OT: Burn out or what?

I haven't posted any images since this summer. First, that lack of good wildflower conditions was somewhat discouraging and the few images I got weren't up to my standards. Then I went to NY and was too early for fall colors. When I got home, my wife went back east for a couple weeks during prime fall colors here and I was dog sitting so missed a good season by the looks of it...not complaining because I've had other good years.

I was thinking I would get out this winter and get some decent snow shots and lo and behold, I fractured my fifth metatarsal in 2 places so no hiking for 6-8 weeks.

For whatever reason, I seem to have lost my desire to shoot. I watch the forum daily and see great images but feel uninspired to get back out there. I know others have experienced these feelings in the past but could use some ideas to get me back in the groove, even if it's shooting something around the house. How can I regain the passion I once had?

Thanks.

Jack,

I actually asked a similar question a couple months back, in this thread, and got a few good answers. If you like books, I can recommend Ted Orland's "Art and Fear", and thanks to suggestions, Steven Pressman's "The War of Art".

There are times when the quality of work here actually discourages me because I see other people making good images while I feel stuck. I'm glad for them and it's great to see, but it can make it harder while you're burned out. As a moderator, though, you can't really take a break from the board.

I'm going to make a kind-of-radical suggestion, though: Just wait. (For now, at least.) I think that one of the keys of being a great photographer is a love of the subject. It's that love that can push you to go out in "bad" conditions, look for new vantage points, and cause you to keep trying. If you're not feeling the love right now, hold off. As evolved as we are as individuals and as a society, there's still something hardwired in our brains that winter is the time for hibernation. Put the camera away, go for a walk, and look with your eyes. When you start seeing pictures again, or you start thinking to yourself, "hey, I wonder if tonight's snow will look good tomorrow morning over Chatfield Lake", you'll know that you're ready again.

Personally, I think this is one of the good things about being an amateur. We're not forced to be out there. Also personally, I find that the worst way to rekindle a passion is to try to force it.

You mileage may vary, though. If you (intellectually) really want to get out there, pick something nearby and start a project on it. If nothing else, it'll keep you in practice.

Set yourself an exercise: Use only one focal length for five outings. Try black-and-white. Try composing to a square.

From personal experience, don't buy any new gear thinking it will re-inspire you...

Jack, how ironic, I just sent you a message about your lens that Ive borrowed for two months! I asked you why you havn't been shooting.....Now I know. Whatever funk you're in, let it ride out. You certainly are not missing much out there right now. Rocky Mountain National Park is full of smoke, and the dry conditions and all the brown out there isn't very inspiring is it? Lets see some snow and wait until that wildfire finally stops burning and you and I will hit Dream Lake for some Ice shooting ok?

Creative people get bored quickly..bordom or burnout is a good indicator you need to chart a new direction and do something totally new....if only for awhile. Being a portrait photographer this happened to me many times...when it did I would challenge myself with some new ....architectural photography, or landscape photography, or tabletop product photography. That would usually do the trick, plus, many times it lead to a new and sustained interest.. If you only do landscape, go out and photograph some people....learn how to do it well. Maybe the reason you are bored is because you are feeling too comfortable with your material. Do something you are totally uncomfortable with. Challenge yourself.
Joe Rogers

Jack, sorry to hear about your recent lack of inspiration and the injury.

Since you like wildflowers, how about checking out your local florist. Buy a few blooms for some table top shoots.
See how creative you can get with natural light and reflectors. Experiment with shallow and deep DOF.
Try some extreme magnification and focus stacking.

If you are interested, I have a Lens-Baby setup that you are more than welcome to borrow for an extended period, if that effect is of interest to you.

How about a trip to the Butterfly Pavillion in Westminster?

But don't feel pressure to "produce" just because you have equipment sitting around not being used.

Jack, everyone has offered good advice so far, but only you can decide what works for you. I've come to realize that the waxing and waning of our creativity is a normal, and probably healthy thing. If you compare it to athletic training, what makes us strong is not the actual working out, it's the rest between workouts. Give yourself permission to just put the camera down and do other things. You might find it's just what you need.

I've been in a bit of a slump as well. Sent off some film for scanning; Working over old images in my Lightroom catalog; Taking time to learn the gradient tool, and hue/saturation/luminance... all good, Winter photo activities.

That said, I've just read two really awesome articles about composition that have me ready to delete 75% of my catalog, and go out shooting some more:

(1) "Great Composition", a discussion of the composition techniques used by Henri Cartier Bresson http://www.adammarelliphoto.com/2011/09/henri-cartier-bresson/

(2) "Format Proportions", a discussion of geometry as applied to classical painting composition. http://www.handprint.com/HP/WCL/tech11.html

Occasionally my photos are good, mostly they are randomly poor or okay. After reading these articles, I realize that I've missed the boat, and stepped off the pier into the water.

Try something new. I've joined a couple of Meet Up groups for photography. One of the groups goes into Detroit and takes pictures of empty buildings. Another one is a studio group that hires models and concentrates on lighting and shooting models. I'm terrified of taking pictures of people. Trees don't talk back. I also did a street photography workshop one weekend in Chicago. They all helped inspire me and led me to some new friends.

You can also just go for a hike without your camera and enjoy the beauty around you.

I'd recommend setting yourself a goal of finding your own specific niche. Try to do something that, when people see an image, they'll think "that's a Jack Garrett image." The niche could be anything ... it could be just photographs of ice. Or photos from one specific area. Or a unique shooting style. Or, rather than just nature, it could be photographing extreme close-ups of human eyes. You might have to try several different things before you find your niche. It's not easy and I haven't achieved it yet, but when you find something you're passionate about and can become very good at that one thing, I think it can make you more motivated.

All good suggestions. I think your 'slump' will take care of itself in time. I would recommend taking a trip somewhere reasonably local that you haven't been to before, that will give you some new ideas.

Thanks for the great comments and suggestions everyone. I got a 5d mkII this year and thought I'd be all excited and it turns out that I've taken less picture than any time in the past. The event that discouraged me the most was when I spent 2 days in Porphyry Basin this summer and came away with absolutely nothing. I actually came home early from my trip and haven't shot more than a handful of pix since then. I need to learn to become more patient and realize that not every trip is gonna be a success. Once my foot heals, I'm gonna try a couple new things and my main goal for the upcoming year is to slow down, take in the whole scene and become a part of it emotionally. I plan to try some of the suggestions above and Bill, I may take you up on the Lensbaby offer...never tried that. Thanks again everyone!

Give yourself a personal project for Christmas. Something close to home with a theme that's personal to you. Don't be concerned with outside opinions, make it introspective. If we do the same thing over and over and solicit outside opinion to validate our efforts, growth gets smothered. Good luck!

Jack, if you tend to normally shoot by yourself, maybe plan and commit to a shoot with another photographer.