2WK
Rangefinder User
Nothing a new lens can't fix!
haha j.k. Well, personally I find getting a bit intoxicated and going for a walk usually has me seeing and photographing things I never looked at before. Although if you are currently fighting off a bug, it might be better to wait until you are healthy.
If you are sober, super offended, shocked....just forget I said anything.
haha j.k. Well, personally I find getting a bit intoxicated and going for a walk usually has me seeing and photographing things I never looked at before. Although if you are currently fighting off a bug, it might be better to wait until you are healthy.
If you are sober, super offended, shocked....just forget I said anything.
stompyq
Well-known
Come over to NYC again. We'll get you motivated!! Increased GAS will be a bonus
Al Patterson
Ferroequinologist
Remember "90% of everything is crud"....
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Joe, is it possible that you need to discover some new subject that excites you? That's the only thing that does it for me. Currently, it's the railroad museum.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Sorry to hear about it Joe.
I got dragged over the coals last night for missing an instalation at the last gallery opening I did by the curator of the gallery. That didn't feel good!
I got dragged over the coals last night for missing an instalation at the last gallery opening I did by the curator of the gallery. That didn't feel good!
seakayaker1
Well-known
Joe, go out and buy a new camera bag then write a review. You always appear to be in a great mood after a new camera bag works it way through your hands.
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back alley
IMAGES
i think part of it is the growing realization that gear is really such a small part of the big picture. i always 'knew' this at some intellectual level and ignored it but now it seems to be hitting closer to home for some reason.
semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
I suck right now, too. Terrible work.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I'm not very happy with my own output at the moment and sadly it always seems to create thoughts of aquiring gear.
I wonder why this is because I know damned well that it's not the gear that's the issue?
I wonder why this is because I know damned well that it's not the gear that's the issue?
KM-25
Well-known
I was in a funk this afternoon.....
First my folding viewing hood for my 4x5 slipped off the camera and slid down icy rocks into 5 feet of cold water, it took four tries using a 10 foot avalanche probe to fish it out. Then I had a cable release fail by sticking in the cold snowy weather. After running out, I then realized I had forgot to load more 120 Acros for my 6x12 back in my pack and then pulled the dark slide on a sheet of Tmax 400 before checking to see if the shutter was closed.
I about went home but stuck it out...
With no working cable release I used a really dark ND filter so I could use the T setting on my lenses by hand. And then the light got good and all was right, it always works out if I stick with it....
Photography is fun but great photography is hard work, keep at it...
First my folding viewing hood for my 4x5 slipped off the camera and slid down icy rocks into 5 feet of cold water, it took four tries using a 10 foot avalanche probe to fish it out. Then I had a cable release fail by sticking in the cold snowy weather. After running out, I then realized I had forgot to load more 120 Acros for my 6x12 back in my pack and then pulled the dark slide on a sheet of Tmax 400 before checking to see if the shutter was closed.
I about went home but stuck it out...
With no working cable release I used a really dark ND filter so I could use the T setting on my lenses by hand. And then the light got good and all was right, it always works out if I stick with it....
Photography is fun but great photography is hard work, keep at it...
ssmc
Well-known
I hear ya...
I hear ya...
I'm glad you started this thread.
I've been in a very bad place mentally and photographically for quite a while and I keep getting these self-punishing urges to start selling off my gear (despite the big losses involved) because my skill level - not to mention "motivation" - doesn't warrant most of it, I have some lenses I hardly ever use, I'm wasteful because I buy stuff I don't really need, etc., etc. (you probably know how it goes :bang
Something like this happened to me years ago (different underlying reasons, though) and at the time it seemed like everything I shot was just "blah". It probably was, too, because I've found that if my heart isn't in it I couldn't take a decent photo of my cat. Eventually things turned around... but forcing the issue (at least for me) makes taking photos feel like a chore rather than anything resembling fun. And nets more blah results.
There's a roll of Provia 100 in the GA645 and I can't bring myself to finish it, even though the darn thing only takes 16 shots... ugh... just gotta hang in there and not do anthing hasty I'll regret later
Sorry no advice in all that just another whine to add! But sincere thanks for the opportunity to vent
I hear ya...
I'm glad you started this thread.
I've been in a very bad place mentally and photographically for quite a while and I keep getting these self-punishing urges to start selling off my gear (despite the big losses involved) because my skill level - not to mention "motivation" - doesn't warrant most of it, I have some lenses I hardly ever use, I'm wasteful because I buy stuff I don't really need, etc., etc. (you probably know how it goes :bang
Something like this happened to me years ago (different underlying reasons, though) and at the time it seemed like everything I shot was just "blah". It probably was, too, because I've found that if my heart isn't in it I couldn't take a decent photo of my cat. Eventually things turned around... but forcing the issue (at least for me) makes taking photos feel like a chore rather than anything resembling fun. And nets more blah results.
There's a roll of Provia 100 in the GA645 and I can't bring myself to finish it, even though the darn thing only takes 16 shots... ugh... just gotta hang in there and not do anthing hasty I'll regret later
Sorry no advice in all that just another whine to add! But sincere thanks for the opportunity to vent
lynnb
Veteran
Joe, this happens to all of us.. why not refresh your vision by visiting an art gallery or two.. or borrowing some good photo books from the local library. Sometimes I find that helps!
tbhv55
Well-known
+1 to these comments. For me, it has something to do with getting the sense that I really created the photograph.
With so much automation available now, it's easy to feel almost left out of the process.
Yes, of course, the photographer decides the composition... but from that point on, I find it a somewhat "empty" process when I just press the shutter release, and let the camera's computer do the focus/exposure calculations. These days, I try to shoot more frequently in manual focus and exposure modes, as I find it more satisfying to use my judgement (such as it is) on these factors.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Joe, maybe you need to do a bit of a road trip -- get out of your familiar surroundings and that might enliven your creative juices. I know that when I've been seeing my same environment day after day, I get into a sort of 'sleep'. Perhaps that's what you're experiencing.
Know what they say -- changes in latitude, changes in attitude.
Know what they say -- changes in latitude, changes in attitude.
ricnak
Well-known
Joe.
Go out with someone. Take your camera along - it will naturally fall into your hands when you see the moment. Midlife is no fun on your own. The internet is - the internet - easy to get swept up in. Nothing beats real people, real places and real encounters. Get out there!
h.
PS. Note to oneself - read the above
Go out with someone. Take your camera along - it will naturally fall into your hands when you see the moment. Midlife is no fun on your own. The internet is - the internet - easy to get swept up in. Nothing beats real people, real places and real encounters. Get out there!
h.
PS. Note to oneself - read the above
raydm6
Yay! Cameras! 🙈🙉🙊┌( ಠ_ಠ)┘ [◉"]
I agree with Vince. I recently got back from a one week trip to Venice/Florence/Tuscany with my girlfriend. Took 1,857 photos (iPhone4 & Canon S90). Never done that before
. Lots of nice keepers/post-card shots etc...
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
Usually art block comes from doing something - A - when one really would rather be doing something else - B.
The problem is many times we can't identify B right away so we're not sure exactly what we want to do. But once you know what it is - go do it, and suddenly even A will be easy again.
I also agree that sometimes simply changing things up can get one thinking again. I have a few "odd" cameras on my shelf for when the normal stuff gets boring. An old Exa, a box camera, a folder. All enough of a jolt from the normal to get the brain back into gear. They are also inconvenient enough that I don't mind going back to normal after a roll or two through them.
I do the same thing with illustration. I pull out some tools I don't normally use, or try a new technique I've been thinking about. Occasionally I even find something that sticks with me by doing this.
The problem is many times we can't identify B right away so we're not sure exactly what we want to do. But once you know what it is - go do it, and suddenly even A will be easy again.
I also agree that sometimes simply changing things up can get one thinking again. I have a few "odd" cameras on my shelf for when the normal stuff gets boring. An old Exa, a box camera, a folder. All enough of a jolt from the normal to get the brain back into gear. They are also inconvenient enough that I don't mind going back to normal after a roll or two through them.
I do the same thing with illustration. I pull out some tools I don't normally use, or try a new technique I've been thinking about. Occasionally I even find something that sticks with me by doing this.
Rodchenko
Olympian
This is what I tend to do. I take out a lesser-used camera, like my folder, loaded with mono. Or my Minox. Or I set my digi to mono, and try to go somewhere completely different. The vast majority of my images are taken in an area of about a square mile just south of The Square Mile. But I keep seeing the same images coming up, and feel like everything's stale & cliched.
Seeing something fresh can cleanse the palate.
john neal
fallor ergo sum
Joe,
As others have suggested here, a change is as good as a rest. I recently felt the same but started to look at some books on photography that were outside my norm - for example, thaere is one called "The Art of iPhone Photography" by Bob Weil and Nicki Fitz-Gerald (google for a copy) - not an area of photography that I would normally consider, but I found this has so many different ideas that there were two or three I could use right away with a real camera, and even my existing library of digital pix, to at least try to raise some interest.
I would also suggest "The Minimalist Photographer" by Steve Johnson - some great images that you can look at for inspiration, many of which could be taken in your house, yard, street & so on.
It will pass, you just need to get your mojo working somehow - fretting about it probably won't help. Get yourself distracted - tie some flies, play frisbee with the dog, anything to raise your mood
As others have suggested here, a change is as good as a rest. I recently felt the same but started to look at some books on photography that were outside my norm - for example, thaere is one called "The Art of iPhone Photography" by Bob Weil and Nicki Fitz-Gerald (google for a copy) - not an area of photography that I would normally consider, but I found this has so many different ideas that there were two or three I could use right away with a real camera, and even my existing library of digital pix, to at least try to raise some interest.
I would also suggest "The Minimalist Photographer" by Steve Johnson - some great images that you can look at for inspiration, many of which could be taken in your house, yard, street & so on.
It will pass, you just need to get your mojo working somehow - fretting about it probably won't help. Get yourself distracted - tie some flies, play frisbee with the dog, anything to raise your mood
zuiko85
Veteran
Yeah, know the feeling too well.
My most pleasing work (at least, pleasing to me) comes when I go out specifically to work some photo I have in my head. Thats why a notebook and pen are my most valuable photo items. Usuually when I "see" this shot I don't have the right lens or whatnot with me or the light is wrong. So, I make a note to return. Dosen't always work out. Somestimes I misplace my notebook.
My most pleasing work (at least, pleasing to me) comes when I go out specifically to work some photo I have in my head. Thats why a notebook and pen are my most valuable photo items. Usuually when I "see" this shot I don't have the right lens or whatnot with me or the light is wrong. So, I make a note to return. Dosen't always work out. Somestimes I misplace my notebook.