I'm off my game

[photobykim]

I dont know what it is, but the last couple of engagement sessions that I've done just do not do anything for me. The one I did yesterday I know several reasons that it just didnt work....lighting was a big one - shot at 2:30, but even at that, I just feel like I'm not able to see the shot anymore, I can not for the life of me figure out how to get from point A to point B (where I am at and where I want my images to be). It's like my creativity box is broken! I've got plenty of inspiration here on the thread of the direction I'd like to take my images in so that's not a problem.


Anyway....that's my ramble-whine for the day!

any suggestions on what to do when you're feeling off your game?

[huxley]

dont shoot an engagement session and do something for "yourself." i have been shooting my daughter as part of a year long self imposed assignment. well at month 7 or 8 i hit a wall. and like you said i didnt "see" it anymore. i love my daughter but i had begun to lose interest in her as a subject. so i took a day off and went shooting with a lens i NEVER use. that way i HAD to think differently. i was out of my element and out of my box. did the trick for me. i only have one more month and im done with my self assignment. it was a lot more difficult than i could have ever imagined, but i have some nice shots and im glad i stuck with it. GOOD LUCK.

[raevyncent]

Yes, GET OUT OF YOUR FRICKIN BOX!! :: It can happen to the best of us, you are just in a rut, and just like any rut, trying to keep doing what you have been doing just makes the rut deeper.

Here's my idea. Go on a trip. Not far, maybe still in the Metroplex, bnut outside your usual places. Visit a park, go shoot downtown Fort Worth, especially at night. Keep your eyes open for whatever. If it makes you look,turns your head, its worth trying to capture.

Whatever you do, GET OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE! WAAAY OUT!!!

Just my $1.0298

[photobykim]

I've been trying to shoot more for myself lately. Dont know if you've seen my learning lighting thread. I do think it's good to change things up a bit so I'm trying to remember to do more for me to balance out the paid work.

I'm trying to burn the box...just can't get the match to light you know!?!

I appricate the advice and the $1.0298

[raevyncent]

By the way, the fam and I are planning a trip to the Botanical Gardens in Ft Worth then maybe another park near my work on Bryant Irvin. Its called Oakmont Park off Belaire S on the south part of the Trinity River (part of Trinity Trails). LOTS of wild areas, and on the river itself I saw mallards and wood ducks, just couldn't get close enough with me paltry 28-80.

You should come.... bring the kids.... mine are 3 & 5... it'll be fun... and my wife will finally get to meet some TPFr's!

PM me.

[photobykim]

Hey Anthony when is your trip?

[raevyncent]

Sorry, didn't see your post... we are going tomorrow (oops, guess its today now)... the morning of 02/27 Tuesday. Probably will be at the gardens around ten, until maybe mid-afternoon, then off to the park for the rest of the day. email or PM me in the morning if you can go. raevyncent-at-gmail-dot-com

[scott1120]

Originally Posted by photobykim

Dont know if you've seen my learning lighting thread.

No, where is it?

[photobykim]

http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=41843

[Gordon]

Originally Posted by photobykim

I've been trying to shoot more for myself lately. Dont know if you've seen my learning lighting thread. I do think it's good to change things up a bit so I'm trying to remember to do more for me to balance out the paid work.

I'm trying to burn the box...just can't get the match to light you know!?!

I appricate the advice and the $1.0298

What do you really love to photograph ? What gives you the biggest thrill or most satisfaction ? Go shoot that for a while. Don't try to learn new things or push in new directions for a few days - just go have fun. Find what it is that inspires you and play with that. Don't worry about getting good results, just go enjoy the process. Might work.

[photobykim]

Anthony -- sorry I haven't replied. I hope you had a good trip out to the gardens. I am not really able to do much during the week, several kids and responsibilities going on.

Gordon some days I dont know anymore and I think that is part of the problem. For those that have not read before on any number of threads I may have posted this on, I struggle with depression and it's gotten pretty bad as of late. I am back on meds after being off them a year (and for those that know about the 2006 I had, you'd say why now and not then) BUT i think that this has become a strong problem in enjoying the things I have always enjoyed. and it's affecting my passion for photography. Soooo that being said hopefully once everything gets back to "normal" then I'll find out that I've still got some game left. Right now I am just trying to take life one day at a time.

I am also missing part of the process. Go ahead and throw the rocks...but I shoot on automatic (as Fran puts it P for professional and go) so I am taking steps to learn to have better control over my "tools" for my art. I think that is something that has frustrated me for a long time and I think once I master that I'll be better set to finding the images I truely want.