I started 365 on Jan 1st and initially worried I would never be able to find enough fill a month let alone a year.Here I am 12 of May have'nt missed a day yet despite the nasty chest infection road traffic accident and various other obstacles! but now I find myself hitting what marathon runners call the wall.The weather hasnt helped its been non stop rain for what feels like weeks and weeks.
My question is how to kick start? I have paged through the obvious places looking for inspiration from other 365ers but nothing is working or I dont have the time spend hours setting up technical shots that amaze me.
How do I re-kindle that spark? I know I have lost it I am getting so few comments and even fewer favs on my pics.I would love to hear your suggestions.
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I hit the wall a lot. Today was the 500th consecutive day of photo shoots without using a filler. There have been days when I've though I could just use a filler, but it's more of a matter of pride now. It's given me discipline to go out every day.
With that, try looking around your house. Indoor shots, self portraits, minimalism. Experiment with water drops. If you have kids, get their toys out and play. All sorts of things you can do when the weather's bad. Heck, take an umbrella, get a willing assistant and have them splash around in the puddles for you.
One thing that I've done several times, but that depends on your taking the time to do it, is something I call 'stunt photo safari'. You pick a place, you go there with no predefined plans whatsoever, an just let the place inspire you. (Actually, I usually describe that last step as 'just go crazy'...!)
Having had two photo trips yesterday; one planed, one stunt; I feel a bt walled today. I haven't decided yet what to do, but I know I have a story to follow up on a shot I did a few days ago.
Hm, that's an idea, perhaps? How about telling a story, day-by-day?
thats the good thing with 365, you can do anything you want like resting for a while until you get back your chi, mojo or force.
I always try to take whatever life throws at me - even shooting toys or the sky. While some have given in to the ABC theme challenge, I create my own like how many b&w I can make in a week, month or eternity.
Good luck on passing/phasing through the wall and hoping the wall isnt built on adamantium
You've done well to get this far before hitting it! On my old camera I'd switch lenses from 'normal' to zoom when I got stuck. On the new one I've only got one lens so I set out for a walk thinking 'I'm going to take a close up detail of something' or some such and I always see lots of other things that aren't close up detail then!!
I have found browsing the latest page or the Day pages often helps to inspire one to take a picture. Also going through albums of people you admire and try to acheive a similar shot to one they have taken is also helpful in getting past "the wall".
I went through a lull... You just have to push through it. Find stuff in your house to take pictures of if you don't want to go outside. Better yet, take pictures of the rain in various ways. Once you push through it, you will be glad you did and you will get motivated again. Good Luck! Hope to see you there at the end!
I've been here since October and have hit the wall several times, like every other week, but I have managed to post something every day. The winter was the worst for inspiration and motivation. Plus, I don't have time, skills or enough photographic ambition to tackle any of the challenges or themes. I have relaxed my own rules to make things easier for myself and now I don't worry if the picture I'm posting was taken that day or three days before just as long as my calendar doesn't have any holes.
What about taking a single week or even longer out of your album and re-shoot everything again, in the same order, but in a completely different way.... and see if you can improve on your previous shot? Great if you do - No worries if you don't - just have fun along the way.
I often go for a walk with the dog & take my phone or the camera. I don't really set up shots. My photography is quite hit & miss and I'm stil learning to use manual setting with any degree of competency. I'm really here for the fun and learning. I find it easier not to worry too much about views and comments- that could cause a lot of pressure. Sometimes I have some photos stashed in my phone or computer from the weekend and use them during the week. I like the idea of shoot shoot shoot, that your mundane is other people's interesting, of using your environment. There are some fantastic ideas here. I've also started using the challenges- there are some fun ones on at the moment such as 5 steps, the artist challenge & the street challenge.
This is my second year. I periodically hit a photographer's block. I have found strategies to get through this (not that it is easy for me every day). The most important is to have the self discipline enough to take at least one shot per day (self discipline is difficult for me). I have subjects that I return to. I walk around the house or yard or town just snapping away at anything interesting. I take shots of one subject from various perspectives and angles. I assign myself a task to work on specific technique/s (light, depth, texture, layers). I carefully select the challenges and themes I participate in. Right now, I am doing the mirror challenge and the 5 weeks in May challenge. The important thing I have to remember is that I am in this for the fun of it. Have fun! Enjoy 365!
Hitting the wall is very natural and to be expect, it can happen a number of times during the project. In regards to comments and favs, from others, my take is that you are doing this project for you, not others. Don't feel the need for others to validate what you are doing. Heck, if I rated my success by comments, favs, followers, I'd never have completed my project last year and wouldn't have started a new project this year. I'd suggest a couple of things (1) Try identify what your aims/goals/reasons are for doing the project, it might help you re-focus (2) Accept that pretty much everyone goes through down times and loss of mojo, but remember it just takes a click to keep going (3) Photograph what you love, what do you love aside from photography? go shoot it (them) (4) Set yourself a challenge, something outside your comfort zone - it can really inspire you (5) Try relax about it, take the pressure off, look around the room you are in right now, pick an object and photograph it with various lighting or pick out a detail, just mix it up. Not sure it would be of any help, but I wrote an article about doing a 365 for Abe's of Maine (I've nothing to do with them, they just asked me to write and article.) it's here if you want to read it: http://blogs.abesofmaine.com/doing-a-project-365-by-dave-ferrie/
I've been there!!! All I can say - without repeating other's too much - is that stick with it!! I will be done July 1st - and I never thought I would make it!!!! I am not perfect - and sometimes my pics are boring - but I want to be able to say - "I did it!!!"
I have a few mini themes of my own that I keep going back to provide inspiration for example I started a 'red sofa' theme/ tag and take regular photos of family and guests sitting on my red sofa. Other themes I keep returning to are 'favourite recipes' 'favourite flowers' and even 'favourite crockery'. I also keep taking pictures of some local hills from different angles in different seasons.
I also aim to fav about as many pictures as I post and I fav pictures I find inspiring so I can look back at the photos I've faved for inspiration.
I echo what @cirasj says... I started in Oct 2009 and walls come and go, as does time on the PP... Just roll with it and whenever you struggle, know a good run is just around the corner...
I feel the same way, and the rain here does not help. I went to the library last week and looked in the photography section and checked out some books to get me inspired. It really has helped me want to break down the wall. Also, I tend to be a traveler and new scenery helps as well.
I hit walls constantly. Sounds a bit trite, but just keep going. Not every shot, not every day is an inspiration. I don't shoot every day, but I am not giving up, I am not stopping. Pick up the camera, point it at something and shoot. Play with the angle, depth of field, camera movement, etc.
can only repeat most of teh stuff above .
JUST KEEP TAKING A PHOTO A DAY < EVEN IF YOU THINK ITS TOO BORING < TOO DULL < NOT GOOD ENOUGH ... eventually something happens. You've at east gained familiarity with the camera and unknowinglt learned something.
all the best
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With that, try looking around your house. Indoor shots, self portraits, minimalism. Experiment with water drops. If you have kids, get their toys out and play. All sorts of things you can do when the weather's bad. Heck, take an umbrella, get a willing assistant and have them splash around in the puddles for you.
One thing that I've done several times, but that depends on your taking the time to do it, is something I call 'stunt photo safari'. You pick a place, you go there with no predefined plans whatsoever, an just let the place inspire you. (Actually, I usually describe that last step as 'just go crazy'...!)
Having had two photo trips yesterday; one planed, one stunt; I feel a bt walled today. I haven't decided yet what to do, but I know I have a story to follow up on a shot I did a few days ago.
Hm, that's an idea, perhaps? How about telling a story, day-by-day?
I always try to take whatever life throws at me - even shooting toys or the sky. While some have given in to the ABC theme challenge, I create my own like how many b&w I can make in a week, month or eternity.
Good luck on passing/phasing through the wall and hoping the wall isnt built on adamantium
;)
I also aim to fav about as many pictures as I post and I fav pictures I find inspiring so I can look back at the photos I've faved for inspiration.
JUST KEEP TAKING A PHOTO A DAY < EVEN IF YOU THINK ITS TOO BORING < TOO DULL < NOT GOOD ENOUGH ... eventually something happens. You've at east gained familiarity with the camera and unknowinglt learned something.
all the best