Lost Inspiration

Ruffy

Ruffy

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,623
Name
Paul
Edit My Images
Yes
I have been away from the forums...and my camera for so long that I have lost all interest, don't get me wrong, I love looking at all the fantastic images and it nearly gets me kick started but I just can't get going again.

Have I lost interest altogether or has anyone else experienced this before, don't want to sell up, just...in fact I don't know what to do :(
 
I think it's common. One thing that I do when I am struggling is go to shoot one thing and one thing only. Like take my macro lens to the zoo. I know sounds crazy right. Well it forces me to look at everything differently and I feel challenged again and that is what I think we sometimes lose. I live in a flat ugly city that is so spread out it can take an hour to get from one end to the other without traffic. Point is I find it hard to find interesting things to shoot so doing something like the macro lens shoot helps me become creative again.
 
Ruffy said:
I have been away from the forums...and my camera for so long that I have lost all interest, don't get me wrong, I love looking at all the fantastic images and it nearly gets me kick started but I just can't get going again.

Have I lost interest altogether or has anyone else experienced this before, don't want to sell up, just...in fact I don't know what to do :(
Click to expand...

This happened to me at the start of the year, I was shooting street photography (which i love) all the time. But i found it wasn't the street shooting i had lost interest in, but it was going to the same locations over and over.
So maybe a change in what you shoot can help, it did with me.
 
I find myself losing interest when I can only get to the same old places on days when the light is by coincidence flat and I start wondering if it's worthwhile taking a shot at all, but then there are the days when I can get to somewhere more photogenic and there's the heaven when free time and subject and light all come together :D

So, my advice is to hang on in there until it comes together again.
 
woof woof said:
I find myself losing interest when I can only get to the same old places on days when the light is by coincidence flat and I start wondering if it's worthwhile taking a shot at all, but then there are the days when I can get to somewhere more photogenic and there's the heaven when free time and subject and light all come together :D

So, my advice is to hang on in there until it comes together again.
Click to expand...

That is what starts the issue with me as well. Like I said my city is not very photogenic so I decide I want to go shoot and start to get ready only to realize I have no good place to go to. That is where grabbing a macro lens helps. It gives me a new prospective of a place I have shot many times and don't want to shoot anymore.
 
Last edited:
shaylou said:
That is what starts the issue with me as well. Like I said my city is not very photogenic so I decide I want to go shoot and start to get ready only to realize I have no good place to go to. That is where grabbing a macro lens helps. It gives me a new prospective of a place I have shot any times and don't want to shoot anymore.
Click to expand...

I live a short drive from the coast and a short walk to the countryside which you'd think would be great but a lot of my time is taken up and I don't get much free time and very often when I do get time away the weather/light is poor and I have any number of flat pictures of the cost and countryside and I don't need any more.

A while ago someone showed me a picture she'd took at the coast and the light was lovely and when I looked through my own pictures it was over a year since I'd been there in anything like as good light. Day after day, trip after trip resulted in no decent stand out shots. Shooting from different angles and perspectives and boosting everything in PS helps but when I've done it 1,000 times I long for time and place and light to come together. And... I've just got back from Thailand and I'm very happy with my shots from there :D But sadly it may be 6 months before it happens again.
 
Wow I was in Bangkok in July. I had planned to meet a friend and spend 4 days doing street photography but he ended up bringing his girlfriend and all they wanted to do was shop. I made the best of it but what a disappointment.
As far as light goes here, it's not the problem it the subject matter that is so elusive.
 
Unlucky chap, after all you've been through it's good to see you back shooting. We see the last march during the protests and there were really friendly and welcoming. I managed some great street photography.
 
shaylou said:
Wow I was in Bangkok in July. I had planned to meet a friend and spend 4 days doing street photography but he ended up bringing his girlfriend and all they wanted to do was shop. I made the best of it but what a disappointment.
As far as light goes here, it's not the problem it the subject matter that is so elusive.
Click to expand...

I would have left them to there shoping,and got on with my photographer :D
 
shaylou said:
I would of loved to be there during that time. I would sure like to see what you got if you have a link. Thanks.
Click to expand...
There's a few on my flickr,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/byker28i/

March 2014 we went if you look by date

such as these published two, both of the daily commute
13271286993_4a9d4bce50_b.jpg

13195454445_1af4320ee6_b.jpg
 
I've lost it for a while, Circumstances changed where i could no longer do wedding photography which i loved doing and it also made me explore my creative side with shots as i had subjects and surrounding already there...

Im currently moving my gear to a setup that's more suited for the portable/light end of the spectrum to allow me to take it places and not lugging around a massive bag of camera gear whilst at the same time trying to enjoy time with my daughter.

I recently went to Italy with only a film SLR that i bought off here a couple of weeks ago. I went through 5 rolls. Like whats been mentioned before it forces you to think first before pressing the shutter. I havent had a chance to drop the films off for the results but im excited/nervous at the same time now.

Sometimes its not waiting for the conditions that you want to shoot in but finding how to shoot creatively with the conditions you have got.
 
Some good stories here of people who are/have been in the same boat.

Well I did get out with the old girl today (camera that is) and nope...couldn't get ticking, gonna go again tomorrow and try and force the issue :(
 
Ruffy said:
Some good stories here of people who are/have been in the same boat.

Well I did get out with the old girl today (camera that is) and nope...couldn't get ticking, gonna go again tomorrow and try and force the issue :(
Click to expand...

I don't think forcing the issue works Paul. Well it doesn't for me, I know that.
I would suggest finding a purpose or subject for going out, even if it's just something as simple as a colour. It will cause you to go out and look for things of that colour rather than just hoping to find something to point your camera at.
Outside of photography, what do you like to do?
Can you not incorporate your other hobbies/likes etc into your photography?
Or find a subject that you can make a project of.
 
Ruffy said:
Some good stories here of people who are/have been in the same boat.

Well I did get out with the old girl today (camera that is) and nope...couldn't get ticking, gonna go again tomorrow and try and force the issue :(
Click to expand...

Don't just wander out without thought, go somewhere that will enable you to take images. Sorry, I don't know what you like to shoot but some suggestions:
Check for a local event, take some photos of the kids, the dog. Pick your favourite item and try to make a product shot of it - make an image that would sell that item to us, make us want to buy it.

Or, just don't worry about it. Put the camera aside, wait until something comes up with the correct opportunity. Forcing yourself to take any image just because will probably mean a crap image and discourage you more.
 
i find that some days i end up taking no photos even though i now carry my camera at all times apart from when im at work - i tend to download my shots about once per month and i find there are a few shots that i like each month worth keeping - i usually take about 100 shots per month and end up with about 10 i like
 
I'm suffering from a bit of an inspiration by-pass at the minute. I've shot to death all the things local to me and have to travel further a field to do anything vaguely interesting. Been here before and I know I'll snap out of it. I'm getting excited by the thoughts of Christmas markets for some reason lol.
 
I like the idea of a course or even a workshop.
 
Boldonian said:
I'm suffering from a bit of an inspiration by-pass at the minute. I've shot to death all the things local to me
Click to expand...

I guarantee you that you have not. What you mean is you've shot everything obvious or pretty for the sake of shooting it. Stop looking with your eyes, and start exploring your locality through research... dig up interesting facts; find interesting people or organisations or events you never knew about. Find a project. If you just walk around looking for photos, then of course your own immediate locale will become boring.
 
Pookeyhead said:
I guarantee you that you have not. What you mean is you've shot everything obvious or pretty for the sake of shooting it. Stop looking with your eyes, and start exploring your locality through research... dig up interesting facts; find interesting people or organisations or events you never knew about. Find a project. If you just walk around looking for photos, then of course your own immediate locale will become boring.
Click to expand...

Sage advice buddy !
 
Boldonian said:
I'm suffering from a bit of an inspiration by-pass at the minute. I've shot to death all the things local to me and have to travel further a field to do anything vaguely interesting. Been here before and I know I'll snap out of it. I'm getting excited by the thoughts of Christmas markets for some reason lol.
Click to expand...

Nope, sorry, theres many an interesting project which can be done, documenting the changes in your area. I wish I'd photographed all the wall murals in Swindon before they were painted over or destroyed. I'm currently documenting our local pub life which is less than 30 secs from our house.
They are currently redeveloping part of town so I've taken images of it before it was kncked down, and some of the process of demolishment.
 
Pookeyhead said:
Find a project. If you just walk around looking for photos, then of course your own immediate locale will become boring.
Click to expand...

When you go out wandering the trick is not to look for photos of things, but look for (or stumble across!) ideas about which you can make pictures. It's ideas that make pictures interesting IMO.

I probably take most of my photographs within a mile of home on a couple of routes I walk almost daily. Nonetheless I keep finding new ways of looking at what I see. My photos aren't the sort of pictures that would get 'liked', but making them keeps me interested.
 
Ed Sutton said:
My photos aren't the sort of pictures that would get 'liked', but making them keeps me interested.
Click to expand...

Thanks for saying this. I think it is important sometimes to remember that if you are enjoying yourself you are doing it right.
 
This used to happen to me about once a year and sometimes resulted in me selling off all my kit, before my 'mojo' returned and I ended up having to buy new kit! On the plus side, it enabled me to switch between Nikon and Canon a couple of times - before I finally saw sense and realised that Nikon was the only brand worth bothering with ;-) - but it was expensive! Looking back, the loss of mojo usually coincided with the start of summer and it's return usually with the onset of winter - so I came to the conclusion that photography was competing with other warm-weather activities and losing out. A few things changed my interest to a year-round one - primarily it was my membership of a camera club (even though it ceases regular meetings in the summer!). I still find that my interest tends to wane a bit in the summer months, but it doesn't take much to re-energise it. Usually an outing (alone or club-organised) or an article online, or a new piece of kit.
 
Brian_of_Bozeat said:
Thanks for saying this. I think it is important sometimes to remember that if you are enjoying yourself you are doing it right.
Click to expand...
Ed Smith once said something on Test Match Special that struck me as worth remembering. I forget the exact words, but it was to the effect that; When you start playing cricket to impress other people you have completely lost the point of playing cricket. Swap 'playing cricket' for 'taking photographs' and there you have it.
 
Ed Sutton said:
Ed Smith once said something on Test Match Special that struck me as worth remembering. I forget the exact words, but it was to the effect that; When you start playing cricket to impress other people you have completely lost the point of playing cricket. Swap 'playing cricket' for 'taking photographs' and there you have it.
Click to expand...


I can't agree more.
 
There have been a few threads like this recently and I've been thinking about how to respond to them because I don't quite understand.

I've wondered what photography is for those who lose inspiration.

For me, photography itself is not the source of inspiration, the world is. There is a world of wonder in your street, or your garden, or your house. See the world with your eyes and your brain and show it.

As Ed says, don't do it to please others, do it for your own reasons.

ETA. I do sometimes think that part of the problem can be feedback received when asking for crit. You need to distinguish between the feedback that will help you achieve your vision and the feedback which will help you achieve the vision of the person offering crit.
 
Last edited:
simon ess said:
For me, photography itself is not the source of inspiration, the world is. There is a world of wonder in your street, or your garden, or your house. See the world with your eyes and your brain and show it.

As Ed says, don't do it to please others, do it for your own reasons.
Click to expand...
This, although seeing the accomplished work of others (not necessarily of the same type as your own) can be enriching and reinforce your motivation to keep exploring.
 
i'm feeling a bit of this at the moment - Ive got a newish body, some new lenses, I just lack the arsed - mind you to be fair its not just photography, lately I seem to lack the arsed for everything... some days getting out of bed and dragging my arse to work is the key acheivement of the day
 
simon ess said:
There have been a few threads like this recently and I've been thinking about how to respond to them because I don't quite understand.

I've wondered what photography is for those who lose inspiration.

For me, photography itself is not the source of inspiration, the world is. There is a world of wonder in your street, or your garden, or your house. See the world with your eyes and your brain and show it.

As Ed says, don't do it to please others, do it for your own reasons.

ETA. I do sometimes think that part of the problem can be feedback received when asking for crit. You need to distinguish between the feedback that will help you achieve your vision and the feedback which will help you achieve the vision of the person offering crit.
Click to expand...

Yes that's what I think too but you've worded it better than I could:D
I shoot what I'm into which happens to be nature/wildlife
am really into dragonflies and damselflies for example amazing insects and sometimes managing a few shots is just a bonus, I go out to watch them anyway
 
My drop in inspiration was my personal circumstances. Life had thrown me a curve ball and i let it hit me square in the head. I have only just bounced back but that's only because i am in a better state myself. You could be in the most beautiful setting, if your heart is not in it, you wont be able to be inspired.

Ive been back taking pics again and do you know what, i love it, over the last month gone through 7 rolls of film waiting on my XT-1 to arrive, which it does tomorrow. :p Its one of the few things that i can do alone or with friends thats relatively cheap (not including cost of equipment). I dont see weather as a hindrance, im far from a fair weather shooter. I get a buzz when i nail the shot.
 
33L said:
My drop in inspiration was my personal circumstances. Life had thrown me a curve ball and i let it hit me square in the head. I have only just bounced back but that's only because i am in a better state myself. You could be in the most beautiful setting, if your heart is not in it, you wont be able to be inspired.

Ive been back taking pics again and do you know what, i love it, over the last month gone through 7 rolls of film waiting on my XT-1 to arrive, which it does tomorrow. :p Its one of the few things that i can do alone or with friends thats relatively cheap (not including cost of equipment). I dont see weather as a hindrance, im far from a fair weather shooter. I get a buzz when i nail the shot.
Click to expand...

A very similar tail to mine, although rather than the 7 rolls of film I've had my X-T1 in my hands just under a week. Previous to this I'd shot with a Canon DSLR so the change to Fuji has brought joy in learning to use a different, although in some ways similar, piece of kit, learning to become familiar with it and understanding it's strengths and weaknesses. It's been like learning to shoot to a reasonable level all over again, but in a pleasurable way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top