Hit the flat..... Cant seem to find the motivation.

[Original katomi]

It happens in every walk of life
Writers block is just another version
I noticed that someone posted not to force it, very sound advice.
If you force it, regardless of hobby, it works out to be hard work, there is non of the flow that you get when you are enjoying the project/subject. Also if you start to force in our case a photo session then you are so intent on getting that image you could miss another opitunity, that you normally would have seen.
Try something like throwing a hand full of mixed coins on the floor/table top. Let your mind wander and see what images come to mind. You don’t have to have the camera, just let the mind fill the blanks
If something really good comes up then you have a whole new subject to photograph

 

[Dean_Gretsch]

I have found the answer to this problem : never get good at it. If you're stubborn like me, you will always strive to beat the challenge and therefore never lose sight of the goal

Pssst @Derrel that was a weak attempt at humor

 

[Grandpa Ron]

When I get bored I tackle some thing I am not good at. In my case it is still-life photography.

I try lots of shots but I still am not ready to post any. It does keep the mind active though.

 

[smoke665]

Been there, done that, will likely do it again. Like gas it'll pass.

 

[Space Face]

Been there, done that, will likely do it again. Like gas it'll pass.

Yuk!!

 

[John Fantastic]

I draw my energy from my photo shoot buddies. They are the one who calls me and ask me to join them for a photoshoot. Now with Covid all of these has stop. I have not shot anything for the last 6 months. but my new mobile phone is giving me the extra energy to shoot . I hope its not a novelty that will soon quickly pass away.

 

[mrca]

Ron nailed it. Get out of your comfort zone. The old adage about so many women and so little time applies to photography. What genres have you been shooting, try another or alter what you had been doing. I am a portraitist so switched to street photography to keep sharp. I also photo things not people, buildings, signs, documenting this shut down. I am shooting more film and that will jar you awake and you will come out of this a better photographer for it. I got a back pack and take my 10 lb MF film camera in the field. the images are stunning. Less expensive is the 35 mm film but the grain in 3200 b&w or skin tones and colors of portra are fantastic. And you get to wait a couple weeks to get your scans back. Decades ago I did an long term project, got the two great books on the history of photography and started with 1840 and tried to produce what they did with their plates and gear then progressed right up to modern times. Tuck those skills away and they will be more to add to your repetoire not to mention develop an understanding of who came before us.

 

[Soocom1]

Its been 4 months so far.

Sorta like having been eating nothing but burgers for a while, I got burgered out.

I am feeling twinges to play again, but still not quite there.


i might look at a full frame mirrorless to get back in the mode, but its still feeling off.

If we wind up getting more stimuli, I might drop money on a FF orr a HAM radio or both.

 

[PJM]

When my wife says things like that the answer is always "both".

 

[mrca]

A book that changed my life was Drawing from the Right Side of the Brain. I bought it to do pencil drawings to sharpen my highlight/ shadow awareness and placement with my lights, but instead learned to get to the creative, left side of the brain. The first few exercises made my brain hurt and blood spurt from my eyeballs. Now, I spend the first half hour of a session giving them the crap they want and by then am over to the L side of the brain and the magic happens. Had a Nat Geo photographer tell me decades ago that when he got to a new country, it took him a day or so to get into what he called the zone. I think he meant to the L side of the brain. I also learned I could draw, if I had known that 40 years ago, I would carry an easel, canvas and paint on location, en plein air, instead of a freaking truck full of photo gear. You might give it a try as it could transform your work without reliance on gear and get your juices really flowing. Gear is just tools, creativity, priceless.

 

[Geenphoto]

I understand hitting the flat spot. When I got married and all of the sudden had three teenaged children in the house my photography took a back seat. My priorities changed. Well, now seven year later I have two in the military and one living on her own and going to school. Yeah, Empty nesters! I wanted to get the camera back out and restart my hobby. Damned COVID! I guess I will figure out a way. I was able to get some portraits of the kids when they were home for Christmas but not a lot else. I will figure it out though, and so will you.

 

[mrca]

Copnsider street photography, landscape, seascape, architecture. macro. The book 52 assignments for Street photography will keep you busy for a long time.

 

[Soocom1]

Given now that I was asked to do a wedding, I have been begrudgingly picking up the camera to shoot whatever i can muster.
but I have to admit, its been taught to hold interest.

Part in part I think is the sheer lack of desire brought on by everything so heavily regulated and manipulated over COVID. simply put the new "mandates" to even photograph the wild is stymied because of politics.

i'm trying, but its tough.

 

[Soocom1]

Had to back out of the wedding.

Cameras were not functioning properly and confidence in doing them is in the tank.

Just seems like when I have picked up camera lately, the photos are nothing but garbage.

 

[nokk]

Had to back out of the wedding.

Cameras were not functioning properly and confidence in doing them is in the tank.

Just seems like when I have picked up camera lately, the photos are nothing but garbage.

do something else. find another hobby and come back to photography when you've got your mojo back. no use turning it into something frustrating that you don't enjoy.