The Photography Blues

“There is a difference between being stuck and choosing to stay. Between being found and finding yourself”
― Martina Boone

As a photographer we all sometimes find ourselves feeling uninspired, disinterested and possibly falling out of love with photography. No matter what level you are at in your journey or how much you love the art of photography, you will at some stage find yourself in a rut, noting will inspire you and you will feel disillusioned with your results or possibly may not even have the desire to pick up the camera at all. Don’t worry it doesn’t last forever. There are things you can do to motivate and inspire yourself to get back out there. These are my top five tips to relighting that fire!

Try Something Different

Has your photography become nothing more than a repetition based exercise, do you find yourself constantly creating the same images, maybe you only shoot seascapes or landscapes. Alternatively, you could possibly shoot nature or birds. If that is the case maybe its time to try something new. Pick up your camera and venture into your local city centre and shoot some street photography, try a little minimalistic photography, what I am saying is jump out of your comfort zone and try something new, that will either relight the fire and a thirst for knowledge or perhaps it will re-establish your love for what it is you do shoot, either way it is beneficial to you and will certainly help you climb out of that rut. Trying something new is a tried and tested method to reintroducing passion in any hobby.

Start a Long-Term Project

A personal project is a great idea to re-establish your creative side, there are many to choose from. Maybe make the decision to photograph Lighthouses or maybe a 12 Significant Images project. One of the most popular projects that will force you to get up pick up that camera and get out shooting is the 365 Project. 

The 365 Project is exactly what it says it is, you will take an image every single day of the year, it will force you to take pictures, it will force you to think outside of the box and it will breed creativity. Before you know it your love for photography will once again be a big part of your life. Maybe you would like to create your own project something that we haven’t seen before. Research the people that have insured you and mirror what projects or themed shoots they have done. (This brings me to my next tip) 

Research other Photographers or Inspiring Artists

Another fantastic way to become inspired is to research and study the very people that inspired you in the first place. Quite often I find myself wondering why my images aren’t what I would like them to be, when that doubt raises its ugly head I immediately head to YouTube and i watch my favourite photographers, people like Henry Turner and Stuart McGennon, after an hour or so I begin to feel better, I see that they are normal people and that they also take average images from time to time, I learn from what I have seen and I set out a plan to replicate what I have seen. Who is it that inspires you? Read a book, head to YouTube or even book a 1-2-1 or a worship, whatever you do trust me you will begin to feel better and again before you know it you will be right back on that horse creating fantastic photography.

Enter a Competition

Sometimes we can find ourselves in a creative rut because we do not have a clear idea or direction to which we are working. By entering a competition, you will receive a clear objective or brief to work too. Once you have that do not scroll through old images looking for something suitable, get up grab your camera and go out to catch that single image for the competition you have entered. Being given a clear theme can help get those creative juices flowing again. Don’t take my word for it try it yourself.

Explore a New Location

Many photographers specifically landscape photographers will continue to revisit the same location time after time, in the pursuit of creating a better image or catching the same image through the different seasons. However, by doing so it can stifle your creativity and certainly reduce your ability to find inspiration for something different.

Visiting somewhere new and exploring a new location is very similar to visiting a new holiday destination, it heightens your senses it enables you to see through different eyes, you will without thought seek out new compositions and your creativity will return with a vengeance. You may find compositions you can shoot immediately, or you may find shots where you need to return at a time that will provide better conditions, either way this is a fantastic way to relight your fire.

Many times, I have found myself feeling uninspired i’ve looked through my gallery and wondered am I good enough, following these steps have helped me to get out and rekindle my love for what I do, I sincerely hope if you have suffered from the same problems that these tips can help you too 

Blackpool Central Pier with the famous big wheel and Infamous Blackpool Tower