out to recreate what you get from it?

Just interested really. As I'm mostly documenting rather than searching out a shot from nowhere.

I sometimes just feel like taking some pics and go out on a random run. Other times I'll see something and go and get the camera and then go back and shoot it.

I used to take a camera when I was going somewhere that I thought I might see something to take pictures of -on holiday, days out etc.

Since we got a dog, and I spend so much more time walking in various parts of the countryside, I've brought a Tiny Fuji digital camera that I can just stick in a pocket, and it goes everywhere with me. The bulk of an SLR always put me off carrying it "just in case"

After sending round my pictures of a friend's daughter's wedding recently, I was gratified to hear the nice things people said about my pictures. Made the effort of hauling the SLR to Devon worth it!

Phil

That's a good question, never really thought about it like that before

I suppose I'm 'event driven' as well, to the most extent. I do often take my camera bag out with me though too, on the off chance. And I have gone out on trips with the primary aim of getting some shots.

I'm also quite likely to stop with my phone camera, during the day-to-day stuff, if I see something worthy of capture, or of interest So I suppose I'm always thinking of potential captures in that sense too.

Steve