How many times have you been stuck in the habit of taking pictures? If your photo guardian gets up, walks out, and slams the door in your face, there are things you can do to make it come back. It happened to me.
Recently, I find it difficult to go out and take pictures. I took the above photo over a month ago. Aside from fulfilling a client’s commission needs, I’ve barely touched my camera since.
Two things stop us in our creative process: motivation and inspiration. If we lack motivation, we will always be uninspired to take pictures. However, we may be motivated to use our camera but can’t think of what we should capture, let alone how to capture it. When that happens, a lack of inspiration can cause us to lose motivation. Thus, the nature of the two are linked together in a vicious circle.
I use different approaches to engage me. They are not my invention, but my interpretation of proven techniques that I have adapted to work for photography. Others I’ve shared them with have all found them helpful, so I hope they work for you too.
That lack of motivation and inspiration can be similar to any creative activity. Besides photography, I write (obviously) and have faced writer’s block. I also play the guitar very badly and sometimes can’t think of what to play. With the first two creative activities, I have a contractual obligation to produce the work; No one pays me to play guitar. So even if I don’t have the motivation to create images or articles, I have to, not only because of the necessity of the contract but also because of the need to put food on my plate.
Besides taking professional photos, I still take pictures purely for enjoyment. However, when it’s not imperative to use my camera, it can sometimes become much more difficult to do. While I know I love being on the beach or strolling across the harbor at dawn, it’s actually much harder to set the alarm and do it.
Retrieve My Photo Mojo
Some of the greatest minds have come up with their best ideas in their sleep or daydreams. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity came to him this way. JK Rowling got the idea for the Harry Potter books when he got stuck on a delayed train. The tune of the Beatles song “Yesterday” appeared in Paul McCartney’s sleep. Inspiration can come from daydreaming. So sometimes I allow my subconscious to inspire me.
Have you watched the Netflix series or listened to Neil Gaiman’s excellent Audible adaptation of The Sandman? Don’t overlook the bad stuff, in one episode, there’s a person whose brain is working overtime generating ideas. We do that all the time. When we are not focused on anything specific, our subconscious mind has fleeting thoughts that appear and disappear in the blink of an eye, about 60,000 of them every day. Like dreams, we don’t remember most of them, but recording these thoughts can save them for later use. Doing that no longer requires us to carry around a notebook, since all smartphones have the ability to take notes. Recording an idea is easy.
Finding inspiration in this way is a habit that should be taken lightly; force it not to work. Sitting and asking your brain to develop creative thoughts will aggravate the creative mind. But taking a walk in a park and watching people pass by with the sunlight sparkling through the trees gives plenty of ideas. Likewise, being by the sea or through the woods, climbing a mountain, or riding a bike will stir up creative juices. Not all of those ideas are good, but some are. It’s imperative to write down your thoughts or jot them down in a note-taking app on your phone. Otherwise, you will forget them.
By referring to these notes, new ideas for photography emerge.
Inspiration can also come from exploring the work of others. Looking at photos can give you ideas that you can build on. I’m not suggesting just copying other people’s pictures; that is plagiarism. However, creativity works by taking different ideas, mixing them up and coming up with something new.
In a recent article, I mentioned that we should photograph what we know. However, we may soon run out of ideas. As a seascape photographer, I love being alone on the beach in all weather. Setting up the camera to capture that moment evokes a very special feeling and creates a great memory. Each new image is a step up from what I’ve taken before. But sometimes, I feel like “it’s done, get the t-shirt”. That’s when I decided to do something completely different. Sometimes, just going to a different environment can both be motivating and inspiring.
Recently, I had a series of clients asking to learn about abstract photography. It’s strange how it works when different people claim the same thing completely coincidentally. That was lucky for me, as it inspired me to go back and shoot recaps. The world seems to work that way: everything comes our way, at the right time.
Photography is often a solitary pursuit. However, collaborating with other photographers allows us to exchange ideas with each other. However, you have to choose the right person to be with. Surrounding you with people who will encourage you and respect what you do makes a huge difference. Negativity can destroy your creativity.
Taking the time to read about photography can also motivate and inspire you. Expensive books and e-readers do not display photographs up to the same standards as a quality print on paper. However, second-hand bookstores often have photography books on their shelves for a fraction of the original sale price. This way I found some real gems and the bookshelf above my computer is bulging with old photography books.
Music is another source of inspiration. Whether it’s swaying to Queen, listening to Bob Dylan’s surreal lyrics, or relaxing to a Chopin night, musical imagery can bring out ideas and emotions you can’t. turned into a photo. Other art forms can work similarly; a painting by Caravaggio made me experiment with low precision chiaroscuro images for the first time.
I also set goals for myself. It’s tempting to have a big goal, and it’s worth it to achieve it. However, setting smaller, achievable goals will make me feel accomplished and help me move on to the next task, especially if I reward myself after each success. I transferred some money to another account, saving it to buy my next lens.
Fear is a significant motivational barrier for many people. Everyone, from beginners to experts, has expressed horror at publishing their work in galleries or on social media. I guess it’s like stage fright. The only way to get through that is no matter what. What is the worst that could happen?
Finally, to overcome my lack of motivation, I scheduled a photo shoot. I write appointments in my diary to take pictures, and I pledge to keep them. Inviting others to come with me meant I had to show up.
Do you have any secret tips or tricks to motivate or inspire yourself? It’s great to hear about them in the comments.
