Why You Need Inspiration Outside Photography

When you're in a bit of a photographic rut, where do you look for inspiration? Do you look at other photographers? If you're stuck and wondering how to reinvigorate your creativity, perhaps the answer is to look outside photography completely.

I'm really lucky: I go to school 500 feet down the street from one of the best art museums in the world. When I'm a bit stuck and needing inspiration, I get to go stare at Monet for an afternoon. That's why I think the point Ted Forbes makes about the insularity of a single artistic genre is so important; when we spend all of our time in a very specialized area, it's easy for us to fall into thinking that simply looking at other specialists' work is variety in the creative process, but in reality, we may be talking about microscopic permutations, and while those are of course important — verily, they are that which constitute our unique identities as artists — they are not in and of themselves the macroscopic kick in the pants we sometimes need to jumpstart the creative process. For Forbes, it's craft beer and shows about chefs; for me, it's fine art and reading. What is it for you?