Lost inspiration....please return when found

[edmontonguy]

I feel at this time that I don't want to photograph anything. I have been in deep study reading and viewing other photographers work. It seems that what ever I do does not compare to there work. How do you keep the motivation going? I think it is the winter blues or more like the spring browns there is no color out there and it still is cold here in Alberta.

Thanks

[Mad Aussie]

Firstly ... don't compare yourself to others ... you don't know what experience or resources they had to create those photos. But by all means ... try to emulate their work if you can.

I have found myself in a similar position before and each time I have done one of two things, or even one after the other.

One is ... I walk away. I concentrate on something different. Photography is in me, I'll never lose the desire forever. I know this because I've always loved it. So, if I wander off and do more cycling, bush walking, or whatever, I know that the drive to get out and shoot photos will return when it's ready.

The other is I try to be specific. I lock on to something I want to improve. It might be HDR photos ... it might be light painting ... it might portraits ... landscapes .... using flash ... not using flash .... sports .... birds .... whatever it is ... I lock onto that and go out and try to learn as much as I can about doing it within my own resources. No point trying to learn all about studio lighting if I don't have them or any way to get them.

That's what tends to work for me.

If your world is very brown right now then perhaps architecture is a subject you could look at? Maybe something along the lines of closeup photography. SHine some light through a glass bowl filled with sugar and zoom in on that. You might be surprized what you'll see

[Iguanasan]

I was feeling exactly the same way just a few short weeks ago. You can ask anyone on the forum, I was being a pain

A bright sunny day and an afternoon walk in the woods did wonders for me. Late winter/early spring can be very grey and gloomy and really sap the creativity out of you.

MA is right, never try to compare your work to others' work. Everyone is unique. Another thing I've found helps is to have a concrete project to work on. Pick a subject and go for a walk and look for it. Find triangles. I have a couple of ongoing projects with out of province/state license plates and locks.

Cheer up... full on spring is coming soon.

[casil403]

Being in Calgary I know exactly what you are talking about with the brown and the lacklustre. Instead of focusing on what there isn't (green, flowers etc.) I focus on what there is (architecture, abstracts, sunrises, and even dead flowers can be interesting especially after a run through some editing). If you can, go on a road trip, bus trip, bike trip or just pick a place nearby somewhere you haven't been and look for inspiration there.
I always am trying out different projects when I get bored or uninspired...shooting buildings and statues from different angles, bridges, ect....this seems to work for me when I get the doldrums.
And honestly it does no good to compare yourself to others. it's good to look at others to inspre you creatively but if you have the attitude you will never be good enough, or as good as "insert name here----->_________ that's kind of setting yourself up for a self fulfilling prophesy in my books.

[Marko]

As a practical solution, when this happens to me I try to force myself to think about angles and shooting a subject from deliberately different angles (up, down, left right, under, over) using different lenses. This exercise can be invaluable as shooting resparker.

[edmontonguy]

thanks!

[Greg_Nuspel]

I find some days it just isn't happening for me. I found a strange solution;

1. stop looking for photos
2. sit down
3. relax
4. use your other senses; listen, smell, feel

Soon I find it's a Zen thing and the photographs find me, it must be the pressure I put on myself to perform prior to this that blocks the flow. Usually once the subject finds me I am set for the rest of my time out there.

This is an example of one of those moments when I felt damn why can't I find anything to shoot:

[Kawarthabob]

you gotta force yourself to get outside, it's a different POV than your window