Frustration

I don't think anyone has suggested this - but:

shoot only in black and white!

It will give you an entirely different perspective on things.

You know why? Because you're relaxed, and you're shooting for your own enjoyment... without a care of what other people think (or will think) of the resulting picture.

Like music, when I'm trying to hard to compose a song, I could be sitting for hours and come up with nothing good. But if I'm just relaxed and just play for my own enjoyment , after 5 minutes I have something really good and I like.

Today's photography with a billion parameters and controls to tweak is like trying to be "creative" and "technical" at the same time. You can't do both at the same time!

You have to learn to shut up the other voice in your head when working.

If you're in the streets taking pictures, tell your "technical brain" to SHUT UP and let your creative side just do it's job. Don't let the "technical brain" talk down or criticize the "creative brain."

Now, when you get home and are reviewing the pics, then let the technical brain give some input. But don't let this voice become too critical, because then the creative side will get depressed about taking pictures.

The technical brain will take pictures with perfect exposure, perfect focus (say, of a duck) and it's boring as hell... but perfectly shot. The creative side may take a picture that is not perfect, but manages to capture the feeling or emotion.

It's a balancing act.... and everything happens in your head.