Lack of Inspiration

[josealb]

Hi,
I've been taking shots for about a month since I first got my D40 and I'm starting to find my pictures boring. It probably has to do with the fact that i've lastly had a lot of work to do so I couldn't dedicate much time to photography but it im running out of ideas of subjects to photograph in my sorroundings...
What do you think that lacks to my pictures? http://www.flickr.com/photos/josealb/
I think maybe I should photograph living subjects like people or animals but I rarely take my camera when im with friends and the 55mm lens makes it a bit difficult to photograph animals.
I'm making a trip to the Pyrenees in two weeks what would you advice to take pictures of?

Thanks

PS: I don't know whether this is the right section but I thought this was the one where it fit better

[Nicole]

I've moved this over to General Chat since Share Your Shots is for sharing up to 2 shots that you're really happy with

There is an older thread (really old ) that you might be interested in: Where do you go for inspiration - Project Ideas.

[Murtasma]

I think your photos are pretty darn good. As for inspiration why not try out doing things you haven't done before like 2nd curtain flash syncs, using filters. Your composition is pretty good in your images your landscape photos could use something a little more interesting in the foreground in some photos esp when the sky isn't very dynamic. Have you tried working with HDR yet?

What exactly are you looking for in your photography? Do you have some examples of images you like? Try looking through flickr sometime at other peoples work that helps me sometimes.

[laepelba]

I find that giving myself some way to work on an "assignment" - typically self-assigned - helps me with "inspiration".

For example, I had no idea what I wanted to do for the current "shadows" assignment. This morning I got up and it was very clear out (winter here, usually very overcast). I thought "low sun, long shadows" and put on my layers and grabbed my camera and headed out. Not even sure where. I ended up at a playground, got some shots that I really, really like ... and then when I finally drove away, I was seeing shadows that I wanted to shoot EVERYWHERE. I simply didn't have time to stop to shoot them all!

I sometimes try to pick something I'm not so good at (for example, close up shots, more abstract subjects) and go out shooting with the goal of working on that area.....

[geotography]

josealb,

You have some nice shots in your gallery. I submit to you a few comments:

1. human creativity ebbs and flows and we have our natural times of high energy and creativity and lower energy and creativity.
2. Understanding and accepting this is wisdom and part of our growth
3. The lows are a great time to study some really technical stuff about your camera; or start looking at other photographer's work; those images are there for our visual pleasure and our inspiration

Believe me...in time the ideas will flow.

I hope this helps you in some small way.

[josealb]

Thanks for all the answers I see I'm not the only one with that problem sometimes

As you say creativity just flows and we have to get used to it.

I liked some of the advices though like trying HDR and more creative foregrounds for landscape photography or using personal "assignments".

Like I said i'm doing a travel soon and hope I'm more creative at that time and can share some good pictures over here

Thanks again! By the way Nicole sorry for using the wrong section

[Nicole]

Not a problem Make sure you head back to that section to share a shot or two after your creativity comes back and you take some shots you're really proud of

[Caterwaul]

Maybe try out some new post-processesing techniques? I find that tinkering with images after taking them is half the fun of photography, and can make even the most bland of subjects take on new life.

One of my very favorite sources for inspiration has become my infrared (IR- HoyaR72) filter, which seems almost a cure-all for boredom. It's a technical challenge, but even photographing the grass on your lawn can make for a stunning picture with the ghostly white reflections. This might be a really, really neat idea for a trip to the Pyrenees if you have the time to mess with it

[yokolok]

you have great shots in your flicker album jose!!!

but i can see where you are coming from...lack of inspiration...

work on something like a theme for a week or so...shooting something more dynamic maybe, living things? street life?

[josealb]

Originally Posted by yokolok

shooting something more dynamic maybe, living things? street life?

I think that's what I need but i just have no experience at it really. I'll try watching some images in flickr or something