Photographers - How do you overcome creative block?
If you are working in a creative medium, it is inevitable that you will eventually encounter creative block. Since photography definitely qualifies as a creative medium, this is something that will most likely hit every serious photographer at some point.
In the 13 months or so that I have been working full-time with my photography company, I have for the most part been able to avoid a major case of block. What I have realized though is that my current mood plays a large part about my creativeness. If I'm feeling particularly "down", it definitely has a tendency to show up in my work (or lack of work). On the other hand, when I am feeling "up", I tend to produce a higher amount of good content.
This morning I read a blog post I found through my friend Dennis' Photo News Today website. The post is titled 10 Ways To Break Photographers Block. It has some great ideas for dealing with this problem and is definitely worth a read. After reading the 10 suggestions, I began to wonder how others handle this.
What I would like to hear, is how you (as a photographer or other content creator) overcome a creative block. Do you have a routine you do to get out of a funk? Are there resources you would be willing to share with the community? I am anxious to see what you have to offer. And as a purely selfish benefit, the next time I find myself feeling particularly foggy in my creativeness I will have a resource to help me get back on track.
16 Comments:
Change scenery. Literally move yourself to a new, physical location, just you and your gear.
Am liking the bokeh image to describe this entry. As to how to overcome block, I talk to friends, collaborators, colleagues and engage in collaborative projects. Then I just work and work and work and new stuff and relationships *always* come out of that.
I pick a subject, then start brainstorming on a shot list for the subject. Sometimes I'll ping other photogs for ideas during the brainstorm. Some of the ideas can get pretty bizarre, but I find that it gets the creativity flowing again. Once the shot list is complete I start working the list. I find as I am working the list I have many more ideas pop back into head. These then go into a notebook for future reference.
When I'm in a rut, I use (or buy) a different camera. If I start getting tired of my SLR, I'll take my TLR out for a shoot. If I'm tired of that, I'll take a toy camera. If I'm tired of that, I'll go shoot a pack of Polaroid. And so on, and so on...
As a noob photographer I have a lot to learn - so that fuels any downtime or blocks if you will - but one thing that always gets my creative juices flowing is attending events (Photowalking - Tweetup - Meetup etc.) where I can talk shop with other photogs who are gracious enough to impart some of their expertise and skill to me.
There is so much photography talent in Utah, and the community here is so great - but then you already know that because you helped start most of it right?
By breaking every rule in the book. Shoot into the light, handhold the camera and slow the shutter, hold the camera a angles, anything...just to get myself out of a visual rut.
Put limits on yourself and then work within those limits. As mentioned, change of scenery is one way, using a different camera is another. Getting an assignment is yet another. It can be through an assignment/challenge group on Flickr or something like photochallenge.org or having to show up and shoot an environmental portrait of someone you've never met.
And, yeah, mood and other things going on in life play a big role. Creativity takes energy. So does dealing with stress, whether good or bad, external or internal. Eat right, exercise right, pray right to help mitigate this.
I try a couple things:
1. Find 10 ordinary items around the house to photograph - items you walk past daily and take for granted.
2. Personal assignment - go somewhere (ie. landmark or nearby town) and shoot more that 100 frames.
3. Sometimes I let it go until my mind says it's time to start again. A "don't force it" attitude of sorts.
Oddly, my worst months are Nov and Dec every year. I don't know why.
Barnes & Noble
What is the importance of digital photography course? A common question arising in the minds of youngsters interested in photography. The digital photography is among the popular current hobbies of youngsters.
I take a photo related community college courses. I'm older so there are always kids new to cameras that ask questions and get my creative juices going again.
Debbi
I agree with several mentioned above. I like Peter's suggestion: "Break all the rules." Something like that generally works for me.
My first thought was similar to John Ryder's #3 -- "Don't force it." However, it must be said that this attitude is a luxury to those of us who do not earn a living from shooting photography.
Still, I think that there must be an acknowledgment that creativity ebbs and flows, which is part of the point of your post, Rich.
What Harley said about working within limits reminds me of a fantastic film I watched recently called "The Five Obstructions" (English title -- it's mostly in Dutch, IIRC). I'll let those who are interested check it out for themselves, but I'll say this -- for true "limits," you'll need an antagonist. Somebody who will really push you to your limits, both limits of comfort and technical/gear limitations, as well.
Which leads me to a final suggestion. Motion pictures. There are films where just about every frame in every scene could be printed and hung on a wall to pleasing effect. "Casablanca" and "Gone With The Wind" come to mind immediately, but also, the films of John Ford, Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, David Lean, Orson Welles, and more recently, the work of Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott and Ang Lee.
I'm sure I'm leaving out important names here, but you get the idea.
Also, consider watching a motion picture with the sound off and just study lighting and compositional elements. Use the pause button frequently.
All the good stuff has been said :) In my case I find my ruts are far more common the less I shoot. When I am actively shooting I find I am more aware of photo opportunities all around me. When ruts happen, having a theme is a great motivational tool, but the bottom line for me is simply get out and do it and the ideas will come.
Having suffered this once or twice myself, I concur with some of the other comments, that a.A break is as good as a rest, and b. Physically changing location, can be like a life blood to your camera, and can help re-energise your seeing eye, and the shutter finger..... Also choose a specific type of photograph to achieve, shallow Dof, low angle, highkey, etc etc that way adopting a focus on a method, can sometimes render a totally different view of a subject. Interesting topic..... csj @ID7
Normally when I suffer from this stigma, I'll browse online galleries and look at others photographs and techiniques and It usually inspires me to try something I haven't before.
I've never found that to be a problem. I guess part of the reason is that variety has always powered my engine. I've never enjoyed doing just one type of photography. If I did, I think I could easily get into a rut at times.
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