Topic: Inspiration 2010

[Janet_P]

Help!
I am finding it really hard to feel inspired to take any personal photographs right now. I do lots of portraits and pretty straight commissions for an exam board and have no problems with those - but I can't help wondering how to take photos for myself anymore. I think part of my problem is the other work I do for a photo agency, keywording 30 or 40 images a day. I see so many great photos I have begun to feel there is nothing left to take.
Does anyone have any advice to help me to see things differently and give me back a bit spice in my photographic life.

Cheers
Janet

[gregor]

When I feel I'm in a rut, polaroid always gets me going again (in any format whether it be 4x5, type 100 peel apart, or a medium format pola back) - along with a day trip or slight change of scenery.  Can't explain why - but it just works, for me.

[Nigel]

I think I've said this before here but if I get in a rut I always go simple. I go out to a favourite place, usually somewhere in London for me. I take one camera (probably my Holga - as simple as it gets) no other equipment and just have a bit of fun - no pressure.

Sometimes I think we all get weighed down (all right I get weighed down!) with the idea of producing a work of art, and 99 times out a 100 what we take isn't that so why get so stressed about it not being so. Does that make sense?

Good luck with it, it will happen.

[vicky slater]

Janet, oh yes, i get this too :(.....feeling that there are so many fantastic photographers out there making beautiful pictures that it's almost like there's no room for you, the jobs already being done so well that there's no point even trying.
Sometimes it can help to fall back to what's closest to me, my home i guess, no one else has your view or your memories or cares about that stain on the ceiling, but it does mean something to you and i like all those 'mundane/ordinary' things, whether they're mine or someone else's, and it always leads on to other things just because you're looking again, (or hopefully anyway :)

It will come back, even if you try to ignore it.

[Francois]

Being stuck in a rut is part of the game for me... I can be running on empty for years before for some odd reason, inspiration comes back...

[astrobeck]

I usually watch a movie. 
For some reason motion pictures stimulate my photo taking side of the brain.
A walk in the forest helps too, but not knowing if you have a forest, I think just the stimulation of your own personal environment might suffice.  Maybe a park you haven't visited in some time?

Like Vicky said, she kinda retreats to her home. 

I would take it perhaps a step sideways and pretend you are a tourist in your own town, or a guest seeing your home/surroundings for the first time.

Hope you are inspired soon as I miss seeing your photos here!! 

[Janet_P]

It's good to know I'm not on my own. I'm hoping that sorting through my old cameras before we move will trigger some inspiration and I will definitely try revisiting my house and surroundings, that's a great suggestion
Thanks 

[Urban Hafner]

It's good to know I'm not on my own. I'm hoping that sorting through my old cameras before we move will trigger some inspiration and I will definitely try revisiting my house and surroundings, that's a great suggestion
Thanks 

Ah, you already have a collection of cameras  I was about to suggest to buy a new one. Something basic like an Agfa Clack goes for very little money for example.

Urban
 

[Janet_P]

Don't tempt me, the last thing I need right now is more cameras, I have 4 boxes to sort through 

[synj00]

put the cameras waaaaaaaaaay up in the closet. Go to work without one. Take a weekend trip without one. I bet it doesnt take more than a few days until you have the itch to make pictures again! Good luck1!!!!