losing interest in photography

[spoolman]

Hello All: I was a lab tech for 31 years here in toronto. I was laid off in 2005 and have for the most part enjoyed my retirement. But lately I have been losing interest in taking pictures and going through the whole work stream of processing the film and making prints. It just seems that I can't get the ambition up to even go out and shoot a roll or two every few months.

Is this normal? or am I experiencing some sort of permanent disinterest in it? I have numerous cameras that I have enjoyed using in the past but as I stated above I just can't seem to get the motivation going to go out and shoot. I hope this isn't permanent but just a phase. Maybe I just need to take a step back for a while and concentrate on other things. Anyone else experienced this?

Doug

 

[darkosaric]

This is normal.
If you can afford it - go on a trip far away. If not - visit local museums. Don't push it, it will come back.

 

[Ian Grant]

Very normal, you need to slow down, do other things and usually they lead to more photography maybe in a different direction. I'm in one of those phases at the moment although the trigger is circumstances rather than losing interest.

Ian

 

[dentkimterry]

I have gone through several cycles like this. It is normal. Don't push it, the desire will return.
Terry

 

[R.Gould]

It happens to all of us, it will pass, one day you will suddenly see something that will just be a great photo and just have to take it, and photography will again flow from that, I have had a few spells of this and am indeed have just come out of a spell, but am now in full flow
Richard

 

[HiHoSilver]

Spoolman, I'm on my 3rd time back into shooting. I would say each return has brought a much greater resolve to work to a higher level of skill. I wish the times away hadn't been so long, but like most things, I've jumped back in with a vengence. 'Made me glad that others were gracious & realistic about what to do when the interest ebbs. Maybe a pro has to work through that ebb in the way a pleasure shooter doesn't, but I would think it would rob the joy from it. 'Hard to imagine producing anything worthy when your heart is no longer in it. When the urge returns, you'll probably be doing some wonderful stuff.

 

[railwayman3]

Absolutely normal with any hobby. And no point in "pushing" yourself to do it if your busy with other things.....a hobby is intended to be a pleasure and a relexation.

I've had a "quiet" 2015 photographically, one holiday's photos were disappointing due to a camera problem (not a big deal, it's a place we visit every year), and really only a very few finished pictures in the whole year that I felt 100% satisfied with. But great plans next year, both for general photography and to have a serious go at one or two alternative processes (prompted totally unexpectedly by buying a pack of pre-coated calotype paper in one of the London museums).

 

[mdarnton]

I have packed it in and sold everything three times in my life, swearing I was done. I have two pieces of advice here: first, don't sell anything that's analog. Not even in five years--just don't. You will eventually be sorry, and buying it back will be too expensive. Second, if you really do want to force yourself back into it, get interested in a specific project. A few years ago I was getting bored with everything yet again, and decided I'd tackle something completely new for me--large format formal portrait photography. Just because I could, not because I wanted to. Someone had given me a camera, and I had the space. If I get bored with that I have another project waiting in the wings: DSLR videography. That's something I have exactly no interest at all in, but I will be motivated simply because it will involve learning something new, which I do enjoy.

But do NOT sell your equipment.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Maybe I just need to take a step back for a while and concentrate on other things. Anyone else experienced this?

Doug

Doug,

A few years ago I was working a full time job, and running a wedding studio with my sister in law on my days off. I was essentially working two full time jobs. I got so burnt out, that I completely removed myself from photography. I sold my collection, eventually sold my darkroom, and even sold my digital SLR. I was completely camera-less.

We moved to a different part of the state, and I was no longer shooting regularly with my SIL. I went from having a constant subject to make portraits of, to not having anything to shoot. I didn't know how to photograph anything other than people or their dogs, and the lack of subjects caused a severe lack of interest.

I moved on to other hobbies like knitting, and fishing, and now I'm finding myself wanting to get back into shooting. We've been doing a lot of camping/fishing the last year or so, and I've been restoring a boat I bought in the fall, and all the outdoor activities have given me the desire to photograph nature. Or at least attempt to.

Put all your gear in storage, but DONT SELL IT! Take it from me, you'll be sorry if you do. But put it away, out of sight for a while, and find something else to catch your attention. You'll end up coming back to photography in some form or fashion after a while with renewed interest.

 

[HiHoSilver]

On the 'don't sell it' counsel. I still have my FE2 I bought new in '83-ish. Boy am I glad.

 

[removed account4]

hi doug

good luck with your situation. i hope it works out.
the only reason not to sell it isn't because you will
regret selling anything ( seller's remorese ) and have to buy
everything back, but because you won' t get diddly squat for anything .
if you need the $$ no harm in selling stuff you don't think you will ever use again.

IDK maybe 11 years ago i bought a cyanotype "kit" from b&s after being mezmerized by
emil schildt and ian graent's mind blowing cyanotype work the kit sat in the box on the darkroom shelf in 2005.
and i didn't mix the water in and use it until 2008, and then it sat again for about 6-7 months
... sometimes it takes time to get back into enjoying stuff

 

[Timestep]

The folksinger Ian Tyson entitled one of his autobiographies " I Never Sold My Saddle."— he had come from a Rodeo background.
A good maxim, which I endorse from experience.

Never sell your saddle.

 

[scheimfluger_77]

...But do NOT sell your equipment.

All the advice here is good, particularly this one. I've been not-shooting in the last 35 years much more than I have, but I still want to do it and have inspiration problems too.

I purchased a 2D 5x7 from a forum member earlier this year and have just started using it. The promise I made to myself a week ago was to go out and shoot 1 film holder/day (2 sheets). Even (especially) if it's stupid or boring or cliche'. After 8 days I have 4 film holders loaded with paper ready to process. Not my target but at least it's a start.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Some years ago the major photo magazines would each publish a annual issue consisting of only photographs. Whenever I lost interest in photography I would look thru these annuals for new ideas. See if you can locate something similar or maybe find some of the old issues. It works.

You could also try an alternative process like cyanotype. There are lots of possibilities.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Bin Thar. Dun Dat.

I have been through such cycles.

Do not sell off your equipment.

Take two rolls and call me in the morning.

 

[Jim Jones]

Photographic enthusiasts often consider photography as an ends unto itself. When our interest lags, using photography as a means to other ends can get us involved again. For example, I have little interest in sports, but find that photographing local school sporting events for the school, athletes, and their families keeps me involved through the dreary winter months. Recording the deterioration of old barns as both historical records and pleasing images also works.

 

[Alan Klein]

Join a local camera or photo club.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Travel. Seeing new things and places stirs up the photographic juices.

 

[Fixcinater]

Don't sell and don't force yourself to shoot.

Take the time away and think about why you are shooting/processing/printing. What is all the work for?

Are you achieving the goals laid out for your images?

 

[ChristopherCoy]

Join a local camera or photo club.

I wish there was a local darkroom/film club here in Houston.

 

[shoot6x7]

I would try something a little different, like taking lots of pics with a cell phone camera. That way you don't worry about the machinations of photography you use your 'seeing' muscles.

 

[BMbikerider]

Loosing Interest?

Not me, but I find there are so many other things that need attending to since I retired that I find it hard to focus on photography. I still have my darkroom and a reasonable computer set-up so I have no excuse, but what I need is a focus on something to do that has a meaning, rather than taking photographs just for myself.

Like someone else said, join a club and try to mix in, conversation with like minded people always get me going again. I did so this last year after moving house and enter prints into competitions just for the fun of it. Next year I am giving my first public photography talk for many years. That will take a lot of preparation indoors, also going out to take a few more images specifically to help illustrate the talk when the weather eventually decideds to stop raining.

Then I have many of my favourite images around the house, framed and hung up for viewing. I have decided to change these this year so that is another reason to be motivated. Even when that is done, I have promised myself to catalogue all my negatives so they can be easily found.

I could loose interest but really I don't have the time!

 

[Old-N-Feeble]

All I can say is I understand how you feel. Please let us know when and how you dig yourself out of the funk.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Hello All: I was a lab tech for 31 years here in toronto. I was laid off in 2005 and have for the most part enjoyed my retirement. But lately I have been losing interest in taking pictures and going through the whole work stream of processing the film and making prints. It just seems that I can't get the ambition up to even go out and shoot a roll or two every few months.

Is this normal? or am I experiencing some sort of permanent disinterest in it? I have numerous cameras that I have enjoyed using in the past but as I stated above I just can't seem to get the motivation going to go out and shoot. I hope this isn't permanent but just a phase. Maybe I just need to take a step back for a while and concentrate on other things. Anyone else experienced this?

Doug

Dear Doug. You are most respected Torontonian to me!

I have thread on RFF about known photographers of certain age leaving film photography and using simple not very expensive digital cameras instead.

Also, I'm not going out to shot around this time of the year. Too dark, too soon and not some much action going on.
Two rolls per month is almost norm for me as well. I have no ambition to become printing house. Dozen, two per month is enough for me.

Cheers, Ko.

 

[MattKing]

I wish there was a local darkroom/film club here in Houston.

Find a club that still displays prints.

There is enough commonality of interest that the difference in processes won't matter as much.