Procrastination

BBarlow690 · Oct 12, 2008

Ive thought about putting up this thread for months now

Ive meant to make several videos for three or four years now. I have everything I need to get them done, except, apparently, the will forces. Ive meant to do a photography project photographing my own land for seven years. Not one keeper to date. Ive told myself, and others, that Ive started a portrait project using my 8x10. Not one negative yet. I've "meant to" photograph several old barns and buildings nearby, only to pass by as the bulldozer was busy.

Anybody else procrastinate? Any recovering procrastinators out there, and if so, what twelve steps have you used?

gr82bart · Oct 12, 2008

BBarlow690 said:
Anybody else procrastinate? Any recovering procrastinators out there, and if so, what twelve steps have you used?

I solve it with GAS.

Regards, Art.

PBrooks · Oct 12, 2008

Now, see you didn't procrastinate on what you said over there. It is the first step. Seriously, sometimes we get caught up in format, technique, our own crap. I know I do from time to time,so this is what I do, maybe it will help. Don't mean to do, DO 2nd step. Make it a life or death thing, set up the 8x10 somewhere in your way. Get people to help you find people. Tell yourself I have to shoot 6 people a day, then do. On the barn thing that has happened to me as well, I now carry a med format with me everywhere!
Hope this helps!
PBrooks

jgjbowen · Oct 12, 2008

I'm thinking about writing a response to the OP.....maybe in a few days I'll get around to it...

jgjbowen · Oct 12, 2008

What you need is a FIRM deadline. So, here is a deadline. You MUST have 10 pieces of NEW work printed, toned, spotted and mounted before you can go to any Oscar Wilde parties. Now, get busy!

photomc · Oct 12, 2008

Can only say I agree Bruce, with the demands of the regular job and family there is often little time left for photography and too often it takes a back seat to 'wishing I had done this or that project' in the end it seems like nothing gets done.

danphoto_ · Oct 12, 2008

Let's make this work in three steps only:
---------------------------------------------------------
1. Write your will on the paper
2. Read it out loud and dream on it
3. Wake up knowing that if you miss that shit in that precious day you are not worth of yourself.
I wonder what you would do once you find out that not even your oneself satisfy the magnificent person you have inside of yourself buddy. Reality is already hard enough to understand, let alone fantasy.
Good luck, and do this for you, entirely.

danphoto_

phenix · Oct 12, 2008

Forget the projects for the moment – it seams they prevent, instead of mobilizing you, to do anything. Forget the LF too, for some time. Just get a small 35mm camera in your pocket everyday, every step you make outside your house, and shoot only by pleasure, not for a planned purpose. Let things emerge - as alternative to planning. All you need to do is to provoke them - getting the 35mm camera with you anytime, anywhere (...almost).

bsdunek · Oct 12, 2008

I have that problem all the time. Remember, a procrastinators work is never done.

winger · Oct 12, 2008

There was once this tree that I thought looked really cool with an empty house behind it. I drove by this tree nearly every day for about 4 years and finally decided to go ahead and shoot it (like I'd thought the first time I saw it). BUT, I decided to put gas in the car first - across the street. As I'm pumping gas into my car, I hear chainsaws start up. By the time I'm ready to leave the gas station, half of the tree is down.
Did I learn my lesson? Not really. But I'm trying. I've assigned myself a nice open-ended project - shoot in the state parks near me. I've been trying to get to at least one every week and I've done okay. I might have a few keepers (I haven't been as good about developing the film), but at least I'm getting out there.
If someone does have a 12 step solution, it'd be nice. I still have several other projects that I've put off.

Valerie · Oct 12, 2008

Hello.

My name is Valerie and I'm a procrastaholic.

pnance · Oct 12, 2008

A procrastinator should never put off til tomorrow what can be gotten out of doing all together.

Thomas Bertilsson · Oct 12, 2008

Basically, don't promise what you can't keep. If you don't work well under pressure, don't promise anything to anybody, including yourself. That takes all the fun out of it.
I've been under a considerable amount of stress lately, put on by myself, to finish portfolios for an upcoming web site. It wasn't until I let go of the idea of finishing five portfolios at once and focus on one while I set everything else aside that I could produce, and out came these wonderful (to me anyway) photographs.
It sounds like you need some motivation, and a plan. Day by day plan. Shoot one day a week. Process film one day a week. Print one day a week. Keep it up. If you slack off and miss one, you make up for it. That's how I do it. Some weeks I don't shoot, though, as I have so much film to print.
Can't help you with the motivation.

I hope that helps.

- Thomas

Claire Senft · Oct 12, 2008

There is as you may have guessed a 12 step program. It has largely been a failure. Everyone intends on going to their first meeting next week...just as they had intended last week.

Vaughn · Oct 13, 2008

Perfectionists tend to also be procrastinators also -- we want to know how to do a job before we actually start it. So new tasks are often put aside until we can learn more about them so that we'll do them perfectly. Well, that sounds better than just being lazy, anyway!

vaughn

Laurent · Oct 13, 2008

Medium format helped fixing it a bit, simply because I have an ever-ready TLR near my desk, can grab it on my daily commute if I intend to go to any photogenic place. My 35mm is too bulky and precious for this, don't even talk about the 4x5, but a Yashica mat is everything I need to get out of procrastinating (well... sort of!).

Since I bought this camera, I shot many more pictures than I was used to (except in my teenager heydays), and have therefore had time to know the films I'm using, know how to develop them to my taste, therefore feel more confident and at the end get more keepers than I was used to.

Being perfectionism-afflicted, I had (and still have) a tendency to procrastinate simply because I hate to have things done the wrong way, but taking things less seriously seems to do the trick for me, and give opportunities to learn how to do them well.

railwayman3 · Oct 13, 2008

This thread reminds me a lot of myself....I've been photographing a series of pictures of "clouds" for nearly 20 years, and have about six so far (that I think are good enough, anyway)! And as for "getting round to" sorting out those slides I took in Venice in 1999.......:rolleyes:

Seriously, though, I sometimes have to remind myself that photography is, for me, a hobby that I've chosen to do, I'm not paid to do it, and no-one's life depends on it. So there's no need to feel bad or get stressed out if you don't get to do everything you've planned, particular if you've had a crazy week at the office, or with the kids. or whatever.

Try not to be impossibly perfectionist (I was, for a while), try to keep to reasonable projects and targets, and things will get done.

Tom Stanworth · Oct 13, 2008

Wreckless spontaneity without any consideration for the consequences works quite well.... except for with a 10x8.

write things down. I make lists of projects, ideas etc because I usually forget them if I dont. Having that list handy helps you to seize upon moments of free time and make things happen. I am utterly useless, but better than I would be without making notes of things. On my list:

Photograph areas of kabul with 5x7 view camera in snow at -10 degs C
Photograph a particularly busy junction in Kabul from a block of flats to which I have no access whatsoever
Photograph the soviet pool on top of Bibi Maru hill from the top of the high diving board (except the steps have been stolen and I there are no railings...and it is &&%$^&^ high and the water is not deep enough if I fall.

Now at least I have things on the list to keep me perpetually champing at the bit ... and I will figure them out, just don't know how yet. At least it feels like i have a focus!

mcarmo · Oct 13, 2008

I don't know if everybody else here already knows this ... but it seemed apropriate

For those who don't know it, enjoy

Procrastination

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXziurFkQxM[/YOUTUBE]

danphoto_ · Oct 13, 2008

What is procrastination once again ?! Illusion of a controlled life where you actually do things in a chaos pan of human living beings !?

Dennis S · Oct 13, 2008

I was going to leave a post but I think I'll wait until later on.

SuzanneR · Oct 13, 2008

Procrastination is watching that video! I don't procrastinate with shooting, but I do with processing film. That, and doing the dishes. There's always a pile of film in my film drawer in the darkroom, and there's always a load of dirty dishes in the sink. These are tasks that never seem done.

And they hang over me all the time... ugh! Then once I start, and get them done, it's such a relief, and that relief is what motivates me past my procrastination. Sometimes.

And a schedule... schedule one a day a week, at least, to shoot, process or print, and stick with it. Or even better, if you can manage to get something done for your photography everyday... then it will automatically become part of a routine. I've been doing something almost daily with my photography for the past few months, and you will generate your own enthusiasm when you see the results of that sustained effort. Even if it's only ten minutes a day.

Struan Gray · Oct 13, 2008

The worst thing about procrastination is the way the pleasure of finally completing a task is sucked out of you by the knowledge that you could have done it months ago.

Deadlines are good, particularly external ones. I applied for a grant this year. I didn't get it, but it was a great way to rejuvenate my enthusiasm for showing other people my work.

Most of all though, I have found it useful to identify the one red thread that I most care about. It then can be protected it against the intrusions of the day job, kids and unexpectedly overflowing drains. Having one project that survives, even if at a slowly-grinding pace, helps me maintain my magnanimity when contemplating all the bright ideas I never have time for.

Early Riser · Oct 13, 2008

Nothing beats procrastination like a deadline. But even then it takes a lot of self discipline especially if you work alone.

When I had my studio I had clients at the shoot, staff, drop dead dates, etc. So it was easy to feel the need to get things done. Now that I shoot landscape I work completely alone. I travel 4-6 months a year alone and have to get myself up everyday well before sunrise to go out and shoot. And on these trips it's anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks at a stretch, 7 days a week. But the beautiful and new scenery, and the fun of exploring it, help get me going. However when I'm back home, and my home is very comfortable for me and has all sorts of distractions, it takes serious discipline to focus on what needs to get done.

To do lists and self imposed deadlines are excellent motivating tools. But having true excitement and anticipation can help as well. That feeling that you just can't wait to see that film or see that print appear in developer. You have to find that spark everyday.

2F/2F · Oct 13, 2008

Good god, yes! So many photos lost due to procrastination and perfectionism on my part followed by a change on the subject's part. Construction, demolition, remodels, hair cuts, you name it. The moral is, get what you can get ASAP, and don't worry about doing it "perfectly" or "ideally". There are so many things I could have at least snapped on 35mm or digital, but said, "Oh, I'll wait and do it 'right' with a view camera." Screw that! A pic is a pic...at least take the snap with anything you can as well as you can. Argh...

Procrastination

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency