Lost inspiration

[Hobby Shooter]

Hi all, thanks for all the thoughtful and kind answers. This forum is a very nice place and clearly has a lot of thinking and caring members.

I like the parallels to other activities, it's something we go through from time to time.

Dilbert, yes I have been shooting on and off my whole adult life (now middle aged), but the last few years I have been more active and focused than before. You're definitely right about the cities, even though Stockholm is a fairly large city, it is quiet as a small village compared to Saigon or Bangkok or even Phnom Penh where we have mainly lived the last few years.

I have a good friend from Asia, an American that now lives in South America, he asked me to shoot the city of Stockholm as he have never seen it. I think that can be a nice mission the next couple of months.

I can't respond to all of you, I won't take your time, but I have read all answers thoroughly and will mix it up into something that should get me back into it soon enough. It's not just a hobby, it's a way of seeing the world and expressing myself and crate something so I hope photography will stay with me.

Again, many thanks to all of you for your thoughts. It's an interesting discussion and hopefully it continues.

J

 

[Hobby Shooter]

Ramon, just saw your reply now, yes I will try that also. Discover something new.

You mentioned revel, I checked out the homepage of Aswah's restaurant. It made me hungry so now I gotta cook some dinner.

 

[P_R]

I lost my mojo too a few times. Not sure what causes it, but I found a few ways to deal with it:

1. buy new gear. could be just a filter, software, maybe a book. That lens you have coveted ($ permitting!). Once you have it you have to try it out right?

2. Use what you have but in a new way. A long exposure (30+seconds), tripod, plus a torch to draw my sons name in light popped me back into the "zone"

3. Go with someone to take pics together. bring beer (or wine or food) and one way or another it will be a good time!

4. hire something out of your reach to buy - 300mm f/2.8? 600mm? TS/E? Or multiple flashes to setup a more complex shoot? You shoot street, so maybe try indoors/studio for a brief change? In my case just trying to master a single manual flash has been a multi-year trek...

5. offer friends an outdoor family shoot. think about poses, locations, setup and see how you go.

And once you do shake it off, post a few shots here so we can all enjoy them.

 

[Jeremy]

I think it's pretty common to step away for a while, especially when life circumstance change. My step-back was quite drastic. Back in the early 90s I shot a roll of film every day for nearly 3 years, trying to make it as an artist. I failed miserably because I didn't know the business side of being an artist. I spent so much time shooting and in the darkroom that I burned out. I started a different career and, for a DECADE, didn't even think about photography. I had various point and shoots, but that was it. When digital SLRs came out I bought a Sony 828 (I know, not and SLR, but a heck of a camera for its time) and rediscovered creative photography. Photography is my career now. The decade I spent selling computer systems taught me everything about business I didn't know 20 years ago.

 

[distant.star]

I'd say I also need to understand why I started with photography. What made it fun to start with.

Here's a different view of what you're experiencing. (I'm no psychologist so this is just an idea -- feel free to tell me I'm a crackpot.)

What you're experiencing, based on what you've described, may be more a sense of grief than non-inspiration. Sounds like in Asia you had a rewarding feedback loop -- a sustained group of people who saw and liked your work. That system provides support and inspiration to go further and to keep at it. Having lost that you are now faced with starting over -- and it's hard to generate momentum. To put it in baseball terms, after you've played in a stadium full of spectators, knocking out fly balls by yourself doesn't seem very rewarding.

In a meaningful human relationship, we have everyday life, all that we do -- together, apart, it's just normal routine. The rewarding part of the human relationship is the intimacy, the simple moments of sharing. Equating that to photography, taking pictures is the everyday or so of simply getting out and doing it. Rewards come in the pleasure of good image -- and sharing it, knowing other people appreciate it as you do and value you and what you've done.

Your pondering of the "why" you take pictures is indicative of the human grief process. When we've lost something we eventually go back to thinking about how it started in the first place, how did we come to have such a thing that has now been lost. I think it's part of the starting over. Unconsciously, we're looking to recreate/regain what has been lost.

You may want to think about looking for community in your current setting. Get involved with people who take good pictures -- experience the sharing of their work. Maybe share some of your past work. You may find in that a reason to create anew.

Overall I wouldn't worry much about it. If you're someone who really enjoys photography, eventually you'll be doing it again with enthusiasm.

Oh and you may want to think about one thing I tell people who think you need to travel to do great photograpy:

Your "exotic" location is someone else's boring home. Move along folks, nothing to see here.

 

[Hobby Shooter]

I'd say I also need to understand why I started with photography. What made it fun to start with.

Here's a different view of what you're experiencing. (I'm no psychologist so this is just an idea -- feel free to tell me I'm a crackpot.)

What you're experiencing, based on what you've described, may be more a sense of grief than non-inspiration. Sounds like in Asia you had a rewarding feedback loop -- a sustained group of people who saw and liked your work. That system provides support and inspiration to go further and to keep at it. Having lost that you are now faced with starting over -- and it's hard to generate momentum. To put it in baseball terms, after you've played in a stadium full of spectators, knocking out fly balls by yourself doesn't seem very rewarding.

In a meaningful human relationship, we have everyday life, all that we do -- together, apart, it's just normal routine. The rewarding part of the human relationship is the intimacy, the simple moments of sharing. Equating that to photography, taking pictures is the everyday or so of simply getting out and doing it. Rewards come in the pleasure of good image -- and sharing it, knowing other people appreciate it as you do and value you and what you've done.

Your pondering of the "why" you take pictures is indicative of the human grief process. When we've lost something we eventually go back to thinking about how it started in the first place, how did we come to have such a thing that has now been lost. I think it's part of the starting over. Unconsciously, we're looking to recreate/regain what has been lost.

You may want to think about looking for community in your current setting. Get involved with people who take good pictures -- experience the sharing of their work. Maybe share some of your past work. You may find in that a reason to create anew.

Overall I wouldn't worry much about it. If you're someone who really enjoys photography, eventually you'll be doing it again with enthusiasm.

Oh and you may want to think about one thing I tell people who think you need to travel to do great photograpy:

Your "exotic" location is someone else's boring home. Move along folks, nothing to see here.

Hi, thanks for your reply. I'm not going to call you a crackpot, I never do. But I will thank you for your thoughts here, they definitely make sense. Back in Cambodia I had some good friends that also like to take pictures and we would often walk together combining the two greats of drinking beer and taking pictures in the afternoons and some early morning walks by the Mekong river.

Here it's empty. I got my old buddies, but none are interested in photography. I'll probably make an effort and join a photography society or something.

I try to see the positive side of things, I like to see it as my 'boring' home is someone's exotic location. I should get out and take pictures of it.

Again thanks for taking the time to reply to this.

J

 

[Hobby Shooter]

Funniest thing happened. I picked up my wife at the airport today, she had to stay back a few weeks to finish her contract back in Cambodia. I had forgotten that she had bought the EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Maro for my brother in law (who by the way is away for a week). Me and my daughter brought it to use in the garden this afternoon shooting flowers and critters. My first try at Macro, it was a lot of fun, but I also realized how difficult it was getting focus exactly where you want. It was a lot of fun and I know what I'll be doing over the next couple of weeks. I texted my brother in law and said that customs had dropped the bag with the lens and that it was broken, let's see if he buys it...

I also took a few portraits of my beautiful wife with it. I have to agree with other posters that it's a very good portraits lens.

 

[Hobby Shooter]

Here's another one from this afternoon.

 

[Hobby Shooter]

Actually, here it is...

 

[Hobby Shooter]

It happens, but the question is do you continue to revel in it? Try shooting something you've never done before and that usually kicks it back in.

Just did with the macro today, don't have a clue on how to do it, but it was a lot of fun. I feel better already ;D

 

[bdunbar79]

@HobbyShooter,

Doing sports last year absolutely destroyed me. I haven't been out once this summer shooting for fun, because I just don't want to. In years past I didn't do it so heavily, but this past year I don't even want to know how many games/matches I shot. It happens to everyone. Some come back and unfortunately, some don't. I have a feeling you'll come back.

 

[Hobby Shooter]

@HobbyShooter,

Doing sports last year absolutely destroyed me. I haven't been out once this summer shooting for fun, because I just don't want to. In years past I didn't do it so heavily, but this past year I don't even want to know how many games/matches I shot. It happens to everyone. Some come back and unfortunately, some don't. I have a feeling you'll come back.

Thanks man, it means a lot coming from you. I think I understand your situation. Regardless of what it is, one can just get saturated sometimes. With your talent and skills, it would be a waste if you didn't find the passion for the fun part of it again. I look forward to see more of your work. I've been through your flickr many times already and look forward to see you add to it.

My luck arrived this morning with that L macro arriving, although I guess that"s not something that will happen every day... Imagine if it could though, if I can make a wish for tomorrow it would be the 50 1.2 :

J

 

[bdunbar79]

Thanks Hobby Shooter,

I appreciate the kind words. I am hard on myself though, and maybe that's what burned me out, but I still think I can improve drastically on what I shot last year, both in real shooting and post-processing. I want to get the best I can be, and I have a lot to go, but that makes it fun too. I don't want to do it to make me look good, I want to do it for the players and parents. The photos mean more to them than me.

Glad to read about your lens coming! I'm slowly getting the itch back. I don't have any events until 9/7, so I just may pull out my EOS-3 and go do some film for a bit, then maybe some night photography.

Well, enjoy! Good luck.

Brett

 

[Valvebounce]

I have just moved continent, from Asia back to Europe. We've been home for just about a month now and I have barely touched my camera since. As my identity here indicates photography is a hobby, not my profession. I normally like portraits and street/travel.

Before you went to Asia, were you doing a lot of photography?

My guess is that since moving back "home", you've reverted to your "home self" which existed prior to photography.

Try to find a theme to pursue in all of the local towns or all of the towns within 50-100km. That'll get you out and traveling. Try something like taking photographs of all the pubs within said distance.

Hi Hobby Shooter.
I don't know if you have tried this before but on the subject of a theme visit an old part of town, narrow streets and alleys, the old commercial type area is good. Look up, I found that there are all manner of interesting subjects in this type of area, not only architectural, but industrial items long since forgotten. A jib protruding from the first floor of a shop, think it was a Jessops camera shop, begging one to theorise as to the original purpose of the shop. Was it a butchers, perhaps a bakers? Another I found was feint advertising remaining on a wall. Yes others have seen them but I know a lot hadn't as we used some of them as clues for a walking treasure hunt and people were amazed to see them.
Alternately do you have another hobby?
Mine is owning classic cars, I am restoring a Triumph Spitfire. I use my first DSLR A 300D which has been upgraded twice and has no real value left as a tool to document the restoration therefore I have an excuse to take at least a couple of pics when a milestone is reached or something unusual occurs or I achieve something difficult.
Then there are the days when I am just not in the mood to do either of my hobbies! Give it a while and one of the hobbies beckons.

May your enthusiasm return soon, but not knock you of your feet when it does! ;D

Cheers Graham.

 

[shutterwideshut]

I have just moved continent, from Asia back to Europe. We've been home for just about a month now and I have barely touched my camera since. As my identity here indicates photography is a hobby, not my profession. I normally like portraits and street/travel.

So sorry for the late reply. I have seen the original post of yours many days ago but failed to reply in time. For an Asian like me, Europe is definitely one of the places in my bucket list. Europe is full of history with many interesting architecture and beautiful places to shoot. Well, you live in Europe and the thing is, from where you live things seem ordinary because many of what you look at are familiar to you but if you approach those like a tourist then perhaps you can portray such mundane things into extra ordinary. In my case, I am a Filipino who started off my photographic journey in Singapore as this is the place where I currently live and work. Just a few months ago, I went home to Manila and joined a Canon photowalk back with my fellow Filipino photographers. I was surprised that in Manila, photographers are required shooting permits by authorities to even shoot urban structures in public places! ??? This experience opened my eyes to how lucky I am to have quite a lot of shooting opportunities back in Singapore. I neither worry about my personal safety nor do I get anxious about security approaching me and asking for any shooting permit whenever I shoot urban structures in Singapore. :

Maybe I have higher demands on myself now and am afraid to take bad pictures.

Well, you have grown better as a photographer and this is the reason why you have high expectations in yourself.

I hope to get it back soon enough though. I just wanted to share this with you guys here. Any thoughts of course are welcome. Do you lose inspiration sometimes? What do you do to get it back?

Well, being in a rut is normal. After all, we are all human beings! I do hope you will find your sync soon! Cheers!

 

[Hobby Shooter]

Hi, sorry I haven't gotten back for a while. Been busy settling back here in Sweden. Those are very kind words from you guys.

Brett, hope you went out shooting some film and challenge your creativity.

Graham, I have thought of a couple of other projects based in town here. Especially one that I hope to realise as soon as I get back to work in a few weeks, I will spend some time walking the streets on Sundays putting it together over the course of a few weeks. I have another hobby which is golf, but won't find much time for it now. I did some stuff back in Asia, shooting courses and wrote a few articles that I got published (with some of my photos). Hope to get some more of that done, but the only work I've done on that has been in Asia.

Shutterwideshut, thanks for your words. Interesting about Manila. I've been there only once and it was on a quick business trip. Staying at Shangri La Edsa, ten minutes limo ride to the office and then back for a couple of days. Was alone so I didn't really fancy going out in the evenings. But the town looked interesting and I hope to be able to go back one day. You have inspired me and advised med on the long exposures. However, Sweden is located far north and this time of year the sun sets very late and rises very early (3.30 or so) so to catch the golden hour is not that easy. I am normally asleep by then. And I haven't invested in those expensive 10 stop filters you got so daylight is pretty much out of the question for me when it comes to long exposures. I'll wait a couple of months for it to get darker.

Take care all and thanks for the nice words and interesting discussion.

thanks
J