Do you ever lose your drive to take pictures?

[Bizurke]

For the last few years photography has been one of my biggest passions. I plan my weekends around it, try to fit in time to take pictures before or after work, and on occasion go for photo walks on my lunch hour. It became a burning passion of mine. When friends would ask what I'm doing, another friend would say "he's probably out with his camera".

I moved from Los Angeles to a much smaller town (about 120,000 people) recently. Ever since I've moved I don't seem to have any drive what-so-ever to take pictures. I think about it and get excited, but when I set out to do some photography I come back with maybe one or two horrible pictures that I don't even have interest in keeping. In the past I could be out for 7-8 hours snapping away everything that caught my eye. Now, it seems that nothing catches my eye.

I'm wondering if any of you have ever lost your thirst for photography in the past? If so, was there anything you did to get yourself back on track?

[Nicole]

Absolutely, several times. Had the same sort of reactions you had, I'd go out, take a few really crappy pictures and give up again. I pretty much just put the camera down for a few months. Then the next year (this year), I decided that I was sick of not taking photos and I started a 365. Now, that's probably not the best option, but that's just what I wound up doing. Most of my reaction was just putting the camera down until it felt like fun again.

[Izzy]

I am writing this from within a 2 week shooting funk. I have had these moments and even put down the camera for 3 years. For 3 years I took very minimal pictures, mostly family get togethers and so on.

Geographic move can be a real big deal. I for one would rather shoot street photography in Milwaukee (3 hrs away) or Madison (2 hrs away) than shoot in LaCrosse just 15 minutes away. I miss the grit and the environment that a major metropolis can create. Sometimes we just have to make the trip to get back to the environment.

I moved from a pop of 953,328 to a pop of 800

I noticed that the more people in an area the smaller their perceived "personal space" is. The denser the population the less people care that you are there and the faster things change with all the people interacting with the environment.

Either this was of help to you or I just rambled like a madman. I am guessing the latter.

Keep Shooting

[Jonbar18]

Yup, and quite often too.
What usually gets me back in the zone is a trip to a new place, or better yet a vacation to Muskoka

[Cola]

I have been there before and I think it is something every photographer goes through. I as well as many others consider photography and art, and almost every artist goes through a period of downtime. Sometimes there is just a lot going on in life and have no time to work on your art form. Other times the inspiration might not be there and its just not coming out how you want. Even the greatest of writers get writers block.

To roughly paraphrase a humorous but true quote by one of my favorite authors, Chuck Palahniuk, that I keep in mind during my time away from the camera

"Writers block is like being constipated, When you are constipated you don't just sit there do you? You go out there, you live your life, eat a cheeseburger and when the time comes you take care of business"

What I get from this is if you try to force yourself to get something done creatively it's just not going to happen and you will be frustrated. We are all artists here and this is what comes naturally to us. Sometimes you need to just live your life and as the world inspires your art, let your art inspire the world.

[bhursey]

I think im in one also... 1 wedding shoot 2 senior shoots 3 kid shoots, a few for fun film shoots of architecture, and teaching a 8 week photography class. Had sorta made me want to avoid shooting more pictures than I have to. I still have 2 shoots to finish editing this week.

I just feel bla about it. The last shoot was a 3 year old shoot I did last Sunday. I just don't think I preformed well. I forgot the basics in regards to settings shooting a kid and changing lighting situations. I shot at f1.8 and 2.8 for a 3 year old ?!?! what was I thinking and lets just say i only had a 30% keep rate. I was not as creative as I normally am. Thank good ness my wife was there to throw in ideas. I had 4 shoots that weekend I was exhausted by the last shoot. I think I need to stay 1 shoot a weekend.

[candidrachel]

I just take photos of any old rubbish when I am in one of those moods. I try and set myself "projects". Right now my latest is "shadows" I really like the low autumn light but its very fleeting.

[pentahedron]

I haven't yet, but I know it's coming.

*gulp*

[dawnwithacamera]

I have been in one for 4 months now. I started a 365 project in May, did all 30 days in June, but only made it halfway thru July before I lose the feeling. It could be connected to the stress of my lousy job and 40 minute commute to work, but I have no clue how to get it back. I even stepped down to just a 52 week project, and only made it thru 2 weeks. So you are not alone.

[faeriegodess612]

Originally Posted by Cola

I have been there before and I think it is something every photographer goes through. I as well as many others consider photography and art, and almost every artist goes through a period of downtime. Sometimes there is just a lot going on in life and have no time to work on your art form. Other times the inspiration might not be there and its just not coming out how you want. Even the greatest of writers get writers block.

To roughly paraphrase a humorous but true quote by one of my favorite authors, Chuck Palahniuk, that I keep in mind during my time away from the camera

"Writers block is like being constipated, When you are constipated you don't just sit there do you? You go out there, you live your life, eat a cheeseburger and when the time comes you take care of business"

What I get from this is if you try to force yourself to get something done creatively it's just not going to happen and you will be frustrated. We are all artists here and this is what comes naturally to us. Sometimes you need to just live your life and as the world inspires your art, let your art inspire the world.

+1

I take my camera with me everywhere. I, of course, only have a point and shoot, but it stays in my purse. My tripod stays in the backseat of my car. Not to mention that SO many days that I'd love to go out and shoot what I like to shoot, I either have to work, or its too sunny. (Central Texas weather is not very conducive for great photos most of the time) Or, I have so much to do, errands and housework, that I'm usually too tired to do when I get home from work, that I simply dont have the time. I think about it all the time, but I cant always act on it.