Old path, fixed pattern and old habits could be changed if only you want to change them at will. If the change can improve your life either in the short term or longer period does not matter. But can you fore see the benefits?
In the case of doing photography you may be spending a year or two on acquiring the basics, some may be still fumbling with aperture, shutter speed, focusing issues, normal or flash exposure, composition
fundamentals and the likes. Once you get over these things you will
be tempted to take a step further into specialized subjects like marco,
street photography, abstract, buildings, fireworks, portraiture, nudes etc.
But after spending two more years enjoying what you are doing, how
have you been exploring photography and still loving it because of
the brillant pleasure you derive from it. I wonder why people
didn't discover that no matter what, he must make himself
hapy in making new pictures.
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Here are some clues for the purpose of sharing:
music, movement in dance, sound of the waves, vibrant colours,
clothings and styles, hairdo and makeup, singing, riding a bicycle
for a tour, make changes in seconds, make pictures in an empty
football field with only one prime standard lens. (You can add
more to this list)