In a photography "Block" ,....(?)

[faeriegodess612]

I feel like I'm sort of stuck in a photography rut. I havent really taken any photos lately, one because my job kinda interferes with my time,...or its like a nice cloudy day will come along, with not a lot of wind ( cuz its ALWAYS windy here in Texas for some reason) and I'll have to work that day. Then, the days that I'm off its always sunny, and windy. Like yesterday. I grabbed my camera and tripod and drove to nearby Temple. But didnt take any photos. Just wasted gas and drove around. ( Got lost for a bit, and was slightly freaking out. No GPS or phone app to help me. Forgot my map at home. ) I've tried playing around with my P&S at home,...but with less than satisfactory results. It doesnt do low light very well. For outside, yeah, its great. But inside,..not so great. It has trouble focusing on things sometimes. I almost always have to use in flash,..and that of course gives everything that "look" that I dont want. I'm still saving for that DSLR,..which I'm pretty close to getting now. So, I'm hoping that it might re-enliven my creative juices, and get me back to where I want to be in learning.

Does that all make sense? I know we all get in a photography "block" sometimes,..and with the weather getting colder,..well, not that cold yet cuz its Texas,..I want to be able to do more indoors. But most of my photography has been outside. I guess this is just that point where it kinda comes down to,..I've hit the limits of what my P&S can do well, and I'm ready to move past it to bigger better things? I dont know. Any advice or suggestions would be awesome.


Thanks for taking the time to read my lil rant,..

[pjflan7]

I was there...had a p+s and pushed it as far as I could go before I got bored....Until you get a dslr, try shooting abstract shots....part of a door, etc...go after lines, color, texture.....I found interesting shots like a stack of pallets, stack of old automotive tires at a tire dealership. put your camera on teh ground and shoot up and see what you get in the wide angle view.....there will be something esp with the onset of colder weather......try to see in BW and try converting your shots as a winter project to see what works and what doesn't......you can always see the thing down and learn photoshop techniques so your dslr shots will be properly enhanced...etc etc.....you'll find something

[AnneWynne]

You say you are in Texas, near Temple, but your location says Tennessee. Have you been in Texas long? Having moved from East Tennessee to middle Texas (Waco) years ago, I remember that there is not a lot of inspiration in that part of Texas....unless you know where/how to look. I am wondering if that is part of the "stuckness"...running out of interesting things/landscapes to photograph? I have to fight that where I am currently living....only so many beach and marsh shots, and cloudless skies make for repetitive sunsets.

Join the weekly challenge here on DPS or a 365 challenge group, and stick with it.

To keep up your interest, set some challenges for yourself. Go down to the hill country near Burnett..there is a drive near there that is otherworldly..I think it is a state park or state natural area. Check out the state parks in the area...just looking at the website gives me an itchy shutter-release finger.

Shooting indoors? Check out DIYphotography.net and strobist.com for ideas for off camera lighting. Try out new techniques, like shooting water drops, or experiment with post processing.

These are some of the things I do when in a funk...I bet you can come up with some more ideas.

GL,
Anne

[RLucas]

I go through it from time to time. I am in one right now. I finally learned to quit fighting it. It's a plateau just like anything else that takes practice.

[candidrachel]

I feel like this too from time to time.

[steamsmyclams]

I get like that too. I've been doing a 365 this year and working 9-5, 5 days a week makes it tough to find some kind of inspiration for a photo when you're doing the same thing every day.

Like @pjflan7 suggested, i took photos of every day things, but tried to make them look a bit more abstract and get in close to things. Find the beauty in the every day.

[Peter Ahrens]

I read a really good book by David duChemin, "The Inspired Eye".

I went through a stage a few months ago. Just know that you're not the only one. It may just be part of the creative process.

I wrote a review on the book if you're interested. It's only $5. Ebook Review: The Inspired Eye, by David duChemin | Peter Ahrens

[faeriegodess612]

Thanks guys,...I've actually heard of some of these suggestions before, just havent decided which ones I wanted to try for right now,and I did think of trying to work more with my desk lamp as ghetto lighting. My makeshift light tent and such. I really do need to learn how to use Gimp to it's fullest. I'd like to experiment with HDR, I'm just not real big on post processing a whole lot. ( I know, I know,...its an essential part of digital photography. I'm a learn as you go and learn whats needed/wanted to get the look you want kinda person. ) As well as experimenting with some Ideas that I have, and some other stuff. Not real big on the waterdrop thing, its so overdone. I have an idea for a twist on it that I've never seen before, but I'm still trying to figure out how to make it work out right. Now that I'm getting more into the technical aspects that I can control, I'll be searching out good books. So the suggestions here are much appreciated. I might try a 52 project now,...still debating.

To Anne,...Home is back in Tennessee between Kingsport/Johnson City and Knoxville. Love those TN hills. Was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama. We ( the hubby and I ) currently live in Texas because hubby is stationed at Fort Hood. I've actually looked online at some of the different parks and such around here. Such as Balcones Canyonland National Wildlife Refuge down near Marble Falls. There's also a "ghost town" a bit beyond Morgan's Point Resort that I want to check out. I'd love to venture out more, but time and an unwillingness to venture out alone in unknown territory is kinda holding me back. Hubby and I dont usually have the same days off. There's plenty to photograph, just have to get out there and do it.

[AnneWynne]

If you have not seen spring in Texas, you will be amazed...it makes up for all the windy weather, dry grasses, hot summers, and dust. You will be ovewhelmed by the fields of bluebonnets and Mexican Hats and Indian Paintbrushes. Scope out interesting places and plan to return in the spring. Find a friend who will drive around with you. Check base activites to see if there is a camera club and see if anyone wants to do some photography play dates.

That part of Texas is nowhere near as pretty as East Tennessee, except in the Spring.

[Krusty79]

Here are 60 ideas that may help you get out of a rut:

60 Sources of Inspiration for Photography