I will not put too much pressure on myself!

[Sherlock77]

It's that time of year again, the Calgary Stampede starts on Friday... The event that probably defines Calgary more then anything else... In the past two years I have far too much pressure on myself to take great photos, partially because they have also sold a special pass with entry everyday if you want to (that is 10 days in all)

The last two years (with that special pass) I have felt like I've fallen on my face and not done my best photography by far

I swear, going into this year, that I will not put too much pressure on myself! Making things more interesting this year, is that the first four days look to be rather rainy, also coincidentally the same days I booked vacation time off, rather bad luck...

But I will not pressure myself, did I say that again?

 

[Crossbreed]

I hope it goes well for you. Action shots are hard to capture in the "still" mode. Why don't you shoot video, instead, and isolate the shots that you are happy with?

 

[Sherlock77]

I hope it goes well for you. Action shots are hard to capture in the "still" mode. Why don't you shoot video, instead, and isolate the shots that you are happy with?

I have thought about that before, but I would feel like I'm cheating, it's all just part of the challenge, and I'm not a big video person anyway...

 

[Pats]

Calgary Stampede - wow. I've been twice in my life. My biggest memories are the mounted Canadian police that did a spectacular show and it being so hot and no where had ice for my drink. lol
I think we're both old school with photography - I also think it's cheating when you use video's to grab a shot from. And the editing. I like the challenge of getting that perfect shot from the camera the first time. The 35 mm camera's where you had to do the work to get the great pictures. Go and enjoy the challenge - that's what you do. And the rain might make some interesting takes. I know you like to capture reality. I'm anxious for you to share.

 

[Judge]

But I will not pressure myself, did I say that again?

Reminds me of when I'd go to Golden Gate Fields trying to get that one really great shot of horse racing.

- Which never really happened.

Then again if you have OCD, none of this really matters. Because you want perfection. You demand perfection. And even if or when you attain it, odds are that you'll still feel that you didn't.

At least I still have memories of something my photography instructor told our class. That this is why you bracket so many shots. Because the odds are always against you getting that one perfect picture. And that even then there are never any guarantees.

With or without pressure, getting that one perfect shot will always be a long shot.

 

[Sherlock77]

Reminds me of when I'd go to Golden Gate Fields trying to get that one really great shot of horse racing.

- Which never really happened.

Then again if you have OCD, none of this really matters. Because you want perfection. You demand perfection. And even if or when you attain it, odds are that you'll still feel that you didn't.

At least I still have memories of something my photography instructor told our class. That this is why you bracket so many shots. Because the odds are always against you getting that one perfect picture. And that even then there are never any guarantees.

With or without pressure, getting that one perfect shot will always be a long shot.

Based on what you said, I might have some milder symptoms of OCD, I just know that I feel frustrated and discouraged when my photography does not go as planned... Which is why I'm attempting to go into this year with few expectations about results...

 

[Sherlock77]

Calgary Stampede - wow. I've been twice in my life. My biggest memories are the mounted Canadian police that did a spectacular show and it being so hot and no where had ice for my drink. lol
I think we're both old school with photography - I also think it's cheating when you use video's to grab a shot from. And the editing. I like the challenge of getting that perfect shot from the camera the first time. The 35 mm camera's where you had to do the work to get the great pictures. Go and enjoy the challenge - that's what you do. And the rain might make some interesting takes. I know you like to capture reality. I'm anxious for you to share.

We've had some rather hot years for Stampede week, so hot it's hard to even be on the pavement and water doesn't help much even...

 

[Sherlock77]

Here's one example from last year, I went into the grounds in the evening, there were lots of people but I just couldn't find a photo I wanted to take... As I exited, in frustration, I walked past a busker... We've talked before, I talked with him briefly, as he took a break from playing his bagpipes (eek!) I took this semi-candid portrait, it is one of my favourite photos of the year but not the photo I wanted that night... And I'm not sure it's the Calgary Stampede wants to see...

 

[Sherlock77]

It's been an interesting weekend... I haven't been to the fairgrounds so far (right now there is a major thunderstorm rolling through)

But the downtown area where lots of things usually happen, isn't at all, to put it simply... Where there were always vendors, none! Barely any street entertainment of any sort... This is the area where in the past I did lots of photography but it's a dead zone this year... Has me very discouraged

I've discovered information that some new company is "managing" that area, I suspect that is one possible reason why there were no vendors for Stampede and/or the recent Canada Day festivities, or lack of...

I'm not in a good mood right now