How to revitalize your photography hobby?

I got serious about photography in 2011. I started on Jan. 1 with a photo-a-day and continued this without missing a day until mid 2014. I started with a smartphone and then bought a point and shoot. Then I bought the NEX 5N when it was released in 2011 (Sept.). Going from a point and shoot to that camera was huge in providing me with motivation. Add a Sony Zeiss 24/1.8 for $1000 and I was super motivated to make the investment pay off. I took at least 1 shot a day but sometimes hundreds. I'd study them and change settings and study more. By 2015, I decided to enter art contests. I placed 4th in my first one with oil paintings and sculptures ahead of me. My second one was an area museum that had 725 submissions and only about 150 accepted. I took second place with first place being a beautiful sculpture. I've now had many photographs hanging in museums and winning other awards, but I also rarely shoot photography these days. So, I understand the lack of motivation, I think.

I don't think it's lacking motivation as much as it is having extremely high standards . . . at least for me. I used to shoot a photo-a-day and anything was acceptable because I could learn from it. I suppose I can still learn, but I also have a very, very good sense of whether the picture I am taking is going to be a keeper and worthwhile or not. If not, I don't take it any more. I just don't. I see light much better and if there is poor light, I simply won't take a photograph unless I am purposefully wanting the look I'd get. About a year ago, I stopped carrying my camera everywhere with me every day because I found myself not shooting it for days and days. I suppose it's partly motivation, sure, but I think it's also knowing that I am not going to get the images that satisfy me unless I take the time to ensure that I can get them. Time is all about priorities. How do we priorities the time we need to capture the images we desire more often (that's the question I ask myself these days)?

sean lancaster said:

I got serious about photography in 2011. I started on Jan. 1 with a photo-a-day and continued this without missing a day until mid 2014. I started with a smartphone and then bought a point and shoot. Then I bought the NEX 5N when it was released in 2011 (Sept.). Going from a point and shoot to that camera was huge in providing me with motivation. Add a Sony Zeiss 24/1.8 for $1000 and I was super motivated to make the investment pay off. I took at least 1 shot a day but sometimes hundreds. I'd study them and change settings and study more. By 2015, I decided to enter art contests. I placed 4th in my first one with oil paintings and sculptures ahead of me. My second one was an area museum that had 725 submissions and only about 150 accepted. I took second place with first place being a beautiful sculpture. I've now had many photographs hanging in museums and winning other awards, but I also rarely shoot photography these days. So, I understand the lack of motivation, I think.

I don't think it's lacking motivation as much as it is having extremely high standards . . . at least for me. I used to shoot a photo-a-day and anything was acceptable because I could learn from it. I suppose I can still learn, but I also have a very, very good sense of whether the picture I am taking is going to be a keeper and worthwhile or not. If not, I don't take it any more. I just don't. I see light much better and if there is poor light, I simply won't take a photograph unless I am purposefully wanting the look I'd get. About a year ago, I stopped carrying my camera everywhere with me every day because I found myself not shooting it for days and days. I suppose it's partly motivation, sure, but I think it's also knowing that I am not going to get the images that satisfy me unless I take the time to ensure that I can get them. Time is all about priorities. How do we priorities the time we need to capture the images we desire more often (that's the question I ask myself these days)?

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This is it. i stopped carrying the camera for the same reason. I can shoot with my brain and, mostly, I don't find any satisfactory keeper... so I am not shooting with the camera. Yes, I see beauty all around me, but I don't see the "Wow" anymore. I set the standard very high and it seems I cannot lower it for some time, now.

I am not one of the best artists, nor photographer but yes, like you said, I have the eye and the skill good enough to know in advance if something will be or not a keeper.

Off The Mark said:

Off The Mark said:

So, I started photography 9 years ago, when expecting my first child to be born...

...The question - how do you re-motivate yourself to re-engage into this beautiful hobby?

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Again, I would question as to WHY you feel you need to motivate yourself. If you need to take a break, then take a break.

But if you absolutely need some motivation, I would give you this: As the parent of a 13-year-old boy, I wish I had take many more photos and videos of my child when he was around 9 (and 10, 11, 12, etc.,). It seems from your opening statement that you probably have a nine-year-old child and if I NEEDED motivation, that would be my main factor.

But that's just me.

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i have thousands of pictures with my kids. And I constantly shoot them and I will never stop doing this. But this task became something like cooking. It is just something that I have to do. Not something that I am eager to do. Not anymore.

There were times when my nightly dreams included photography. Mornings when I woke up with the only main goal to use the gear, to press the button, to edit the photos, to share them with my family... Not anymore.

The WHY question is a hard one. Mostly, is because I miss those days?..

Remember the famous line from "The King and I": "When you become a teacher by your pupils you'll be taught"?

I recently convinced two friends to buy Sony RX10 ivs and it's very rewarding to see one of them producing some very creditable action shots of her daughter's baseball games - confirmation that she had made the correct decision.

The other friend has had some serious family issues so hasn't learned much as yet, but I look forward to watching her develop her skills.

You may not be taking any more pictures, but you will be rewarded by watching a beginner develop confidence and skills.

Isabel

iullian said:

The WHY question is a hard one. Mostly, is because I miss those days?

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I think that is certainly a good enough reason. Maybe we can say that you miss the "thrill" of being excited by photography???

No one will ever confuse me for a psychologist or counselor or life coach. But I might kindly suggest that if photography doesn't push your buttons at that moment, then maybe accept that and move on for a while. I took something of a several years break myself but I now do photography professionally (as well as video). I am pretty happy with it, but there was a time a while back for a couple years that I didn't want to be within 20 feet of a camera.

BTW: I have some RC airplanes that I got into a few years back. They mostly sit around collecting dust. Sometimes I feel like I "should" try and motivate myself to get back in to flying them, but then I think of the sacrifices I need to make to fly them (there isn't a local park nearby that allows flying, the only good times when it isn't too windy is at sun up and sun down, people think it's a drone and that you are going to blow something up, etc.,).

Maybe one day I will get back in to it. Who knows??? But at this point in my life I ain't going to sweat it.

iullian said:

i have thousands of pictures with my kids. And I constantly shoot them and I will never stop doing this. But this task became something like cooking. It is just something that I have to do. Not something that I am eager to do. Not anymore.

There were times when my nightly dreams included photography. Mornings when I woke up with the only main goal to use the gear, to press the button, to edit the photos, to share them with my family... Not anymore.

The WHY question is a hard one. Mostly, is because I miss those days?..

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Always is, especially when self-introspecting. You've gotten a lot of good ideas in the responses but my guess is that none of them will really help until you get at the real reasons why...

1. ...it is no longer fun

2. ...you feel you need to re-kindle your interest.

We don't know your age, but with a 9-year old, could it be the beginnings of a mid-life crisis (I sheepishly admit to buying the obligatory sports car when I went through mine...)? Or is it that you've accomplished all your photography goals and, sub-consciously, you know there is nothing left to achieve? Or...?

Like Off The Mark, I am not a psychologist, and even if I were, giving real advice on an internet forum would probably be considered mal-practice... If the lack of enthusiasm extends to other things (you mention cooking, anything else?) then maybe it's not just the photography. Or maybe you've just passed through a phase in your life - think back to some of the things you were passionate about when you were younger - you've probably dropped some of them, for any of a number of possible reasons. Life moves on...

If the condition persists, and it continues to gnaw at you, maybe talk to a counselor (psychologist, clergy, good friend...).

I’ve had hobbies that I’ve looked to rekindle the fire to do, just because I remembered how much fun I had doing it when my interest was at its peak.

I suspect that may be the case here.

Hi,

sorry to hear this - not that you have lost motivation to photograph (this is not important), but that you seem to be sad about it (which is important).

I think it's easy.

Do you NEED to photograph? I mean, does the world need you to photograph? I know the world doest not need me to photograph - so when I feel like it, or when I see things, I photograph a lot, or else I can go a long time without any meaningful photographs.

If the world does not NEED you to photograph, then what do YOU need? Obviously a 1st child is a massive change in one's life - this will be hard to match! I know I tend to take lots of mountain photos bc I'm an avid mountaineer but hardly anyone looks at them aside from the friends who were there with me that day ;-) Or I will occasionally photograph spring flowers, a cat, dew on grass, who knows. And 90-95pc of the time I use my smartphone, not my DSLR.

Or do you feel GUILT bc of the gear you bought? But the child is still here and can still be photographed, right? And the money cannot be un-spent (and the resale value will be minimal in this world of fast progressing smartphones and declining DSLR / ILC market).

hope this helps a bit

A

iullian said:

So, I started photography 9 years ago, when expecting my first child to be born. Along the road, I learned and went deep into both photography hobby and photo gear. During these years, I shot and edited tens of thousands of photos, some of them even having won some national contests.

Now, I have the gear, I have the editing skills, but... lack of motivation.

Sure, I shoot some photos at special events (family stuff), but... nothing else.

The question - how do you re-motivate yourself to re-engage into this beautiful hobby?

Click to expand...

Off The Mark said:

BTW: I have some RC airplanes that I got into a few years back. They mostly sit around collecting dust. Sometimes I feel like I "should" try and motivate myself to get back in to flying them, but then I think of the sacrifices I need to make to fly them (there isn't a local park nearby that allows flying, the only good times when it isn't too windy is at sun up and sun down, people think it's a drone and that you are going to blow something up, etc.,).

Click to expand...

Been there. I did paragliding that I couldn't do where I live, so I always had to go quite far to do my things. And it is weather dependent and you first know if it will work when you are on site.

I came to the conclusion that I should either move to where I can do paragliding or change my passion to one I can do locally, and the best is one that isn't surrounding dependent.

That is why I choose to do a one nature image per day during one year project since I have some nature around where I live. Also the nature doesn't need a booking, it is always there. Can be in a grumpy mood at times, but those images often gets more likes than the sunny ones, so they seem to resonate with many and at least I wouldn't have gone out those days if it weren't for my project.

antoineb said:

Do you NEED to photograph? I mean, does the world need you to photograph? I know the world doest not need me to photograph - so when I feel like it, or when I see things, I photograph a lot, or else I can go a long time without any meaningful photographs.

If the world does not NEED you to photograph, then what do YOU need?

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Thinking like this, is both good and bad. Bad in that the answer to that question is "no" for very many things we do and that can be quite dis-motivational in general. Not many things I do at all are actually really needed. The whole I is actually not needed by the world.

It can also be very liberating, because once you get to the bottom with these thoughts and realize that no one needs any of your work or you (people with children might have another answer to that one) then you understand that everything you do, you do for yourself. And what others think is actually totally uninteresting.

I don't shot my images for others. I shot them for me.

Many times just to get out, to an event, or out in the nature. Some people take their dog in a strap, I take my camera. The images I take are not needed so I don't need to edit them, or publish them. And at times I don't if I wasn't in the mood. I have many really nice sunsets on my harddrive that only I have seen.

Yesterday I was at a car show and shot. I wouldn't have gone there if it wasn't that I could bring my camera, my own interest isn't high enough. But I have some friends that have that passion. So I shot them, their cars and many others unknown cars and people.

I will edit these images today as good as I just can and post in their forum. It will make people happy to get images of their cars they have worked hard on and I got to a nice meet and talked to a lot of nice people, met some new ones and learned stuff I wouldn't have otherwise. Also I train myself in both shooting, framing and editing stuff I wouldn't have shot otherwise.

None of these images will be ones I want to have on my walls since they are shot a public show with stuff and people in the way, the light from the wrong side, with a focal length that wasn't the best for the subject etc but there wasn't any other option that could be used there and then.

So set the bar low, you don't need to do master pieces every time.

It is nice to just get out and interact with others in all sorts of areas you otherwise wouldn't. Having a camera in the hand opens up a lot of doors to other things. And it also creates connections that can be used later. And it also sparks one owns interest for new things.

Several of those whose cars I shot yesterday are interested in doing a private session with me shooting their custom car in a nice environment. And the images that comes out of that might well be so good that I want them on my walls and publish in my gallery etc.

--
Best regards
/Anders
----------------------------------------------------
42 Megapixels is the answer to life, the universe and everything.
Adapting autofocus lenses is like a box of chocolate...
You don't have to like my pictures, but it would help: http://www.lattermann.com/gallery

There are times in anyone's life when your social life changes drastically, for me that became the time to look around and see what's available (to keep busy - to socialize, etc)

After leaving college, and moving to a different town for a job, I really felt adrift. It was a tough time but i was always cognizant of wanting a hobby/activities that involved others. Then when i retired, same thing happened to me all over again. I joined a photo club and that helped. Someone in the photo club encouraged me to help provide photographic services to a local community live-theatre organization. That really helped me and helped them. The friend and i eventually shot plays for them, decorated the lobby for them, I shot promotional media pictures for them, head shots for the program, group shots, etc. Did that for 7 years and got really good at it.

I know a gal who supported herself as a wedding photographer who also volunteered at the local dog/cat center, who would shoot pictures of dogs once a month to be published in the local paper/news outlet to promote adoption - for free. Lots of smaller organizations need photographic services that often they can't really pay for. They will love the help. And it also pushed me to get better at the craft.

Retired folks help a lot of organizations to keep going, whether it involves photography or not. If you're looking for specific activities that you like, check out the "Meet-up" online sites for hiking, and many other activities.

iullian said:

So, I started photography 9 years ago, when expecting my first child to be born. Along the road, I learned and went deep into both photography hobby and photo gear. During these years, I shot and edited tens of thousands of photos, some of them even having won some national contests.

Now, I have the gear, I have the editing skills, but... lack of motivation.

Sure, I shoot some photos at special events (family stuff), but... nothing else.

The question - how do you re-motivate yourself to re-engage into this beautiful hobby?

Click to expand...

1. Give it time and your motivation will come again. it's quite natural.
2. Start a small photo project. I started an instagram account photographing 2 small trees just for fun and getting started with my photography again. Not many followers but it's my small project and also easy for me to do even on busy days and now I also have a more serious account.

www.instagram.com/2_small_3s

David

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David Cartagena
David Cartagena on instagram

iullian said:

So, I started photography 9 years ago, when expecting my first child to be born. Along the road, I learned and went deep into both photography hobby and photo gear. During these years, I shot and edited tens of thousands of photos, some of them even having won some national contests.

Now, I have the gear, I have the editing skills, but... lack of motivation.

Sure, I shoot some photos at special events (family stuff), but... nothing else.

The question - how do you re-motivate yourself to re-engage into this beautiful hobby?

Click to expand...

I feel as that I am in the same boat as you are. All this past weekend, I told myself get out there and shoot. By the weekend comes, I am wore out from my full time job. I do have a trip planned to go to Idaho in July. So last night, I went to our local State park and tried to photograph some deer with my 150mm-600mm Sigma lens. What a let down on my part. Just did not get a good shot off when I went home to edit. I know I have quality gear, but maybe I was just out to take pictures, and not photographs. I sure hope I find my passion again before July. It kinda sucks because I have nobody to share my interest with. Good Luck to you.

Rey66 said:

I was on the same boat until I use my existing lens into astrophotgraphy. 1 year and still cant wait for clear skies. Lots of learning and work, this what keeps me on this hobby.

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Great work with the astral photography.

You were very kind and posted good suggestions that I will consider.

Thank you all for your thoughts !

iullian said:

You were very kind and posted good suggestions that I will consider.

Thank you all for your thoughts !

Click to expand...

I will add one: Go through for photo stuff, sort them nice, clean them etc. Just handling them often gives a longing for using them.

Also going trough old images can create that feeling for me.

--
Best regards
/Anders
----------------------------------------------------
42 Megapixels is the answer to life, the universe and everything.
Adapting autofocus lenses is like a box of chocolate...
You don't have to like my pictures, but it would help: http://www.lattermann.com/gallery