So when do you know when your done?

[hexar_hp5]

Hello All,

It's been a while since I've done anything photographically. It's just that I don't seem to have the time and honestly, it feels like I've lost the excitement for it. I think it's got to have been at least 3 months since I have taken a film photograph. Even with the digital it's just been snapshots rather than anything else.

So is this just a temporary lull or is this it? Has anyone else been through this?

Just as a background I've been taking photographs on and off for the last 15 years or so.

Any ideas/comments?

 

[CCCPcamera]

scenery

scenery

What you need is a change of scenery. This has happened to me. Even just changing the way you walk to class/work in the morning will give you new ideas about stuff that would photograph well. Also, getting a new camera always helps! I seem to work in waves, really into it for a while, 6 months or so, and then totally not for a while. Hope that helps.

 

[oftheherd]

Happens to everyone once in a while. Stay with it, enjoy the snapshots. It willl no doubt come back.

 

[Rogier]

Create a project.
Could be as dedicating yourself to use only one lens.
Explore a new film.
Mimmic some one else his/her work and learn from it.

 

[jbf]

So is this just a temporary lull or is this it? Has anyone else been through this?

Just as a background I've been taking photographs on and off for the last 15 years or so.

Any ideas/comments?

Sounds to me like you should spend time at your local library going through any and all books on photography. Not technical books, but art books. Take a look at other photographers you have never seen.

Whether it is contemporary work of any kind... exposing yourself to other's work will ultimately give you some kind of excitement and goal, i imagine.


At least, that is what gets me going. Anytime I'm feeling a bit out of it or somewhat lethargic, I simply go exploring various photographers and artist. It gets me extremely excited and pumped up and gets the gears turning.

 

[FrankS]

Digital is funny. For some people it is rejuvenating, for others it sucks the life out of photography. If you are searching for an answer and willing to try anything, grab a manual film camera and a 35 or 50mm lens and use only it for a while. It may or may not work for you. You may simply have moved away from photography.

 

[Al Kaplan]

It's normal. It's a lull. Try giving yourself assignments, pretend that you're shooting for the local newspaper or regional magazine, maybe an annual report. Heck, you could even volunteer your services to a local church, civic organization, or charity. Photograph their carnival, golf tournament, rummage sale, whatever. At least you'll be doing something useful for your community.

 

[back alley]

i've been doing this for a long time and sometimes the question turns into, 'when do you know when you've started?

 

[shimo-kitasnap]

get a $20 Holga, some 120 film and don't look back.

 

[jky]

Sounds to me like you should spend time at your local library going through any and all books on photography. Not technical books, but art books. Take a look at other photographers you have never seen.

Very good advice! Elliot Erwitt, Bruno Barbey always lights up a fire (in me anyways)🙂

 

[snip]

get a $20 Holga, some 120 film and don't look back.

hear hear! more fun can be had with a Holga than a whole barrel of drunken badgers!

where do you get it for $20 though?

//Jan

 

[Siluro]

Happens to me every six months or so (annoying 😡).

What I do is - stop taking all photographs (including snapshots), make viewing art (books and exhibitions) a priority and organise all my equipment ready for action.

Sometimes it takes a couple of weeks, sometimes a couple of months, but it always comes back. I actually find that forcing myself not to take any photographs is the key in enticing the desire to return. It can also enable you to clear your head/thoughts and let new ideas in.

 

[tedwin]

I second whoever said have a look at some photographs of whatever interests you. A flick through Ansel Adams('s) 'The Print' or looking online at some Diane Arbus work online suffices for me. I'm sure it wouldn't take long to find something or someone that makes you click.

That is if you want to? Plenty of other worthwhile hobbies out there.






Ha!

 

[pggunn]

I've been there. For me, having a project, an assignment, or at least some inkling of what I want to shoot seems to help. Just having a camera and some time, and going out to shoot something, anything, whatever, usually doesn't work for me.

I hate to say this, but having the right equipment helps too. It's not at all about the latest and greatest, or the coolest stuff. (But if you have any you can spare, I'm still willing to try it!)

The right equipment is what works for you. I just sold two big DSLR's and some fast lenses that went from 12 to 300 mm. It was a great system and it served me well for several assignments, including weddings, portrait sessions, and my first photo-journalism assignments, but I hated it (the big DSLR's) and got in a slump as far as my personal work went.

The assignments turned out well, but I never felt like taking one of those big freaking cameras out for fun. They just didn't feel comfortable; no fun; too much stuff to carry around; too big; too heavy; too in your face. Carrying that big stuff around in public made me feel nervous as a tree full of elephants, to quote P. G. Wodehouse.

Two months ago I had an epiphany and decided to sell all my equipment - the big DSLR,'s, lenses, umbrellas, reflectors, soft boxes, lights, PW 's, et al. - and got two Panasonic P&S digital cameras - a new LX-3 and a used FZ30. I used to have an FZ-20 and loved it.

I also went back to film for the first time in about ten years - a CV Bessa R3A with a 35 f/1.2 Nockton and a 75/2.5 Color-Heliar. I've spent almost a thousand dollars in the last month on film and processing, but it's been more than worth it. I'm much happier now. I enjoy photography again. I feel like I'm more spontaneous, and I'm much more excited about photography.

My digital photos have more oomph now, and the film is even more oomphier than the digital when I'm in the groove. I'm convinced there's really nothing else like film, all other things being equal. Also, though I'm not absolutely sure there is a direct cause and effect, it sems like my bookings have more than doubled since I made the switch. But that's just me, and I've had more wine tonight than I should have!

Just finished a long weekend of shooting and actually getting paid for it!

Good luck to you! Don't give up! Just try something new and keep on trying!

 

[kossi008]

I've been there, too. My lull lasted for a couple of years, during which I did not exactly take NO pictures, but very, very few indeed.

Only thing that hepled me was time. The fun came back all by itself... 😀

 

[reuno]

Check this wonderful book, read it, go out, shot shot shot !

http://www.amazon.com/Art-Fear-Obse...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1223888315&sr=8-1

 

[Roger Hicks]

get a $20 Holga, some 120 film and don't look back.

Wouldn't work for everyone. I'd give up photography rather than do that.

Usual disclaimer: doesn't mean I'm right and you're wrong, or vice versa -- just that some while some people love the simplicity and unreliability of a Holga, others are totally unable to see the appeal of a cheap and frankly nasty camera with a rotten lens, squinty viewfinder, questionable reliability and random light leaks. An old Pentacon Six or Kowa, on the other hand...

Cheers,

Roger

 

[FallisPhoto]

Maybe you are looking for a challenge or are tired of doing the same old stuff. Look at some photographers who are doing stuff completely different from what you are doing, and try to figure out how they did it. Maybe you'll be inspired again. Some suggestions (all darkroom photography):
http://www.uelsmann.com/
http://www.jkpotter.com/
http://www.edelmangallery.com/witkin.htm
http://www.gallerym.com/work.cfm?ID=228


Try some advanced techniques you have been meaning to get around to: infrared film, split toning, split contrast filtering, photomontage, reverse vignetting, screening, double printing, sabatier, or get some Marshal oil paints and some colored pencils and try hand coloring -- just anything that's different and will keep you involved.

 

[vdonovan]

Pinhole camera and Folger's coffee.