i've lost all faith in myself...

back alley

back alley

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been in a funk, have not taken a pic in ages and not a good pic in even longer...
was heading out the other day and decided to not take a camera with me...as i was leaving i heard my inner voice say to me...'well, it's ok...you have your phone with you if needed'.
 
When in a funk, i find that it's actually a good idea to go out without a camera. For some reason, you are more likely to find something while not actively looking for it. Take a little break, it's okay. It's not something you can force anyway, and like I said, it can get in the way.
 
Sorry to here that Joe. But don't feel too bad, some of us who post here (looking in mirror now) don't have an artistic bone in them. I myself just like mechanical things that make nice sounds and are clever. Old mechanical cameras fill that bill to a 'T'.


This should be my tag line.
'Do you know me?' 'I'm not a photographer but pretend to be one on the internet forums.'
 
Sorry to hear that Joe! What Frank said has some truth to it - I find that if I leave the camera at home, I tend to see pictures - and then feel stupid for not bringing the camera 🙂

I think I may have mentioned this before, but one thing to try is seek out new ways of seeing by visiting an art gallery or browsing art books and photo books in a book store or library. Sometimes new influences can help.

Or you could try walking around with a very simple fixed lens camera like a Brownie, which forces you to think differently about how to approach making pictures. Sometimes limitations can be good.

Hope you have a merry Christmas and happy New Year!
 
Joe, don't be so down on yourself.
As we get better with photography (the technical and "artistic" sides of it), we get more and more critical of what we are producing and what you expect of your next photograph.
We also start comparing our work with the very best stuff out there, by some extremely gifted image makers, and that right there can be really depressing.
You just need to answer for yourself "How many really great pictures do I honestly expect to make in a year?" If your answer is "more than one", you're doing much better than I am.
 
FrankS said:
When in a funk, i find that it's actually a good idea to go out without a camera. For some reason, you are more likely to find something while not actively looking for it. Take a little break, it's okay. It's not something you can force anyway, and like I said, it can get in the way.
Click to expand...


I agree. Taking a camera with you when you don't really feel like taking photographs is paramount to having a cross tied on your back.

Just relax into being a non photographer when the occasion demands it.
 
I've lost all faith in you, too.

No, I'm kidding. Don't sweat it. It's okay to take a break. I'm coming back from a seven-year layoff from photography. Seven years! I moved, work was busy, life was busy.... I just never unpacked the cameras. In time I started to miss it, then I started seeing photos again and then I realized I needed to get the cameras out again. There's nothing wrong with setting it down for a while if your mind's not on it or your heart's not in it. It'll be there for you when you need it again and you can pick up right where you left off.

Once something you love doing starts feeling like an obligation, it's probably time to step back a little.
 
we all go through cycles. sometimes I'm motivated to shoot and excited when I get a keeper. sometimes there is no motivation at all and I don't carry a camera.

I don't worry about either one. 🙂
 
Been feeling the same for a while. Still carry the camera, doesnt come out of the bag much though. Been using the opportunity to plan and build a darkroom in my garage, at least I can print while I'm not shooting, hopefully..
 
What can help you get out of that funk Joe is a visit to your local library and check out some books on great photographers of the past for your inspiration.

Anything from Tony Ray Jones to Eugene Atget to Charles Marville to William Eggleston to Matthew Brady to John Thomson to Felice Beato.

Looking at the photographs of the greats in fine printed books beats looking at photos online of these same photographers.

This may help re-charge your battery and renew your picture making interest with great vigour again.
 
Pentode said:
...

Once something you love doing starts feeling like an obligation, it's probably time to step back a little.
Click to expand...

A lot of truth to that I think. But I think most of us eventually get back in touch with ourselves. And we probable end up having to do it our own way.

Take it easy with yourself and ride it out. You have a whole forum in your corner.
 
Over the past ten years or so I've hit the funk-wall around my birthday (November) that would last through the new year. In spite of the usual issues being worse than ever it passed me over. It's that time of year, highly over rated, but from time to time fun.

I've hit creative funks from time to time and often broken out by forcing myself to find a good picture after I sit and look at scene for 15 to 30 minutes. One frame, no more, then move on. It helps to have a sunny day, shadows and reflections make things easier.

Hang in there.

Remember, what causes funks is as unique as their solutions are. Study one person and odds are you will find at least a half dozen causes and fewer known solutions.

B2 (;->
 
One way to try and force your way out is to accept a job like a family portrait. Take a picture that has to please someone else. That may get your juices flowing.
 
Henry Wessel said in one of his videos that he would go for a walk, maybe with someone or without, and not think about anything. But when he saw something he would say 'look at that.' At the time just snap a photo, and wait a couple of years and re-look at it and then decide.

I'm too old to wait a couple of years, but I still take his advice.

He also said that he picks his light (in his younger years) and then expose for that light. He was describing Southern California; extra exposure so the shadow are almost as light as the sunlight subject. The effect is maybe the opposite of Ralph Gibson. Just a complete flood of light. Some of these nuances give me on a down day at least a try for a good one.
 
Are you making photos for a living, or even a business?
If not, you are doing it for fun, right?
If you are making it so serious, what's the fun in that?
Take your camera and just shoot "what ever presents itself to you"
Let the world do all the work, just do the fun part.
 
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