I have to admit I am in a slump. I have not made a photograph I care for since February. It's late July, it’s hot and I am just not inspired by my hometown of eight years and Connecticut which I have called home for over 30 years. My last good image was from our winter trip to California. Since then, we have been to Florida, NJ and Maine. I have nothing spectacular or even good from those trips. What to do? It's time to force myself to get out and shoot. That is exactly what I did. We went out for our usual Saturday breakfast yesterday. This week, we found ourselves on the east side of the Connecticut River in the little town of Glastonbury. We made our way over to the historic Connecticut River Ferry dock and sipped coffee, and split our egg sandwich. It has been raining a lot here in New England. The river is swollen so much that the ferry stopped running. I noticed the pilings that were used by the ferry were almost submerged. I thought that maybe backlit by the setting sun, the pilings would make a decent subject. That evening we returned. The resulting images will never win an award, but just going out with the camera in hand got the creative juices flowing. This made me realize how important it is to push yourself when in a slump. Then I realized I wasn’t pushing myself, I was just ready to resume the journey.
The original concept for a flooded Ferry Landing was ruined by a Sailboat that was moored nearby.
My first attempt was to simply cut out the Sailboat, This violated one of my core requirements of a clean edge to the image, but I do like the way the pilings lead your eye into the picture.
Here are some tips to further help you overcome your slump and reignite your passion for photography:
Embrace your hometown with fresh eyes: After living in a place for a long time, it's easy to feel uninspired by the familiar surroundings. Challenge yourself to see your hometown in a new light. Look for unique angles, interesting details, and hidden gems that you may have overlooked before.
Try a different genre or style: If you've been focusing on a specific type of photography, consider exploring a different genre or style. Experimenting with new techniques or subjects can spark creativity and open up new possibilities.
Join photography communities: Engage with other photographers, either online or in-person. Join local photography clubs or forums where you can share your work, get feedback, and draw inspiration from others.
Set photography challenges or projects: Give yourself specific assignments or themes to work on. It could be a 30-day challenge, a series on a particular subject, or trying a different post-processing style. Challenges can provide structure and motivate you to pick up your camera regularly.
Learn and grow: Take the opportunity to learn new photography techniques or skills. Attend workshops, watch tutorials, or read books on photography. Expanding your knowledge can reignite your passion and give you fresh ideas.
Don't be too hard on yourself: Accept that creative slumps happen to everyone. Don't get discouraged if your images don't meet your expectations. Instead, view it as a learning experience and an opportunity for growth.
Incorporate photography into daily life: Make photography a part of your everyday routine. Carry your camera with you wherever you go, even during simple outings. You never know when an unexpected moment or scene might present itself.
Take breaks and relax: Sometimes, stepping away from photography for a short time can help refresh your perspective. Engage in other activities you enjoy and return to photography when you feel ready.
Using almost all of my 400MM zoom, I was able to isolate the details of the pilings to tell a more intimate story. I wanted the background as out of focus a possible so I shot wide open. I had to focus on each piling separately and slice the three images together in post to have them all in focus.
Remember, photography is a journey, and it's okay to have ups and downs. The important thing is that you are proactive about getting back on track when you face a slump. By pushing yourself and staying open to new experiences, you'll likely find yourself inspired again and capturing images that you truly care about.
Don’t forget to look around. My favorite image of the evening came when we were walking back to the car and I noticed the barn washed in the final light of the day. By focusing on the weeds (wildflowers) I was able to get a moody shot that I actually like.