Need motivation to photograph!

M.Hinch

Senior Member
For the past couple of weeks it seems that I have slowly lost my motivation to
take camera in hand. Looking for any advice.

What would you do, or have done to motivate yourself?

Thanks
Michael:confused:
 

fotojack

Senior Member
Blame it on the weather, Michael. :) What I do is look out the window to see if there's anything there to shoot, even if it's weather related or maybe something that looks like it needs its picture taken. Then I turn my attention to what's inside the house. A plant from a different angle, a toilet flushing.........lol...........a self portrait in the bathroom mirror using different settings on the camera, a piece of furniture shot at an odd angle, lie on the floor and take a shot of someones feet or shoes...........anything that would sort of force you to practice shooting with different settings, ISO, aperture, etc.
Then again, you don't always have to be taking pictures, do you? :) It's not a job........it's a hobby! :)
 

jengajoh

Senior Member
You could start a (late) 365 project. That's definitely a motivator for me, I don't want to fail. Or I look at photos online and see if I can produce quality images like the ones I see, I take it as a challenge, you could do that, challenge yourself...?
 

ohkphoto

Snow White
For the past couple of weeks it seems that I have slowly lost my motivation to
take camera in hand. Looking for any advice.

What would you do, or have done to motivate yourself?

Michael, I'm sorry to hear that. Without prying or overstepping here, I'd suggest you consider why you lost your motivation. Has something changed in your life? How did you feel about photography before and at what point did your feelings change? Those are just questions for your internal dialogue. Perhaps you're expecting too much of yourself too quickly. On the other hand then, you just may be getting the winter blues or "bug" that seems to be hitting everywhere.

This is one of the few areas in my life where I don't need motivation. I look at every photo shoot (whether for a client or myself) as an adventure . . . and I really do feel like I go into a different world. . . kind of like meditation. I guess that's what it means to do what you love.

Here are a few tips to maybe jump-start your motivation:
1. participate in each weekly challenge here. . . I seldom miss them because it makes me focus on a topic I may not normally choose.
2. Start posting photos in the critique section . . . you have some nice ones in the gallery, and some that could benefit from a good critique.
3. Set up projects for yourself. . . if the 365 day project is too intense, try 52 weeks . . . one photo per week.
4. Spend 3 days photographing ONLY what you love: your wife, kids, basketball, sunsets.
5. As you cruise the web, or look through magazines, make note of the photographs that seem to "speak" to you. Then try to emulate the style. It'll give you a goal.

Hopefully others will offer more advice. When you look at some of your photos, it might help to remember the magic in photography, that when you click the shutter, you have truly captured that second of time and place that won't be repeated, at least in this life.

Hope this hleps some.

Best Regards
 

Browncoat

Senior Member
Helene pretty much nailed them all on the head, and so eloquently written as well. We're lucky to have her!

Writer's block, droughts, slumps...pick your term. All creative people suffer from it, so don't let it get you down. This is the price we pay for being creative. Sometimes when the fever is on, and we're cranking out idea after idea, we can do so for days and weeks at a time and be excited about what we're doing. It's easy to look out the same old boring window and feel uninspired by the same old boring surroundings.

Haul your unmotivated butt out of the La-Z-Boy and go somewhere. Take the car, or better yet, take a bike or walk if weather permits. You'd be surprised how different the same old surroundings can look just from a new point of view. Or, pack up and just take a trip. It doesn't have to be far, just find something new. The key word here is different. You've fallen into a routine, and if this keeps up, being unmotivated will be your new routine.

You have to induce some system shock to get those juices flowing again. If a nude model walked into your living room and offered to pose for you, I'm sure'd you'd get motivated in a hurry. Or if a Lamborghini were parked down the street, or a meteor were falling through the sky. You'd certainly pick up your camera then. Break away, think outside the box, and get going!
 

Curt

Senior Member
Well Michael, I live right in the middle of Canada where is reaches -40 with lots of snow.
What I do is go through all my photos and see if I can play around with some of them in a software program (Paintshop, photoshop,etc.). It then inspires me to shoot some pics. And see what I can do with them in one of these programs. You might want to try this.
 

Carolina Photo Guy

Senior Member
For the past couple of weeks it seems that I have slowly lost my motivation to
take camera in hand. Looking for any advice.

What would you do, or have done to motivate yourself?

Thanks
Michael:confused:

If I might offer a suggestion...

Go out TONIGHT and look for a clearing in the clouds.

There should be some fantastic auroras out for the rest of the week.

Hope this helps.

BTW: I hoping for the nude female model myself!

Pete
 

M.Hinch

Senior Member
Yes Jack the weather. It has been overcast for the past 2 weeks come to think of it.
Even with the weather today +9 still overcast. Everything melting and dirty here.

Michael
 

M.Hinch

Senior Member
Pete, I'm glad to see you back! And if the model shows up I'll send her your way, when I'm done that is.

Michael
 
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PhotoAV8R

Senior Member
Michael,

Lots of great suggestions already, but here's another. I posted this link in the original Project 365 thread. It might give any of us some ideas whether we're pursuing the project or not.
 
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