How do you refill your creative well?

I assign myself a project or choose a place to visit. For ideas I have looked at galleries on line like Photrio or Large Format Photography Forum.

 

I find numerous ways to keep myself motivated. I use to do a lot in the past by traveling out of the area. However, finding that a bit harder over time. So, I use Youtube to follow up on several photographers on a routine basis for some positive thoughts there. Additionally, I have a good selection of gear to spur thoughts on by rotating between those units. Also, mixing up the lens selection on familiar areas or previous compositions helps too. Over the past few years I've even injected panoramic scenes into my photo bucket. They're usually 2 to 3 images horizontally stitched together in PS. I wish I could say weather adds or detracts from the mixture for me, but here in So Cal, well, stormy weather is about a half hour long.......

 

Creative ruts can be difficult to overcome, as they have a tendency to feed on themselves. Getting out of your comfort zone is a good idea, as are the recommendations from Sirius. Self assignments are a good way to break out of a slump. I can give you an example of one which worked for me. It may not be for you, but it may trigger an idea which is. About 20 years ago I was in a creative rut. Not doing much photo work for a few months, spending a lot of time listening to music. Some song titles conjured up potential companion images. Rust Never Sleeps sent me to a junkyard, photographing close ups of rusting vehicles. Purple Haze sent me to a garden shop, doing blurry photos of purple flowers. Lost In The Supermarket had me photograph a little kid staring at a huge display of cereal boxes. You get the idea... I never finished the list of songs I made, but it served its purpose. The creative juices were reignited.

 

The unique selling point of photography for me is its ability to capture a changing world. Things that change relatively quickly like people and the built environment, are of more interest than, say, a national park or other protected landscape. At least as photographic subjects. Looking back at work from the 1970s and 80s I'm more interested in photographs of things and people that are no longer with us or are different, than "better" photographs of compositions that could still be found today.

 

I sometimes listen to classical music to refill my creative well.

 

i watch spongebob squarepants and the 3 stooges

 

I take a break for a while and meanwhile I occupy my time with some other hobby.