Jan
30
I have been looking at so many excellent pictures from great photographers lately that it seems as if I have lost track of what I want to do. What my own style is and what to do next. My creativity seems to go in circles like this. Ups and downs. I´m not that worried. Just have to wait it out, I guess.
What methods, if any, do you use for inspiration and keeping with the “path”?
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
21 Responses to “Generally lost”
Leave a Reply
It happens to everybody… only a very few lucky people don’t have down-cycles in their creativity.
What I like to do when I’m lost is force myself to try something totally new… like photographing ordinary objects in strange places… or shooting a bunch of stuff at wrong angles… or using a very different camera that I normally wouldn’t use… it’s all about breaking free of my old way of thinking to find my path again.
Good luck! I really enjoy your photos here!
Hey Dave, thanks for your encouraging reply. Good ideas, I´m gonna try and find an old camera and shoot some film. Old school. That´ll be fun.
I agree with what Dave says, photographing something in a new way helps you to see things differently and think more about your photography. Photographing something new in a place you’ve never seen before also helps if you can get away. Recently I’ve only been shooting for work in Tokyo, this week I will go to Seoul for a while and just snap whatever takes my eye. It’ll be nice to break free of thinking I need images in a certain way for clients and I will shoot a lot more as a result.
Also, sometimes having a project can help us continue being creative, even when we don’t really feel like it. I saw recently on someones blog that they did a project where they took one image a day for 50 days with a 50mm lens. Very wide parameters, it worked really well. A while back I photographed people being tattooed in a traditional Japanese style any time I had some free time. I did it constantly for 18 months or so. Each tattoo and client was different, but the surroundings never changed, so I had to really think about how to get a good new image. Something that makes you think helps you grow.
Lastly, looking at other peoples work can be very inspirational. Go to exhibitions, look at photo books and browse a lot of blogs. It helps me a lot.
Also, thanks for the comment on my blog. I was in Iraq for about one month in February 2006. I had a few earlier posts last year about other events that happened there. More to come in the future.
I like the 50 mm 50 days idea. Look at other peoples stuff I have seemed to overdose on.
Thank you very much for your reply. I find your blog and portfolio to be very inspirational!
Welcome to the world of “who am I, what am I doing…”
That happens to me all the time, it’s happening to me now, to the point of I don’t even know what to shoot anymore.
I always carry a camera with me and sometimes it’s just a moment that happens that brings you back to what you want to shoot to represent yourself. Another thing is to look back in your archives to see what it is you really like, maybe going back to that point in time where you said “yes, this is my style”.
I don’t have the answers, and continue to search as well…
I guess it´s part of the creative process. I have tried to look at other peoples images for inspiration but think I´ve overdosed. We´ll figure it out :)
I’ve found the same thing. All of a sudden I can’t think of a single thing to photograph nor decide what kind of photographer I want to be. I’ve found switching to a sub-optimal camera (iPhone 3GS) that I carry around everywhere helped somewhat.
But, I still get photographers-block though so I look forward to reading how you find your new inspiration. I do really like the photos you post here as well.
Thanks for your nice comment. I guess I am a whining bitch. I get all sorts of attention but still it´s not enough.
Next step is to force myself to do a silly project of some sort and commit to it.
I get to shoot photos at work which is good because it forces me to do it and therefore it might “ease up”.
I like your stuff too. You have a great sense of humor in your images!
I find that looking at other people’s work help me in my own creativity. Other than that, I don’t know. Are you really 6 foot 5?
Hello Puna, Yes I am 6ft5 :) Thanks for your comment.
First, i feel real touched you speak of this here. It’s so human. We all have our ups & downs in everything, why not with inspiration ? Absolutely normal. Even more : useful. Nothing worst than habits & comfort, repetitive fake self-satisfaction. Doubting allows to reconsider everything in a NEW way. Okay, that’s not as pleasant as being enthusiastic with no questions torturing us, but I really think it’s useful to stop, time to time, and dig our desires. Cause it’s just that. What (who ? ;) do we desire ? Sometimes it’s just being receptive to what hit the lens. Sometimes it’s expressing our deepest emotions (can be just being receptive here too). Sometimes it’s wanting to say something and then it supposes we know what. I’m trying to think of a personal site, and I’m facing this : what is my own path in photo ? And i slowly realize it’s linked to what i am obsessed with for ages. Photo is just a tool, a filter, an expression. Well, don’t know if it makes sense here, but don’t worry, that’s the point cause either you’ll find the sparkle & meaning for you, or don’t dig it too much and just go out with a washed eye (this, for me, is still being receptive, “here & now”. Wanting to control too much our emotions can block them too, i’m sure of that, and in art (any kind), better let your brain in the box and give the priority to your guts when clicking. Have happy snapshots, my friend and if it’s really blocked, enjoy others pix (i do that a lot, some block me more as masterpieces, other push me out with Nick-my-Nikon with a big urge as if wanting to walk the cameradog at once & meet the extraordinary within the ordinary of daily stuff). Geez, you made me blah-blah a lot ! ;))) See you* Never give up (just rest, it’s important : maturing things we don’t even realize we make grow up)
Thank you! All these great comments helps. With creativity it´s a constant battle :) Has been, always and probably will be. I used to get so worried now I know that it most likely is a face and it will pass but I decided to write about it to open up the subject and it really is wonderful how people make an effort to share their thoughts and feelings. The internet never ceases to amaze me :)
P.S. Also thanks for the link. It looks like a great site!
Me again ;) Don’t now if you’ll be interested in but I discovered this page today and browsing between photographers intentions (how they talk of their desires) helped me. Maybe the same for you ? You can see here, http://www.visuramagazine.com/vm/
A little late to the party, but I am here! :)
When my creativity begins to lag in photography, I do a number of things. Sometimes I put my camera away and don’t take it with me for a day or so. Sure, I might miss a good photo now and then, but I experience the images I see differently..seeing them from a more organic childhood view, not an aperture, shutterspeed, exposure eye. Or to break up a blockage, I might go to an sponsored event and pretend I am a reporter and document everything i see…or simply, getting in the car and driving to a new town helps to see things you never saw before..let the images come to you and soon you will have more to see, more to enjoy and more to post! Great discussion topic! and image!
K
Never to late to enter the party. Thanks for your comment.
At first I was reluctant to come out with the insecurities but then I thought it`s not about that. It is about creativity and how the flow goes. I´m glad I did write about it because it brought out a lot of nice comments and started some great conversations.
[...] 6ft5 skriver om kreativitet och hur skört det kan vara. Fint att öppna för en diskussion om det. Det jag tänkte när jag läste kommentarerna var att kreativitet nästan alltid föregås av en period när man tror att man har tappat den. Att den är för alltid förlorad. Sedan är den där igen och häpnaden över det flow som infinner sig är total. Om och om igen. Kreativitet är tydligen omöjlig att tro på att den ska vara för evigt. [...]
Har du sett vad Seth Godin säger om kreativitet?
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-happiness-project/201001/seth-godin-you-can-become-the-indispensable-linchpin
Seth är bitvis genial, bitvis bara manisk. Här var det bra! Tack! :)
Be still. When I am lost and cannot figure out what I want to do next. I breathe, and wait. It gives me the energy to focus again. I also love to look for the picture within the picture. What happens when you see something worth taking and than you bring it in a little more at a time, you never know what you will see within the lens.
Stacy! How good to see you here! Great advice thank you :)
my main photography is done with black&white film. i haven’t reached the digital age yet!