Most here will not like my cure for a slump as it has nothing to do with equipment or processes. Mine was time and focus.
I spent around 12 years from the mid 70's to mid 80's with much time dedicated to wandering around photographing whatever appeared interesting. I had a nice darkroom and was burning through 100' spools of film both b&w and chrome. Realizing I was directionless, I joined a camera club and began to focus on the monthly competitions. But in less than two years, I concluded that I could make photos that complied with the rotating judges formulas and could consistently win or place. But my photos seemed to be without meaning, only on that months theme and formulaic to please the judges. I began to spend time studying the work of significant photographers and realized I was accomplishing little with my own photography. Plus, I was feeling pressure to photograph as that was what I did and had all this equipment and darkroom.
So I quit photographing. I ended up selling my darkroom, cameras, lenses. Several years later I moved and threw away all my notebooks, negatives, contact sheets, and prints other than a few family photos. I kept one SLR and one lens making only family happy snaps for over a decade. I felt relieved that I had gotten the monkey off my back.
Much later while visiting our local history museum, I saw a photo exhibit of the demise of farmworkers in our local area due to decreased emphasis on agriculture. I related to the subject and did some personal exploration. That led to photographing some of what I was exploring. I realized there was a story beginning to come out of my photos. I was back into making photos but the emphasis was on the subject not the photography. It was no more than the means to an end. I began to exhibit, not to sell but only as a way to convey my stories. Early in my resurgence, I concluded that I was better off by refusing to sell prints or do photo work for hire. That allows me to do only what I want to do without any influence to please anyone else. I am reasonably generous in giving away my work. This is permitted since I only give to those who I want to have. I have a limited edition (200 copies) book. If you have a copy, it is because I wanted you to not because you paid.
So the way I broke out was a focus on the subject and communicating information about the subject rather than photography. I no longer am bothered when I haven't made a photo in a month. I can consider cameras and lenses as no more than tools to accomplish an objective. I do work only on defined stories although I am open to trying a new series for long enough to see whether it will work or not. I do like exhibiting as that is a way to convey my message. While commercial galleries have no interest because of my refusal to sell, there are more than enough opportunities in educational and municipal venues. I actually prefer libraries over galleries simply because there are more people who pass through. My work is in societal niches rather than being universal but that does not bother me as that is a conscious decision of my own making. I simply feel like I am in control and not driven by implicit desires of others.
YMMV
