Do you ever feel your photography reaches a plateau?

[Nellas]

I was just wondering if any of you felt this sometimes, or maybe not? Some of you members take AMAZING photos, and I wonder if you always take photos like these, or if you ever feel that your photos get "boring" and you loose your spark?

I don't know why, but lately I've just not felt like taking many photos. Almost like I feel I'm going backwards with my abilities, but I know I'm not! It just seems like the photos either all look the same, or there's nothing new to take pictues of! It sorta started after I had a bunch of huge jobs to do for someone and it's like all the joy of doing photography for myself was sucked away and I was now required to take photos how someone ELSE wanted them to be. I've sorta lost my own creativeness by knowing how I'm supposed to take a good "technical" photo, and not thinking creatively and having fun like I used to. :confused:

If you've felt this way before, how do you get out of this slump and keep shooting? :(

EDIT: Sorry if this sounds like a jumble of sentences. I'm a little frustrated right now

[liza]

There's always something to photograph. I constantly try to challenge myself to do better, and my recent portrait work is testimony to that. Compared to what I did three years ago, there's a great improvement. You just have to study technique and practice.

[SuzyView]

Being a member of this forum is a double edge sword. One the one hand, you have the equipment or want better equipment to do great photography. On the other, there are people here who are amazing and take beautiful pictures from all over the world. If you are just a hobbiest and don't take 1000 pictures a week, you can't expect to have instant talent. I came to this forum thinking I was a semi-pro, but after seeing the work here, I consider my self a lucky almost semi-pro. I go through stages where I can't go out to shoot. Then I go on vacation or attend an event with my children. The camera comes out of the bag and I get into it again. That's normal. Unless you are a pro, you probably have a life. :) Live it! Then, when you feel inclined to, go shoot something and love it! Some of the pros here work very hard and some of the people here live in the most beautiful places on earth (like NZ, Hawaii, etc.). Not everyone can live right in the middle of paradise, unfortunately.

[elise1030]

I feel a similar way. I've just got my 350D after having being comfortable with my A610. Some days I feel like I don't know what I'm doing and definitely don't produce shots like a lot of people here. But I know that with time, my shots will get better al over again once I've learned to be comfortable with shooting with a DSLR.

[Sp00ks]

I don't know about a plateau but I definitely feel that I'm in a slump. Partly due the time constraints to do what I love because of my real job, and partly the lack of subject matter. I feel like I'm out of ideas sometimes.

[Pete]

I think everyone feels this every so often. Sometimes all it takes is someone to give you a slightly different angle, or a push in a completely different angle to make you take a more active interest again. This is why I like contributing to the World Wide Photo Day competetions.

It's also why I started up the "Back to Basics" thread (see the link in my signature), which is all about getting back to the bare basics of composition again. take shots of really simple things, and you're rewarded with uncluttered, simple shots that have real impact.

[DocFrankenstein]

I've never felt like I have nothing new to learn in photogrpahy. Sometimes however I do think there's nothing to photograph, but I know it's only because I'm not paying attention.

[sonnyc]

99% of the pics I took are craps. The other 1% is really crap. But that doesn't stop me from taking pictures or get frustrated.

Everytime I see some pics posted here, I learned something. Now, learn how to apply that new knowledge to my photography is another story. I'm still trying to figure that out. :(

[Nellas]

It's interesting reading all of your comments, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way every so often.

[funnypicmaker]

M.C. Escher (one of the greatest artists of all time) had moments of inspiration followed by moments of depression. There is a link between manic depression, ADD, and creativity in art, science, and engineering. I'm not saying that is you, but if it is, then it's comforting to know that these moments come and go.

[Photodawg1]

I shoot and enjoy shooting very diverse subjects, such as nature, contemporary, sports and photojournalism. In the five or so years I have experienced what you describe, but as I branched out I found that if I was feeling stale in one arena I would go shoot something else that I loved. Every now and then I will find myself in a situation that I just feel like everything I do is awlful. Sounds like what you mentioned about the bulk job and having to shoot as someone else wants you to. I went to Fairhill International by myself and shot some great shots. I recently spent a day assisting a photographer from sunrise to sunset and know that the majority of what I shot was really really bad...and have assisted two other horse shows where the OP pretty much let me do what I wanted and I did great. So I would suggest go out and shoot what you want, how you want to and maybe you will feel that reconnect. Sometimes too I think the creative process is similar to a rubberband and it's natural to have periods of laxness and tension. Those are my thoughts, hope they help.
Linda