Finding My Photo MoJo Again

winger · Mar 26, 2012

This weekend my wife and I took off for Hocking Hills state park here in Ohio for the weekend. We hiked, went bird watching and did some photography. It was uplifting. Hopefully time in the darkroom will follow soon with results.

Good to hear!

Toffle · Mar 26, 2012

I have not been to Hocking Hills, but according to my daughter, it is the place to rediscover missing mojo. (paraphrasing her words to suit the thread) Welcome back.

ME Super · Mar 26, 2012

Good to hear you were able to get a break for a while and go out and enjoy yourself.

daleeman · Mar 29, 2012

Thanks ya all. I'll have some images soon to share.

Looking forward to going to John & Dolly's gathering some time soon. that will be inspiring.

Dan Henderson · Mar 30, 2012

Misery, as they say, loves company. Although my circumstances are not nearly as serious as yours I too feel my mojo has slipped away. Spending a lot of time getting my house ready to sell, splitting time between Virginia and Michigan last year, selling my house, packing, moving out, buying and moving in to another house, being without a darkroom for several months then having to build a new one all took a toll.

My personal perspective is that art is the flame of a candle and life is the breeze that always threatens extinguishment. I have found that it is easy to lose that tenuous connection to my art, and once lost is very difficult to reestablish. I have been spending time wandering around looking for scenes that inspire me to set up my

Dan Henderson · Mar 30, 2012

Misery, as they say, loves company. Although my circumstances are not nearly as serious as yours I too feel my mojo has slipped away. Since early last year I have been spending a lot of time getting my house ready to sell, splitting time between Virginia and Michigan, selling my house, packing, moving out, buying and moving in to another house, being without a darkroom for several months then having to build a new one seemed to consume all of my time and energy.

My personal perspective is that art is the flame of a candle and life is the breeze that always threatens its extinguishment. I have found that it is easy to lose that tenuous connection to my art, and once lost is very difficult to reestablish. I am now at the point where I am wandering around looking for scenes that inspire me to set up my gear and expose some film, but the inspiration is hard to find. I think I just have to keep at it until the mojo returns, because the alternative, quitting photography, is not an option for me.

I will keep at it until the magic happens again for me, as I know it will for you, my friend.
Best,
Dan

Old-N-Feeble · Mar 30, 2012

This is a difficult dimenma for anyone to offer true insight but...

I spent eleven years caring for an elderly parent and I did so gladly. I only went to work and came home during this entire time... and missed so much work that I was nearly fired twice. Many other difficult things transpired before, during, and after this time, the worst of which is that my own illess progressed to the point that I'm failing at work, I have trouble ambulating and I'm losing cognition and memory. I guess I let things get to me because, like you, I lost all interesting everything. I lost my love of listening to great music, taking photographs and cooking. Actually, these latter years are just a continuance of deprivation of these thngs because my ex-wife was so unaccepting of those things that gave me a sense of self-worth. I know... I shouldn't have let her control me like that.

Over the last couple of years I've bought some nice photo gear in hopes of eeking out a few final images but I just haven't done it yet. There's an old delapidated bridge a few miles form my house I want to document... maybe this weekend.

I wouldn't ordinarily open my guts for all to see in open forum like this and I don't want any sympathy... you'll just pi$$ me off. My point is that we just have to keep going. The only other choice is to give up on everything. Sometimes it's harder to not give up but... that's our personal choice.

Life can knock us down over, and over, and over again. At some point some of us just decide not to get up anymore. Again, that's our personal choice... lay there and give up... or stand up and keep fighting.

FWIW...

altair · Mar 30, 2012

Some very inspiring words here...thanks Dan & Old-N-Feeble for your valuable insights.

Toffle · Mar 30, 2012

Dan, you are an amazing photographer and printer. Nurture that candle flame.

daleeman · Apr 5, 2012

Dan, I too throw in with Tom, you are a great artist. Life's issues does seem to interrupt that as it has for me. Yet I get glimpses of new hope here and there. I took my father's Leica IIIF out for a roll of cheap Walgreen's 400 asa film and found it pleasant to try to be in the moment and look about me. IT has not fixed my ageing mother and father or provided all the funds to treat them as I wish I could, but it did give me new hope and a refreshing time.

Mojo returned? Can not say, but an afternoon in the sun helped a bunch to foster some MoJo.

Lee

daleeman · Apr 5, 2012

Old-N-Feeble said:
This is a difficult dimenma for anyone to offer true insight but............

Over the last couple of years I've bought some nice photo gear in hopes of eeking out a few final images but I just haven't done it yet. There's an old delapidated bridge a few miles form my house I want to document... maybe this weekend.

FWIW...

I read your post and look forward to seeing this bridge you speak of through your eyes. I think adversity, age, trials and more gives us a certain look on life that we as photographers uniquely have the ability to share in a fixed view for others to see and understand. It would be a real blessing to me to see what you see, because I would not be able to see this bridge the same way.

Its a MOJO thing. Ya got to give it away to keep it.

Lee

Old-N-Feeble · Apr 5, 2012

Thank you, Lee, but I took a long look at that bridge the other day and, while it's certainly an old relic that should be documented, there are no good angles no matter where I stand. Maybe I'll look at it again this weekend.

daleeman · Apr 5, 2012

Like looking at blank canvas, knowing one will see it all before picking up the first paint brush.

When I look at a bridge, I first see the entire structure, before I see the bolts, wooden pegs, pealing finish and more. You will see it, and we will see the graceful old bridge that only you can see, that way.

Old trees with roots that bob up out of the rocks do that to me. I end up almost interviewing the old tree wondering how it hung onto the rocks so long on the side of the mountain before I really see the photograph that I should make.

Old-N-Feeble · Apr 5, 2012

Lee,

Yep... those are valid points and you now have me thinking that this bridge should be documented in bits and pieces more-so that seeing it as a whole. Submitted as a group of images showing one thing can certainly be interesting. I'll keep that in mind this weekend as I look at it again.

Mike

Gzukoff · Apr 5, 2012

I feel for you. I hadnt picked up a camera willingly since 1991 when the studio I worked for went belly up. Last month my wife suggested I look into a new dig cam for her and I got bit by the bug again. I dug out my med format equip, it was as if I was reuniting with an old flame!
I started planning things and people to shoot, started setting up a b&w darkroom and put a roll of film into the Hassy.
It still sits. I have no suggestion other than getting yourself outdoors, among people and things that interest you. You may find inspiration.
While I used to find I loved portraiture, I now mind myself in solitary quiet places doing close up work.
Don't let it wait, get outside and enjoy the spring.

daleeman · Apr 6, 2012

Gzukoff said:
While I used to find I loved portraiture, I now mind myself in solitary quiet places doing close up work. Don't let it wait, get outside and enjoy the spring.

Wow,
Welcome to Apug. Hope to see some of your macro work and we all welcome you to this site. I saw the amazing number of posts by your profile and just know you will enjoy your passion of photography all over again.

Lee

egads1 · Apr 6, 2012

I too had lost my "photo mojo". I laid my cameras down and locked the door to my darkroom for a couple of years. Then one day an old friend and photographer sent me the address for his websight. When I visited the site I was amazed at what he was doing with photography. He really inspired me. I went out and bought new film, chemicals and paper, used most of it to make sure my old equipment still worked, and got busy shooting. I have since joined a local club of both professional and amateur photographers and to make a simple statement--my life has once again been opened to the world around me.

Toffle · Apr 7, 2012

egads1 said:
I too had lost my "photo mojo". I laid my cameras down and locked the door to my darkroom for a couple of years. Then one day an old friend and photographer sent me the address for his websight. When I visited the site I was amazed at what he was doing with photography. He really inspired me. I went out and bought new film, chemicals and paper, used most of it to make sure my old equipment still worked, and got busy shooting. I have since joined a local club of both professional and amateur photographers and to make a simple statement--my life has once again been opened to the world around me.

Welcome to APUG, Egads... (or as some here would call it, the land of denial ) And welcome back to film photography.

ambaker · Apr 7, 2012

Toffle said:
Welcome to APUG, Egads... (or as some here would call it, the land of denial ) And welcome back to film photography.

As Adam, of the Mythbusters, would say "I reject your reality, and substitute my own".

Old-N-Feeble · Apr 7, 2012

egads1 said:
I too had lost my "photo mojo". I laid my cameras down and locked the door to my darkroom for a couple of years. Then one day an old friend and photographer sent me the address for his websight. When I visited the site I was amazed at what he was doing with photography. He really inspired me. I went out and bought new film, chemicals and paper, used most of it to make sure my old equipment still worked, and got busy shooting. I have since joined a local club of both professional and amateur photographers and to make a simple statement--my life has once again been opened to the world around me.

Ya' gotta' love a story with a happy ending... or continuance... or beginning. Thanks for sharing your inspiring experience. It makes me wanna' get off my lazy a$$ and take some pics.

Gzukoff · Apr 7, 2012

Thank you Lee, I hope so. I think this is my 2nd post now. My developing tanks are ready to load, batch of Sodium Thio fixer mixed, bought Kbr from B&H, Wash Soda at Stop and Shop and Vit C on ebay, all the stuff to try coffee developing. I sit here reminiscing about the first rolls I developed in my parents laundry room when I was 12 or 13 . The excitement when first opening the tank to see actual images on the roll. Two prints I still have of my grandparents which are hanging on my moms wall.

I now am sad when I think about when I tossed the stale HC-110 about 10 years later, putting the old Bogen enlarger out by the curb with the trays for the trash. For some reason I lost it and I just cant seem to get it back quick enough....Maybe I'll go for a walk

daleeman · Apr 7, 2012

The Walk. What is it about walking with a camera opens one's eyes to possibilities. My wife Sue and I went down to the Ohio River today and we walked along a river path. Did not see anything outstanding but I clicked off a few frames.

My wife is a world class bird watcher. So I often bring my tiny little binoculars with me to "belong" although I have no real idea about more than a few species of birds, she tolerates the wanta-be in me. I found the 8x25 little binoculars useful in plotting my ascent on paths up hills, where the angry farmer with the shotgun will come from, and various other things. The binos help me find 6 large turtles along the river, but far too distant for my Leica rangefinder. Still they added to today's MoJo.

But it is the walk I really found moved my MoJo. It made me want to take photos, to look for images.

It seems this thread has touched a few with MoJo issues due to life. I hope it continues on. It has given me new energy and I'm excited to see some bridge pictures from somewhere near Alamo City, some pictures from the Blue Ridge Parkway area and the return to photography with vivid memories back to being 12 or 13 years old.

Lee

SafetyBob · Apr 10, 2012

Lee, I got my feet wet around 4 years ago when suddenly my wife and I (both in early 50's) suddenly found ourselves with a small child and us in charge. I loved photography in high school but due to college and work afterwards never had time again, then my wife's grandma moved in with us for about 3 years, two years off then grandkid. We are both tired too. However, that child put a spark in me to prove to myself I could make "that" picture of a kid EVERYONE would look and stare in amazement at. It took me about 6 months and alot of luck, but I did it. Since you said you have a grandchild around too, get the camera out and start following.....it hasn't cured the being tired, but it sure has given me a lot of fun and satisfaction.....and made we wake up to the world around.

I recommend a 35mm to follow the kid.....tried 645.....if they are movin' I gotta' have autofocus now!

Bob E.

daleeman · Apr 11, 2012

SafetyBob, how right you are. Grandkisds are inspiring.

My youngest is 1 and the middle one is 3. She has started, rather shyly, playing rag ball (T Ball) finds more interest in the flowers in the field than the game. Started snapping photos of her with her pink baseball glove and a flower in the field. Auto focus also needs to be there because some times she actually plays and she get her turn at bat too.

Mentioned in an earlier post that I went out on a walk along the Ohio river last weekend. Hope to finish the roll (35mm) this week or weekend. Then its time to go into the bathroom and process.

Certainly hope my words do not reflect too much grandpa-ism, but just having the desire to be me again and out shooting helps. Many more tasks to complete for taking care of mom and dad, but the camera MoJo seems to be helping me from being lost in the swell of tasks, emotions and issues.

Lee

pbromaghin · Apr 11, 2012

Hey, if grandpa-ism is what it takes to get your spirit rising again, that's quite alright.

Finding My Photo MoJo Again

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