Finding inspiration/motivation for weekday evening photography...

[gill]

I have an ongoing frustration at the moment with trying to find a reason/excuse to get my camera out during the week. Like many I work reasonably long hours Mon-Fri and usually get back home at 8-ish. Whilst I tend to have photography on my mind, I find that I'm too tired to get the camera out and find anything 'worthwhile' to shoot, so instead I spend a large amount of my spare time in the evenings reading TP, photo blogs, equipment reviews etc. but not actually doing any photography. This only leaves the weekend, which means that if I find myself occupied with something that isn't camera-friendly (which seems to happen fairly often) another week goes by with my camera languishing in the bag.

Weekends are easier to adjust if I'm feeling particularly strong withdrawal symptoms, but in the week I tend to find myself a little lost for ideas.

Does anyone/has anyone else faced this, and if so have you tried to find that inspiration during weeknights?

I've tried to think of a few options:

• Set up a home studio of some sort - living in a small central(ish) london flat this isn't so easy. I could potentially make a small macro set up however.
• Start a course, perhaps OCA's "The Art of Photography" module. I know this might not sound ideal for someone complaining of a lack of time, but as I understand I can be somewhat flexible on timing and it will perhaps give some more structure to time spent at home without my camera in hand.
• Do some 'photo walks' on the way home now that we're approaching summer. The journey home itself is a bit long (10 miles) but I could get off the tube at various stops along the way and try a few different routes home. Only problem with this is my 5d feels a little heavy and unweildly for this (I've never felt entirely comfortable doing street photography with an SLR) and whilst it feels like the perfect opportunity to treat myself to an X100 I'm hoping not to let this 'predicament' feed my already rampant GAS.

Essentially I'm looking for something a little more focused and fulfilling for my photography rather than just random web browsing in the weeknights, even if perhaps it doesn't involve my camera at all. I'm sure one or two others must have faced similar times in the past. Any suggestions would be welcome!

Cheers!

 

[simon ess]

You've mentioned both my answers to the problem in your post.

An X100 and a small macro "studio"....a cardboard box and a couple of lights.

 

[BMD]

Set yourself a challenge.

Example: I live in Surrey. Same or similar symptoms to you. Decided to research my local area for sites of interest be it historical or natural in order to get out AND make use of my gear, and then set out to get imagery of them. Picked fourteen sites and they had to be photographed in fourteen weeks. One site a week and to be done irrespective of family commitments. This meant on occasion diverting whilst on route home from work, going out of an evening etc. makes good practice too of taking photographs at different times of day, light, weather.

Just a thought!

 

[Pookeyhead]

You need a project. Sounds to me like, at the moment, you're just desperate to shoot... shoot anything... but you'll just be capturing.. the novelty of that will wear off too eventually. You need to plan a longer term project. What else do you do? What other hobbies? Anything interesting in your local community you can document?

 

[pjm1]

As David has said, what interests you and why do you like taking photos?

I first took up photography as a bit of a hobby about 6-7 years ago. But back then, I didn't have anything I particularly wanted to take photos of. Guess what, my hobby died.

Now, I have kids, I enjoy hillwalking, I love the outdoors and I'm generally a lot more reflective. For these reasons I love taking photos. I think you have to find something which makes you want to get out there. Only you can answer what that is, but if it's a subject which drives you to leave the sofa then it's the right one for you.

What images could you imagine or dream of seeing in a gallery showing your work?

 

[ianp5a]

If you expect to be tired in the evenings, then it is more realistic to adapt your activities to suit. Play to your strengths!
Some suggestions:

• Spend the evenings planning weekend shoots and locations.
• Make a droplets rig. Shoot coloured milk dripping into inky water.
• Get a camera that is light enough not to give you an excuse to stay in. These days, there are many excellent ones.
• Arrange to meet other photographers for photo walks. Forcing you out.
• Go to the pub! Woohoo!

 

[69Bonni]

You need a project

Just what Pookyhead says

Yep I have the same problem, However i have cured it to some repect.
I have to drive into London every day (Groan) its a 53 mile commute. On the way in i have always seen "X" sunrise or "X" fields with nice inversion layers and thought what a great shot. So i decided part of the soloution was to always keep my Camera in the car.
I dont stop on the hard shoulder to take a shot, but on the way home if its a particularly nice evening or sunset i'll pick out some locations up front, not so far off my route, stop off and take some photographs. You have to pick your locations and a theme or you may end up (as i did at first) with a bunch of nondescript photographs.

But what Pookyhead says is Bang on! Not only has it improved my photography but it has made me get up and take photographs.... And using fields of photography i wouldnt normally. This taught me a lot and its a challenge, so the answer is you need to challenge yourself.

There are a fair number of sites that set projects and a good idea is to pick one that sets you a deadline, then you "Have" to get it done.
For better or worse another site linked with a well know pair of Photographic Mags runs something called "Camera School" this runs a deadline on the project work.
Unfortunatly i have not been on this forum long enough to see if TP run projects. I'm sure they do, I just havnt had time to have a delve in the Competitions, Challenges, and Inspiration and Projects and Themes forums yet!

All the advice above posts are excellent, this is just my 2d

 

[gill]

Everyone, thanks so much for all of your fantastic replies. The last fortnight has been a gross distortion of my usual hours getting home at midnight and beyond, so I've had no time to respond (let alone get the camera out!)

Some really great ideas above. I think setting myself a project with hard and definable targets makes sense (like the 14 locations in 14 weeks idea) - it's how I'm used to getting things done at work and I think I need that structure/discipline or else I tend to let things slide a little. We're a few weeks away from moving flats, but a small macro set up or water droplet rig (I've always wanted to try one of those but never taken the leap!) might be a good project for later in the year.

I think a very good point is to think about other interests and how I can bring them into my photography. Throughout my life I have struggled a little bit for 'focus'... I've tended to be something of a jack-of-all-trades/master-of-none in how I've picked up sports, music and other activities. I've been really pleased over the past 2-3 years that I've taken a greater interest in photography beyond just casually dabbling here and there, but now I think I need to take the next step and try to find a small number of areas/subject matters to focus my attention on and try to refine. Over the past couple few years as my interest in photography has blossomed I think I've let a lot of my other interests slide a little... if I actually try to mark out time to put down the camera for a while and reconnect with some other pursuits it will probably actually benefit my creativity and photography in the long run!

Paul, I think you phrased this very nicely with "What images could you imagine or dream of seeing in a gallery showing your work?". I think this is how I will frame my thoughts over the next couple of weeks and see where I come out with a view to establishing a medium-term project for myself.

And as ianp5a points out- failing all else there's always the pub...

thanks again everyone!