Motivation to take photos

[Bungleaio]

Does anyone else struggle with motivation for taking photos? When travelling my camera is almost always in my hand and I love it but when I'm at home it's rare that my camera will leave the bag.

I'd like to start to make more use of my camera whilst not travelling, can anyone recommend any groups/clubs that have a monthly goal that will give me something to work towards please? I've just noticed the PH monthly challenge and I've put something up.

[StevieBee]

I fully got into Macro last year never having done it previously. Became a bit of an obsession for a while. It has the effect of increasing the photographic environment 100 fold. And can be done all from your garden.

[Dr Jekyll]

One tip I was given that I found worked. If you can't find anything to photograph in your home town, look for something in one particular street, if you still can't look at one building. I suppose macro photography is where this idea ultimately ends up.

[Podie]

Yep. Was massively into photography when the dSLR era kicked off. Ended up with some reasonable skills and some nice kit (Canon L series lenses).

Life got in the way, and I didn’t have the time. Really should pick it up again or just sell it.

I wish there was something genuinely pocket sized with a decent lens though.

[toasty]

Same here, I only really get interested when I’m on holiday or going to an event.

Last holiday was climbing Kilimanjaro and the weight of camera and lenses was just a burden.

I’m loathe to sell them all but I’m also not using them.

[sociopath]

Same here.

Spent several years as a wedding photographer as a sideline, seems to have knocked the interest out of me, despite having a 1d, a 5d and a whole set of L lenses.

I'm hoping some astrophotography will give me some interest back, but I have to travel to a dark sky area for that and not allowed at the moment.

[Coolbananas]

I rarely use my main camera when I am home so understand the 'lack of motivation' aspect. That said, I take photos on my mobile and/or GoPro often so I still enjoy photography per se, albeit taking 'real' photos, i.e really wanting the best image I am capable of, is rare and reserved for holidays and day trips rather than just going out with the sole aim of photography.

I changed from DSLR (5D MkIV) to Mirrorless (R) awhile back and much prefer the smaller camera and the RF lenses, especially for travel. The last time I used it though was to take portraits of my wife for her LinkedIn profile a couple of months ago. I have a Sony RX100M6 as my pocket camera but can't remember when I last used it, it has been superseded by my mobile and GoPro.

Still, I am getting an R5 in the next month or two. Why? I prefer wildlife photography and I want the speed and 'cropability' it offers over the R.

[anonymous-user]

Get a Polaroid sx70, then you will be only able to shoot between 12c and 28c so not very often anyhow lol.

[Tony1963]

If I’m struggling for motivation/inspiration, I set myself a little project. One camera with one lens fitted, and then a subject, for example reflections or primary colours. After I’ve taken a few shots, I’m usually into the groove and on my way.

[Simpo Two]

Joining a physical camera club (by which I mean you meet up, not fight each other!) could work best - though I don't know your area.

[Bungleaio]

Cheers guys I appreciate your responses and I'm glad it's not just me that struggles with this.

I still take a fair few photos on my iPhone and for what it is it takes really good images and it allows me to practice composition but it's all the other settings that I miss out on. When I get the proper camera out it takes me a while to get to grips with it again, I think some regular practice will help me improve as well as get going when I properly want to use the camera from the get-go. I've never had any training on how to use a camera but I really enjoy taking photos and I'll happily make tweaks in lightroom to them.

Joining a physical camera club is a decent shout, I'll see if I can connect with any local ones to see what they get up to. I don't want to get involved with people that are into pixel peeping to the nth degree or talking about the differences between iso 100 and 200 but if I can find a group that's decent I think it could really help me.

[Dogsey]

Why not try a 365 or 52 challenge? Take and post a photo a day or a week for a year.

[singlecoil]

I know exactly what the OP means. I also have acquired some nice DSLR kit and some knowledge of how to use it. But I rarely do these days.

I have two suggestions, take up still life photography, maybe food photography, especially if you or your spouse is into cooking. We did that for a while but eventually my wife lost interest.

Second suggestion, and it's what I've been doing, take up video making. Quite often the reason for not taking stills is that no-one else is interested in seeing them. But there's a massive audience for well made and interesting videos.

I bought a Panasonic GH5 and a Metabones adapter/speed booster, now I can use my L series lenses again

[sgtBerbatov]

I think getting to the point of spending 52 weeks in my own home with just the garden for company makes me think there's only so many photos of my garden I can take. Although the one highlight was the snow, and I managed to get a photo of my wife knocking snow off a tree, and the dog decided to take a dump in front of her. Haven't developed the roll yet (as that's another set of motivation I haven't got).

Other than that though, I find when I do go out thinking it'll be a nice place to photograph, it invariably isn't. And I don't think that'll change until we're allowed to travel again.

[singlecoil]

Why does everybody feel they need to go out to take photos?


This was done in my sitting room

Irises study in blue with scarf v2.png by Elliott and Nolan, on Flickr

[Whoozit]

I've done more photography in lockdown, more regularly, than ever. It helps that my chosen form is landscape and I quite like sunrise/sunset shots. What's helped keep me engaged?

- Follow local togs on Instagram, you get to know the locations, conditions, etc. And will be able to get some inspiration

- Make it a cast iron rule that if there are conditions, you head out, every time - I can't on weekdays in winter, but weekends, every time.

- Have a shortlist of good locations for various weather conditions. I live in west London, Richmond Park is 15 minutes away, Bushy Park 20 minutes. In each I've got a few spots that I head to time and again. All lockdown compliant.

- Create a mental list of shots you want to tick off.

- Photocrowd sets plenty of challenges, most are free to enter. The lack of any real feedback is kind of boring until you get regularly good rankings.

ETA as an example yesterday's sunrise image - known regular spot for me, iffy forecast, however I went anyway, just in case.

Edited by Whoozit on Monday 15th February 09:50

[Bungleaio]

Some great suggestions thanks everyone

[satans worm]

Motivation is something all photographers seem to suffer from.

I only live less than an hour away form NYC yet i just cant be arsed to make that small step to take phots sometimes, despite absolutely living the city

My main motivation that gets me to take a (decent) picture each month (at least) is to send back home to my parents a calendar each year, this forces me to produce 13 good shots as a minimum and forces me to brave the bad, as well as the good, weather.

It also challenges me to get 12 original shots each year

[GravelBen]

I've found a change in style of photography can give a burst of motivation and creativity.

If I've been doing mostly landscapes for a while then getting a long lens out for some wildlife is something different and interesting, if I've been shooting a lot of motorsport then long exposures of waterfalls are a nice change, then there is macro or astro or... you name it.

Obviously some things depend on having suitable lenses etc, but if you have versatile kit then it helps give you more variety. Buying a new lens can have a similar motivating effect too as it gives a different perspective.

Edited by GravelBen on Thursday 18th February 20:26

[Simpo Two]

I would actually suggest the Singlecoil route and look inwards rather than outwards. Tabletop photography is an exercise in lighting and DOF - and it doesn't matter what the weather is. Look round the house - find an ornament you like - see how well you can photograph it.