Just Fred Loc: Darwin's Waiting Room

This is unreal. I'm feeling extremely frustrated.

I'm the proud possessor of a new Nikon D7100. Three lenses. New tripod. New carrying cases (3!). I'm evaluating Adobe Lightroom and am considering easyHDR.

So, what's the problem?

I can't find anything to photograph!

Oh, I know that it's all in the "photographer's eye." And I'm looking -- really, I'm looking! Spring is bursting out all over, and yet snapping photos of buds and birdies and babbling brooks just isn't doing it for me.

I believe I'm now both overwhelmed with new things, and have fallen into a bit of a funk. Writers call this "writer's block." What's the photographic equivalent?

rocco_7155 Loc: Connecticut/Louisiana

Creative Constipation :?: :hunf:

amehta Loc: Boston

Photography burnout?

Do you still have your old gear? Maybe go back to that, and go find some subjects you have enjoyed shooting in the past.

GW Loc: Idaho

Maybe you need to seek out some form of compitition to prompt your thinking...

Rongnongno Loc: FL

For me it goes in streaks ever since I quit working for other folks.

I need to tell a story with a single picture and well, that does not happen often so I go onto boring picture taking if not I just let my cameras gather dust for a few weeks at a time.

No big deal, there are other things in life like working hard in the yard then sit and relax with a freshly squeezed lemon juice.

THAT is life!

denwin580 Loc: Kettering, Ohio

Try going to an Oriental massage parlor !!!!

It cleanses your mind and gets your creative juices flowing again.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Since I cannot tell from your profile or blog where you reside, consider:

1) Is there a museum with outdoor sculpture garden?
2) Nearby national park? River? Semi wild area?
3) Walk around your city, architecture is filled with possibilities.
4) Seaport, yachtclub, seashore withing driving distance?

deneke

Fred,

You need a mission. For a start, join a good camera club which has regular meetings per month with different concentrations such as competitions, in B&W, color, portraiture, nature, landscape, etc. Such clubs have monthly assignments which gives one a temporary focus of different topics, including field trips to spectacular places, geography, historic sites, parks, zoos, waterfalls, amusement parks and the like. Take off tourists' seasonal vacations abroad. For starters consider a region in the UK since you speack the local language. Shoot the local fairs, small village architecture, pub signs, castles, cathedrals, events which define culture, native wild life, seashores, etc. Establish themes to illustrate. Vary your compositions in distances from close to far in different places. Be adventurous.

For other examples, in Britain, concentrate on shooting doors, and/or gates: domestic, religious, commercial, castles, cathedrals, public facilities, etc. Learn how to see critically to photograph a
visual essay which defines the essence of persons, places and things.

Deneke~

deneke

Lack of a goal.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Love the: "You cannot write so change your type writer" which is what is being offered right now.

No one has suggested to change camera but I see it coming.

My advice is still the same: Enjoy life around you and when ready, do whatever photo related. It is mistake to think that as a hobbyist you must take pictures all the time. Only pros (mercenaries) do that, for $$$.

Relax.

Accelerator

Sounds like you are expecting something extraordinary to happen now that you have all this new gear and added knowledge. Because it isn't just jumping on you and saying take me, take me I'm great, just what you're looking for. So you're getting frustrated with everything including yourself. You're trying too hard. Only one thing to do. Relax just be yourself and it will happen. You could also take a walk or ride with your gear secured in a hard to access manor. Murphy's law says at that point something spectacular will happen to test your speed and agility. Do Not take the enjoyment out of it no matter what. Smile and Relax.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :XD: :mrgreen: ;)

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

Well put Sir.
I keep my camera with me just in case I happen to see something that gets my attention that I want to shoot at.
Sometimes I don't fire a shot for weeks.

photon56 Loc: North America

Well, let's create a term for it. How about "Shutter's Block"?

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

This is going to feel "yogic" but take a look at websites that concern themselves with contemplative photography - I have been shooting for 48 yrs, and the last couple of years I have been reading and learning about it my photography has improved. Even the occasional event/commercial shoot that do has gotten better.

http://seeingfresh.com/

http://miksang.com/

http://500px.com/blog/726/discover-contemplative-photography

http://www.georgedewolfe.com/contemplative.html

In a nutshell, it transforms your use of the camera from simply recording what you see into using the camera to create an image that reflects what you experienced what your eyes see. It helps with the storytelling that is a critical component of an image that separates snapshots from art. George DeWolfe and Miksang are masters at this, and there are many others.

nekon Loc: Carterton, New Zealand

photographer's block-try going through the alphbet- one leete at a time