Digital Photographer - UK (2019-08)

A

t some point in your photographic

journey you will find yourself

stuck in a rut. You’ll feel that your

photography isn’t going anywhere,

you’re not enjoying it, and even getting out

with the camera can seem a herculean task.

During these times, some people will

complain that they lack inspiration, but

personally I don’t like the word inspiration

as it shifts responsibility away from the

individual, suggesting that at some point

an external force will descend and fill the

photographer with the impetus to get out

and start being creative again. Instead I

prefer to talk about motivation, as this puts

responsibility with the individual – which is

scary, because it means no one else can do it

for you, but also liberating, as it is within your

power to get out of that rut.

The big question, of course, is how? I have to

be honest and say that as a professional, it’s

probably less of a problem for me as clients

will commission me to do jobs with

specific briefs. Often these are fairly

straightforward, but sometimes

they will take me out of my comfort

zone and force me to shoot new

subjects or try new techniques.

However, I still shoot personal

work too, and once in a while I hit

a low motivation point. When this

happens, I take a cue from my

professional life and set myself a

project. This works, as the reason

I am usually in a rut is because I’m

lacking direction. Setting a project

gives that sense of purpose and

simulates what happens in the

professional arena.

So what sort of projects can you set

yourself? Projects typically restrict the

photographer in some way – for example,

the classic project is to spend time with only

one lens, usually a 50mm prime. However,

I’d suggest that you should

identify your usual approach and

do the opposite, to break the

boundaries that constrain you

and have probably gotten you

into a rut in the first place.

So if you are a landscape

photographer who mostly shoots

with a wide-angle lens, spend

time with a telephoto. If you

always shoot colour, limit yourself

to black and white for a few

days. If you’re naturally drawn to

the coast, head inland. If most

of your shots are in landscape

format, only shoot verticals for a

day. And so on. Another idea is

visiting a familiar location and trying to find a

composition you’ve not shot before.

The possibilities for projects are endless. So

sit down, consider some ideas and then get

out and use them to kickstart your creativity.

pro bio

Mark Bauer has been a full-time

landscape photographer since

the early 2000s. As well as being

a regular contributor to the UK

photographic press, he is the

author of seven books, including

the best-selling The Landscape

Photography Workshop.

markbauerphotography.com

All images © Mark bauer

KicKStArt Your creAtivitY

In a creative rut? Climb out of it by setting a personal project

Pro column