Its funny how inspiration and motivation seems to come and go in cycles and waves. I'm just about coming out of a current slump (which is good) but wondered how others deal with their 'down' cycles for this project
I don't have any real way of dealing with it other than just forcing myself to take a shot and not be too critical of what it is. 'Any shot will do' syndrome.
it is interesting how the inspiration flows, different from one day to the next, with no apparent reason as to why. I think i must just adopt the any shot will do syndrome on these days and just keep shooting pics no matter what!
I def have my lows as well, but I just can't do that 'any shot will do', I'm maybe a bit too self-critical... I'll rather leave the day blank and then when I get a shot I like I'll fill it in later - I know that is not really the 'take a photo everyday spirit' but this project for me is more about improving my photography skills than keeping a diary. So I guess the way I deal with a slump is to not do anything – and just kinda wait it out… dunno if that is the best approach. I’d be interested in hearing how others do it!
I'm happy to hear you are coming out of a slump Murray, cos it is so nice to have you here on 365! :)
This is interesting that you should post this moments after my appalling picture of some cardboard boxes... I'm finding that when I'm busy I don't have time so am in the "any shot will do" court currently. I'm pretty new to this whole photography thing so I'm just enjoying the project and hoping to improve.
I'm closer to Laerke on this one, although I post a photo from that day. I ensure I still snap away, and take pictures of almost anything. I find that just the act of taking pictures ensures I get a decent shot of something; sometimes you can't find inspiration, but inspiration finds you. But I wouldn't have a picture as my daily post unless I was at least moderately happy with it. I'm too much of a perfectionist to be any other way.
Deffo an any shot will do person.. I cant' deal with blank spaces, he he.
Me, its not so much lack of idea's, its lack of time. Often find myself shooting something last min, and trying and failing to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!
I absolutely go through slumps and sometimes it's just that one picture that you take that pulls you right out of the slump. I also follow the anything will do but have also found that sometimes those shots are the ones that people respond to through comments and favs.
Oh and also, even with the "anything will do" shots you can always put off posting them for a day or two so you have time to work on the post processing and maybe learn something new that way.
I shoot what inspires me, or what used to, and say 'heck with the rules'. So you can see I've been in a slump for several weeks,, alarming....but I'll know I'll come out of it soon. I've just been taking from my shoots and letting it ride.
I don't know if it is truly labeled a slump but I have days I don't have a clue what I am going to take a picture of or I don't feel like getting up and taking one. Okay maybe that is a slump but it is day to day and not typically a strand of day put together. Take last night Last nights shot , I had no clue what to take a picture of, it took about 20 minutes to figure it out. ten minutes for the shoot. Another 10 minutes to do some quick PP and posting to Flckr groups and here. However I am quite pleased with it's outcome. It takes some energy to get my butt in gear, as I want to be able to take and post a picture on the day it is meant.
it is more difficult then I had thought to be creative 365 days in a row :) So my hats off to everyone who has done this successfully, who are doing now, those that plan on trying and to those redoing or doing it again.
Mine are quite bad at times too, my good shots (i.e one that make the popular page every so often) tend to be at weekends when I'm out or a random burst of imagination. I guess this concludes cause I go to gym, work in an office, then home. Bearing in mind you find much more stuff outside as opposed to being stuck in doors...its hard to say. Perhaps I'm just making excuses, I could easily go out in the evening now its summer...but to answer your question I dont really have a way of getting out of them, I just end up snapping any old ting!
It's gotten easier for me as the time has lapsed - at the beginning I was getting very frustrated most days, especially because I oftentimes hesitate to pull out a camera and capture something I find interesting... but I've become more comfortable with it so it's not really a bother most days. With that said - I aim to just get in something that was part of the day in question as opposed to taking a great photo.
I am just coming out of a slump myself though I think it is more health related than anything else. I went for a little over a week without posting a "real" photo (taken with my Nikon) but even on my "off" days I tried to post something from my iPhone. I just had to kind of get past the icky feeling and get inspired again but the friends I have made here have been so understanding and supportive that it has made it easy to bounce back. I am happy to report that my groove has returned! =D
My take on it is the same as Laerke's. My days generally aren't all that interesting to document so I'd rather take pictures of pretty things then of day-to-day things.
its usually pretty good to have a theme for the week.. that way you sort of plan out what you'd take photos of.. like i had a self portrait week, a flower week, currently on an animal week.. otherwise i don't know how I would survive for a whole year :)
since i got the ace account however, when i find inspiration, i still post them in the other album especially if i want to join in on the themes and its way different from my own personal weekly theme.
I feel like I'm in a bit of a slump too. But I'm pushing through and realizing just how great it is to be a part of such a supportive, creative and talented network of people. Trying to make the most of each day, don't want to take it for granted.
Defiantly feeling the slump too but i just keep going making sure i get a photo a day. I just try and get a shot of something that reminds me of the day.
some days i just don't have the time and am worn out when i get home. some days i feel extra creative....then don't like anything i take. don't know if thats a slump or just life.
It _is_ hard work sometimes, to think of the next couple of pictures. So far I feel when I'm there, if the one that is hard has been taken, or just snap shot, there comes a bunch just as if I'm in a zone.
Maybe its the best to do it as tennisplayers always say, one shot at the time.
When I get a lot of days in a row where I'm just taking "any shot", I try to go some place outside that I haven't been in a while in hopes that it'll spark some inspiration.
I force myself to shoot, or shoot basic things like flowers and my pets. It's a great way to "cop out" creatively so to speak while still working on your photography and creating attractive images. Brainstorming ideas is often a great way for me too. Once I get a good thought, I get psyched and start thinking of how I can execute my idea. Often my shots are "spur of the moment" things that pop up from walking around my property. Walks are a great way to find new subject matter
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I'm happy to hear you are coming out of a slump Murray, cos it is so nice to have you here on 365! :)
Me, its not so much lack of idea's, its lack of time. Often find myself shooting something last min, and trying and failing to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear!
Oh and also, even with the "anything will do" shots you can always put off posting them for a day or two so you have time to work on the post processing and maybe learn something new that way.
it is more difficult then I had thought to be creative 365 days in a row :) So my hats off to everyone who has done this successfully, who are doing now, those that plan on trying and to those redoing or doing it again.
I struggle with my pictures because I don`t want people to see my "boring life" :o(
since i got the ace account however, when i find inspiration, i still post them in the other album especially if i want to join in on the themes and its way different from my own personal weekly theme.
Maybe its the best to do it as tennisplayers always say, one shot at the time.