Hi there,
We've all been there at some point but I'm currently in a, rather long, phase where I lack the motivation to go out and shoot. I basically started to question my photography. While that is not a bad thing; reflecting on yourselves is a positive thing (I think), it drained all the motivation to go out and shoot. By the way, I mainly shoot (or shot) landscapes.
This has been going on for more than a year now. I thought I eventually would recover from this by having some time off from photography but it doesn't seem so. Maybe this is fueled by watching too many Youtube photographers who seem to get out every week in the most magnificent scenery? I don't know. I just can't motivate myself to pick up my camera and go out.
Anyone over here facing the same, or did so in the past? What would you guys suggest to get out of this?
Thanks!
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Pascal Hibon
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/phibon/
Website: https://pascalhibon.net/
I know the feeling. And now that I am retired I have no excuse not to go out and shoot something, but I have no motivation unless it is some special event like a vacation or my annual trips to see IMSA Sportscars a some local-ish tracks.
I used to be on a photography forum where they had a monthly challenge sub-topic. One of the mods would post the subject* in a new thread and people would shoot and post their results. This was quite effective at getting me to get out and do some shooting for a few of the challenges. Maybe this is something that could be introduced here?
*IIRC subjects were drawn from suggestions by member, among other sources.
Peter
@delange, I think it happens to everyone at some point, so don't be discouraged by it.
I think you've answered your own question - stay away from those YouTubers who seem to be de-motivating you. Why not explore the world on your own? I don't follow any photographers on any social media for a good reason: I want to see it myself, explore the landscape and come up with my own compositions.
I recently came back from a trip to Italy. While it was a family trip rather than a photography trip, I went to many popular locations in Rome, Florence, Tuscany and Venice. I did not look up a single spot to visit in any location, because I did not want to have any image in my head. Instead, I wondered off places and took my own shots of what I thought was beautiful at the time, if I felt like it. I have been doing this for years now, which works for me - I never get tired of shooting.
Many photographers end up following these YouTubers, go to the same spots and take the same pictures, only to get frustrated at the end, since they can't yield the same quality images, or their images look the same. When you make a picture yourself, there is a sense of accomplishment and accompanying happiness. It is an incredible feeling.
Give it a try - it really works!
I used to be on a photography forum where they had a monthly challenge sub-topic. One of the mods would post the subject* in a new thread and people would shoot and post their results. This was quite effective at getting me to get out and do some shooting for a few of the challenges. Maybe this is something that could be introduced here?
*IIRC subjects were drawn from suggestions by member, among other sources.
Peter
That is a great idea Peter!
Back in 2018 I enlisted in a photography coarse in night school. The assignments we got for the different photography genres where a great motivator. It gives you a sense of goal and makes you get out of your comfort zone. I did enjoy that a lot!
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Pascal Hibon
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/phibon/
Website: https://pascalhibon.net/
I think you've answered your own question - stay away from those YouTubers who seem to be de-motivating you.
Yeah I guess this must be it. It is not so much the Youtubers themselves but the scenery they find themselves in and the excellent weather conditions for those scenes that are de-motivating me. I live in Belgium which is a very populated area with little natural landscapes.
I too hate to visit the "popular" landscape spots to take "the same picture". Maybe that is part of the problem. Every place on the planet has been photographed to death and posted on every single social media platform...
Thanks for the tip Nasim. It might be a good idea to just go out and photograph "the lesser scenic" places and just enjoy the ride. And watch less Youtube videos in the process!
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Pascal Hibon
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/phibon/
Website: https://pascalhibon.net/
Maybe try different subjects. Personally I go for the challenge with birds in flight and motorsports using manual focus tele lenses. Only own 1 autofocus lens which I bought about 18 months ago.
So try something different that gives you more of a challenge, maybe high ratio macro, wildlife, sports, or just something totally different. Never run out of a challenge here because I create my own challenges and mix with people that tend to do the same.
Danny.
You are most welcome!
By the way, I visited Belgium in late summer last year and absolutely loved it. Started from Brussels, then made it to Antwerp, where I stayed for a night with my family. I would come back again.
The great thing about Europe, is that everything is within an hour of flight, a few hours on train, or a day of driving. Your infrastructure is absolutely incredible.
In comparison, it takes me 8 hours to drive to the southwest part of the state. If I were to drive to California, I would have to split up the drive to two days. At that point, it is just easier to fly. I wish we had the fast trains, trolleys, metros and other public infrastructure. US is horrible when it comes to public transport, thanks to the power of lobby of car manufacturers back in the day. Now it is way too expensive to re-build!
You have absolutely spectacular countries around you. I will be planning a trip to Croatia next, but would also love to see Norway and other Scandinavian countries.
Excellent suggestions from @Danny - sometimes changing the subject matter or the environment can help a great deal as well!
You are most welcome!
By the way, I visited Belgium in late summer last year and absolutely loved it. Started from Brussels, then made it to Antwerp, where I stayed for a night with my family. I would come back again.
Antwerp is a very beautiful city. Don't like Brussels too much myself but I can understand why people like the city center.
You have absolutely spectacular countries around you. I will be planning a trip to Croatia next, but would also love to see Norway and other Scandinavian countries.
Norway is FANTASTIC. I did visit the Lofoten many years ago. I need to revisit that country.
Maybe you could organize a European "get together" when you are visiting Croatia? I assume there are plenty of PL readers from Europe here.
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Pascal Hibon
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/phibon/
Website: https://pascalhibon.net/
Maybe try different subjects.
Yes, great tip indeed.
I have been considering minimalistic street photography. Maybe I should give that a try?
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Pascal Hibon
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/phibon/
Website: https://pascalhibon.net/
Here are a few ideas:
Since you like landscapes, go for a walk without a camera and just pay attention to seeing light, color, texture and potential subject matter. It will be refreshing and probably make you wish you had your camera.
Go to a favorite place with a single camera and a single lens - ideally a prime. Capture the images that strike you. It will force you to use your eye and your feet.
Go out and photograph something in difficult light. Make it a challenge to create a good photo with challenging conditions - backlighting, fog, low light, etc.
Spend time helping new photographers or less experienced photographers online. Provide useful critiques or comments. It will keep you in a photographic mindset and may open up some new ideas - plus it's just being nice to someone.
Look at your website, photo archive or someplace you store or share your best images. Prune the images that no longer are attractive to you. Clear up some space for new images.
Spend some time keywording and organizing your images.
We all run into similar periods.
Eric Bowles
www.bowlesimages.com
What about trying new intellectual pursuits? I find that doing something different from photography like writing helps me creatively and after being exhausted in another domain, my motivation for photography comes back more strongly!
I think you're going through a pretty common torment. And you even mentioned one of the sources. Social networks and looking at their content is not exactly a motivating thing.
When I open Facebook or Instagram, it seems like the whole world (meaning my social bubble) is photographing animals. This gives the impression that people don't do anything else and that they do it well.
It's important not to succumb to that pressure. Even people close to me think I go to the tropics all the time. But the truth is that I went three times last year and I hope to go twice this year, so rule number one: "Don't be poisoned by the distorted reality of social media."
And my second recommendation is to look for joy not in the result, but in the process of photography itself. For me, that's almost 100% true. To me, the joy of the process clearly dominates the joy of the result. But that doesn't mean I don't swear and curse under my beard when things don't go as I want them to.
The final and third recommendation is to travel. It doesn't have to be far away. Just go a few tens or hundreds of miles out of your hometown, spend a night in a tent, and suddenly you're in a whole different universe, full of inspiration.
I wish you success in your quest for creativity.
Have a great day.
And my second recommendation is to look for joy not in the result, but in the process of photography itself.
I very much can relate to that. While analyzing my lack of motivation I kind of came to this conclusion as well. I think this is also fueled by the Youtubers I'm following... shooting "epic scenery" in always "the perfect weather conditions". It made me drive for the result.
I should reach out to that feeling you experience when you are standing in the middle of some nature, before sunrise, listening to the silence and watch the sun come up. I just love that feeling. This is probably the biggest reason why I'm into landscape photography.
The final and third recommendation is to travel. It doesn't have to be far away. Just go a few tens or hundreds of miles out of your hometown, spend a night in a tent, and suddenly you're in a whole different universe, full of inspiration.
Yes! I was planning to do a longer hike with some wild camping (which is very difficult in Belgium due to regulations). But there is a trail in the south of Belgium that runs in a loop with some campsites on the trail. This adventure wouldn't be focused on photography but I would take my camera with me.
When this one works out I would love to do the TMB (Tour du Mont Blanc) or the Tour du Beaufortain of something similar. Again taking my camera with me.
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Pascal Hibon
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/phibon/
Website: https://pascalhibon.net/