My October Photo of the Month is SNT30, a photo taken right by my house at Santee Lakes.
SNT30 Background
I am going to be honest, this isnât exactly my favorite Photo of the Month. I have made similar images, when a quick sunset shows up that I didnât suspect. This is less than 100 yards from my front door.
October was tough. I had two major Scouting events that I attend every year, although I have reached a point where I donât view attendance as mandatory. I also had my usual full weekend celebrating Halloween with my daughter. She is down to help her Dad make a pretty photograph, but we spent the weekend in Northern California dodging high winds and thick smoke.
The prevailing Santa Ana conditions meant few opportunities to shoot. Octobers are often the return of our onshore flow marine layer. This year, we had clouds for just a couple days. It was bad luck all around.
I have also had some ambivalence about the photography I was pursuing. I canât travel as much, with career and parenting demands narrowing my time. My friends and family from out of town may not understand, but I am getting a little bored with San Diego.
In addition, I have noticed that my personal reaction to my work isnât what it was a decade ago. This may have some to do with Instagram and my Photo Club. My issue with photograph might be seeing too many photographs. Sunsets donât have the same power for me â because I see hundreds of sunsets at a time. Itâs like photography is hearing âStairway to Heavenâ on repeat. Undoubtedly, one of the greatest rock songs of all time, and I pull my hair out every time I hear it.
The solution to this problem isâŚ.well I havenât figured that out. I donât have a lot of interest in other genres. Thinking about macro, or birds, or street photographs just doesnât do it for me. I like my big skies. So do many people, and I might be boxed in.
I majored in English because I enjoyed writing, and photography largely supplanted that hobby 15 years ago. Maybe itâs time for a hobby pivot.
Further Viewing
Photos of the Month Portfolio Gallery
San Diegoâs East County Portfolio Gallery
T.M. Schultze is a San Diego-based photographer, traveller, and writer. He writes, photographs, and draws things of the outdoors that have inspired humans for thousands of years. He co-authored the Photographerâs Guide to Joshua Tree Park which can be purchased here.
Very nice article and image
You can’t give up on photography – I need someone to join me when I need to hike to Garnet Peak again! đ Okay… seriously… I know the frustration, and I’m beginning to understand the “saturation” with San Diego (photography-wise) as well. But I think there’s still plenty of stuff out there as well. Just take a break and don’t pressure yourself into delivering the photo of the month… and good luck with the soul searching, of course.
Itâs actually comforting (to me) to read an accomplished photographer also gets into ârutsâ! I have been dealing with this myself, and (because of a photog class I am taking), was forced to get out of my comfort zone and realized THIS is what I needed! Hopefully, youâll get your mojo back very soon.
I get this…I really get this. Photography will always be part of your skill set. It’s not a decision to stop….just one to expand.
My response to the landscape saturation effect was to do urban work. I’m pretty sure I’ll eventually be oversaturated with high contrast B&W cityscapes and people walking out of shadows but for now it keeps me engaged and active.