Creative block - how do you deal with it?

Once I identify a creative block in myself, it may be a strong sign that I should retire from my job as Professor and do something else. I keep on branching out to related disciplines, and this keeps me preoccupied and busy and maybe even "creative". I worked for 25 years on research in process control, which I dropped cold turkey 5 years ago to learn about spatial statistics and disease surveillance. This had led me to criminology and also to shark-human interaction research.

I keep my brain active.

In photography, I am relaxed about it. I am not trying to be extra creative there. I simply record what I am seeing around me. Keep it simple.
 
Ned Bojic said:
I guess this is supposed to translate into using photoshop nowadays.
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It's all just tools. It's the vision that matters and finding the best tools to express that no matter what those tools are is key. The work is what matters not what the work was created with.
 
One solution to the block is to do something else like read the threads on a forum. Another solution is to stop reading threads on forums...

Regards, David
 
Ned Bojic said:
Back then, when printing was an integral part of the process, it was a moment to contemplate the actual work. A time to concentrate on what was shot and to prepare for the next outing. That cycle was an important way keep the fire burning.

I guess this is supposed to translate into using photoshop nowadays.

To answer your question, i would say that a trip or a change of scenery usually helps in refreshing the creative cycle.

A clear goal also helps.
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Ned, you nailed it. Well, something. A cyclical process is motivating. Shoot, then process, then edit. Learn from failures, get tickled by success. I tend to be frugal, get one good one rather than three losers. So processing to the best I can is not too difficult to do. Then I eliminate the weaklings and the plain old boring pffrt who gives a strong expletive nothings. I hope. And what is left goes on the blog. Next morning, start over. Printing can wait till I've got enough pearls to string on a chain.

Also, I determinedly dismiss the craving for the unique as being entirely futile. There are seven billion of us, with a very similar genetic make-up. We have some of our aesthetic preferences baked in the genes, and those that are culturally based are spreading rapidly throughout our globalised societies. Our eyes are tickled by the same sort of things, of course we all produce the same sorts of images.

It is futile to try and be unique.

Another bugbear is creativity. It's just tinkering. Fiddling with stuff. Anybody can do it. There is nothing special about creativity. Except maybe in advertising, where a certain camera could 'get your creative juices flowing'. Creative Juices? Saliva? Something less pleasant?

When something grabs your eye, try to get it right in the first shot. Don't count on the camera, check everything. You get less to wade through when you come home.

Hope I don't sound too peremptory.

Cheers
 
Trying to be original is indeed a trap, but being mediocre is, well, mediocre.

Doubt should always be considered as part of any process. Doubt is a good thing.

As always: new gear and a goal can do wonders. Or not. Nothing wrong with stepping away every now and then.
 
All you need is a good cold winter with snow and without sun. Just imagine: 5 month with all spectrum of gray, no sun, no people on the streets and almost nothing is going on.

I hate this time but in same way apreciate, because it gives me an opportunity to relax and accumulate a lot of energy. It also contributed to grow up big iron balls and be creative as much as you can in one of the most dirty and ugly places in the world.
 
helenhill said:
my 'New' tactic...
not even think about it, pay it No Mind
Submerge myself in another endeavour, reading, writing, audiobooks with headphones
and suddenly one day , BAM , I'm back 'seeing' and 'doing'
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Same as what I do, Helen. I spend more time on research or some other task, and then I will "fresh and ready" very soon for some photography.
 
Started shooting and re-shooting the same old stuff over and over :) I use to think to myself that there's nothing new to shoot around here so I would spend hours and hours driving around trying to find something new/different to shoot just because it was new/different. Now I have number of location/areas that I feel have lots of untapped potential that I revisit on an going basis to capture them in different light be it sunny, cloudy, overcast, snowy, rainy foggy day.
 
Mcary said:
Started shooting and re-shooting the same old stuff over and over :) I use to think to myself that there's nothing new to shoot around here so I would spend hours and hours driving around trying to find something new/different to shoot just because it was new/different. Now I have number of location/areas that I feel have lots of untapped potential that I revisit on an going basis to capture them in different light be it sunny, cloudy, overcast, snowy, rainy foggy day.
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Yes, yes, yes... I think many fall into this trap. They think they've already photographed that area, so there is no use going back. I find when i go back I see the area differently every few months. Not to mention you get better over time and can rephotograph the same stuff better (at times). The weather brings different things out each time in the same area.
 
Each day is a new challenge. Even streets walked down before. Different people, weather, time of day, lens, attitude.. it all adds up. Even a different side of the street.
 
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