Do you ever go through a period of "I don't feel like taking photos?"

[Backdoor Arts]

Winters in NJ when there's no wildlife and no snow, just gray and cold and dark by the time I'm done working. A couple years ago I bought a drone for snow photos and it provides some new creative opportunities. Would rather be somewhere warm with life to shoot.

 

[jcgamble]

I find I get slowed down after great trips that had tons of targets. I do two things, look at macro if birds and mammals are slow and read articles/watch youtube to look for new information. Currently I have been photographing swallowtail butterflies, we have 8-9 species on our property in Florida. I'm headed to Alaska in a week, spending 6 days on the Alaskan ferries. Listening to Brad Hill's presentation on telephotos, I picked up that they are using Wide Area C1 3x13 for marine mammals and birds. Would have never thought of using that without that little tidbit of information.

 

[EricBowles]

We all go through a bit of the photography doldrums. It's certainly true for me. But the reality is there is plenty to photograph - just not what I typically photograph.

In my area it's just too hot and humid much of the day. It takes a lot of the fun out of photography when it's 90-95 degrees and humid. Even early mornings don't really help. The foliage of landscapes is an even green and often lacking interest or color. But the reality is it's a great time of year for small birds, flowers, dragonflies, butterflies, frogs, etc. It's also a good time for B&W photography - particularly exploring contrasts and shadows.

When the weather is not good is also a great time to look through your archives and find gems you may have overlooked in the past. Maybe you can reprocess an older image with the latest software or a new concept. Maybe a favorite image is looking a little too "Velvia" and oversaturated by today's standards. It also is a good time to change out the gallery in your home or office. I have a seasonal gallery in my home that changes 4-5 times a year with a new theme each season.

Lightroom is a great tool for a fresh look at images. You can build collections that will grow into projects or image sets over time. Maybe you don't have enough variety or enough of a specific topic for a project initially, and it helps create a "shot list" for future trips or outings. Collections or projects can turn into a self published book or zine using services like Blurb. That's a great way to group your images and print them in a manner that creates an archive.

All this can be considered drudgery - but it can also be fun as you refine your eye and help develop a fresh look when you are out and photographing again.

 

[GrandNagus50]

Hi. I think all of us go through these times. Since you live in Central CA one thing you can easily do to get some wildlife pics and get excited again is to set up a trip with a wildlife photography guide named Brent Paul, he is from Tulare. He goes to many places right in CA and will be doing Black Bear trips in mid August. I've shot with him many times over the years, several trips to Yellowstone, and he is a very knowledgable wildlife guide and photographer. One caveat though, as you are from the Bay Area, you might find him a bit "rough" at times; he would never be described as a liberal but if you are someone who can get along with everyone you won't have too much of a problem, although he is quite outspoken. I put up with him because he is so good at what he does and he is the best wildlife spotter I've ever known. I always get wonderful photo opportunities with him and have learned a lot about wildlife from him. Just google him, Brent Paul Photography.

I did look him up; it's Paull with two "l's. He certainly has his own niche, including his bobcat and gray fox "safaris."

 

[Viathelens]

I did look him up; it's Paull with two "l's. He certainly has his own niche, including his bobcat and gray fox "safaris."

Sorry, I knew it was two ll's...spell check I guess. He does have a niche in the market. He has been doing this for 20+ years and knows all the spots for wildlife. He does day or two-day trips as well as week-long trips. I always get good shots when I go with him. I started out with him on a bob cat trip in 2016. This spring I spent two weeks in Yellowstone, doing both weeks of the back-to-back Yellowstone trip.

 

[Alistair]

James K Baxter in Pig Island Letters reflects on writer's block; ‘Whoever can listen long enough will write again.’

I dare say if we look long enough, we will take photos again.

 

[DougC]

Yes, it’s called summer in Texas!

 

[bcaress]

Ain't no cure for the summer time blues. Here in NC it's 90 degrees and humid as all get out. Plants are drooping and the deer are laying out. Just have to wait till it cools off and everything is a lot happier.

 

[ccirelli]

It's quite normal. I took it one step further, many years ago after I left the newspaper / photojournalism industry. Sold all my cameras and lenses and just took a long break (2 years). Allowed myself to reset after some pretty brutal employment conditions (basically an abusive employer that really took advantage of me at a young age) completely burned me out in photography. My interest was reignited when the jump from film to digital started gaining momentum. I've been immersed in it ever since, with just as much enthusiasm as I had when I started.

Hang in there, don't put any pressure on yourself, and let it come back to you when you're ready - you'll know when.

 

[Jack S.]

I did a 365 challenge last year and where that did invoke a, "must take a photo" mentality, I was really glad when it was over.
This year, I have found that the fire in the belly, to get out there and take a few shots, has dwindled.
I won't lose any sleep over it, it will come back probably when I sell off all my F mount kit and but something nice.

 

[Garfield]

Try shooting video. It's a whole new ballgame!

 

[Neil H.]

Do you love photography, or do you just love wildlife photography? Those who post exceptional bird images have tens of thousands behind them. But do they have a good macro or astro photograph? You have to learn completely new capture and processing skills just to get a half decent night image. Covid lockdown pushed me into macro and I discovered I loved photography (says one who has tens of thousands of bird images but still striving for the exceptional ! )

 

[Replytoken]

Try shooting video. It's a whole new ballgame!

Tried that last year. Was like going from checkers to 3D chess. I respect and appreciate all that goes into a good video production.

--Ken

 

[O]

Here is a curly one LOL

The simple answer is absolutely.........this time badly

This last 18 months i and several others have a very bad dose and absolutely no interest in photography period, other than grabbing record shots on my phone, which i don't even look at half the time other than sending an image to someone as i have just taken it.

So what is it that grabs some of us like this.
We used to love getting out enthusiastically and enjoy the trip or experience as much as capturing images.
A new camera and lens would excite you, now the Z9 sits collecting dust mostly along side the D850...........

Its not the weather, its just well if you have done it all and over and over, and the places you used to go to with just a few mates has now got hordes of people with drones smart phones and selfie sticks LOL.

The images you take pride in are now 1 in a 1000 on the web........

Camera Club member's in the last 18 to 24 months have dropped dramatically in membership, we had 400 active members a bit over 3 years ago.
Competition nights we would see 200 plus entries half were prints half digital, now is zero prints and 70 or 90 digital entries using Zoom, its 2 images per entry.

Has Covid had an impact, absolutely, it has been a major contributor, but for many who have lost complete interest say things have changed.

I don't know what the reasons are or what the solution is.

Being positive has been used a lot but, but if anyone has a magic pill or a solution pass it on.


Only an opinion

 

[philippe]

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[O]

I think there are 2 issues to be considered - 1. Is it a loss of interest in photography itself or 2. Is it just an outward manifestation of an underlying depression for other reasons. I used to love gardening and always sought the advice of a close relative as she was the expert. When she died, I couldn't look at my garden. It just became a jungle for 3 years until I finally realised I needed to get it into shape. I did, but my heart is no longer in it. Photography was the same, although it has improved in recent times. I don't think the hobby is the problem in itself, rather it is a symptom of other issues.

I think you could be possibly absolutely right, i play with things and do things in photography but the heart is just not in it anymore, I used to be an audiophile i peaked and after some time i simply sold up everything and moved on to photography, loved it enjoyed it, peaked at what i do now has the use by date come up ?
Did sailing, did buying and dealing in yachts, did motorcross and after a while same thing lost interest and just moved on to the next.

I retried at the top at a very young age after living and working very successfully in New York, i then traveled the world for a year, my life in Sydney is wonderful unencumbered free and lay back.

I have an absolute angle in my life, we beach crawl the east coast of Australia regularly, i need for nothing i can think of, i am grounded so i am told, easy going, so does now the journey begin.............. searching for the key to unlock the door may help, if there is something else a foot, if there isn't then it must be just the use by date.

 

[philippe]

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[MartyD]

I spend most of the school year photographing sports and I enjoy that very much. In early June my wife and I plan a Yellowstone trip for the sole purpose of wildlife viewing. We have taken the trip for the past 10 years and it has been something we have looked forward to very much during the year. I spend the spring planning and practicing the switch from sports to wildlife and I look forward to polishing my Yellowstone photography a little each June.

This year we entered the park on the Sunday of the floods and had to evacuate from the northern part of the park on Monday morning. The only photos I took were of flooding. I also had a fishing/photography trip for the northeast corner of the park planned in August and that has now been cancelled. It has put me in a little bit of a photography funk for the summer.

 

[O]

I really can't comment on your personal circumstances, but if it helps I think buying lots of gear for whatever hobby is just a way of filling a vacuum. It gives momentary satisfaction, but doesn't do much more. If using that gear brings something deeper then it is working - whether it be producing something beautiful or meaningful. I got into photography so that I could have some nice photos of my kids which they can enjoy in the years to come. Now I use it as a way of escaping an office job that pays the bills but doesn't bring much personal fulfilment. I think the key point is to use whatever hobby it is as a means to find meaning in your life, but I think that simply changing from one expensive hobby to another won't do that alone.

I hear you, i enjoyed every hobby ever had extremely fulfilling and passionately, so just after i did things to the max over time i said well what now what.

I don't have or need a job, i chose to retire when i was in my mid 40s, so i own my freedom, i don't have credit or any form of debt, there is no monkey on my back, i can do or go where and when i want, i have love in my life.

I feel everyone needs something to do, love and look forward to............

i am going to chat with some other people who have the same lack of interest in photography,

i do find that looking at a days shoot when home i don't see or get the buzz feeling any more, looking at still shots are now spme waht more boring, why is the question, time will work it out.

 

[philippe]

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[O]

Maybe if you are financially secure and have surplus cash available, planning a trip somewhere special for photography might help re-ignite the interest. Worth a try. Good luck with it!

Thanks for your suggestions, i do some photography still but very selectively, when asked to do shoots i usually now mostly outsource them, no charge.
If i did shoots in the past it was because of passion, not necessity, its that passion that is really missing as far as i can understand.

I do enjoy walking around with a small camera like the DF and a 50mm or 28-300 and do street or travel photography, much else is where the excitement is flat.
I find Auto tracking focus lock on subject detection eye tracking all leaves me a little sterile with a feeling of being clinical, i can see the benefits many people, to me it is a step closer to being just a documenter a recorder not needing necessarily photographic skill sets, and leaning towards videography.

Only an opinion.

 

[Flyboy]

Summer doldroms here in central California (Bay Area). .

At this moment, I just feel no enthusiasm for photography. I am getting older, of course, and several nagging physical maladies also play a role in determining my mood and outlook. I am pretty confident that my feelings will change again, particularly when I start preparing for my next longish trip (September, Canadian Rockies), but right now my shroud of "Blah, who cares?" kind of bothers me.

ALL THE TIME! Covid really took a chunk out of my photography, except for experimenting with various things. If you want it to, It will go. My favorite shoooting venues...Airshows...the BIG one, held every even year...It was too hot, and the walk to get to where the photographs were was too long for my 83 year young legs. The next sort of local air show is canceled, and there is water on the salt flats, so speed week is history for at least a year. But, there are a number of additional things that will present themselves, like getting my little studio set up so I have somewhere to go when it's too cold to do much except try to capture snowflake photeaux. THREE more monhs, and Gymnastics willl start! Looking forward to shooting again!

 

[O]

ALL THE TIME! Covid really took a chunk out of my photography, except for experimenting with various things. If you want it to, It will go. My favorite shoooting venues...Airshows...the BIG one, held every even year...It was too hot, and the walk to get to where the photographs were was too long for my 83 year young legs. The next sort of local air show is canceled, and there is water on the salt flats, so speed week is history for at least a year. But, there are a number of additional things that will present themselves, like getting my little studio set up so I have somewhere to go when it's too cold to do much except try to capture snowflake photeaux. THREE more monhs, and Gymnastics willl start! Looking forward to shooting again!

Good on you for staying positive.........and marching on..........

I think one of the contributors is that I have a z9 that has not left much for me to do other than spot, point, record, and needing far less if any skill sets.

My partner can pick up a Z9 R3 A1 set up properly and do nothing but nail money shots with her little to no photographic skill sets.

Others say they embrace the new technology and say it will make them a better photograph......!!!!!!

Its like driver less cars, the joy of driving may well be gone.

The enthusiasm seems to have fallen of the perch LOL.

I may be the minority.....but i see so many others falling of the perch since mirror less has rained in and covid.

I used to be so far out there with stunning creative example surfing photography, now every man and his dog is doing it equally as well since the A1 R3 Z9 and all that tracking has made it so easy, so now there are hundreds of thousand images doing what i did for years...........making it harder to be different.
I am not being negative, just aware...........

Our favorite local photographic spot, stunning you would see maybe one or two people there if ever, since it was discovered by social media its become a zoo..........

Covering a soccer match looking for that special money shot, the fellow next to me is videoing the game then pulls 30 mp stills form teh video recrding of the very perfect precise split moment, hits a button then send its, done, while i have to go home spend hours searching then deal with it.

Again only stating the new experience.