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Going through a bit of a slump

  • 12-07-2018 1:01pm
    #1
    The_Gatsby
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,494 ✭✭✭


    I've been doing a 52 week challenge since January and was doing well up until a few weeks ago. I took a trip to Antrim recently and really struggled to find compositions which left me frustrated and since then I've just had no urge to get the camera out.

    Anyone else ever experience anything similar?


Comments

  • #2
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    The_Gatsby wrote: »
    I've been doing a 52 week challenge since January and was doing well up until a few weeks ago. I took a trip to Antrim recently and really struggled to find compositions which left me frustrated and since then I've just had no urge to get the camera out.

    Anyone else ever experience anything similar?

    What's the 52 week challenge? Have one print a week or something?

    I had set myself something similar as a challenge, post a picture to insta daily (but a proper edited/good composition/main camera photo). I allowed myself to shoot on a weekend and post whatever work I have over the coming week. It was a great motivation at the start and I loved it. I had drive and wanted to get better. Made it most the way through last year and just burned myself out. Couldn't do it any more. If your challenge was anything like mine, I'd say just put the camera down and leave it for a couple of weeks, or at least don't pressure yourself to shoot/perform.


  • #3
    The_Gatsby
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,494 ✭✭✭The_Gatsby


    Alanstrainor wrote: »
    What's the 52 week challenge? Have one print a week or something?

    I had set myself something similar as a challenge, post a picture to insta daily (but a proper edited/good composition/main camera photo). I allowed myself to shoot on a weekend and post whatever work I have over the coming week. It was a great motivation at the start and I loved it. I had drive and wanted to get better. Made it most the way through last year and just burned myself out. Couldn't do it any more. If your challenge was anything like mine, I'd say just put the camera down and leave it for a couple of weeks, or at least don't pressure yourself to shoot/perform.

    It's this one https://dogwood.photography/52weekchallenge2018/. Basically a photo a week on a specific topic

    I tried last year and failed miserably so this year I told myself that's it's impossible to get a portfolio-level shot each week and I just set low expectations for myself. I've missed weeks before and just made it up the next week or known I'd be really busy so did two in a week but now I am just lacking inspiration. Thinking of going out to locations and I am thinking what's point, I won't get anything good. I probably just need to suck it up and force myself to get out!


  • #4
    Alanstrainor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,157 ✭✭✭✭Alanstrainor


    The_Gatsby wrote: »
    It's this one https://dogwood.photography/52weekchallenge2018/. Basically a photo a week on a specific topic

    I tried last year and failed miserably so this year I told myself that's it's impossible to get a portfolio-level shot each week and I just set low expectations for myself. I've missed weeks before and just made it up the next week or known I'd be really busy so did two in a week but now I am just lacking inspiration. Thinking of going out to locations and I am thinking what's point, I won't get anything good. I probably just need to suck it up and force myself to get out!

    That seems like an intense challenge. You could mix some of those 'challenges' into 1 hour segments if you were somewhere mildly interesting, perhaps in a town/city. Or just pick and choose a few you have an interest in and use them as some basis for your composition.

    If you are going out to locations with phptography in mind, I think you'll have to focus on enjoying it and the fun side. For me and my challenge, it all got very stressful and I'd be thinking about it too often, which put unneeded pressure on.

    Hell, since you've made it this far into the year, I find it's always a good idea to take a pause and review old photos. I'll almost always find little gems that I dismissed on first review. That takes the pressure off shooting for a while, and gets you editing a bit which I find nice too.


  • #5
    Bacchus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,725 ✭✭✭Bacchus


    That just sounds to regimented. I'm sure it works for some people but I can easily see how it would burn you out creatively to be constantly adapting to a weekly challenge. It's almost counterproductive. Take a break, give yourself some time to recharge and start shooting what you love to shoot instead of what some challenge tells you to shoot.


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