Motivation problems... should I worry?

Thanks for all the kind replies, I can say it's made a diffrence. I haven't grabbed my camera and gone crazy, but I sure have got some more ideas and I'm a lot more interested in photographing now then two days ago.

I already made one photo with a ceiling fan because a guy in this thread gave me the idea, a print is now ordered and it's a 30x45cm print. Will do good on the wall.

That feelt really good.

I think that is one of the things I have to start doing, everytime I've been photographing, I must order one large print of a photo, it will be like an achievement and a reward. No photo looks better than it does on a wall, I tell you that.

A normal semester photo can look good on a wall!

--

Photographing alot of diffrent stuffs, check me out at: http://mrcolon.deviantart.com/

Hi Eric,

there is a lot of wisdom and good tips in this thread, you can use.

Please allow me to be personal, as I have son in your age and mood and know, what are you speaking about.
I agree especially with CityLights:

MrColonist said:

I feel like I'm wasting a lot of useful time going to school..

Click to expand...

It is the biggest mistake of teens.

No, it's your REAL investment to your future, even we all remember that tedium. Now you have the best conditions for studying: open mind, family support. Try to dig the most of it, learn foreign languages, one more than just English, until your brain can. Lot of my colleagues recognized it too late and they are now trying hard to achieve University degree or language education, being busy in their jobs and having families.

Spending all the free time boring by computer, watching movies and playing games, that's waste of time. But it is probably not your problem, I really wish I have your creative mind and eye, seeing your fan pictures.

Try to make some small money from your hobby or whatever or join the group, don't wait to be supported, you are the best and only support for yourself.

Honestly, I see your problem differently than some people here, not as your photography burn-out, but as your common mood. Read your own words:

MrColonist said:

... it just doesn't feel fun to go out in the same woods ..
...Just skiing hills... it sucks frankly.

..The other issue is everything in my mind with school, with friends and everything.
..I keep telling myself it's gonna be OK, ... but I'm not so sure anymore.

...No one supports my photographing except for telling me how good I am. That's not enough, ...
..just don't have the energy to lift up the camera

Click to expand...

Man, you should try to have fun,no matter what you do!

Skiing hill sucks ?! Leave your ski in a hotel and try to run uphill as long as you can and then downhill with a plastic bag on your butt.Try to fight with your father in the snowdrift like kids. Go to see the resort under moonlight, go into the open-air swimmingpool, if any there or just run in snow with bare foots turning back from the bar. Man, you are 17!

MrColonist said:

Should I worry in your opinion?

Click to expand...

No, not yet. I think it is a seasonal affected depression. No wonder, we all know it, even here we didn't see the sun few weeks, not speaking about people in northern countries.
On the other side, I don't presume to judge it.

Be active, try to exercise, don't sleep too long, try to achieve even small joy everyday, there is a lot of books how to fight with this.

Hold on, but if the spring or holidays will come and you still feel bad, consider seriously to speak with your family doctor or specialist, it's no shame. I know, what I am speaking about.
Best wishes, guinness

guinness2 said:

there is a lot of wisdom and good tips in this thread, you can use.

Please allow me to be personal, as I have son in your age and mood
and know, what are you speaking about.
I agree especially with CityLights:

Member said:

I feel like I'm wasting a lot of useful time going to school..

Click to expand...

It is the biggest mistake of teens.
No, it's your REAL investment to your future, even we all remember
that tedium. Now you have the best conditions for studying: open
mind, family support. Try to dig the most of it, learn foreign
languages, one more than just English, until your brain can. Lot of
my colleagues recognized it too late and they are now trying hard to
achieve University degree or language education, being busy in their
jobs and having families.
Spending all the free time boring by computer, watching movies and
playing games, that's waste of time. But it is probably not your
problem, I really wish I have your creative mind and eye, seeing your
fan pictures.
Try to make some small money from your hobby or whatever or join the
group, don't wait to be supported, you are the best and only support
for yourself.

Click to expand...

I'm not saying it's not worth it in the end, all I'm saying is that it bores the hell out of me to go to this unorganized school with confused teachers and boring classmates day in and day out. In the end, all I have is a paper saying I've studied this, it doesn't say if I learned anything though. - Which I don't.

I spend most of my time infront of a computer and watching movies, I'm watching movies mainly because I'm a movie freak, I love artistic movies with beautiful photos etc. so I'm watching for a reason. I'm sitting infront of the computer because I don't have any friends to hang out with.

This doesn't disturb my creativity I believe, I get inspired by looking at other peoples photographs at the internet.

I don't like being in groups, I know it might sound stupid, but I've always only wanted one friend that I can trust through everything and that shares my interests. That's all I need, I don't wanna join a photographing club, I'm not that kind of a guy.

Member said:

Honestly, I see your problem differently than some people here, not
as your photography burn-out, but as your common mood. Read your own
words:

Member said:

... it just doesn't feel fun to go out in the same woods ..
...Just skiing hills... it sucks frankly.

..The other issue is everything in my mind with school, with friends and everything.
..I keep telling myself it's gonna be OK, ... but I'm not so sure anymore.

...No one supports my photographing except for telling me how good I am. That's not enough, ...
..just don't have the energy to lift up the camera

Click to expand...

Man, you should try to have fun,no matter what you do!

Click to expand...

Yeah, and you've guessed right. It's not only my photography that's not going good, it's pretty much everything. But I want to photograph so bad, and it will help my overall mood if I get back my motivation.

Member said:

Skiing hill sucks ?! Leave your ski in a hotel and try to run uphill
as long as you can and then downhill with a plastic bag on your
butt.Try to fight with your father in the snowdrift like kids. Go to
see the resort under moonlight, go into the open-air swimmingpool, if
any there or just run in snow with bare foots turning back from the
bar. Man, you are 17!

Click to expand...

I don't do skiing, I used to, but I don't like it anymore.

Member said:

Member said:

Should I worry in your opinion?

Click to expand...

No, not yet. I think it is a seasonal affected depression. No wonder,
we all know it, even here we didn't see the sun few weeks, not
speaking about people in northern countries.
On the other side, I don't presume to judge it.
Be active, try to exercise, don't sleep too long, try to achieve
even small joy everyday, there is a lot of books how to fight with
this.
Hold on, but if the spring or holidays will come and you still feel
bad, consider seriously to speak with your family doctor or
specialist, it's no shame. I know, what I am speaking about.
Best wishes, guinness

Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a negative person. I love photographing, I love my dog, I love the nature etc. etc.

--

Photographing alot of diffrent stuffs, check me out at: http://mrcolon.deviantart.com/

MrColonist said:

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a negative person. I love
photographing, I love my dog, I love the nature etc. etc.

Click to expand...

Hi, that's all good news from you. You are a fighter, no worries...

You must know my son, such things we discuss daily, so I have much more to say, but I feel that forum is not the best place for it.
Just one last mentoring

Meeting good friend is just a random, but they definitely don't come to you down home.
Wish you the best..

1. I think winter challenges a lot of people from a creative perspective. The lack of color, the poor light, the lack of interesting subjects make it a difficult time for photography. Every now and then you do stumble across some interesting subjects, it's just harder. As others have said, maybe it's a good time to explore some different avenues of photography -- macro work, portraits, interior shots, etc. It's also a good time to work on your Photoshop skills -- re-edit some shots from the summer and see if you can make them better.

2. Don't be so quick to discount the ski trip. Any change of venue can help from a creative perspective. Okay, it's not a safari or a Caribbean cruise, but it will get you away from your day-to-day environment. It might help.

3. I think most people appreciate your feelings about school -- boring topics, uninspired presentation of the material, silly rules. But you need an education to do just about anything -- even photography. Get over it. I hate to break this to you but a lot of jobs aren't much better. Even great jobs have boring aspects. A decent education expands your options, and you might be surprised how little bits of seemingly useless knowledge can come in handy down the road.