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08/15/2011 06:30:15 PM · #1 |
I've been in a creative rut for months now. Everything I shoot seems to be pathetically dull, and despite my best efforts, I'm having trouble finding a source of creative inspiration to change that. So I'm looking to you guys for a little help!
Where do you get your best, most creative, most brilliantly inspired ideas? What do you do to stimulate your creativity? How do you move past creating boring portraits of boring subjects (animate and inanimate alike) into new territory full of meaning, depth, insight, and novelty? How do you push yourself to think outside the box? What is your source of artistic awakening? |
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08/15/2011 06:33:29 PM · #2 |
| The side challenges usually offer some inspiration, along with a healthy dose of fun. Go take a look through the August Overlay/textures side. Then join in! It's far from boring. //www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=1091625 |
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08/15/2011 06:34:33 PM · #3 |
Side challenges.
Although I haven't participated for awhile - I think some of my best work has come from them over the years.
edit: Kelli beat me to it. :)
Message edited by author 2011-08-15 18:35:25. |
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08/15/2011 06:40:48 PM · #4 |
| Look at the work of those who think outside the box. I don't mean to copy, just to be inspired to try new ideas. |
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08/15/2011 06:46:21 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by MargaretN:
Look at the work of those who think outside the box. I don't mean to copy, just to be inspired to try new ideas. |
I spend a lot of time (more time than I should probably admit) admiring and analyzing the work of great photographers, musicians, poets, and artists. Sometimes that works, but for these last few months, all that has inspired is jealousy : ) |
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08/15/2011 06:53:51 PM · #6 |
Go for a bike ride with my camera, looking, listening, waiting for it to happen.
Go screw around on 1x or DPC or this place
Go to some art galleries
Hook up with some of the underground artists (not photographers), try to understand what's going on in their world - what's motivating them, why are they doing what they're doing?
Join a group of local photographers, go out and shoot some.
Start a group of local photographers.
Go do some street photography, that's always inspiring - never know what you'll find...
Blur the shit out of everything, try different ways of blurring, lens blur, lens movement, body movement, subject movement, parallax movement, etc.
Have someone drive you around while you wear a pair of homemade upside down glasses - looking at everything upside down can really change what you see - it removes the filters.
Buy a new lens, especially one of a different type than you're used to working with (UWA, WA, STD, TELE, SUPRTELE, MACRO, ZOOM, PRIME, LENSBABY, MIRROR, PINHOLE)
Build a new home-studio
Draw pictures of what you want to create, then create it with your camera
Walk around really TRYING to see the light, look at how it interacts with surfaces, try to discern how many stops of brightness difference there is between one object and another (and measure with your camera then check to see how you did, this requires a notepad)
Read in depth about a particular artist, or group of artists, especially if you hate or love their work. (Hate is best probably)
I'm sure I could come up with many more.. But I think I'll go use a few of these. :) (I can always use MORE inspiration!)
Message edited by author 2011-08-15 18:55:16. |
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08/15/2011 07:01:25 PM · #7 |
| I find it hard to create an image. I seem to get really creative by just going out and looking at things/places. So I'd say most of my inspiration hits by going out and finding something interesting. So I'd suggest finding something you like to do, and take your camera with you. |
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08/15/2011 07:03:37 PM · #8 |
| Echo what Kelli and Ken said -- side challenges. |
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08/15/2011 08:28:16 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by geinafets:
Originally posted by MargaretN:
Look at the work of those who think outside the box. I don't mean to copy, just to be inspired to try new ideas. |
I spend a lot of time (more time than I should probably admit) admiring and analyzing the work of great photographers, musicians, poets, and artists. Sometimes that works, but for these last few months, all that has inspired is jealousy : ) |
What about narrowing the breadth to one style, or even one artist, and try going for depth? Sometimes the lesser known works can be more inspiring than the popular ones.
Message edited by author 2011-08-15 20:28:36. |
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08/15/2011 08:36:59 PM · #10 |
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08/15/2011 08:41:30 PM · #11 |
A photographer on this very website has inspired me more recently than I have been in quite some time...
Christophe or ( gyaban) with his amazing photos that tie so well with the challenges of the week. He takes the challenge and dissects it so well. He makes something so simple into something so amazing.
This is how I have been approaching my photography lately. Sure I am not as good as him by any means but am taking my time and really thinking about each and every challenge that has come up. Thinking of a way that will make the viewer say "wow, this is creative!"
I have nearly upped my average vote by .3 in the last 10 challenges. My photography as a whole has improved so much recently.
Little does he know I basically view his profile daily just to get even the slightest bit of inspiration on a photo that I would want to do in the near future.
Message edited by author 2011-08-15 20:42:06. |
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08/15/2011 08:51:48 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by mbrutus2009:
Little does he know I basically view his profile daily just to get even the slightest bit of inspiration on a photo that I would want to do in the near future. |
Great, now he's an inspiration to the next generation of stalkers.
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08/15/2011 09:08:37 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Originally posted by mbrutus2009:
Little does he know I basically view his profile daily just to get even the slightest bit of inspiration on a photo that I would want to do in the near future. |
Great, now he's an inspiration to the next generation of stalkers. |
I'm liking the new trend I'm seeing here! :) |
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08/16/2011 12:10:38 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by mbrutus2009:
Christophe or ( gyaban) with his amazing photos |
To me Christophe has already moved into the next stage of his photography leaving most of us behind. He has the Midas touch and even his landscapes are amazing. He seems to have a gift to find the very essence in every genre he tries. A very hard act to follow. Good luck with trying! :) |
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08/16/2011 12:16:03 AM · #15 |
| Most definetley the side challenges, especially the "Layers" one, I'm finding that I'm experimenting more with colour, and tone and feel my style has changed somewhat. |
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08/16/2011 01:59:38 AM · #16 |
Try a different lens.
When I get stuck, I put on one of my macro capable lenses, and go hunting close by for color or contrast. That usually wakes me up again when my creative juice gets low. Shooting macro is generally a very "personal time" thing, so it takes my mind off everything and everyone else while I am focused on capturing the small details of plants and things.
I don't see macro in your portfolio. If you have a few photographer friends nearby, maybe you could swap one of your current lenses for a macro one for a while. Macro makes you focus on the details of what you see every day, and it opens up new world of photo possibilities.
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