Help me break out of a rut?

[summerbl4ck]

Hello!

I feel like I'm in a little photography rut and I'm looking for recommendations for online photography workshops to help me break out of it. But maybe unconventionally, I'm not looking for technical instruction but more for creativity and inspiration.

I took a look in the archives, and I see others have asked similar questions but the answers are usually to go a local photo club or community college. Well, I've done those and that's not really the "spark" I'm looking for this time. I do participate occasionally (altho not recently) in the weekly assignments here on DPS but you don't really get any give-and-take. Anyone have any other ideas?

Something like Susannah Conway's Unraveling e-course is intriguing, unfortunately her Jan session is already sold out.

Any other suggestions or ideas out there?? Thanks much!!

[RLucas]

Check this out. So, you want to improve your skills, huh? Take suggestions from other art forms.
Sometimes it's not just about photography. There is some good info on that thread.
It helped me quite a bit!

[cphoniball]

If you're looking for a "creative" spark, then I'd suggest checking out some of David duChemin's writing.

[darker1985]

I know how this feels, I have spells like this, but I think the whole anxiety thread I started is linked to this.

I find that projects help, sometimes you can end up getting the unexpected by setting yourself a random project. Give it a try.

[summerbl4ck]

@RLucas very interesting post from maxharvard. "emulating" others was a take-away from a class I took last fall.

@cphoniball I've got his PixelatedImage blog in my reader!

[mseigafuse]

Have you considered a long term photo project like a 52 or a 365? I did a 52 and while I did have a few shots with the camera pointing back at me from arm's length ... the majority of the pictures required thought, planning, etc. Other people doing the project at the same time can provide inspiration, encouragement, validation, etc ... it can be a lot of fun and help you grow your skills and creativity IMHO. Food for thought anyway.

Mike

[summerbl4ck]

@mseigafuse Maybe I will try that. I don't think I could commit to a full 365 but maybe something shorter.

Ultimately I think I'm hoping for something that's more interactive...

[cphoniball]

Take one camera and one lens (preferably a prime), go outside, and try to take 100 interesting pictures.

Alternatively, find one thing that you can see from where you're sitting right now and take 25 pictures of it from different angles, using different light, etc.

Open up a copy of your local newspaper and find an event going on soon. Go to it. Take pictures. Be happy.

Edit old pictures in new ways. Experiment with what digital has to offer you.

Use only film for a week (a month, if you're feeling dangerous). If you don't have a film camera, buy an old one and a single prime lens. They're cheap.

Just do it (sorry Nike).

[gazsus]

Well said ^^^

[beatles2]

I just went thru that same thing not to long. it will pass, don't force it you will get it back.