Not a shot in 6 weeks! Inspire me!

[Aldor88]

So yea, things are dire on the photography front, i haven't taken a single shot(except for some of my friends) for 6 weeks! I NEED inspiration!

Some of it prolly has to do with our dull winter with overcast weather every day(pretty much) and 3 hours daylight at worst. The last few weeks have been really nice tho and still I haven't gone out once with the intentions of photographing something.

HELP!? what do you do when your all out of inspiration or drive for photography?

[herc182]

I generally think "how much money have i spent on all this crap?" That gets me going nearly everytime.

also, maybe try limiting yourself to one focal length and working on composition instead of zooming with your lens...that can be quite inspiring.

Also, slap your D40 into black and white and set yourself a project. photograph things you usually dont...it ties in with composition since Black and white is all about composition (IMO).

failing that, through it in your bag wherever you go...never know when that photo opportunity arises.

[herc182]

also, look through earlier photos and think how you could have improved them...that works for me too. There is always scope for improvement in my shots :)

Try HDR, try grads, try taking panoramics (of anything). I am getting into the latter and its really interesting (and harder than you think)

[Aldor88]

I generally think "how much money have i spent on all this crap?" That gets me going nearly everytime.
hehe i havn't reallt spent that much on my equipment so doesent really work for me :). Thanks for the other tips tho, if the weather is nice tomorrow im gonna go out and shoot some.

[r3g]

Dude I was in your shoes for over a year lol.. Inpiration will come. Either that or youll buy something for your camera thatll give u inspiration. For me it was my strobes

[fionndruinne]

35mm f/1.8G and an SB-400, that ought to get you going :p

Ahem, or was that me? Yes, yes I think it was.

[Cyberwlf]

I got a similar situation, went from Australia over to the UK and I find Australia very photogenic even though i am from there, but I find London as photogenic as a ... beyond photographing the cliche, which doesn't really inspire me (central london has about a thousand 'heritage' buildings, but they bloody well mostly look all the same!). Would attempt some people photography though if i had that 35mm to slap onto my D300 tho :p

[Aldor88]

35mm f/1.8G and an SB-400, that ought to get you going :p

Ahem, or was that me? Yes, yes I think it was. Yea I was going to get the D90 but then the UK/Euro rate went up and now most of my cash has gone to student life :).
The 35mm is now first on my list, then a SB600. Depending on my employment(or lack thereof) this summer i might or might not get to cross over some of that looong list :D.

[tim11]

Be a volunteer in a local club/organisation....etc.

[ssil2000]

i know the feeling aldor, i didnt have the strength to hold the camera for a couple of weeks after the accident and now i have lost a little motivation.

Mr Pirate Roberts it may be time for a joint shoot to get the motivation back!!!!!!!!!

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Aldor - well if you're a student start chatting up the ladies for a different topic from your usual. You're a great photographer, shame to waste the talent.

Ssil, sure I'm up for a joint shoot. I was a bit embarassed by the last failure that I didn't bring it up. Also so damn busy now that I work. Still, name a time.

[rawpaw18]

If possible go out a day with a friend that also shoots, my bro and I get together and
shoot sometimes. You get different ideas from each other, makes it fun and helps with inspiration.

[herc182]

If possible go out a day with a friend that also shoots, my bro and I get together and
shoot sometimes. You get different ideas from each other, makes it fun and helps with inspiration.

Its the opposite with me and my bro since he uses a Canon :) the 5D. He infuriates me because he doesnt know how to use the camera (uses it in auto mode mostly) and gets away with it because he can see a good photo (good composition). However, knows nothing of the limitations of the camera (i.e. it overexposes), white balance etc, DESPITE me telling him about it all. On principle (because I tell him these things) he does not listen.

So i have to walk around with a tit (for having a canon) and an imbecile (for not knowing his arse from his elbow when it comes to his camera. Were he not blood related, I would strike him down where he stands...

[K1W1]

Go for a motorcycle ride.

[SreckoA4]

Hm, if only I had one that would like to go out and shoot with me.
I have similar situation as herc182 with my brother. Everything is on automatic and with no interest in photography.
My girfriend doesent want to be model in my pictures, she doesent like photograpy at all. Nobody that i know likes photography as art. Only interests are in some importaint moments and even then only if they look good on photos, noting else maters for them.
Well that is why I rearly find inspiration to go out with my camera. I just have no friends to go out together and spend some photographic time. I really would like that, but nobody is interested.

[toriaj]

I hadn't taken any shots in months (other than a few flash portraits) like you, mostly due to the gloomy weather. It's cleared out for a few days, then winter comes back, but I was able to go for a trip on a good day and that does wonders :) so like K1W1 says, go on a day trip to somewhere you've always wanted to go.

I also get inspired by the pics posted on FM's Landscape Photographer forum. I don't know if this link (http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/board/46) will work, but if you go to fredmiranda.com and click on forum, Landscape Photographer is second from the top.

[K1W1]

For those people who don't have any photography friends.

There is a solution.
Search Flickr groups for a group located in or near where you live. Many groups organise regular photography walks where people can get together, go for a walk in a pre arranged location to take photos then settle down to a coffee or a beer afterwards.
All that is required is a little searching on your part.
If no Flickr group exists in your location start one and promote it by searching Flickr for photos taken near you and asking the owners to join your group.
If a group exists and they don't have regular walks then post the idea on the group forum and see if there is any interest.

[Cyberwlf]

There's an interesting group in London who organise group shoots, but they require groups of 4 people and you gotta pay too.

[Actaeon]

I've run into the same problem until about a week or so ago.

I now make it a goal to head out to a new place every weekend to shoot. I moved to California a bit over a year ago, so there are lots of places I haven't seen yet.

Maybe you should try visiting a place once a week to keep your skills up and use your equipment more.

[Aldor88]

Go for a motorcycle ride. Now THIS would work, if it wasnt winter AND i owned a bike :). Havent owned one for years, i miss them two wheelers :(.

Was thinking about going out to the coast tomorrow and maybe catch the sunrise on sunday as im at my mommas this weekend(sort of country side). But the weather reports aint looking too good... I'll post some pics if i get that far :D.

Found a folder of unedited photos from germany aswell so prolly gonna edit a few of those and poste them up at some point.

[Actaeon]

Well, I can't say the weather is bad over here (its quite lovely actually).

But this is what I got out of today by visiting the beach! Not the best photographs in world, but considering I could have stayed at the house and gotten nothing instead, I'm quite happy!

Half Moon Bay State Beach - March 27th 2009 (http://gallery.me.com/jonathan.stroud#100087&view=carouseljs&bgcolor=black&sel=5)


EDIT: I'm not trying to hijack the thread, but I'm trying to say "GO OUT AND SHOOT". Find someplace new once a week and have a ball. This is what I did this weekend.

[Cyberwlf]

I actually notice that when i stop and read photography tutorials it gets me itching to get out there and try them, but then when i do take the camera with me and its wintery as it is here (even though its technically Spring...) then well i dont want to have to 'create' something photogenic (ie have to search for some unusual angle for no reason other to create something 'interesting') from settings that otherwise seem uninspiring, so im not inclined to use it. I am all for finding new angles/ideas in photogenic settings though.

I also find looking through my photo backlog (and its in the thousands...) can sometimes help inspire me too.