How long without taking a photo?

[Keith]

Three weeks going on four for me now and I can't figure out why?

I have three cameras currently loaded with film ... Pentax 67ii, OM-2 and my Fed 2 ... which I actually went to the trouble of stripping the lens and re-lubing the helicoil and re-tensioning the shutter curtains in anticipation of using it, which I haven't done for ages. It's not like I have a block and can't think of anything to photograph ... I just plain can't be bothered at the moment! 😱

I have been posting a lot in the 'photo association' thread which has had me diving back through thousands of archived images ... and that's a lot of fun.

But nothing new ... am I alone here? 😕

 

[chris7521]

Currently not in a slump But, I have been there. I am not so good at making anything I like if, I'm not into it so to speak. Nothing much to do but let it come back around.

 

[tbarker13]

Almost a week. But I do have a couple portrait sessions lined up this weekend around Christmas.

I've been happy with the break, though, as it has allowed me a chance to get caught up on a backlog of editing.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

Work has been taking its toll on me the past few weeks. I haven't had the energy to go out and take pictures as I regularly did. There is a lot to develop and scan but with little energy to take pictures there is little energy to process them as well.

The worst result from a slump is spending more time looking at equipment and thinking that acquiring it would get the photos flowing again. (hindsight is 20/20 after all)

This week I managed to finish a roll covering the rise and fall of paper mountains on my desk.

 

[Chris101]

Hey Keith,

This year, I finished shooting a project in April, then shot nothing until October. It is a form of The Block, but one I can agree with. Sometimes you just don't need to shoot.

Since October, I have made hundreds of exposures, dozens of "keepers", begun two new projects, and have reserved 100 hours of darkroom time for next Spring. It comes and goes. Go with your desires and it'll be the right thing.

 

[benlees]

You are not alone. I've been in a "slump" all year! I haven't been out photographing in weeks. Funny thing is I don't really care. I know I will get back to it eventually. Must be getting mature...😱

 

[zenlibra]

Working for the Postal Service means a ton of overtime in December so I never go out to shoot, though I have taken a few frames with a Lomo I carry in my coat pocket. I use the month to take stock of my shots the previous year and make 8 x 10 prints of my best ones. My IIIf is loaded and waiting for a date soon after the holidays though.

 

[FrankHarries]

Must have been 22 Hours now....

 

[pvdhaar]

Not a year goes by without a month or so when I just can't seem to be able to take a decent picture.. There's just no inspiration, or everything there is seems to be exhausted. That's when I revert to drawing. At least that goes completely automatic; I don't have to think about it. Just have a couple of pencils and a sheet of paper, and it fills itself in all by itself as if by magic.

When I've got a couple of sketches or drawings done, I grab a digital camera to take pictures of them. Invariably I run into some interesting camera setting or lighting effect that I want to explore more; end of slump.

YMMV of course, but there's something to be said for pursuing a different pastime for a while.

 

[jesse1dog]

Been just a week now.
I've photos of daughter in my digital that I need to download and hopefully post in the thread but spare time has been spent in the usual living plus coping with the unexpected cold and snow - dog walking seems to take that much longer. In addition I've been reading through the manual for a Panasonic Lumix ZX 5 I picked up on ebay. Thanks RAID for getting me to look at and for one.

jesse

 

[Mablo]

Too long obviously. I loaded my Retina IIS this morning and snapped a few shots while doing shopping. Back at home I realised I had loaded the Retina 'F100 way' and didn't push film leader in the slot... at least I didn't forget to remove the lens cap!

 

[John Lawrence]

Just over three weeks for me.

The snow has hampered some of my plans, and I'm so sick of seeing snow pictures everywhere that I just can't bring myself to go out and take anything until the white stuff clears!

John

 

[jsrockit]

Since it is dark when i go to work and dark when I come home (winter in NYC), I'm not photographing as much. I don't stress it though... I don't feel obligated to photograph. Took a few this morning though.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Quite often a week or two; rarely, as much as a month. Most recent pics shot Monday (Thursday today).

Cheers,

R.

 

[Tom Harrell]

I'm definitely in a slump! I have cameras lying around with film in them but I have not offered to pick one up and release the shutter! I can't seem to get a handle on my feelings about my lack of desire to go and work up some photos! I retired about four years ago, always looked forward to the day when I could spend my time banging away on photography! Now nothing! What in blue blazes is wrong with me?
Tom

 

[Tom Harrell]

I don't have anyone living close by that is interested in photography that I have found! Perhaps if there were someone nearby me to talk photography with I would get the old interest back!
Tom

 

[SteveM_NJ]

no photos for a few days,
not inspired today,(i'm at work today, 1/2 day - i have an M7 and a roll of neopan 100 that is not even loaded, on the chance i get a burst of energy)
inspiration is something i can't control, just have to be ready for it.

 

[bwidjaja]

I can definitely share the feeling. And my biggest concern when not thinking of taking pictures is that GAS attack seems to come from thin air...

 

[bizarrius]

once i did 6 months without taking ONE single picture.
i had to sell everything and get me a Leica to get back into photography.
the comeback is better than ever.

 

[KenR]

2 months for me! I got back from Turkey 2 months ago and between developing all my rolls and starting to print them, the thought of picking up a camera and adding to the backlog is a bit painful. I need a snow day or a change of scenery to get me going again.