How to break out of a photography funk

[JClishe]

So I haven't even pulled my camera out of its bag in about a month or so, I've been a creative funk lately. Anyone have any tips or tricks of things they've done to get the creative juices flowing?

 

[Light Artisan]

Here's what I usually do...

If I normally shoot with my 70-200 I'll throw on my 18-50 and switch things up. I also have a list of various ideas, I'll pick one and shoot that for a week (colors, alphabet, vehicles, perspectives, people, street photography, etc).

Force yourself to do something different, if you normally shoot without flash - shoot with flash (on camera, off camera, whatever). If you usually shoot wildlife, try macro, etc.

Sometimes I'll just tape a ziploc bag over the sink, put some water in it, poke a small hole and start shooting water drop photos.

Basically mix it up, go outside your comfort zone. Shoot manual, or full auto, anything outside the norm.

Sometimes I'll just drive to a place I haven't been before, get out of my vehicle and start shooting.

 

[chito beach]

So I haven't even pulled my camera out of its bag in about a month or so, I've been a creative funk lately. Anyone have any tips or tricks of things they've done to get the creative juices flowing?

experiment with a technique or style you have never tried

 

[bigtwinky]

find a better and more inspiring website than TPF

 

[chito beach]

find a better and more inspiring website than TPF

LOL :lmao: I go to http://www.fotocommunity.com and peruse the images sometimes. A very wide variety of shots and ideas there. Oh and I have an account there also

 

[Ub3rdoRK]

ill browse flickr's "interesting" section, go to barnes n noble and search the photography section, check out magazines, then inspiration flows!

 

[KmH]

Your assignment for the next 2 days is:

Go into one of the bathrooms at home. Make 10 different interesting and technically correct images of the toilet. You can use supplimental light, reflectors, which ever lenses you have available, etc. You are not allowed to include any biological waste materials.

You must post those 10 images here, Wednesday evening 11/10/10.

 

[chito beach]

Your assignment for the next 2 days is:

Go into one of the bathrooms at home. Make 10 different interesting and technically correct images of the toilet. You can use supplimental light, reflectors, which ever lenses you have available, etc. You are not allowed to include any biological waste materials.

You must post those 10 images here, Wednesday evening 11/10/10.

Great idea! does he have to clean it first?

 

[invisible]

Here's what I usually do...

If I normally shoot with my 70-200 I'll throw on my 18-50 and switch things up.

That's what I do too. Just leave your main lens at home and go out shooting with one you don't use often.

A question that doesn't have a correct answer: should you keep shooting until you shake off the funk? Or should you not shoot at all until the funk passes instead? My personal answer is keep shooting, but others' mileage will vary.

 

[Overread35]

Here's what I usually do...

If I normally shoot with my 70-200 I'll throw on my 18-50 and switch things up.

That's what I do too. Just leave your main lens at home and go out shooting with one you don't use often.

A question that doesn't have a correct answer: should you keep shooting until you shake off the funk? Or should you not shoot at all until the funk passes instead? My personal answer is keep shooting, but others' mileage will vary.

It probably depends on the type of funk one is in;

on the one hand forcing your creativity or doing projects/challenges can give one a new lease of interest and help them "recover". However in that same line forcing yourself can eventually make what is a hobby and something you do for fun into a forced chore/activity.

I think that its important to remember that its ok and perfectly normal to get "bored" of a hobby. It happens to us all from time to time and is often why people will have a range of interests and not just one - as one starts to lose its appeal you can gently shift into either a previous interest or a new one. The danger here is some people will sell off one hobby for the next - I try to avoid that where at all possible, normally because when you swing back again toward the former hobby rebuilding is not only going to cost you more, but it can also be highly prohibitive and even run the risk that what you had before is no longer on the market (or has become so rare as to command a price you can't afford).
I've known people build great photography and train set setups - only to sell them off and regret the choice later when they want to get back into it.

 

[BuS_RiDeR]

Buy a new "toy"... lens, filter, lighting, accessory... Whatever works...

 

[Greasy]

Get in your car and go for a drive. If you don't have a car, take your bikecycle. If you don't have one, steal one.


If Cincy is anything like NE Ohio (where I went to school), there should be plenty of cool scenery. I was just out there a week or two ago and the colors were amazing. Mix that with the standard farm shots, and you have yourself some nice subjects.

Go get a shot of buggies parked in front of Walmart, as that is certainly inspiring.


I guess the key is to just push yourself. Go for a walk/drive and force yourself to take a certain number of shots.

(I'm not one to talk... I'm in a slump myself)

 

[camera obscura]

Here's what I did today to get out of my (I hate to use the word "funk" cause funk is good music...anyway) let's call it 'creative sloth...'

Went to a part of town where I didn't belong.

Did I have to endure a racial slur? Yes.

Did I get harassed and almost jumped? Yes.

Did I feel like a photographer afterward? Yes.

Are the pictures worth a crap? Hell no. But it was experience, and I get to play with new images.

 

[PerfectlyFlawed]

Go to Flickr, browse the *365* project sections. Great creativity and inspiration there.

 

[12sndsgood]

id say go somewhere new or diffrent take a short road trip. hit up louisville, or brown county. or the dayton air museam. just something close by thats diffrent that is diffrent fron what you normally shoot. heck go to over the rhine, just bring your running shoes. head up to clifton and do some people shots. anything diffrent to get things going again.