Photography after a serious illness

ukaskew

ukaskew

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Chris
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I've been enjoying photography as a hobby for about 7 years now, I've gone through various phases where I've been itching to get and shoot frequently, or had pretty much no interest at all at times, as I'm sure we all have. The majority of time I would be looking forward to a particular event, whether that be a motorsport event or a city break, and would shoot very little otherwise.

Last July I was taken ill with a virus on my heart and from the little I remember I understand I was quite lucky, to put it nicely (quite a shock being 30 years old and otherwise very healthy). I'm still unwell, can't travel and can only work for a few hours per week, but I can (and need to) walk for an hour or so every few days.

Despite there being no miracle cure for me and no time frame for any improvement (which can apparently easily lead to depression), I've developed a need to just get out there and enjoy my local surroundings pretty much every day if I'm well enough. I'm now hyper aware of my surroundings and constantly framing photos in my mind (and subsequently shooting them). Every time I'm sat in the house feeling ok I have a desire to get out there, it just feels like a wasted day otherwise. I went for a walk yesterday, for example, and I was just buzzing, and again when I got home and reviewed my shots although I was shattered I couldn't stop smiling that I had managed to record exactly what I wanted to.

I've always found it tough to shoot familiar things (which is why I enjoy travel photography so much), but it's like a switch has been flipped, something I've walked past a thousand times is now all of a sudden something I want to create a good image from.

That all said, I'm not sure what I'm hoping to gain writing this down, has anyone had similar experiences? Does it last?!
 
It's a strange thing to say but it seems like getting ill has motivated you. I sometimes think it would for me too though, like I did last night thinking about my A-Level exams. If I was to get ill and miss one of my exams I think I'd end up making myself really motivated to get a good grade when I got the chance to actually sit it. I don't really know why though :lol:

I know what you mean with the walking past something a thousand times and then it suddenly looking like a perfect image though, the snow has done that to me :lol: I always tell myself I don't live near anything worth shooting but the snow has just made everything look so much more interesting, to be honest it's probably just the fact that it's made me notice them :p

Anyway, keep on getting out! Sounds like you're doing the right thing :thumbs:
 
Well thought out post, an odd thing I find is that if I do travel far I often see the local area differently and appreciate it more.
It's not unusual that I only take a handful of touristy shots while away then come home to perhaps sublime evening light and take more on my doorstep then than I did all day.
An understanding and desire to showcase the place you know best comes into it.

There is a lot of interest even in a small garden plot or the home capturing things in different light etc.
 
I think everyone goes through barren periods. I find it helps to have a project or two on specific themes and work on those. It helps to focus your mind a bit and get the creative juices flowing.

I get fed up photographing premier league football sometimes - crazy but true. Variety is the spice of life - try different things and have a couple of things that you are trying to achieve every time you shoot.
 
Tobers said:
I get fed up photographing premier league football sometimes - crazy but true.
Click to expand...

Just sit back and enjoy the football then! :lol: Or aren't you interested in the game, just the photography?
 
Makes the saying "Don`t put off till tomorrow what you can do today" seem even more realistic.
I wish you well for the future mate.
John.
 
good to read your post

suffering from depression these last months - haven't even picked up a camera

each day as it comes.!
 
I have also been struggling with stress and depression for the last 3 years. I find it does affect my photography mojo in that I often take loads of pictures for them to languish on my computer because I can't motivate myself to do anything to them. I eventually found that I couldn't even motivate myself to take pictures because I wasn't doing anything with them.

Recently I have been having a particularly bad time health wise and my salvation has been getting out with the dogs. I love the time that I have outdoors and feel so free and unburdened. If I can't get out I feel as though I've missed out and wasted the opportunity.

There is a lot to be said for getting out there amongst nature.
 
hi Vikki

'' I find it does affect my photography mojo in that I often take loads of pictures for them to languish on my computer because I can't motivate myself to do anything to them''

just an odd thought - do you think technology allows us to take/load/store 100's of images with no thought of what we plan to do with them

when i grew up, photos [b&w usually ..:lol::lol:.] were taken for a specific event [ wedding, holiday.etc..] printed and shared amongst relatives/friends/family album

I have 100's of beautiful images of Scottish landscapes -- nobody gives a damn.!

hmmm. ......start of a new thread maybe......:shrug:
 
John (and others with loads of photos languishing on their HDDs), go through them, weed out the poor duplicates, OOF shots, motion blurred/camera shaky and other poor shots and get the decent ones printed. It's hard to fall in love with an image on a screen but easy to do so with a good print! Once you've got a load of 6x4" prints, you can go through them and see if there are any you want bigger - if so, print them up bigger! You'll probably find that there are some (let's say you've gone up to A4 so far) prints that you want even bigger - if so,... you get the drift!

Once you get the big print bug, it's worth investing in a decent photo printer, at least up to A4 and if the bug bites, A3+. Beyond that, space can be a problem - were space not at a premium here, I would have a large format roll printer but currently have to make do with a meagre A3+ one!

And as I've said in PMs, Carpe Diem - seize the day!
 
I can understand your predicament fairly well. I was a healthy 28 year old last autumn when a seizure changed things a lot, brain damage can do that to a person.

I went through a long period of depression which I must admit does still rear it's ugly head around once a week. Being stuck inside with no chance of parole until spring and seeing what others have been up to while your stuck is horrible. But I did see the same longing to get out and experience the world you've seen, and this took me out of a lull.

Sadly for a while at least I need to be monitored so I am not allowed on my own which has limited time out photographing. I am not indoors photographer, I've done water drops and still life stuff and frankly found it utterly bore some. I need to be outside, and I can't wait until I am allowed outside on my own again.

I have taken all the chances I can, including being sat outside my front door for an hour or so with my 70-300 failing to take pictures of birds in the snow. Normally this would have frustrated me, but since my diagnosis any chance to do something is a blessing.

I too hope it lasts.

In the mean time I've been researching prints, just like Nod suggests. I've chosen 2 of my favourite images form the last year. Edited them to perfection, chosen a printer and some frames (that I can't get until I can blag a lift to an IKEA) and I hope to have some largeish frames with prints on the wall soon! But his point about a printer makes sense, the prints I want are about £15-18 each plus shipping, I can get a A3+ printer in 10 prints. So guess what I'm researching this evening!
 
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