Seeking inspiration

jmal · Dec 2, 2007

As the title states, I'm really in need of some new inspiration. I am currently living in an area that doesn't afford the opportunity for street photography, which is primarily what I shot when I lived in an urban metropolis. I find that I get very bored with photos that do not contain people. Sometimes I see peopleless photos that I find really interesting, but the interest soon passes. I guess what I'm asking is whether anyone has found himself/herself in a similar situation and how you solved the problem. That is, when you are away from the things that drew you to photography in the first place, how do you maintain your interest? I realize that this is more of a personal matter for me to discover on my own, but any suggestions would be great.

Jmal

rkmiec · Dec 3, 2007

i have the opposite problem.i see people photos and cant bring myself to take them.the moment passes.i have been in an inspirational lull myself for several years now.i just picked up a polaroid ee100 special and it seems to have helped a little so i got a polaroid pro pack.it includes a flash as the other one is cube type flash.got some fuji pack film and started shooting.i think the instant gratification aspect of these old polaroids is an excellent tool for help in the inspiration department.well atleast for me.whatever you do dont stop shooting.that is what has affected me the most.kind of like a downward spiral.once you put the camera down it becomes so hard to pick it back up.also maybe try some macro shots or stage a shoot indoors with a model or friend.better yet try that outside.not exactly street style but at least you will be shooting.if all else fails ...TAKE A ROAD TRIP........goodluck.

patrickjames · Dec 3, 2007

Instead of looking at the outside world look inside yourself. Great photographs can be taken anywhere.

Patrick

DarkroomExperimente · Dec 3, 2007

think of it as a challenge...to FIND a way to become inspired

maybe just give yourself "assignments"

anyway, your post reminded me of a story...

I was in an art show last spring that included hundreds of artists ( www.artomatic.org )...and my favorite painting....turned out to be a photograph

this artist showed me what I thought was a beautiful abstract painting full of symbolism....it looked like a forest made of very "painterly" lines and quick strokes of the brush....you could see glimpses of creatures and people in the forest peeking from behind trees....almost as if it was something out of the "Jabberwocky"

well, as it turned out, it was a photo turned sideways

the artist explained to me that he was walking out of a camera store with a few rolls of slide fim...he was in this intersection of alleys in the city...there wasn't anything of interest there...and he decided he was going to shoot an entire roll in that alley and MAKE something look interesting

at the intersection of the two alleys there was a metal plate that protected the building from all the cars that didn't quite make the turn...it was covered with scratches & dents..and the paint from numerous cars had been rubbed onto it...and THAT was what made the forest...all those horizontal streaks of different colors of car paint looked just like a forest when he rotated it 90 degrees

so...maybe you can do the same thing kind of thing....pick a spot that seems boring and search until you see a way to make it interesting

darinwc · Dec 3, 2007

Get interested in who people are and what they do.. ask them to be photographed at work or doing what they enjoy. It can be anyone or anything.

ctscanner · Dec 3, 2007

You might find that the challenge of adapting your photography to your new surroundings could be a starter for your inspirational malaise. Take your camera with you, observe, and think of the scene you are seeing in terms of a photograph, then of course; shoot the picture. I hope it works out for you.

George

Sirius Glass · Dec 3, 2007

Look at things more abstractly. Look at the shapes of parts of buildings, surfaces for textures, grass bending in the wind, leave on the ground with or without snow.

Old shoes ...

Andrew Moxom · Dec 3, 2007

jmal, I can empathize with your predicament. However, as others have mentioned, you have to get out and 'Make' pictures with the opportunities that are presented to you, or make a trip to areas of interest to you where images may eventually come to you. For example, this spring/summer, I was struggling to find inspiration myself let alone create a body of work. What I did was force myself to carry a camera everywhere I went. Even when going to work... I then started to go into work a little earlier for about a month, and walked around the surrounding area and started to see some photos opportunities beginning to evolve. I worked with it and had no idea on the direction it would take, but found that it grounded me, and eventually it took on a life of its own. A theme emerged on taking pictures of the old milling and grain silo areas in Downtown Minneapolis. It became a great coherent theme for me that was something I never expected, and into a direction I normally would not have taken. It opened my eyes, and also led onto some other areas of opportunity to explore for future themes. You have to really force yourself to get out and about, and look at things differently, and try to work to make the images happen. One other thing that helped me was working alongside 'other' APUG members. We took roadtrips and expeditions to make images.... Good luck, make it happen!

jmal · Dec 3, 2007

Thanks for all the replies. I have been doing much of what has been suggested, but I am generally unhappy with the results. Perhaps it is just my inability to see that disappoints me. I feel like I take the same photos over and over. There is a natural homogeneity where I live, so it's hard to avoid repitition. I'll keep working at it!

Sportera · Dec 3, 2007

I think you may have answered your own question.

I too feel sometimes I have been photographing the same things again and again, so I think of something new and then work up the nerve and do it.

Its usually one good photograph out of many bad ones that is enough to spark me on.

Think of soemthing youve never thought of photographing, then do it, not just once but a series.

You will find your groove again!

Sirius Glass · Dec 4, 2007

If you would just drive across a state line, you could say to your dog,

"Toto, I do not think we are in Kansas anymore!"

Steve

bill schwab · Dec 4, 2007

jmal said:
Perhaps it is just my inability to see that disappoints me. I feel like I take the same photos over and over.!

I understand your predicament. It is often the most difficult thing to see in the environment in which you are most accustomed. Sometimes I find that stepping outside my comfort zone is very helpful. Skew the view slightly and there's a whole new world right in front of your nose. Sometimes just changing what you think about when you photograph will make a big difference in your work. Go into your own emotions and you may be surprised at where it takes your photographs.

Ed Sukach · Dec 4, 2007

billschwab said:
... Go into your own emotions and you may be surprised at where it takes your photographs.

Excellent advice, Bill. Easy to write - difficult, at least at first, to do.
I think it is a matter of recognizing and using (artistic) freedom. Many of us are wrapped tightly into a ball of convention, and taboos - and the only antidote that I know of is to shut off the internal - and external - dialogs and just ... DO!

The results MAY be good, bad, indifferent - you very well may surprise the hell out of yourself with a REALLY good photograph. In any event, I've yet to see film catch fire or a camera explode - and it is ALL worth it for the sheer ADVENTURE!

Ed Sukach · Dec 4, 2007

Stillman Clarke

Some time ago I posted advice from a photographer featured on the cover and in an article from an Issue of Camera and Darkroom.

The advice was directed to emerging/ struggling ... I guess anyone ... seriously engaged in photography. There were those who took great exception to this advice - and who decided to attack the author - Stillman Clarke. Challenges were issued ... I could not find that particular issue again ...
Google to the rescue!

The advice:

"Never, never allow anyone to intimidate you.

Don't take formal education for granted.

Learn to be criticized, but only take notice of constructive criticism.

Don't be overwhelmed by the mountain of technical information.

Shoot, shoot, and shoot some more; everything else will fall into place.
IT WILL!"

The last two words are from memory. They were in the C&D article - and I think they should have remained here - as an expression of self-confidence.

Interesting web site - "Stillman Gallery" - REFLECTIONS:

http://www.stillmangallery.com/index.php?pr=Meet_Stillman&=SID

Ian Leake · Dec 4, 2007

Do something that scares you: you never know where it may lead...

Seeking inspiration

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