Discouraged :(

Photography books

Learn Lightroom/Photoshop/an​y other software

Buy another flash (assuming you have one already) and so some wireless ETTL

If you go outside try shooting winter in B&W, since there isn't much color.

Only so much you can do indoor? All I can say is, that you have to be creative

I have the same problem, as many others do. It doesn't snow much here (I'm in Jersey), so the landscape is barren, not very interesting, and it's cold outside.

Instead, I use the time to read photography books, check out some techniques from other photographers, and try to get out and shoot whenever I feel motivated or when we have some kind of weather event like snow, ice, etc.

One thing I need to do this year is learn some post processing. I got Lightroom last year and use it somewhat, but I'm a complete novice with it and need to learn some new, more advanced processing techniques.

Looking forward to spring to do some macro. Just got a macro lens and close up filters.

Thanks for all the responses everyone. I've been learning Photoshop and can do most of the basics. I have a pretty good hold on what the camera can do, but I do need to master the 580ex. I may have to check out some books on the whole being more creative part I suppose I'm not the best at getting the composition great.

Well, I unlike others recommend you give it up and pass me all of your lenses for 1/4 of what you paid for them.

If you are going to stick with it you could move down here to florida where winter is like 2 weeks long. In all honesty learning/Improving photoshop, learning your flash, and making charts is best. I am currently helping my brother make a lighting chart for portraits for him to work off of using 1, 2, & 3 lights at different angles, heights and setups in our studio. This way we have reference cards to see which lighting rig is best for the setup/situation.

who needs to actually shoot pictures when you can just read POTN?? hahaha

exactly, read up, learn about it more. Mess around w/settings and try things

I get into the same rut you're in from time to time... don't worry about it, one day you'll go out and come back with the one photo you'll treasure for years to come. It goes a long way in cancelling out all those days when you were in a pickle.

There are two areas of photography which can be great fun to do when the weather outside is dark and uninspiring... macro photography and night photography. Buy some extension tubes and you'll never be stuck for things to photograph. I once spent an evening photographing everything from buttons to paperclips, the fibres in clothing, even ball point pens. It's amazing how different everything looks when you're that close.

Night photography is good if you live near somewhere that has plenty of lights. All you need is a tripod warm clothing and you're away.

Oh, and there's nothing to say you can't torture your toy collection either. My friend came around one evening and we used my nifty fifty resting on an ironing board to create these:

^^^Those are great! Hilarious!! Did you use a flash or just natural lighting?

I had a nifty before and sold it.. kinda miss it but thinking i should get a 50 f/1.4 next month when I have some cash.

No flash, just indoor lighting. I hadn't had my camera long and the first lens I bought was the 50 1.8

The weather was awful and we were bored so he arranged the muppets and I did the camera work. Happy days

0ozma wrote in post #7018136
Howdy,

I while back I bought my first DSLR due to my love for being the photographer at every event I went to. I messed around with it and loved it at first, but then winter came! I have zero motivation to go out and shoot now that it's so cold and uncomfortable. I don't really have fun shooting things indoors either - there's only so much you can do and I haven't built up a creative enough mind yet.

I'm often frustrated with my lack of skill and picture quality too since I'm somewhat a beginner still.

Anyways, I really feel like I'm slipping away from the photography thing - even considered selling my lenses that I've purchased. Anyone have anything to motivate me to get back in to it? What do you do over the winter? Dress warm and bare with it? Even then there is no outside activity due to the cold.

Thanks for any help you guys can give - I know I can always come here to find the answer to anything I need.

Just do not sell your gear, you will definately come to rue the day if you do, speaking from experience. (Din't sell it really, it got stole and I gave up for a while).

ok its a 450D, slap your walk around lens on and take it with you when you get the groceries, shop displays can be good, inside and out. You must leave the house at times?, keep the battery charged and the camera with you, eventually you will want to point it at something, is there ice skating near you? Take it to the library and have a read.

I am presuming you live on your own? That can be boring as I do as well.

If not what about boudoir and etc shots of your wife, sweatheart, girlfriend? Nothing actually needs to be a keeper, but it is nice when it works and becomes a keeper.

Now you can wander off and think "Hah, blimmin crazy Kiwi"

JoYork wrote in post #7022511
Oh, and there's nothing to say you can't torture your toy collection either. My friend came around one evening and we used my nifty fifty resting on an ironing board to create these:

That is the coolest set of pics I've seen in ages

Just because you don't like winter doesn't mean you have to sell your gear. You don't have to shoot all the time anyway. If you don't feel like shooting, don't. Inspiration will come sooner or later. And I'm sure everybody feels the same way sometimes, don't be so pessimistic.

Move to Central/South Texas. It's going to reach the 70s today.

But if you're cooped up in your house, maybe you should start playing with strobing.

I've been my own model in many a cabin-fever induced fashion shoot (I even signed a model release form for myself...just in case I go insane(r) and try to sue myself for copyrights).

JoYork, Wonderful photos! I really like them. I still can't wipe the smile off my face!