What do you do when it starts getting old?

[Q.G.]

Going to do something else for a while instead is a way out. Not a way back in.
There is always something you haven't done. Always a different way to do the things you have done many times.
So don't run away from it. Challence yourself and take it on head on.

 

[IloveTLRs]

When I get tired of everything I pick up a camera I haven't used in a while, use a toy camera, or just stop taking photos for a while. Like another poster said, "it'll click."

 

[firecracker]

uh, hmmm... viagra?

Yeah, I was gonna say that, too, of course as a joke.

But I think people sometimes need some substance to get energized to move on, and for me, it's just a matter of meeting new people partly because I enjoy taking pics of people, and I get interested in their stories. And with a beer or two in a coversation, I'm ready.

 

[Ektagraphic]

I'll take some SLRS I suggest maybe going to a couple of places you have never gone before. Find an interesting stop an hour from your house and shoot around there. You could also start to explore creative world that you have never touched before such as table top photography. At a recent photography club meeting, (there's a good idea! start or join a photography club) a man did a demonstration on shooting table photography using homemade filter out of ordinary objects that you most likely throw away daily. For example, the bottom of a plastic water bottle, a spray paint can cover and all kinds of other stuff. He cut holes in them to get diffrent effects when he put them over his lens. You could also try some new film, and try some filters. I think some of these things just may do the trick. Do you set your exposure manually? If not, give that a try and mess around. I bet there is plenty of thing that you have not done that you could do to get those creative juices flowing again! Good luck and happy shooting.

 

[Mark Antony]

You can take a break, archive your shots etc. What I do is look for inspiration; go to galleries look at others work, buy a photo book or two.
Go and see other photographers in my area have a chat, looking over their work may help.
If not don't panic looking over my work I've noticed huge gaps in time where I've not done much and what I've done lacks something.
I guess life gets in the way sit back and enjoy it

 

[snegron]

I just finished reading all the responses here and I'd like to thank everyone for all the fantastic suggestions! I think that the overall consensus is to take a step back, gather a second wind, and return with a different perspective; probably try something different, go somewhere new. The most difficult thing to do will be to sell off all my excess equipment though!

Today I completed an experimental project I have been working on in my spare time for some time now; a short clay-animated cartoon. While it looks very amateurish, I was happy to complete it. It sparked a bit of enthusiasm in me to start a more detailed project. I will probably be looking into getting a small group of people together to complete the more detailed animation.

Thanks again for helping me see things in a different light!

 

[Rob Skeoch]

If I could just add my 2 cents worth.
I do agree with a few of the others.... all your gear is weighing you down.
Beyond that a project might be in order, but why not consider mentoring a college kid.
I have a couple photo students who work part time for me doing scraps and they are very comfortable with digital equipment, but the college they go to teaches very little traditional black and white. So I give these guys a roll or two and send them off shooting. Then I help them with the processing and printing. They seem very eager to learn the black and white and I expect them to make quick progress because they have a solid digital background.
-rob

 

[canuhead]

Photography is my profession so that means there will be times I don't feel like picking up a camera. Having said that, I always have a camera, usually a rangefinder, with me at all times. As some people have alluded to, I don't feel an obligation to use it because it's with me. It's very liberating knowing that I can carry a camera around with me all day and not worry about whether I take a frame or not. Perhaps this might be an exercise to try, seeing if you can separate yourself from the need to expose any film at all. Good luck.

If I'm in a real funk, I usually head to the trees and camp and stare at the fire while emptying my head of baggage.

 

[MattKing]

I find it very entertaining that in my current list of threads displayed, this thread, with the heading:

"What do you do when it starts getting old?"

is almost adjacent to Ian's thread:

"Help with my Bladder..."

I find that sorting and cataloguing films and prints and equipment helps me become more enthusiastic about getting out and shooting.

Matt

 

[EASmithV]

Try a different format. Sometimes I run around in public with a Speed Graphic, making old people smile and young people think I am a creeper.

 

[gr82bart]

What do you do when it all starts getting old?

Take a break and do something else artistic or spiritual for a while. It will come back.

Regards, Art.

 

[clayne]

1. Reduce your kit. Too many options breeds malcontent and stagnancy.
2. Dedicate yourself to a project or essay, as others have pointed out (honestly I think everyone should do this).
3. Travel. TRAVEL. TRAVEL!

 

[Q.G.]

Too many options are "too many", of course.

But they make you tackle a subject, rather than the limitations of not having too many options.
Make you find out how to turn something into a picture, rather than make you find out how to put something into a picture given the (limited) kit you have.

We should use a particular bit of kit because the subject and how you want to capture it demands it. Not capture a subject in a particular way because that is the (only) way our kit allows us to get it on film.

So do reduce the kit.
But only get rid of redundant items.
Do not reduce the number of options, for all that does is offer an opportunity to play with (the limitations of) your kit, instead of the subject.

 

[clayne]

So do reduce the kit.
But only get rid of redundant items.
Do not reduce the number of options, for all that does is offer an opportunity to play with (the limitations of) your kit, instead of the subject.

I have to respectively disagree about the limitations being a disadvantage. I've seen more people, including myself, grow further because of limitations rather than having options.

Limitations are a huge hidden benefit.

 

[Q.G.]

Limitations are a huge hidden benefit.

Assuming that you need to learn what you can do with the different bits in your kit: yes.
But not once you know what you have.

Then they really just make you work round them, rather than concentrate fully on what you (! not the equipment) want to do.

That (trying to find a way round the limitations) is also a creative challenge, true.
But not one i like to spend time on.

 

[bsdunek]

I will repeat what a few have said, but my take is to try things you have never done before. Some might be:
Pinhole photography
Toy camera work - this could include Diana/Holga type cameras
Macro photography
Astrophotography
Lumen prints
You didn't say if you have a darkroom, but I find much inspiration in mine. Try some other processes like:
Toning - there's a lot that can be done here.
Liquid Light on various papers or objects.
Lith printing
Sabbatier effect prints

I find it great to use a large format camera technique, even with a smaller camera. I like my Mamiya Super. I set it up on a tripod and really contemplate my picture. I make make only three or four exposures in an afternoon, but each one is the result of a lot of thought (not that they're all good!). I think just snapping a lot of photos becomes boring.
A final thing is, what do you do with your photos? I find a lot of enjoyment in selling mine. It means somebody else likes them too. I mount, matt and frame photos for display, and put them in art shows and galleries. I don't sell a lot but each sale is rewarding. Also, seeing a dozen or more of your photos up on a gallery wall lets you know what kind of work you are doing. I always see something wrong with a photo that I thought was good. Leads me to improve.

Just MHO.

 

[Philippe-Georges]

Get yourself a mission or an assignment, something you say to yourself you have to do, or else... The same way a professional photographer gets a job from a publisher (or a client).
Choose a technique or a format, or an approach to that subject, let's say : the social life of the reformed church in your neighbourhood to be shot on wet-plate (why not?). Give yourself a deadline, let's say one and a half year to come up with a good number of images you feel they cover you vision (get yourself a vision!).
Then put it all on the internet and wait, wait till the comments and reactions come, they will...

Good luck,

Philippe

 

[snegron]

I will repeat what a few have said, but my take is to try things you have never done before. Some might be:
Pinhole photography
Toy camera work - this could include Diana/Holga type cameras
Macro photography
Astrophotography
Lumen prints
You didn't say if you have a darkroom, but I find much inspiration in mine. Try some other processes like:
Toning - there's a lot that can be done here.
Liquid Light on various papers or objects.
Lith printing
Sabbatier effect prints

I find it great to use a large format camera technique, even with a smaller camera. I like my Mamiya Super. I set it up on a tripod and really contemplate my picture. I make make only three or four exposures in an afternoon, but each one is the result of a lot of thought (not that they're all good!). I think just snapping a lot of photos becomes boring.
A final thing is, what do you do with your photos? I find a lot of enjoyment in selling mine. It means somebody else likes them too. I mount, matt and frame photos for display, and put them in art shows and galleries. I don't sell a lot but each sale is rewarding. Also, seeing a dozen or more of your photos up on a gallery wall lets you know what kind of work you are doing. I always see something wrong with a photo that I thought was good. Leads me to improve.

Just MHO.

Thanks for the ideas! I am fascinated by astrophotography, but it is quite a bit of an investment for me at this time. I currently don't have a darkroom (only a dark bathroom to develop BW negatives when the kids are asleep then scan them for print).

Interesting thought just crossed my mind; I haven't exhibited any of my photographs since 1984 (I believe it was a photography contest back during my first or second year in college)! All of my work has been for clients in some way or another (public relations, weddings, etc.). Ironically, my wood carving work was picked up by a museum and was part of a traveling exhibit, but none of my photographs have ever been displayed or sold in any gallery!

 

[k_jupiter]

Revolutionary idea.

Get rid of those cameras and learn how to make photographs. There are different theories on what makes photography, "It's the image"... bull crap. "It's the process"... horse manure.

It's both. Get rid of all that image taking stuff, 35mm, digital whatnot, and get a LF format camera, and tame it. It's not trivial. I suggest at least a 5x7, more better would be an 8x10. Learn how to photograph, develop, print. Then learn some alternative processes. Find out how your vision ("It's the image") can be modified ("It's the process") to express much more than what the camera will record. Bring out inner vision in your work.

tim in san jose

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I'm in a very similar situation. Normally, I just take a break. I'll find other things to do and when it comes back to me i'll be ready. My problem is that it's been gone for two years. I've no motivation to take pictures. Nothing really interests me anymore.

If you can find something that really interests you.. some project or something (multiple tiny matchbox pinhole cameras around your house, night photography, painting with light, time lapse, multiple exposure randomness, macro..) at the worst, you'll burn your film and time but at least you'll be getting back into the swing of things. You might even find that starting one project leads you to something new and exciting..

I can't force it, personally. Once I force it, it isn't fun. It's frustrating. And if i'm not enjoying what i'm doing then it's not worth it to me.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

k_jupiter's suggestion is a good one. With 4x5/5x7/8x10, you can contact print very easily. You don't need much at all, other than the camera and film holders.

You can even make cyanotypes using the bright and hot Floridian sun year round. That's a lot of fun and a great way to spend a weekend; beer, printing some cyanotypes, getting a tan, eating hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill.. heck, if you don't like blue there is always van dykes which turn out a beautiful reddish brown to dark brown/black color.

You know you want to print pictures outside next to the grill with a beer in your hand on a hot day! Yeah! (I think I just convinced myself to do this)

 

[clayne]

Revolutionary idea.

Get rid of those cameras and learn how to make photographs. There are different theories on what makes photography, "It's the image"... bull crap. "It's the process"... horse manure.

It's both. Get rid of all that image taking stuff, 35mm, digital whatnot, and get a LF format camera, and tame it. It's not trivial. I suggest at least a 5x7, more better would be an 8x10. Learn how to photograph, develop, print. Then learn some alternative processes. Find out how your vision ("It's the image") can be modified ("It's the process") to express much more than what the camera will record. Bring out inner vision in your work.

tim in san jose

So let me get this straight. Get rid of all those "cameras and image taking things" and instead "upgrade" to a large format camera? The entire issue is surrounding the fact that he seems to be continually moving from thing to thing in search of the next thing. LF isn't going to change much. A project or a goal will.

 

[Roger Thoms]

Lately I have been doing print exchanges. They have been great for motivation and a lot of fun. The exchanges have gotten me back in the darkroom and printing, and they have also motivated me to photograph more. The postcard exchange that I did on Filmwasters.com was especially fun, and I am signed up for the APUG postcard exchange round #17. Sign up deadline for round #17 is May 31th. Look on the forum under Member Organized Functions.
Roger Thoms

 

[k_jupiter]

So let me get this straight. Get rid of all those "cameras and image taking things" and instead "upgrade" to a large format camera? The entire issue is surrounding the fact that he seems to be continually moving from thing to thing in search of the next thing. LF isn't going to change much. A project or a goal will.

Your opinion. What I read is he's tired of stupid projects, doesn't feel inspired. His attitude towards photography is unbalanced. Like most people's. *L* Me? I go the other way. if I am not learning something, it doesn't interest me. I really could care less about most of the image making aspects of photography, yet that's what I have to concentrate on.

I just advised him to go LEARN something, not go shoot something. There is a hell of a lot of difference between small format or digital, and large format photography.

tim in san jose

 

[clayne]

I just advised him to go LEARN something, not go shoot something. There is a hell of a lot of difference between small format or digital, and large format photography.

tim in san jose

Of course there are differences. What does that have to do with photography and a point behind it? Substance, not fidelity, should be first and foremost, wouldn't you think?