Stuck in a rut :(

wez130

wez130

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Hi, i'm in a pickle at the moment where photography is concerned at the moment. I feel like i've lost interest in it completely. I haven't really bothered since maybe October last year (Whitby meet). I bought myself a Canon 50D to try and spur me on, but it's sat in my camera bag, which in turn has sat in the cupboard pretty much permanently for the last few months.

I thought a trip to Manchester might help, i was even on the net eyeing up architecture to go and see, was going to go uo to Cloud bar in the Hilton Beetham tower. So, i went to Manchester this weekend gone, first day i had my camera with me, took a few snaps of the Manchester Wheel, then my camera went away, and back in the hotel for the remainder of the weekend. I don't know what's the matter with me. It's like i want to do it, but i just can't be bothered.

I'm even considering selling up because i've got a lot of money (comparitively) in my gear which would be better off elsewhere but i just know that if i do sell up i'll want to buy again.

My question really is, does anyone else get in this situation, and how do you get out of it?
 
I am coming out the other side of a rut right now - it has lasted over a year!
BUT I feel better for it. I didn't sell my gear, I just picked it up occasionally to go and shoot things I really enjoyed.
Recently I've not been able to get out much, so I started sorting my photos out - and seeing some of the shots I have is enthusing me to go and take more again.
Good luck, hope you get out of it soon.
 
Wez,

I'm sure that there aren't many of us who've been doing this for years and not ended up in the same position....usually in the winter months.
My only advice at this time is to sit tight for a few months and hang onto your gear....it's very difficult to build it up again.

Bob
 
Canon Bob said:
Wez,

I'm sure that there aren't many of us who've been doing this for years and not ended up in the same position....usually in the winter months.
My only advice at this time is to sit tight for a few months and hang onto your gear....it's very difficult to build it up again.

Bob
Click to expand...
:agree:

Inspiration will come again eventually stick with it :thumbs:
 
I agree with Bob and I too, am like you at the moment.

I know from this forum that just about everyone hits one of these periods and that, eventually, they do pass. I'm just sitting tight, doing the odd bit that I feel like and hoping it will pass really soon. I had a new lens for christmas, but not even used it yet. In fact, I have used the old point and shoot more than the DSLR.......but that was largely due to being in places where "big" cameras not allowed, rather than intention.

All I can say is just, ride it out. Do something different for a while and most importantly DON'T sell the gear............you really would eventually regret it.
:)
 
Been there.
Done that.
Come out the other side.
I agree with not selling the gear and do not stop visiting TP. I find it a continuing source of inspiration.
 
DonnaM said:
I agree with not selling the gear and do not stop visiting TP. I find it a continuing source of inspiration.
Click to expand...
For me, returning to TP has been an inspiration so yes, agree with this completely.
 
What i found i needed was inspiration, so i went to my local library got a few books out and tried to master a new technique to photography. I am usually the one who sees something and says, i bet i could do that.

Also sharing your pics with others can give you a bit of a confidence boost, to urge you on, or even setting yourself a mini chellenge.

HTH

Jonathan
 
Put your camera gear to one side and get on with ohter aspects of your life.

In time the creativety will return, everyone goes through a 'dry' spell
 
I have the same feeling sometimes, usually on seeing the superior quality of the work of others on here! :)

Good luck coming out the other end...
 
I went through something like this last year.

I suspected it was how I approaching the photogrpahy with a DSLR in hand so I decided to buy a fully manual medium format film camera. It's been a real blast as I'm also developing the film myself.

It has forced me to start again, going back to basics and getting me thinking about each and every exposure before pressing the button. I can't shoot and chimp, shoot and chimp til I get the picture right - I have to try and get it right first time - which is not an easy thing to do.

I have a real sense of achievement in getting a photo that I like which I didn't have from the DSLR - in some ways of course this is a bit daft as the camera is just an image making tool but in this case the tool dictates your workflow and mindset.

Anyway, that has in turn changed my attitude when I pick up the D200.

Of course, your solution might well be different.

One other option is to not sweat it. Take a break altogether and you may well come back to it - might be a week a month or even several years.
 
Best way to tough this out, do something completely different. If the weather is crappy, build yourself a light box, and do some Product Style Shots. If you've done that, find your nearest indoor Sk8park, go get some shots of the riders and sk8ers. Do some Street Togging, you only need a high street and one single good lens, maybe a nifty. Basically, just change your routine, you might find you enjoy the change and stick with this kind of shooting for a while. I had the same issue not long back, even drew up the ebay add, but after looking around here, and getting some inspiration, i managed to get over the rut, and now i feel better for it, and i actually feel my pictures have benefitted from the help.

Do stick with it mate, it would be a shame to have to spend all that money on buying gear again.;) HTH:thumbs:
 
Holden Caulfield said:
Put your camera gear to one side and get on with ohter aspects of your life.

In time the creativety will return, everyone goes through a 'dry' spell
Click to expand...
This is what helped me
Don't force it to come back - can make it worse!
 
Wez - off topic - but I was just on your website - my virus scan pops up saying there is a trojan on it (something called Tenia.d). Just a heads up...

Also - are you a member of a local Newcastle photo group - I just moved to Newcastle and am looking to find a group to get out and about with...
 
RichardtheSane said:
This is what helped me
Don't force it to come back - can make it worse!
Click to expand...

All wise words here indeed but I reckon these could do with an underline. Chasing creativity can sometimes be the surest way to keep it away.
 
As many have said already Wez, I think most of us go through this stage from time to time. I've certainly been there myself! My theory is that it's a bit of "too much of a good thing". When I'm really "into" photography I get very immersed in it and I think after a while you can just run out of enthusiasm.

Here's a tip for you, and this worked for me in 2007 - Promise yourself that you will enter every round of this year's TP photographer of the year competition AND STICK TO IT! That way you are guaranteed to use your gear at least once a month and you will have to think about the shots you take.

Whatever you do, don't sell you gear! I can promise you that 6 months after you do you'll regret it ;)

HTH :)
 
i'm inclined to agree that selling up would be a bad idea, for now i''m going to concentrate on getting my reef up and running, then i'll have a good source of photography in a couple of months :D
 
Wez, try doing the TP competition each month or similar in a photo mag etc, this would give you a challenge and gradually you will come out of the rut, but we all get it form time to time, I haven't really sued my camera in anger for a while but I don't worry about it, it is sat there for when i need it or feel the need to go and take pics, one thing that got me excited is the BTCC going to Brands soon so that will get me out and about again. Have a look round and see if there is a similar event local to you.

Don't force it, it will come, most important don't sell it
 
Wez, I am exactly the same at the moment and have been for about the past 6 months! Partly because lots of things happened for me at the same time - graduating, moving house, getting a new job etc - which i think stopped me for a bit and now i cant seem to find any inspiration to get back into it and am having a bit of an inferiority complex about my ability and patience.... :( I think visiting TP more again will hopefully be a help so keep with it and hopefully after a while we will be struck with inspiration again!

:D
 
A deep breath and an RSPB reserve normally gets me fired up again, just walking, camera primed and ready for anything, normally bloody Robins but I think the walk helps !

As Mel said, shame you couldn't make ISL yesterday, it was alot of fun !
 
I know how you're feeling mate.
It's happened to me before. I sold my gear and got a bridge.
BIG mistake!
When I realized that I do really love taking pictures, and the quality of the pictures the bridge was producing, I soon went back to a DSLR!!!!!

But I go through this stage often.
Sometimes when I look at the great shots on here, taken by other members, I think oh what is the point? I'll never be as good as them..........
Which probably is true, but it's still good fun trying :D

Another thing that puts me off allot is seeing all the gear some of you guys have.
I have a really nice D200 that I love, a 18-70mm 'kit' lens (which is superb btw!) and a Tamron 55-200mm that cost a very small amount of £'s.
I get really very disheartened when I see some of the other stuff people are using, and actually quite jealous.
I'm not by any means a rich person. I earn enough money to keep me and my little family going, and not much spare, so I have to save, little by little, and slowly but surely. I always have to compromise, and settle for second best.
But it sure makes me bloody grateful for what I've got!!!

Sorry - bit of a sob story there! Didn't intend it to be :D

I've taken (what I think) is a few cracking shots with my little Tammy 55-200mm. And that keeps my faith in togging alive. I must be doing something right eh?!?!
 
Wez, the tog isn't born who doesn't hit these brick walls now and again, it happens to all of us, you just need to learn to recognize the onset of these periods and just get away from it and do something else. Trying to force enthusiasm which isn't there is doomed to failure. You've been showing all the signs for a while if you don't mind me saying so - buying new bits of kit and talking about selling them virtually straight away. New gear wont do it for you if you haven't got a pressing need for that bit of kit, and once the rush of opening the box has passed, it's just another expensive bit of gear lying around unused.

When you feel like it one night, sit down and go through all the shots you've taken and decide what you think you've done best. The things you do best tend to be the ones you have the enthusiasm for. Decide what you want to concentrate and stick to that one subject for a while - at least you'll have a starting point - wandering around aimlessly looking for photographic inspiration which doesn't come only makes matters worse.

Above all, as plenty of others have said - don't force it, relax and let the interest come back. If it doesn't it's no big deal, there's plenty of other stuff to get interested in, flying RC helicopters, tropical fish keeping, stamp collecting..... ;)
 
Wez. Don't sell your gear!

Try having a dabble in other topics than your norm. In the few months i've been doing photography i've done all sorts and there's still lots that I haven't touched. So far I keep going back to motorsport :)

Took your old 30D to Croft last weekend and it's excellent! Thanks again mate :)
 
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