Grrr, My Mojo's Gone!

68lbs

68lbs

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April 2008
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Help! Not sure whether the crappy weather saturday was the catalyst or what, but my mojo's gone. Inspiration is non existent, and everything I shoot ends up... well... 'dead' is probably the best description. If not dead, then it certainly needs burying!

:bang:

I need inspiration. Or a kick up the arse. Something I can get my teeth into after work in the evenings.

:bang:

Grrrr! Aaaarghhh!
 
Not directed at you personally, but why do people get so hung up about downtime with our hobby?

Is it not natural to have ebbs and flows in any interest? just drift with them rather than fighting them... unless it is your profession of course then you do have an issue :D

B.
 
Good question... but I know that half the reason I havent been able to get inspired, is that I have been constantly trying to think of inspiration.

:bang:

That's why I'm hoping input from you guys/gals might snap me out of it.

:)
 
stop thinking so hard, try letting it go for a couple of weeks and not think too much bout togging anything unless you see something worthwile.
failing that, i assume you have a nifty fifty, so start some product shots(even a bottle of ketchup) find the most interesting bottle (perfume, aftershave)you can and click away.use a desk lanmp for lighting or natural light.
or go in the garden and go bug hunting, there a fair few about at the mo.
 
Have you got a particular type of photography you like doing e.g. landscape, macro, portrait etc :shrug:
 
I might not shoot for weeks on end.
I don't get down about it though :shrug:
Its natural to not want to do something ALL the time, despite the fact that you love doing it. Having a break is necessary to keep the juices flowing. Otherwise we dry up.
 
I don't have a nifty, but that shouldn't stop me with a bottle of ketchup! What's more likely is I'll see the brown sauce and then spend ages looking at them both wondering which will be best... or should I maybe go for the Lea and Perrins? Hmmm, choices.

Ignore me... I'm thinking too hard about this, cos I'm doing some really monotonous crap at work.

:bang: :bang: :bang:
 
So do what I do? Enter the photocomp and shoot something new every month.
 
68lbs said:
Help! Not sure whether the crappy weather saturday was the catalyst or what, but my mojo's gone. Inspiration is non existent, and everything I shoot ends up... well... 'dead' is probably the best description. If not dead, then it certainly needs burying!

:bang:

I need inspiration. Or a kick up the arse. Something I can get my teeth into after work in the evenings.

:bang:

Grrrr! Aaaarghhh!
Click to expand...



Easy to inspire yourself, all you have to do is pretend you are working for a large company or are back at school, you are required to "document in images" a particular subject.

I do this a lot. So for example, go out, and document in ten or so images, the transport system in your local area. Sounds boring? Try it, you will soon find your creative streak.

Or instead, go and explore "The growth of Junk Food on the high street" - I want to do this, and my 365 yesterday was a mini test for this.

Give it a try, where do you live?

Gary.
 
Pull yourself together man, stop being such a girlie :D

Do what I do, take 1000 shots, usually one I like out of them.

Try a form of photography you have not tried before. Must be plenty to make you start thinking on here :thumbs:

Hope that helps :thinking:
 
Just go and find something much more of a challenge than you've done before.

I always use that to fire me up with my Kayaking... I rise to the challenge and it all comes back, usually ten times more enthusiastic than before.
 
Baz777 said:
Pull yourself together man, stop being such a girlie
Click to expand...

Exactly what I'd be thinking if it wasn't me who'd started the thread.

EdinburghGary said:
So for example, go out, and document in ten or so images, the transport system in your local area. Or instead, go and explore "The growth of Junk Food on the high street"
Click to expand...

I love the idea of this, but I'm not sure I could do 'street' or 'urban'. I don't especially consider myself shy, and I really wouldn't give a flying wotsit about some copper stopping me. But there is something (sorry, cant put my finger on what) that stops me (or would make me feel particularly uncomfortable) walking down the street taking pictures of ANYTHING.

My mojo will return. Just needs a bang on the head! :bang:
 
If none of this advice works, you could always buy a new lens ;)
 
Two things help my inspiration spark into life. Photo mags or looking through Explore on Flickr. I has worked every time for me so far.

I do agree though, don't get frustrated with lack of inspiration... do something about it instead ;)
 
68lbs said:
Help! Not sure whether the crappy weather saturday was the catalyst or what, but my mojo's gone. Inspiration is non existent, and everything I shoot ends up... well... 'dead' is probably the best description. If not dead, then it certainly needs burying!

:bang:

I need inspiration. Or a kick up the arse. Something I can get my teeth into after work in the evenings.

:bang:

Grrrr! Aaaarghhh!
Click to expand...
Inspiration?

Ok, two ideas:

1. Go and buy a really awesome coffee-table style book of photos. You know the type, they're about £30-40 but contain LOADS of INCREDIBLE images. I was in Borders the other day and spent two hours (which I didn't notice go!) sitting there looking at some quality quality images.

2. Do you have a tripod? If so, go out and do some night time work: car lights, lit up buildings, etc. It's a totally different thing to daytime work and it can be very fun to produce something unlike your other work.

And remember, it's meant to be fun not stressful! :thumbs:
 
Albedo said:
Inspiration?

Ok, two ideas:

1. Go and buy a really awesome coffee-table style book of photos. You know the type, they're about £30-40 but contain LOADS of INCREDIBLE images. I was in Borders the other day and spent two hours (which I didn't notice go!) sitting there looking at some quality quality images.
Click to expand...


Are these filed under art or photography in the book shops?

G.
 
I've often though of cataloging our local pubs :D and of course if inspiration runs out pop in for a pint!

(But actually that is a serious project currently in my head when I get time maybe!)

Set that challenge and go for it! You're recent angel shots were great get out there and get some more like that :D
 
Dark Star said:
I've often though of cataloging our local pubs :D and of course if inspiration runs out pop in for a pint!

(But actually that is a serious project currently in my head when I get time maybe!)

Set that challenge and go for it! You're recent angel shots were great get out there and get some more like that :D
Click to expand...

Thats a fantastic idea DS - would you document them inside and out?

G.
 
I'll have a go.

How good are you with early mornings in spring, summer and Autumn? And do you live near the countryside? If you answer yes to both question, then go for drive (or a bike ride) just half an hour before sunrise and take outdoors pictures at point of sun rise, preferably when the air is still and calm.
Even the local park becomes a different world at dawn. The lighting and mood of that time of the day is often a total contrast to the normal lighting of the day time.
The great thing about being up early in the morning is that there's no people to worry about or getting in the way as they'll all be in bed asleep!
Really, this may only work if you like getting up very early in the morning and you are into landscape photography. :D
I love cloud photography, but this is only because I'm nuts about meteorology. :bonk: But, that could also be something else for you to have a go at.
Like what everyone else said in here, we all have our peaks and troughs when it comes to being into photography for a hobby. I could go for several weeks without touching my cameras, then suddenly I become a right shutterbug (am I allowed to use that word!) for a few days.
Just go with the flow, I say. :)
 
EdinburghGary said:
Are these filed under art or photography in the book shops?

G.
Click to expand...

Well, in Borders they are in Photography (which is in turn split up into guide books or "how to" material and the type I'm talking about). You can't miss them, huge glossy things.
 
At least that's what I tell myself whenever I run out of inspiration juice.

It makes me angry so I go and shoot some stuff just to get revenge on my own self-doubt!


MWahahahahahahahhahahahaa!
 
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