I am getting too lazy to take photos. How to get motivated?

[Urbanito]

Hello:

I have plenty of cameras (LX5. FZ150, Canon SX 220) but, lately I don't feel motivation to take photos. I feel that I don't find new motives of interest, after more than two thousand of photos.

When I buy a new camera, I take some, but it seems that the photos are almost the same.

Who can help me with suggestions to start again? Is there a way to leave this kind of limbo?

Please give me a help.

Kind regards,

Joao

PS: I am not sick, physically or mentally.

 

[cainn24]

I have several different hobbies and the intensity of my focus on each one tends to be cyclical. I get bored of photography quite often and during those times I'll put my energy into something else. And when I get bored of that, I'll move on to yet another cyclical obsession, and so on. Eventually photography will come back to the fore again and I'll pour myself back into it with renewed interest and fresh perspective.

In other words, I don't force it, because for me it's a hobby not a profession. In fact I actually really like this cycle of waning and peaking interest now that I've recognized it for what it is and made peace with it. It tends to enhance my overall enjoyment of everything.

 

[DezM]

Look at the weekly Challenges in this forum for motivation and inspiration. Participate in them. Also, don't force yourself to take photos. Carry ONE camera with you at all times (when going to work, shopping, etc) and photograph what looks interesting. If there's nothing to photograph, try the following day.

Review your shots and edit only the "keepers". Make sure each photo would interest or engage the viewer and pay attention to composition

 

[Jerry045]

You might find a friend who is also into photography and together go somewhere to shoot and compare your results.

There are a couple of local camera clubs locally who will schedule a group shoot with some sort of theme, mike macro or prime lens or portraits, etc. and they turn the photo shoot into a social gathering at the same time possibly trying some form of photography you may not have done before. This adds a little interest at the same time as building your skills. Maybe you have a group local to you that you can join.

Just some thoughts....

 

[Day Hiker]

I know how you feel. I have seen those doldrums. As Dez suggested, keep a camera with you at all times. I do that with my LX7. I just keep my eyes open and make the occasional photo. I'm surprised at just how many interesting images I've gotten just by having a camera with me, even when I am not thinking photography. You may dump 90% or 95% of these random images, but I guarantee you will find some that please you for the long term.

A side benefit to having my LX7 with me at all times is, when I'm feeling bored and not making images, I get the camera out and play with all the menu settings and shoot many test images. I have become completely familiar and comfortable with all aspects of my LX7, video notwithstanding (I have no use for video). I can whip out the camera and grab a quick shot, even if I have to fiddle with it a bit because I know how to use it.

Jim Pilcher
Summit County, Colorado, USA

 

[Jerrich]

All good suggestions, imo. Also watch Graham Houghton's tutorials on YouTube, they might stir up some new feelings. Let us know if you find something that floats your boat.

JR

 

[Ron_43]

Urbanito wrote:

Hello:

I have plenty of cameras (LX5. FZ150, Canon SX 220) but, lately I don't feel motivation to take photos. I feel that I don't find new motives of interest, after more than two thousand of photos.

When I buy a new camera, I take some, but it seems that the photos are almost the same.

Who can help me with suggestions to start again? Is there a way to leave this kind of limbo?

Please give me a help.

Kind regards,

Joao

PS: I am not sick, physically or mentally.

You are not alone. I've gotten the same way and I have several cameras and been doing photography for 60 years.

 

[windmillgolfer]

Keep a camera handy at all times. Watch the light early and late in the day, subjects will suggest themselves.
Good Luck
--
Stuart
Also at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dieselgolfer/
Mr Ichiro Kitao, please upgrade the FZ50

 

[Zindanfel]

Since the new-camera experience has helped motivate you in the past, you might try to re-create that situation by turning one of your cameras into a "new" camera. For example, set it for B&W and shoot exclusively in monochrome. You will be forced to see differently.

A second suggestion is to combine your photography with a charitable activity. For example, at a local animal shelter you could offer to photograph animal portraits to be used in publicity to place the animals in new homes. Or perhaps in an elder-care facility you could offer to shoot portraits of residents.

 

[wolfd]

Good suggestion, Dez.

That is what I do. I carry a camera in my pocket everywhere I go.

 

[Urbanito]

Thank you very much Cainn.
I also have several hobbies. One of them is music, most classical and jazz. I just finished to rip about two thousand CDs, using JRiver Media Center, witch mobilized a lot of energy and time. It was a complex process and it is finished. Now all my music is stored on a NAS, from where I have access from any of my computers. I connect a DAC to an USB output and, from it, to my Hi-Fi System or to a pair of HI End headphones. I love music and now I can see all my albums artwork, select the one I want and listen with more fidelity than with a very expensive CD reader.

The other hobby is reading and go to concerts.

Photography was my main hobby but, as I explained, I don't take photos almost anymore. I even recently bought an Olympus OMD 5 and I just took a dozen of photos. I loved the colors, by I sent it back because I was not using it enough.

I am feeling really unhappy.

Kind regards

Joao

 

[Urbanito]

Thanks a lot DEZ. I remember well you and how well you take photos.
I am going to do my best to follow your suggestion. It is a joy and a learning process to look at your photos. They are good, not depending on the camera that you use.

Best regards

Joao

 

[Urbanito]

Hi Jerry:

Thanks a lot for your suggestions.

There are, in Portugal (my country) quite a lot of groups taking photos under the coaching of a professional. One that I joined, organizes visits outside Lisbon to teach photography and to promote friendship. When I arrived to the bus, I couldn't go because I didn't have a SRL camera.

I was mad and finished it.

Best regards

Joao

 

[Urbanito]

Thanks Jim:

I have done it a lot of times and it was good and I had a lot of keepers just because of that.

But you know what? I even don´t carry anymore a camera, just because I have Lost my inspiration.

And no, I am not depressed.

I have to come back to the old good habitudes.

Kind regards

Joao

 

[Urbanito]

Ron:

You understand me well, but what I want is a come back to my photography.

Thanks a lot.

Joao

 

[Urbanito]

Hi Ron:

I have the privilege of having an outstanding view from my balcony over the ocean and the river Tejo. It is a pleasure to be seated there and see the several colors, always changing. But I already took thousands of photos from there and feel bored to take more. When I travel I still take a lot of photos, but they are more post cards type, than my interpretation of the reality.

I think that my main problem is to not have yet decided what type of photos I want to take. After that, I know that even a back yard has plenty of interesting things. It happens that I just don't see them. Why?

I travelled around the world and spent two years in West Timor and four years in Africa. When I was there, I took thousand of very interesting photos, trying to capture the local culture. It was the time of film cameras and slides. Since they were expensive, I had to "think" what I wanted to capture.

Now, with digital cameras, I just press the shooter. May be this the reason? I don't think so, as digital offers a lot of possibilities witch I couldn't dream about and there is the pp, which can be quite interesting.

But I don´t have new material and I feel that I just shoot vulgarities.

I am very glad with your interest and to help me to think.

Best regards

Joao

 

[Urbanito]

Hi Zin and Wolfd:

Thanks a lot for your suggestions,

Kind regards

Joao

 

[Urbanito]

Hello JR:

Thanks a lot. I am going to watch to Graham Houghton's tutorials. May be I get inspired.

Kind regards

Joao

 

[kkardster]

Urbanito wrote:

Hello:

I have plenty of cameras (LX5. FZ150, Canon SX 220) but, lately I don't feel motivation to take photos. I feel that I don't find new motives of interest, after more than two thousand of photos.

When I buy a new camera, I take some, but it seems that the photos are almost the same.

Who can help me with suggestions to start again? Is there a way to leave this kind of limbo?

Please give me a help.

I don't know what you typically shoot, but perhaps you should dive into a new area for a while. Perhaps Macrophotography, or Light Art, or Time lapse, etc. Or play with methods to maximize the capabilities of your cameras in unintended ways, such as using burst mode with image stacking to increase detail and reduce noise, etc. Or just explore using the features of your cameras that you haven't really used much - perhaps you'll find a feature that you should have been using all along!

Above all, I'd say Have Fun! If it isn't fun, it's time to put the camera down again and go listen to your new music collection.

PS: I am not sick, physically or mentally.

Glad to see that! I hope either the photography bug bites you again or one of your other interests keeps you busy!

--
Bruce
You learn something new every time you press the shutter

 

[kkardster]

Urbanito wrote:

Hi Ron:

I have the privilege of having an outstanding view from my balcony over the ocean and the river Tejo. It is a pleasure to be seated there and see the several colors, always changing. But I already took thousands of photos from there and feel bored to take more. When I travel I still take a lot of photos, but they are more post cards type, than my interpretation of the reality.

Maybe it's time to get off the balcony and move your shoot to the ocean and river? Start with a shot of the comfortable balcony that you've abandoned.

I think that my main problem is to not have yet decided what type of photos I want to take. After that, I know that even a back yard has plenty of interesting things. It happens that I just don't see them. Why?

Don't limit yourself - it can lead to even more complacency. Instead, shoot something new - knowing that what you typically shoot isn't motivating you right now.

I travelled around the world and spent two years in West Timor and four years in Africa. When I was there, I took thousand of very interesting photos, trying to capture the local culture. It was the time of film cameras and slides. Since they were expensive, I had to "think" what I wanted to capture.

Now, with digital cameras, I just press the shooter. May be this the reason? I don't think so, as digital offers a lot of possibilities witch I couldn't dream about and there is the pp, which can be quite interesting.

Go back to your roots and work the photographic details and composition before you press the shutter button. Just because it's digital and less expensive doesn't mean you have to shoot it like a machine gun. Maybe try limiting yourself to one photo per day for a month to see what you get - make a little book out of it.

But I don´t have new material and I feel that I just shoot vulgarities.

There is always new material out there - go shoot it!

I am very glad with your interest and to help me to think.

Best of luck getting the your interest back - and let us see what you come up with! This is a great forum and being able to see and comment should only provide more enthusiasm to keep it up.

--
Bruce
You learn something new every time you press the shutter