Photographers Block?

Does anyone out there ever get "photographers block", you know sorta like "writers block"? There are times I go out and want to take pics but end up feeling so un-inspired and snap only a single pic or two. If you have any constructive thoughts please help!!!

Attached is a self portrait from one of those un-inspired days...

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It seems I get a "block" fairly often. Quite annoying, I must say. I'm not really a creative fellow, so when the juices aren't really flowing, it's dismal. I really don't shoot much these days. Mostly only what I "need" to. BLahhhhhhhh.

THANKS FOR MAKING ME DEPRESSED.

POTN Members Activities Forum has a few threads that can get you out shooting. There is World Wide Photo Day that comes up with a new challenge every weekend. And there are 3 Back to Basics threads that are on going to help you get back your mojo.

I'm so busy, would you like to volunteer at the school with kids needing help in math? I can arrange a 5 days a week schedule for you.

Really, I shoot at least once a week and it's been very nice having the opportunities. I shot science projects today with complex machines. It was amazing. Those kids can make up some interesting machines.

not really.. if anything I'm annoyed when the weather or subjects won't cooperate with my vision of what I want to shoot...

sari

It happens to me everyone once in a while, and its not so much a block... With 28 inches of snow and about 16 since then... It just really dampens the whole photography thing. I know some would disagree but I dont have the time, the vehicle or the money right now to make a trip up to the mountains to capture the true beauty because the city life in snow sucks... Its all brown and nasty.

So until this crap clears up and it gets warm, I think I will be enjoying my indoor photography of random still life.

SoaringUSAEagle wrote in post #2589522
It happens to me everyone once in a while, and its not so much a block... With 28 inches of snow and about 16 since then... It just really dampens the whole photography thing. I know some would disagree but I dont have the time, the vehicle or the money right now to make a trip up to the mountains to capture the true beauty because the city life in snow sucks... Its all brown and nasty.

So until this crap clears up and it gets warm, I think I will be enjoying my indoor photography of random still life.

Can I relate there.... but, I am up in the pretty white snowy mountains. good grief it's pretty but inconvenient at times..

sari

Yeah I get the block. Im in one right now but only because its been icey all over and with a broken toe its not wise to be out there slippin n sliddin around with a camera. But as soon as this stuff melts Im going to be out there shootin. Im like a bull ready to come out the shoot. All i need is a lovely cowgirl to ri.......I wont take it there.:p

It's for this reason that I like having regular news assignments-- it makes me go out and shoot through the pain, in a manner of speaking.

I get that way at times. Finding some birds in flight cures me though, as long as I find some

Whenever I get blocked I look at other peoples work to inspire me, Hopefully these willhelp you

Landscapes

Ansel Adams
Baxter Bradford
Ben Osbourne
Bob Kim
Charlie Waite
Christopher Burkett
Clive Minnitt
David Noton
DeathValleyPhotography
Driftwood Design
Duncan McEwan
Fay Godwin
Images from the edge
Ken Cravillion
David Ward
William Henry Fox Talbot
Max Lyons
Nick Jenkins
Northlight
Phil Malpas
Rainspirit
Joe Cornish
Trevor Waldron
Beautiful Landscape
Wim van Velzen

People

Alfred Stieglitz
Ami Vitale
Andre Kertesz
Annie Leibovitz
Annie Leibovitz - 2
Anton Corbijn
Bill Brandt
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Henri Cartier-Bresson - 2
David Lachapelle
Desi Fontaine
Dorethea Lange
Frank Cricchio
Robert Doisneau
Giles Stokoe
Greg Gorman
Herb Ritts
Irving Penn
Jacqus-Henri Lartigue
Julia Margaret Cameron
Edward Weston
Kevyn Major Howard
Lee Miller
Man Ray
Mark Tucker
Paul Harris
Paul Strand
Philippe Halsman
Richard Avedon
Robert Capa
Sally Mann
Steve McCurry
Walker Evans
Will Coupon
Yosuf Karsh

Wildlife

Chris Weston
Andy Small
Lucid Images
Moose Peterson

Other

Magnum
The Daguerrotype
Grandmaison

all the best

BearSummer

If I went out and took one or two shots that turned out to be good ones, then I'd consider that a good outing.

If I went out and took lots of substandard shots, I'd crop what I could about them, attempt to learn why it all went wrong, and then call it a good outing (at least I learnt something).

If I go out without the camera, I look at what I could have taken shots off, but I wouldn't call that a bad outing.

Thanks for all the great suggestions! I appreciate the help!

I haven't been out for a while - too busy, and un-inspired I guess.

today we had a really nice snow fall, first time in ages here - we don't get a lot of snow on the sussex coast anyway.

And it was truly beautiful, a real novelty - and I had to go to work. by the time I was free at lunch, it was just about all gone.

Ronald S. Jr. wrote in post #2589306
It seems I get a "block" fairly often. Quite annoying, I must say. I'm not really a creative fellow, so when the juices aren't really flowing, it's dismal. I really don't shoot much these days. Mostly only what I "need" to. BLahhhhhhhh.

THANKS FOR MAKING ME DEPRESSED.

I know that feeling. the more stressed I am with life the less I wanna shoot, which makes me more stressed. lather, rise, repeat. I find that a big old energy drink will get my brain fired up and thinking.