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09/20/2006 10:09:41 PM · #1 |
Hi all,
has anybody here ever been in a slump? What do you do to get out? I'm in danger of losing my position at the newspaper due to a "slump" I just can't seem to do anything right and I'm not sure why. I have been struggling with my assignments lately and have been blowing them. I've noticed a sharp decline in my editor calling me and I need a little advice. My areas of weakness of late have been lighting, white balance and even focus. I've tossed everything i've learned and tried to go back to basics with no improvement. I stopped for a couple of weeks and came back only to continue the struggle. I think I've done everything I used to that got me where I am I just can't find that "something" that just came natural. Is it possible to have learned too much and now over think everything and get lossed in all of the "techniques"? I still feel very passionate about what I'm doing I just can't capture it from behind the camera lately. I'm very frustrated and I also have another job offer to become a professional motor cross team photographer but, I'm actually terrified because of the way I've been shooting lately. I would hate to mess up an opportunity like this. Can anybody out there give me some personal feed back on what you might have or would do in this situation?
Message edited by author 2006-09-20 22:10:34. |
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09/20/2006 10:18:21 PM · #2 |
Trying to get out of one myself! I was just taking boring photos which sort of put me off and I didn't even pick up my camera for a few weeks. Doing the SP challenge has made me pick up the camera again and try a lot of new things which has helped regenerate my interest. Which is a good thing considering I have some wedding shoots coming up in the next few months. Just try taking some photos for fun.
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09/20/2006 10:25:15 PM · #3 |
Well, I'm not professional so I don't have the insight on when the job of photography overtakes the other (fun) aspects.
First advice was to step away, but you've done that. How about trying this: Simplify. If possible (and I bet it is) go out with only your 50mm f/1.8. Set it to f/8 and start from there.
I don't know. I'm not sure this addresses the weaknesses you talked about though. I'd think it would be better for those struggling with composition. Shoot on RAW for white balance? f/8 will help even focus and I don't know about the lighting. |
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09/20/2006 10:26:58 PM · #4 |
is lighting even that important when it comes to Photojournalism?
The local papers around here, sometimes I wonder about who takes photos lol
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09/20/2006 10:58:39 PM · #5 |
Nick,
Grab your gear, burn a CD or transfer a bunch of the images in question to a pen drive/USB drive, etc and stop by. Let's get a fresh set of eyes on your images, and go from there. Sometimes the answer can be something realy simple, but can't offer any suggestions without seeing 1st hand what your concerns are.
Personally, white balance is a non-issue for me and find AWB to be close enough, and if not, it's one click in the editing and done. Cropping is perhaps more important than anything, as it is what sets the focal point in my opinion.
Every situation is different, so let's see what cha' got.
If need be, let's go an an assignment together and see what happens.
Message edited by author 2006-09-21 00:46:17. |
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09/20/2006 11:11:08 PM · #6 |
During slumps I try to find new sources of inspiration.
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09/21/2006 12:36:07 AM · #7 |
Have you tried talking to your editor? If he liked your work in the past and knows what you can do, you might be able to get some pointers from him or at least he can explain what he's seeing different from you now. And it's better to be up front with him and tell him you are having a hard time right now but you are trying to get back on track. He might be thinking you just aren't interested anymore and just scewing up because you don't care. Don't wait till it gets to the point that he doesn't call you anymore... because that will probably be right before you figure it all out but by then it will be too late.
You are probably trying to hard right now. And the harder you try the worse it gets, which makes you try harder. Take a look at some of your better work that you did in the past that you know what you did to achive that. Then go out and take the same pictures again. Even if you don't use them at the paper, just being able to duplicate what you did in the past or even improve on it, will help get you going in the right direction again. By re-doing some of your past work, you will have a benchmark to compare against to see if you really are off base or if you are seeing shadows that aren't there.
Good luck.
Mike
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09/21/2006 12:43:16 AM · #8 |
Shave your head and listen to music that you hate. In other words ..... break the pattern as it is obviously not working for you. Sounds simple and stupid but I'll bet something drastic and stupid would change your perspective and uncover some creativity that was burried by the mundane routine.
You'll have fun too! |
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09/21/2006 01:12:34 AM · #9 |
You'll laugh, but when I got into slumps like that in MY career, I used to move my wallet from my right hip pocket to my left hip pocket. I hated the way that felt. It made me hyper-aware, in a strange sort of way, and I devoted a certain amount of subliminal energy to the act of being uncomfortable, if that makes any sense? End result was less obsessing on the work, and the work got more "natural".
Your mileage may vary :-)
Robt.
BTW, something similar was what Cheech Marin did for Kevin Costner in "Tin Cup" when he started shanking the ball...
Message edited by author 2006-09-21 01:13:50.
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09/21/2006 02:27:37 AM · #10 |
Along the same lines as the last couple of posts --- try putting a piece of boloney in your shoe.
...no seriously! if you doubt it....try it :-) |
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09/21/2006 02:30:15 AM · #11 |
and taterbug changes his username to Steve Martin....
;) |
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09/21/2006 02:42:43 AM · #12 |
Well, as you must know- comedy is NOT pretty! ;-)
....don't make me get out the....Cruel shoes. |
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09/21/2006 07:20:18 AM · #13 |
Well I'm certainly no pro, as I'm still in my first months of doing freelance and assignment work for the paper. But I left you some comments. Personally the hardest thing to do, but the simplest is to relax. Take a couple of days and go shoot stuff that you enjoy. Go out and fill a card up with macros, or with puffy clouds. Anything you know you can do very well that makes you happy to get your confidence back. I looked at your shots and know you can do it. Good luck.
MattO
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09/21/2006 01:20:22 PM · #14 |
For a quick refresher on lighting, go here ... Strobist. Be sure to check out his On Assignment series and Lighting 101
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09/21/2006 01:31:59 PM · #15 |
I can't speak to photography specifically but I remember some advice a prof gave me in film school.
He reviewed one of my film assignments and said it felt "stiff". He said (in his characteristic throw-back way) "Get loose, baby!"
He went on to say that the way to break a slump is to go out and break the rules. Go nuts. Push the boundaries. You learn new tricks, and you surprise yourself with your own insight and latent ability.
I've been able to apply the advice in my career as a writer, and the occasional shake-up has helped me immeasurably.
Good luck with it, and let us know what developes (a little pre-digital photo pun, there). |
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09/21/2006 01:47:12 PM · #16 |
I know when I get in a slump I just strip naked and go for a run down the highway. It works- and in the summer it helps you shake that nasty farmers tan.
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09/21/2006 02:34:13 PM · #17 |
shoot your way out of it. if you're having a problem with technicals, you're not shooting enough. if you're having a problem with composition, you're not shooting enough.
pj work is HARD. make that REALLY HARD! there's a boatload of pressure to get it right, especially when you have extreme time crunches and lots of one-time-only opportunities. that's why i love it. no matter what the assignment is, it's always going to present a challenge. the key to being successful at it, though, is to be ready for anything.
ok, i have no clue about your camera. i have no idea what it's capable of. i know that, for me, my camera is the best one on the market for what i do. it's sturdy, fast as all get-out, has an incredible range (iso 50-3200, tv bulb-1/8000, av f/2.8-32), and the out-of-camera noise is usually more than acceptable. i have absolute, 100% confidence in my gear. if i have a problem, i'm 99.9% sure it's going to be with me, not my camera. hopefully, you feel the same way about your gear. if not, beg, borrow, steal, kiss-the-wife, whatever, just do what it takes to take the equipment out of the equation as best you can. when i asked another pro about how she got so much great stuff, she told me, "i paid enough for that camera, it damn well ought to be able to think for itself."
as for shooting, just dig in and get the job done. just do it. when you have an opportunity to shoot, make the absolute most of it. don't shoot to fill a hole in the paper. shoot to get your fill of experience. try everything you can every time out. different compositions, perspectives, techniques. on your way to assignments, try to previsualize what you are heading out to do; try to get some idea as to what type of images you might find that will best illustrate the story you're going out to shoot. and don't just shoot an assignment as if it's a single shot. shoot every assignment as if it was an multi-image assignment for time/sports illustrated/national geographic. an assignment should only be limited by your imagination.
the more you shoot, the better you'll get. the more stuff you try, the more you'll learn. you really have to practice in order to sharpen your instincts.
if you're in-between assignments, create your own assignments and go out and shoot them. bottom line, get out there and start shooting!!!
good luck,
skip
Message edited by author 2006-09-21 17:22:11. |
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09/21/2006 03:41:51 PM · #18 |
You remind of one of the great photojournalist quotes Skip; when asked how he got so much great stuff, he replied ... 'f/8, and be there'.
E |
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12/17/2006 01:58:24 AM · #19 |
In Ice Hockey, they have a saying "Shoot first, ask questions later". That's how they make a goal.
Photographers have goals, too. Yes, hockey players have practices, at 5am Sunday mornings. They shoot pucks at goalies sooooo many times, that when the opportunity comes, it comes natural. Practice, and then some more, going through the motions, planning, drilling-techniques till they're perfected-weapons.
I think all achievements, be it in sports or even photography, is 80% mental, planning and attitude, and only 20% physical work. That is, the actual game or assignment, after all the practices. I'm just saying it takes more planning and practice, don't nit-pick on percentages.
You have lots of teamates here for technical questions. There are a lot of photo examples to emulate AND improve upon and surpass them.
And all the "TOOLS" of your past techniques can and should be tried and used if appropriate. For instance Tommorrows-Challenge, a color, brown can be done in so many ways. Probably in each of the ways most previous challenges were done.
EXMPLES: Use Bokeh, Perspective, Motion-Blur, Freeze-Frame, Light-Painting, Portrait-in-landscape, visa-versa, Chrome, Nude-shot, Flash, Natural-Light, Rule-of-Thirds, Diagnals, Postcard-effect, Neon-lights, Abstract, Reflections-without-Mirrors, Wind, Leading-Lines, Faceless-Portrait, High-Contrast, Soft-Focus, Silhouettes, Framing, Shadows, Textures.
And that doesn't even cover the Emotive-Categories.
See: "Challenge History"and , Write-them-all-down-in-your-notepad.
This is my sport, my son played Ice Hockey, his team won CSHL Championship one year.
"Coach" Skiprow has already said a mouthfull on the sport-of-photograpy. |
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12/17/2006 02:13:01 AM · #20 |
After rereading your message... I guess techniques are good to keep in the back of you mind, but just shoot what naturally looks good to you. Okay, forget what you know, go back to the mindset of a kindergartener.
Food-Analogy:
It never hurts to have a variety foods, it's the spice of life, and makes a meal well-balanced, too. "Variet-of-foods" as in angles/locations/lighting for shots.
You know what dinner entree looks appetizing, if it looks good enough for you palates it will for others, too. But, keep in mind that a delicious hot-dog may not appeal to a customer in a 5-star restaurant. So just get/shoot one of each. |
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12/17/2006 11:16:10 PM · #21 |
Well, I don't much of anything about the buisness of photography, but I was in corporate America for a number of years.
Don't know from your post if you think your photos are worse now, of if your editor thinks they are, and therefore you think they are.
I may be off base here, but from experience, when management decides for whatever reason they no longer need you (ie, they can get someone for less) all of a sudden, you can do no right anymore. You used to be golden, but all of a sudden, everything is lacking.
Just my .02
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