So, I'm constantly stuck in a creative rut. I blame it on stress and worrying over what to do with my life lately. Photography is the only thing that keeps me going. I actually draw and illustrate, but with that, I'm stuck. Photography is just easy and simple. You pick up a camera and you shoot what you want to capture.
What do you do when you're stuck in a creative rut? How do you get yourself out of it? I'm looking for WAYS to get myself out and just get that creative muse back. I miss it!
I find, the more I worry about being uncreative, the less creative I get. I try and get out and relax for bit, not necessarily worry about taking photos, try and de stress. After that I generally find inspiration to do something different.
I also find new people to follow on this site, people with different styles, that gives me ideas of things to try..
Gosh, I go through periods like this too. When I get in a creative rut, I will force myself to learn a new photography skill or a feature on my camera. If that doesn't work, I find one thing each day that makes me happy and take a picture of that. When all else fails, I just snap pics of my kids and edit them to make them different. I hope you can get your muse back! :0)
Uhm I have creative blocks....some say all the time!
I find that it helps to do as much as I can e.g. these days its editing my photos, then leave them for a day or two until you feel fresh and then my eye is slightly less biased and I can be a bit more critically selective. Today I did that (came back) and found most of my edits and choices were OK! Some days I start again from scratch. As to picking up cameras....but a complete change is always good, walk polish the car, no dwelling on issues....
Work in Colour is a blog newsletter I get from a tutor I had for a journalism course she has many tips for block etc Check her site: http://workincolour.com.au/ you should find something useful there....
Type "inspiration" in the search box. You will find hundreds of entries on this subject posted by hundreds of people asking the very same question. In those posts you will find all kinds of suggestions and ideas that may light that spark that you have.
ok ill probably sound daft but i talk to the kids , watch the kids play and watch kids tv ........ then an idea usually presents itself , failing that i wander aimlessly around the house looking for inspiration haha ! ..... to be honest tho my ideas come in waves one day i might have 4 ideas and for the next to nothing so i try to write down any ideas i have so i can go back to it on a duff day :)
I'm stuck in one of those now--well, for the past several months actually! I've decided to take a trip to the art museum on Friday. I think just going someplace new helps.
I've been stuck in a creative rut in a long time, believe it or not. It's driving me CRAZY. I've been thinking about taking a trip out to Denver, Colorado to visit a friend in April, and maybe that will help me re-fuel my creative muse - especially with my photography stuff. I do a lot of nature/urban photography. You can see it here: http://rmcbuckeye.imagekind.com/
Get in the car, put a CD in, and drive. When the CD is done, get off the freeway, or road your on. Once you're there, you will find something new and unique.
No, I am not joking. I do this all the time. And, yes, it works.
I know that feeling too! Sometimes I just take a walk and that's enough. Other times, I just go for a drive. Sometimes I get together with a friend I haven't seen in a while. Basically, I try to do something out of the routine. If I can't get out, I try to find something on the TV that I know nothing about and learn something new. Last year I read a book about the crab fishermen in Alaska. This year I started a book about a woman who traveled to Israel in the fourth century. The change of pace gets my brain cells to refire and I start thinking creatively again. Definitely visit Colorado if you can- it's beautiful!
I agree with the idea of @cfitzgerald on learning a new technique. I have to say that I tired to do the fruit in seltzer water, but loved none, but at least tried a new process. I went to take photos of flowers or fruit at Whole Foods (for free). I also found some really interesting shots (flower frozen in water, adjusting the focus while the shutter is open, bokeh) and ask the person with the best photo, how they did the technique and then try it myself.
When I get in a creative rut, I spin around and look at the details of whatever is in front of me and take a picture. Sometimes, I try a new technique or do an experiment on something, such as what natural light during various times of a day does to pictures of a particular subject OR experiment with shooting one subject from various angles. At other times, I think about what I am passionate about and then go take a picture of this subject. (example: take pictures of flowers at my favorite park).
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I hope things get better soon. I totally understand stress zapping your creative energy. Been there lately.
I also find new people to follow on this site, people with different styles, that gives me ideas of things to try..
I find that it helps to do as much as I can e.g. these days its editing my photos, then leave them for a day or two until you feel fresh and then my eye is slightly less biased and I can be a bit more critically selective. Today I did that (came back) and found most of my edits and choices were OK! Some days I start again from scratch. As to picking up cameras....but a complete change is always good, walk polish the car, no dwelling on issues....
Work in Colour is a blog newsletter I get from a tutor I had for a journalism course she has many tips for block etc Check her site: http://workincolour.com.au/ you should find something useful there....
Hope this helps - David
Type "inspiration" in the search box. You will find hundreds of entries on this subject posted by hundreds of people asking the very same question. In those posts you will find all kinds of suggestions and ideas that may light that spark that you have.
Keep up the suggestions and ideas! :)
No, I am not joking. I do this all the time. And, yes, it works.