What to do if one's stuck?

I've never felt that way, but I photograph things that interest me. I am primarily interested in the history of ordinary people, so I seek out the relics of ordinary lives and photograph these places and things, and sometimes the people themselves. Find something you're interested in and photograph it, you'll not get bored then.
 
For me (when taking photos myself and when viewing the work of others), I find that I'm most engaged with the process and the product (photos/prints) when I'm engaged with some aspect of the work. This engagement requires an understanding of the intention behind the work (be it a technical print process, style of shooting, subject matter, context etc...). Sometimes this intention is revealed through the work itself, other times it requires explanation.

I find that when I'm in a photographic rut (which is more common than not) I ask myself what is my intention with the work I produce or want to produce. Until I can articulate an intention that satisfies me, I can't really produce anything that is engaging no matter how aesthetically pleasing the images are or how much I enjoy the process in and of itself.

Having said that, I enjoy the photographic process sufficiently that sometimes I'm just happy making what I consider beautiful prints, if only that feeling is fleeting and only satiates me temporarily.

I also have found that making prints with my own hands is the most satisfying aspect of the craft. It's a creation that is mine and mine alone and even if the result isn't comparable to the 'great images' many of us know and love, it is my creation and I take satisfaction from that. This is primarily why digital imagery for me can never be as satisfying - the tactile process and complete ownership of the process will always be lacking for me when I need to rely on a computer or mechanical printer vs. a wet darkroom. YMMV.
 
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To offset some of the psycho babble, consider this: "If you want to change your photographs, you need to change cameras. Changing cameras means that your photographs will change. A really good camera has something I suppose you might describe as its own distinctive aura". -- Nobuyoshi Araki
 
Oooh, you're going down a verbal path. It's visual. Don't over think it because it isn't about linear, rational thinking.

There really isn't another level, it's all one thing. Sometimes it's great and sometimes it ain't.
 
sonofdanang said:
One of my masters, a painter not a photographer, pointed out, "photography can be an art form or reportage or both. To avoid re-inventing the wheel one should study art history, visual technique, and maybe read some of the classics to understand some of the visual/metaphorical language used in the last 5000 years." I think he's right.
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Thank god there are a lot really good photographers out there without any theoretical background in art and photography.
 
I'm happy to say that everytime I get frustrated with what I just produced it motivates and pushes me to get my bottom up and go do better instead. part of satisfying photography is never to be really satisfied.
 
A lot was said about switching gear or reducing. I don't know why this could be succesful. Imagine that there is a person and he is always taking photos on his 1 km way back from work. After some time he recognizes that he is not content with what he is photographing. Hey, this man does not need different equipment. This man needs to find different things to shoot or a new challenge.
So if you are in a similar situation, how could you do this? Perhaps you find a website with photo competitions. Look for a running competition and take photos. You don't even have to participate really in the competition but do it for yourself and compare with photos that have been published after the competition. Or look at the many threads here in RFF where photos are posted ("red", "green", "alleys", "balls" just to name a few). Go out and try to find and capture photos for one category. Never took photos of people? Find a studio workshop where you learn something about studio photography with flash.
Perhaps you discover something that you really like to photograph more often and more perfect.
 
There are only two ways to deal with a slump, and both have been mentioned. One way is to work through it. Find an interesting subject. Set up a schedule for taking pictures. Work through it. The other way is to take a break and recharge your batteries. Set the camera down. If there is a powerful enough urge, you will return and take photographs again. Which ever way is yours to choose. But I think all creative people reach a point where they need to (re)evaluate their motivations and direction. There is an old Chinese proverb: To find fascination, you must first pass through boredom.
 
tom.w.bn said:
Thank god there are a lot really good photographers out there without any theoretical background in art and photography.
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It only depends on the meaning you pretend here for the word theoretical...

But there's a fact: no matter if one person studies something to reach somewhere, and another one reaches the same place with a different procedure like living, hearing or sharing: both of them have studied, practiced and learned: in different ways, in different places and at different speeds, but both of them, if good photographers, required to surpass a level of technical and aesthetical skills...

I know people who studied for years, even got their grade, and just aren't good at all on their fields...

The usual thing, though, is the contrary... I would say most of the greatest photographers have had deep respect and at least a medium background in art and photography... If not obtained through any institute, that's secondary.

Cheers,

Juan
 
I think that you being a cinematographer means that you get too much of the tech side every day.
I'd get a wide-ish lens, preset your controls and tape them there if you must, then run around annoying people by shooting them.

Or do something you might not usually do, like shoot from the waist.
 
I have found that progress doesn't usually occur the way we often expect to. Progress is often not a steady increase in skill, strength, or whatever, it often occurs in steps. There are large plateaus one must sometimes cross before moving up to the next level.

I used to be a competitive cyclist, and I found my improvement to be of this nature. I would ride for weeks on end with seemingly no improvement in my performance, and then one day I would suddenly find that I was much stronger. The important thing is to persevere in the long, flat stages when nothing seems to improve.

And then sometimes we have to take a step back. A lot of times our concentration can be so intense that we become too focused and narrow minded. Taking a break allows us to take a fresh look from a different perspective. Sometimes we see something that we didn't see before.
 
Frontman said:
I have found that progress doesn't usually occur the way we often expect to. Progress is often not a steady increase in skill, strength, or whatever, it often occurs in steps. There are large plateaus one must sometimes cross before moving up to the next level.

I used to be a competitive cyclist, and I found my improvement to be of this nature. I would ride for weeks on end with seemingly no improvement in my performance, and then one day I would suddenly find that I was much stronger. The important thing is to persevere in the long, flat stages when nothing seems to improve.

And then sometimes we have to take a step back. A lot of times our concentration can be so intense that we become too focused and narrow minded. Taking a break allows us to take a fresh look from a different perspective. Sometimes we see something that we didn't see before.
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Great words, Frontman!

I also find progress and evolution are not part of a linear process... It's an emotive one, and comes in uncertain steps after we live new stories in our lives...

Cheers,

Juan
 
Thanks everybody for the advice and links.

I loved that wired article, the americansuburbanx site and the chinese proverb the most.

I'll just have to make it through this stretch of boredom to achieve fascination again. A pause is not an option for me, I can't put it down. Maybe I just shouldn't shoot when I'm not really inspired, because sometimes I just have the need to take the Leica and fire a few shots although there is nothing interesting. I'm just too much of a gearhead.

Less, but better pictures.

cheers
 
Xax said:
Thanks everybody for the advice and links.

I loved that wired article, the americansuburbanx site and the chinese proverb the most.

I'll just have to make it through this stretch of boredom to achieve fascination again. A pause is not an option for me, I can't put it down. Maybe I just shouldn't shoot when I'm not really inspired, because sometimes I just have the need to take the Leica and fire a few shots although there is nothing interesting. I'm just too much of a gearhead.

Less, but better pictures.

cheers
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I take my camera everywhere , I'll shoot boring things at times and go through a period of photos I'm not happy with. I also shoot a bunch of film and don't develop it for a month or so based on my schedule so sometimes I end up with stuff I like because I'm not in a mad rush to see the final product.
 
I get into a mood as well. I'll be taking several rolls worth of photos that I really just don't like.

I just generally look at other photographers who I admire who keep putting out great pictures and feel that "hell, if they are able to take good pictures, I can too." Take the camera out and start again. Do whatever, photography is art really, so anything goes. It is just down to the question of how you want to present your work to the world. There are good ways and bad ways. So go out and think of a good way to present it.
Just think, what is special about what, why and how I'm taking this shot.
Good photos will follow.
 
1) Don't worry about it. That always makes things worse.

2) Try to get enough sleep.

3) Recognize that it's different for everyone. Some of the advice here would put me off photography, not encourage me -- but it would work for someone else.

4) There are others' photos you can admire, and the sort of photos you like to take or are good at. They may differ considerably. By all means try to emulate your heros but don't try to be them.

5) Beware of gurus: http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps ignore gurus.html

Cheers,

R.
 
Dear Roger

Excellent link.
I`ve copied it to a painter friend of mine.She is currently sinking under the combined weight of camera club gurus.

Best
Michael
 
Do something else you enjoy and relate photography to it. I, for example, cook and then take photos of the food I've made. :)

Most of all, rest and relax. Destress and dont get frustrated.
 
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