Like you I have been rather lax and lackadaisical regarding my photography for the past couple of years. Perhaps some of mine has been that just before the pandemic started my wife and I had been on a couple of trips when I had taken a significant number of photos. With the onset of the pandemic we self isolated and I took very few pics. My interest waned excessively.

More recently, I have been feeling the draw of the out of doors and the improving weather has piqued my interest in photography and getting out on my motorcycle. Yesterday was an excellent day for me in that I and a friend went on a guided hike and saw an eagles nest. We both got some shots of one eagle in the nest and some others of the mate flying around and perched in a tree nearby. All in all it was a good day. Photography, exercise (walked more than I had in probably a month), and friendship along with conversation with several others having similar interests.

Thank you for posting your thoughts and helping me see why I may not be doing those things I wish, and want, to do. I feel much better and look forward to getting out more to enjoy friends, nature and all the beautiful things in the world. Your post has been helpful to at least one person and I hope my response will be a little help for you to return to your former self and go take some pictures. You posted a great indication of your ability. May you go forth (or even fifth) and enjoy photographing your world as you see fit.

Hi Pico. You say that you are finding it more difficult to enjoy your hobby lately. People have made well meaning suggestions about going out with your camera and just shooting thing you find interesting with no pressure to produce superior results. My advice is for you to have your camera nearby when you go out for those times when you see something that you would kick yourself for not having your camera on hand. But I don't think that you should be going out to purposely take photographs. Why put that pressue on yourself? Instead I would urge you to get out and about and interact with other folks. A compliment and a kind word only costs a nickel for the person giving it, but can have immeasureably worth to the person receiving it. I don't know where you live, but there are places where it is more difficult to strike of conversations than it is here, but interacting with others is good. When you help others feel better, you will also help yourself feel better. Each of our home lives are different. If you have family and enjoy being around them continue to include them in your life, but if not, then limit your time with them. After all we only have so much time on this orb to be spending it with people who make us miserable. If you have friends, get together with them. There is nothing quite so soul satisfying as breaking bread with people you hold dear. And finally if there is a possibility that your slump is coming from medical depression, then an open and frank discussion with your primary caretaker would be in order
There are those who believe that when you achieve better results with your photography, you will have your problems solved. I think there is more to it than that. I think when you feel better about yourself, you will feel better about not only your photography but about the rest of your life. Good luck with all of this. I think that in these modern times where the world is joined closer than ever electronically, we are more isolated than ever as individuals. But here on UHH, you have people from across the country and beyond who are sincerely concerned about you and want you to pull out of your slump.

I've had a love/hate relationship with photography since I was about 15 years old. Could never seem to get what I wanted in a photo and would get frustrated and swear I would find something else to screw up! Some periods, I would go a couple years without taking a photo. Missed a lot of great photos that I still keep in my brain, but would probably not have been worth a darn if I had taken them. All I can say is keep at it, I think of it wasn't meant to be, I would have given it up a long time ago. I'm 67 now and loving life and photography, digital isn't the only reason, but it's a big part of it! I like your photo very much!

I've had a love/hate relationship with photography since I was about 15 years old. Could never seem to get what I wanted in a photo and would get frustrated and swear I would find something else to screw up! For some periods, I would go a couple of years without taking a photo. Missed a lot of great photos that I still keep in my brain, but would probably not have been worth a darn if I had taken them. All I can say is keep at it, I think of it wasn't meant to be, I would have given it up a long time ago. I'm 67 now and loving life and photography, digital isn't the only reason, but it's a big part of it! I like your photo very much!