Photography inspiration isn’t always easy. How many times have you clicked away and then felt ho-hum when looking at your work? What was different about that shoot versus the others where you came home totally jazzed?
If only:
- We could travel to new places constantly. Of course, that includes knowing exactly the best light and photography locations at each stop.
- There was more time, instead I have to do my other work job.
- I had a partner to go with me. I don’t think it would be smart to go alone.
- The gear in my bag was newer, more current.
- My work was as good as what I see on Instagram, Facebook, etc.
- My images didn’t all look alike. I need to stop doing almost the same post processing techniques across many of my images.
- I would try to do something outside of my comfort zone.
You may relate to one or a few of the “if only comments” above. Or, you could add one or two of your own.
Many of us have had one of those moments. You know that moment when you feel it. The mental block. It’s the dreaded “I don’t think I have it anymore” self doubt.
The question is, what do you do to find photography inspiration? You’re a photographer. You are also an artist. And like all artists, we need to infuse some new life into our work from time to time.
Ideas on Finding Photography Inspiration
Let’s explore ideas on where you can inject fresh perspectives into your work. The good news is that you don’t have to go very far. That is, unless you want to.
Traveler in Your Own City
Our daily routine develops over time. As a result, we stop seeing the cool sights that exist in front of our very eyes or that are nearby. How many times have you passed the historic church with amazing architecture? Or the botanical garden that’s only 10 miles away? When was the last time you visited your city’s art galleries, neighborhoods, parks and museums?
Why not visit your city’s visitor center or do a little research as if you were traveling on vacation? You’ll uncover new places, food and may meet some new friends along the way.
You can also join a local camera club or ask your local camera store if they have group meet ups. There’s safety, fun and inspiration in numbers.
Exit Strategy Away from Your Comfort Zone
How comfortable are you with your gear and your workflow? Can you execute a shoot and have a pretty good idea that you’ll return home with something useable?
Let’s break your routine every once in a while. How? By being intentional on trying something new! Here’s a few methods to give it a whirl.
- What lens do you normally shoot with? If you use zooms quite a bit, pop on a prime or use one focal length for the entire day.
- Use a broad range of f/stops on one subject.
- Shoot with the plan of processing in black and white. It’s ok, you can still keep your color images too. For black and white photography tips we have: Fast Tips: How to See in Black and White. We also had professional photographers from Professional Photographers of America weigh in with: Fast Tips: Pro Photographers Share How they see in Black and White.
- Invest time in a photography course that’s outside of your sweet spot. You may decide to expand your portfolio as a result. Worse case is you’ll learn a technique or two that you can apply in your current work.
- If you normally shoot inside or in a studio, take your work outdoors or vice versa.
Social Media is Your Friend & Foe
Social media douses us daily with millions of images. As a result, images scroll in front of our eyes that inspire travels, locations, techniques and connections with others. And sometimes a little envy too.
We may also interpret and judge our own work in some cases to the number of “likes” received. Some of our best work may not get the most likes while some of our ‘trendy’ images get more than expected. Just remember that images have a relatively short time span on the feed. But, they have a lifetime of impact on your website, personal gallery and those who experience your work up close.
Like many, I’m also on Facebook and Instagram. It’s been a motivator, encouraging and inspiring. It’s also given me a false sense of urgency from time to time. Social media engagement is a balance between promoting your work, networking, encouraging other artists and entertainment.
Study the Masters
Today, spending time studying the work of the Masters doesn’t sound as cool as scrolling through Instagram at a nanosecond pace.
The works of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt and others who were mostly painters live today. They live in museums, private galleries, art books, art history and in art schools all over the globe. And for good reason.
What can we learn from the “Old Masters?” How to apply the elements of composition. The ability to tell a story. Imagery that pulls the viewer into the moment, the scene. The use of balance, framing, light, shadow, line, color, contrast and others. But there is one other strong consideration.
Each of the Old Masters and other Masters in their respective eras, have a strong common element. A very unique and distinct style. They pushed their own envelope of individuality, creating new trends and ideas of art.
Time: Rise, Rinse and Repeat
As much as we can find photography inspiration from seeing new places and exploring new techniques, there’s something to be said for going back on a regular basis. Not to take the same image, but to find something new.
When returning to a known location, there’s more time for creative efficiency. We know the light, the structures, the pitfalls, the seasons.
I live near a quaint harbor that’s filled in the summer, completely empty in winter. Each season and day brings its own play of light, intensity and texture. After the first few visits, I found that my images all looked similar. I was getting stuck. Time to improve my creative eye and find the ‘new’ in places revisited.
Since then, I’ve discovered new ways of capturing the same harbor area. From one image, to another, unless you’ve been there, you probably wouldn’t know it was from the same place.
Photograph What is Interesting
You travel to that iconic location only to find it’s crowded with 50 other photographers seeking their unique shot. Absolutely go for your version of what you travelled there for. Then, look for the other beauty, interesting views that the icon-seekers miss. You may return and find that your favorites were your own discoveries.
In Michigan, Point Betsie Light is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the state. In winter, there are hundreds of images floating on Instagram sharing her bright white structure, red and green trim, her light, as she rises from her icy landscape. Yes, I have those images. My favorite image, though, doesn’t show the lighthouse. The view that Betsie sees is what caught my eye.
Photograph What is Boring
It’s easy to photograph our favorite subjects. What happens when we don’t have anything to photograph. Or, the subject matter is boring? Boring may be just what the doctor ordered to force creative artistry. Look at what happened when Andy Warhol painted Tomato Soup cans, a pantry staple?
Take a walk on the boring side and see what happens. The image below was a box of fishing balls. The midday light was intense, washing out all of the colors. I snapped a few images with the intent of seeing what would happen in post processing. By pushing Lightroom’s sliders and working with color, the result was a box of colorful fishing balls.
Improvise with Post Processing
How many images have you taken and stored over your photography lifetime? Some we delete right away. Others we send to trash after we’ve selected the best from the group. Then there are those that we just can’t seem to delete or take action on. Could they be the diamonds in the rough?
With robust, easy to use programs and plugins like Topaz Studio, photography inspiration and creativity is a click away.
Turn a front porch into a painting, a flower into a pastel and a photograph of a sculpture into an electrifying, living object. To see Topaz in action go to: Topaz Labs. They’re also offering a 25% discount for the next couple of days.
In summary, we determine how we’ll pursue our passion. How far we take it is up to us.
