What is your biggest challenge?

[pbrice]

As I am learning all I can about digital photography, I have been wondering if anyone else face the same challenges I have been facing.

So, my question is simple:

When it comes to digital photography, what is your single biggest challenge?

I'm curios to see what you all have to say.

[Manfred M]

Cutting down the number of shots that I take. In the film days it was easy as the size of the roll of film limited what I could shoot from both a practical and cost standpoint. In the digital world, the incremental cost of taking several images is effectively zero.

Trying to slow down so that I shoot fewer, high quality images so that I have less pictures to cull is challenging.

[DanK]

#1 is the same for me regardless of whether I am shooting digital: visualizing the image and finding interesting viewpoints and compositions.

#2 is postprocessing. I am now moderately adept, so it is not a huge challenge now, but I found it daunting when I started--in part because there are so many ways of doing the same thing (or at least very similar things).

[Tronhard]

Welcome PB.

First I totally agree with Manfred on this one, although I find it easier than most because I really had to discipline myself in the film days and that habit has died hard. While it may be true that the shots cost nothing, having to troll through a gazillion images that look almost identical in post production is not my favourite exercise.

I think for me the most challenging issue has been to find resources for personal development. I like interactive learning - learning, doing and asking questions in real time. Those of you in large population centres like the North America or Europe will have access to many sources of education that one can attend, in NZ that is not so true. Manfred mentioned in another thread that he had access to master printers to improve his printing at the highest level and I am totally envious of that ability. Most such educational facilities are in neighbouring Australia (our population is just too small) and that costs a lot more in terms of travel, accommodation and the exchange rate for short-term courses - and it's totally impractical for multi session courses over an extended period. As per a previous discussion looking for remote courses on line comes with a need to ensure quality and value for money.

Actually one other small niggle would be seeing that camera companies offer all sorts of amazing deals in the US while in NZ the pickings are meagre, to be kind - again I think it's a market size thing.

[xpatUSA]

Cutting down the number of shots that I take. In the film days it was easy as the size of the roll of film limited what I could shoot from both a practical and cost standpoint. In the digital world, the incremental cost of taking several images is effectively zero.

Trying to slow down so that I shoot fewer, high quality images so that I have less pictures to cull is challenging.

Even though I know everything (LOL), remembering everything before pushing the button is the big challenge for this old man. Seems like there's a lot more to remember versus that needed for simple snaps with my old manual film camera.

[Manfred M]

Even though I know everything (LOL), remembering everything before pushing the button is the big challenge for this old man. Seems like there's a lot more to remember versus that needed for simple snaps with my old manual film camera.

My "pro" Leica R3 that I bought in the late 1970s had a manual that was just over 40 pages long (and they were physically about half the size of my current camera manual pages). My current camera, Nikon D810. manual has about 500 pages.

The R3 still works fine. I suspect the D810 won't be around nearly that long...

[Shadowman]

One of my biggest challenges is having the lens with me that will do the job and not having to attach it when I need it. I have at least 4 lenses for my FX camera: focal lengths ranging from 24-300mm with two of the four being zooms, they cover 24-70 and 70-300mm so there are those moments when a lens switch is necessary and it can be a bit awkward.

[tbob]

The same problems I had with film. Composition and avoiding extraneous bits that distract and detract from the image.

Given I have been mucking about with cameras for fifty years plus, I suppose this will be an ongoing issue. At least with digital i have a bit more latitude to reshoot.

[Rufus]

#1 is the same for me regardless of whether I am shooting digital: visualizing the image and finding interesting viewpoints and compositions.

#2 is postprocessing. I am now moderately adept, so it is not a huge challenge now, but I found it daunting when I started--in part because there are so many ways of doing the same thing (or at least very similar things).

+1 to both!

[mugge]

My biggest challenge is post processing. There are so many ways of doing things. I am constantly culling ways of doing things - I am now back where I started - I think.
Cheers Ole

[LePetomane]

My thoughts pretty much echo those of Manfred and add to master post processing.

[rpcrowe]

I have traveled virtually all over the world using a pair of Canon APSC cameras (trip to Asia with Canon 30D and Canon 40D and trip to Venice, Greece and Istanbul with a pair of Canon 7D cameras). I carried three lenses on the trips: 17-55mm f/2.8 IS and 70-200mm f/4L IS with a 12-24mm Tokina f/4.0 ATX ass backup an for wide angle shots.

I seldom even mounted the Tokina and did all of my shooting with the 17-55mm and 70-200mm lenses. I am going lighter in weight and have a pair of Sony APSC mirrorless cameras A6400 and A6500... I think that I will use the 85mm f/1.8 and the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 as my lenses of choice for these two cameras with a Rokinon 12mm f/2.0 as my wide angle choice. I need to carry this combination on several shoots and see how it suits my shooting style. This entire kit (less extra batteries and memory cards weighs under four pounds...

[Shadowman]

Richard,
That's quite a reduction in weight, on one my recent excursions I carried one lens that weighed 6.3 lbs.

[Manfred M]

Actually I changed my mind on my original answer.

My biggest challenge is creating images that have a strong emotional impact on the viewer.

[pnodrog]

Actually I changed my mind on my original answer.

My biggest challenge is creating images that have a strong emotional impact on the viewer.

Yes, the technology is constantly changing but the biggest challenge still remains the same...

[bambleweeney]

For me it's taking my time and thinking more about composition and light before pressing the shutter button. When I (rarely) shoot with my medium format film camera it's a much slower engrossing process. Resisting the temptation to arrive on scene and immediately fire off half a dozen shots is, for me, quite hard with digital. Also the 'I'll photoshop that in/out later' attitude is hard to resist. Oh and carrying a sack full of gear just in case I need I need that particular flash/lens.

[MrB]

Regarding making photographs, the main challenge for me would be Dan's #1: (i) visualizing the image, and (ii) finding interesting viewpoints and compositions - I find that part (i) is the most difficult challenge for me, but I think I am making some progress with regard to part (ii).

If you don't mind me mentioning a second, it would be to try and take control of GAS - too much gear already, much of it under-used, and most with potential well above my level; I think I need to simplify my choices.

Philip

[Dr Bob]

I have 2 issues that I would call my biggest challenge.

One is that I don't use my camera enough between trips to remember how to use all the features. Thus, it seems I am reading my user manual before each trip.

The second is that my travel companion does not share my desire to take a quality photograph versus a quick snapshot. I want to spend time working a photo but my companion wants to move on.

Dr Bob

[William W]

as per #14 and #15...

My biggest challenge is to nail the one 'perfect' image.

Perfect meaning - "if I could do it all over again I would make NO changes, in no way could I make it better".

Without that as my challenge, Photography would become meaningless for me.

WW

[DanK]

Perfect meaning - "if I could do it all over again I would make NO changes, in no way could I make it better".

Indeed. I'll certainly never get there. I have started a series of three images of the same flower, from different perspectives. This morning I took the edited version of the first, added additional refinements, printed a test print, made an additional test print, decided I was satisfied, and printed the final 13 x 19. Then I started re-editing the second, and within half an hour, I found things I should have done to the first...