How to break out of a photography funk

[Pubb]

I signed up for the word of the day email, I get a word Monday through Friday and I have to shot a picture of that word. Some are very hard but makes you think creatively. Wordsmith.org is where you can get word of the day.

 

[JClishe]

Thanks guys, there's some great ideas here. I tend to overthink things and put too much thought into planning through what I'm going to do. I need to just grab my camera and go out and take some pictures and the ideas posted here will help me to do just that.

I actually like the toilet idea, I may do that! And no worries, it will be clean and waste-free.

I'm travelling up to Michigan to visit some friends this weekend and I've built time into my travel schedule to stop in Detroit to walk around and take some pictures. I went to the train station up there a year ago and had a lot of fun taking pictures of that place, and got some Tiger Stadium demolition pictures too. This weekend I think I'll just park and walk around downtown though.

For you guys that have gone to rough neighborhoods like Over the Rhine, have you ever had any issues where you seriously worried for your safety? I've thought about going down there and walking down Liberty to get some pictures, but even on that main street in the middle of the afternoon it looks kinda sketchy.

 

[misskrys]

I was in the same situation. I started taking pictures of my other hobby - fish (which is hard, by the way.) I also begged my roommate to go out to the barn with her, and took pictures of her and her horse. I guess find something that you like and shoot it. Maybe your backyard is interesting?

 

[Corvphotography]

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.

:thumbup:

 

[mrpink]

For you guys that have gone to rough neighborhoods like Over the Rhine, have you ever had any issues where you seriously worried for your safety? I've thought about going down there and walking down Liberty to get some pictures, but even on that main street in the middle of the afternoon it looks kinda sketchy.

Go over to Newport. Walk the streets down there, a lot of cool houses and landscapes.

Detroit is a good town to photograph. You kinda need to get off the beaten path to find the really good stuff.






p!nK

 

[JClishe]

Yeah I'm from Detroit. Spent about 12 years as an IT consultant there driving all over the place so I'm really familiar with the area and where the cool spots are. I'm looking forward to going back up there this weekend.

 

[12sndsgood]

For you guys that have gone to rough neighborhoods like Over the Rhine, have you ever had any issues where you seriously worried for your safety? I've thought about going down there and walking down Liberty to get some pictures, but even on that main street in the middle of the afternoon it looks kinda sketchy.

Go over to Newport. Walk the streets down there, a lot of cool houses and landscapes.

Detroit is a good town to photograph. You kinda need to get off the beaten path to find the really good stuff.






p!nK

i got back into to town about a month ago and did the whole newport serpantine wall and the new park the opened up east of montgomery ribs.




as for over the rhine. id probalby be too chicken to go down there and take pics personally. ive been there at night when i used to go clubbin at the warehouse ohhh 10 years ago lol. and last thing id want to do is have an expensive piece of equipment around my neck. during the day actually morning time would proalby be the best time. allot less people out. but even then i personally proalby wouldnt do it.

 

[mrpink]

as for over the rhine. id probalby be too chicken to go down there and take pics personally. ive been there at night when i used to go clubbin at the warehouse ohhh 10 years ago lol. and last thing id want to do is have an expensive piece of equipment around my neck. during the day actually morning time would proalby be the best time. allot less people out. but even then i personally proalby wouldnt do it.

I would be more afraid of the people that went INTO the Warehouse, than the people outside of it.

OTR is not that rough, but just like anywhere else- common sense should trump all.

I am still looking for some decent places to photograph the bridges (mainly big mac and spence), if anyone knows of a good place post it up here.




p!nK

 

[NikonNewbie]

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.

LMAO

 

[LokiZ]

Do you normally carry your camera with you or only take it with you when you plan for sure to use it? Just curious.

There is not a lot to add to all the other good advise this thread has seen so far.

 

[Photogirl007]

You could get inspired again by going to photo exhibitions and art galleries. I find that helps me when I am gazing in awe up at a photographic master on a gallery wall.
Do not worry you will get your creative energy back again. I think this is a phenomenon that happens to every photographer along the journey.I wish you the best.

 

[JClishe]

Do you normally carry your camera with you or only take it with you when you plan for sure to use it? Just curious.

There is not a lot to add to all the other good advise this thread has seen so far.

My S95 has a home in my laptop bag and is with me almost everywhere I go, especially when I travel. I take a fair amount of pictures with it too, although nothing terribly display worthy. The inside of airports, hotel rooms, random stuff, etc. I actually find that working around the limitations of a P&S helps me to focus (no pun intended) more on the technical elements of what I'm trying to do.

But I rarely have my 50D with me unless I'm specifically going somewhere with it.

 

[Darkhunter139]

DPChallenge - A Digital Photography Contest

That website will give you some cool ideas and is very active and fun to participate in.

 

[kundalini]

:addpics:



I don't know what you normally shoot, but the toilet idea is a good one. Barring that, get outside of your comfort zone. There's plenty you can shoot right at your front door or inside your domicile. It's really up to you. As a few examples.........

Setup a home studio (?) ~36"x48" footprint.....

Try your hand at lighting inanimate objects....​

Stretch your boundaries and do some street photography....​

Do some SP's​

I could go on, but I don't want to bore the audience. There are so many things to shoot, just pick your poison for the day. similar to what KmH said, take a dozen different shots in the bathroom. Your creativity is limited only by you.​

Get off your ass and shoot something.​

Post the results in this thread.​

 

[j-dogg]

I have a no-digital day where I only shoot 35mm. Some of my best work has stemmed from this practice, and probably the single best flower shot I ever took was on my Nikkormat FTN on such a day.