What do you do when inspiration is running low

[ccb]

Hi everyone,
After a long, bleak, very rainy winter I have realized that I am stuck in a photographic limbo. I am a full time mother, and the times of day I can take pictures are limited (often have to rule out the beautiful hours of sunset and sunrise for starters) so my main areas of photography are flowers, the foggy beach and .... of course, the kids

After this winter I am finding it very hard to pick up my camera again though. I have some kind of photographers block. Everytime I get a few hours I think: I should take some pictures, but then I go: what. More flowers?
I dream of travelling to foreign countries, new places, to find new and exciting things to shoot. But, as I said. Richt now, time and locations are very limited.

Does this happen to any of you, and if it does, what do you do? What's the secret to breaking out of the block?
Am greatful for all replies!

Kind regards
ccb

[Jim Bryant]

Used to happen a lot of me, in my earlier years of photography. But you just gotta snap out of it, pick up the camera and go take some pretty pictures.

[ZannieGirl49]

Joining a Flickr group helped me. I'm doing a 52 week project this year and it's nice to have a theme for each week to get my creative juices flowing. It's amazing what new things you'll try in the name of completing a project.

[BEGM83]

Take the kids out and go somewhere new.

I just use my daughter as an excuse to go exploring parks and castles and such like - all in the name of educating her, naturally! Actually its just a rouse for me to go get some pretty pictures Also don't be afraid to ask someone to babysit to enable you to go out at sunset - whats the difference between going down the pub or out taking photos? If it's something you enjoy doing then make the time to do it.

Kids aren't an excuse not to get out, if anything they're an excuse TO get out!

[sk66]

Don't sweat it and take a break...
That's what I do.
I also frequently participate in the weekly contests...I look at them as "assignments" and try to submit something even if it's something I have no interest in at all...(That's the way real assignments are as well...gotta produce regardless of what you like). I take it as a challenge (when real life allows it)

[Evn1ngStar]

Originally Posted by ccb

) so my main areas of photography are flowers, the foggy beach and .... of course, the kids
ccb

I find when I am in a slump that if I start picking up books at the library, look for magazine articles (and reading here) about different techniques of shooting, or ligiting, or post production or etc etc,.something will usually entrigue me enough to pick up the camera and try that new technique, even if it is an old familiar subject that I shoot, I've learned something and have piqued my interest in taking photographs again.

[ccb]

Thanks for all you lovely replies - and you are all right! I seem to be in a bit of a slump right now, and I will pick myself up

take care

[candidrachel]

What about taking photos of things around your home? That's what I do. I saw recently a really cool photo of someone in the bath. The photo was just of their feet hanging over the side of the bath covered in bubbles. The lighting was really light and dreamy. My bathroom lighting is awful but I'm determined to shoot that shot by hook or by crook but I need to get my daughter in the right mood. She has had a lens pointed in her direction since her birth and its been a bit of an over-kill over the years because now she justs says NO! Whenever I want her to pose for me.

[windrider86]

It can happen to anyone. Visit an art gallery, look at photographers web sites.
Look at magazines.
Or just take a little break

[outamyway]

Yeah, take a break for a week or two. Ask the kids to take some pictures around the house of you for a change. Different point of view through your own camera sometimes gets the creative juices flowing. I usually spend some time learning a new Photoshop technique.