I skimmed over an article the other day that made me think about my recent lack of creativity. The article is mostly about entrepreneurship but it did have a quote that's been stuck in my head over the last week: "When basic needs are met, it’s easier to be creative; when you know you have a safety net, you are more willing to take risks. " I found this to be true for me, as of late. I've been so busy working and doing all the adult things in life that at the end of the day I just don't have the energy to pick up my camera. Or, my mind is buzzing with all the things I need to do that I simply don't have time for things I want to do. Right now I don't have the luxury to spend an entire day dedicated to photography, even on the projects I want to complete. Even writing this post has taken me a bit of time; I've been editing and saving for a week now!
I've read articles on how to get out of a photography rut, but some of their ideas are just blah... I've thought about the 365 Photo Project, but then I forget! Earlier in the year I had no problem taking my camera out almost every day so I started to think about what my inspiration was. Then it hit me; working on the technical aspect! Most of the time my mind is very literal, so it's almost easier for me to work on a photo technique, then the creativity just naturally falls into place. So to keep myself accountable (that's what the internet is for, right?) here are the things I want to accomplish with my photography by the end of the year:
- Really nailing down night photography
- Portraiture! I need to get over my fear of getting close to my subject (i.e. people!).
- Lighting - specifically 1 or 2 light set ups
Do you have any tips on getting out of a creative rut? Was there something that worked really well, or maybe not at all? Leave them in the comments!
-Helen