Sudden loss of motivation and desire to shoot

dubcat

dubcat

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I went from passionate beginner spending every minute reading about photography or taking shots to not wanting to ever take another photograph again pretty much overnight. It was bizarre. I think in part it was my lack of progress. I didn't really see any improvement in my skills or results. In fact i often saw the opposite happen. I haven't shot a picture in months.

I'm going to have another crack at it. For starters I will do the 52. I am assuming the first assignment will be next week. Secondly I am going to keep it simple. In retrospect I was trying to master too many aspects of photography in parallel. I think I will start with composition this time and leave multiple off camera strobes etc until later!

Anyone else been through anything like this? How did you dig yourself out of the rut?

Cheers
Dub
 
I did a course at my local adult learning college which really helped - gave us projects and also met some like-minded people.

I find I go through stages too - sometimes I look at amazing photographs and they inspire me, sometimes they make me think 'oh what's the point?' :rolleyes:
 
I put down my cameras for two years once - sold everything and bought a new push-bike.
It happens to everyone at some point. Mojo comes and goes...it'll be back - just don't try to force things...one day you'll see something that inspires you again.
 
This is spooky, I too bought a push bike :). I kinda got in to mountain biking ...

Wise words though. Thanks. I am really glad I am not the only one this happened to.
 
I think it happens to most of us. the 52 is good if you stick to it because it makes you find something and, as long as you comment on other 52ers work, you will get feedback on yours. Have fun. I enjoyed it this year but am doing something else this year- the Photographer of the Year competition.
 
I was thinking of doing that too. Of course I have no thought of winning but it is something a little less demanding on time that I can have as a backup for if i find the 52 too much.
 
dubcat said:
This is spooky, I too bought a push bike :). I kinda got in to mountain biking ...

Wise words though. Thanks. I am really glad I am not the only one this happened to.
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Litespeed Ocoee with full XTR gruppo...

I still have it sat on the landing, gathering dust - I have vowed to get it muddy this year...
 
Haha mine is a specialised rockhopper sl - ive managed to upgrade the forks already /sigh :). In fairness I have been riding it loads and will continue to do so. However, i must make time for photography too.
 
dubcat said:
Haha mine is a specialised rockhopper sl - ive managed to upgrade the forks already /sigh :). In fairness I have been riding it loads and will continue to do so. However, i must make time for photography too.
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How about combining the two?
 
BlackDevil said:
How about combining the two?
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I see the best landacapes for photography when out on my bike but I wouldn't be able to take an slr with me for fear of landing on it. I just bought my wife as an lx5 though so will start taking that on rides with me.
 
dubcat said:
I see the best landacapes for photography when out on my bike but I wouldn't be able to take an slr with me for fear of landing on it. I just bought my wife as an lx5 though so will start taking that on rides with me.
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Yes there is that risk. I wrap the camera up well with the lens off and carry it in a backpack or camelbak. I've crashed on downhills in the alps and the camera has escaped injury. I suppose its how you land! Maybe some insurance policies would cover damage.
 
Here's a tip that I think helps. Get your favorite picture printed big, frame it and hang it. After some time replace it with another picture you like. Seeing your work on a wall instead of a computer is inspiring imo.
 
This happened to me too. I didn't sell my gear but I stopped using for anything but shooting snap shots of my puppy when I first got him.

I was impatient, I wanted to run before I could walk and lost motivation when I wasn't seeing improvements fast enough. I'm now getting back into in, and its like starting again, I feel like I've forgotten the little knowledge I had gained in the first place. I'm determined to stick with it this time, like you I'm going to do the 52 thing to encourage me to try different things and expand my knowledge. This time around i'm excited!

Good luck with getting your mojo back!
 
itsdavedotnet said:
obligatory zack arias video response to this problem....

http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2009/archives/3433
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What an awesome inspirational video. Thanks for sharing.

I need to some photographers with interesting blogs. I followed a landscape photographer in the US for a while but it was a little boring.
 
I have have gone through it, almost sold everything. One thing I learnt was to slow down with the buying of gear and also slowing down on the shutter count to. I only lift the camera when I see a shot. Not to possibly rescue one later.
 
33L said:
I only lift the camera when I see a shot. Not to possibly rescue one later.
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I found this helped me a lot when I gave up togging for a few months. Just enjoy everything around you rather than constant pressure to seek out a photo; leave that to the pros for now.
 
OutLore said:
Sell it and buy a camera.:D
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:lol:

Just like 'old' camera kit, custom and partially-custom bikes are practically worthless on the second-hand market.
I spent the fat-end of £5,000 building the Ocoee up 15 years ago and I'd get maybe £200 for it now.
Russian titanium is so much cheaper than the US-grade this bike was made from (and though it's not as good, it's plenty good enough for a bicycle frame), so a similar frame now would cost me less than half what I paid for it back then.
I'm still a bit chuffed to notice that new Litespeed frames are still going for $3,500-ish now though...lol

Same with my custom-built road-bikes.
Anyone who knows enough about them will want their own custom-built bike - those who don't know about them won't want to pay £3,000 for the frame alone...lol
 
I have a similar thing... Although I shoot almost every day its the work that keeps the business going. My New Years resolution is to do more product work in the studio and some more motor sport F1 etc......

My problem has been shooting everyday and not wanting to pick the camera up when the snow comes or when I see Red Kites doing their thing.... Like a Busmans holiday. So New Year is to get out of that way of thinking.
 
Some good advice here. I'd definitely agree to not try and force it. Trying something completely different can be good though. I never used to be interested in portraits for example but find them really interesting now. I went through the same thing and thought about selling up recently but I'm back into it with a vengeance now.

Definitely take a decent camera biking though (and have it to hand not stashed in a bag).
 
Check out some good street photography books - if you haven't already. I'm always inspired by Henri Cartier-Bresson and Matt Stuart.
 
I spent the fat-end of £5,000 building the Ocoee up 15 years ago and I'd get maybe £200 for it now
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If its M900 or M952 XTR, you would easily get that just for the groupset excluding hubs, i'm still riding my 93 Merlin Mountain and have no intention of selling it.

The days of Russian Ti are long gone, all Chinese and Taiwan now, but still very cheap compared to the original US made frames
 
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