We all fall into creative ruts at one time or another; it is a natural part of photography. And it is not always an option to simply wait it out. So, what can you do? This great video tutorial discusses four different tips for breaking out of a creative rut and finding inspiration again.
Coming to you from Michael Shainblum, this excellent video tutorial discusses four tips for breaking out of a creative rut. Creative inspiration naturally ebbs and flows for all of us, and it can be incredibly frustrating when we are stuck in a rut and unsure of how to get out of it. One thing that helps me a lot is putting restrictions on my workflow. These can be very arbitrary restrictions, such as only using f/11 or shooting everything at a certain focal length. The point is not necessarily that you will create portfolio-worthy images with these limitations. Rather, they force you to think through the problems imposed by them, and in doing this, you will often shake free whatever is holding you back and even discover new creative ideas or methods you might not have known about otherwise. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Shainblum.
I'm posting after only reading the headline. Easiest way I've found to get out of a creative rut. Take your least favorite or least used lens or a lens not usually used for a certain environment, and only that lens, out for the day. Set a minimum shot limit and/or keeper limit. Then, take a walk. Now, try to take interesting pictures of the least interesting things. Repeat until you're out of your rut.
I came here to say almost the same thing. Just get out with your camera and walk around looking at everything and take photos!
Key words: GET & OUT. Can't get out of a rut sitting at home...
With only two comments just might tell the really story of photography and photographers --- there was NO mention of gear so most are not interested :(
Great info and tips Micheal . Less face it; we have all been there; "there's nothing to sho ---- whoops -- ''there's nothing to photograph'' After 40 odd years with a camera or 10, I have had my share of "nothing to photograph" meltdowns
Gear : get over bloody gear . Photography is about light, the quality of that light and shadows from that light and the better camera is the "one" you have.
A few years back I was bit crook and I wanted to (needed to!!) get out of the house . But my gear still felt like "work" until I bought a used Olympus EM1 and a 20mm (equev 40mm) panasonic lens and hit the local footpaths . Not to do Street photography as such, but the much boarder urban photography. With only that one simple camera and one lens I learnt and re-learnt so much about photography because my mind was not bogged down with gear/ this lens or that lens?/missing a photo. I'm still amazed at the subjects that slipped through that little lens
Not matter how much gear you have; you can never get every photo you might see.
So my advice is don't make photography harder, more complicated, and more confusing than is it by using too much gear. Free your mind with less gear to enjoy the basic stills of photography , That's all you need
There are thousand of subjects inside every Big Picture.
So learn to see and notice those subjects as photographs. Many subjects are not seen from normal eye level so get down and dirty like the photo below. Start looking down more. Make proper use of the swivel/tilt screen --- has to be one best camera tools available. Files are very cropable today ( there's longer lens) and panorama stitching is now so easy (there's your wide lens) .
Slow down; stop; sit and watch .
We do miss much right at our feet .
There is always something to photograph differently .
Sorry; didn't mean to write an article so please copy to read later.
Not sure there is any overly important photos to see on this flickr page.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/75510429@N02/?saved=1 .
But it gets me out of the house to make a few (too many) happy snaps of little things I notice
I like the "The better camera is the one you have," line. You can't do anything with a camera or lens that's sitting at home.
and more often now I find the better camera to have is one with a fixed focal length lens that suits your subjects .