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It hasn't all been done before by many of us ... so we still need to learn how. If you've done it before, and to the level of some of these guys, then perhaps a different genre of photography awaits you?
I don't mind taking a shot that's similar to ones I've seen before because I try to emulate those results, and/or surpass them if I possibly can.
Also, it's easy for us photographers to 'see' it all done before when using the net every day ... but for those friends and families around us, our work is unique to them quite often. There's a nice achievement in that I think.
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Yeah I think you nailed it for me MA. It's a combo of feeling the urge to do something different and needing to remind myself that the images are primarily for my own enjoyment and development. And even though photography is spreading like wildfire as a hobby in this digital age, not everyone I share my images with is going to be as experienced or critical as those who are as immersed in photography as I am (books, forums, online galleries, podcasts, magazines etc). Thanks. Sorry for diverting the topic too!
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You were still loosely on topic ;)
One thing about seeing the 'same' composition is that it can push you to greater levels if you take on the challenge.
"How can I take this same scene differently from what I've seen before and make it work?"
A good way to push yourself is to go and re-visit a scene you've taken a photo you are happy with ... and take another 10 good ones ... all different in some distinctive way. Doesn't matter if you take another 100 to get just 10 good ones. In the end you will have created new ways to look at the the scene you hadn't thought of before.