Photographer’s block

Had the same roll of film in the camera for more than a month? Hmmm, sounds serious. Better see the doctor. Shelton Muller offers some home remedies on photographer’s block, a serious malady that can kill photography.

What is “photographer’s block”? Is it a group of streets a whole bunch of photographers live on? No, it’s a temporary illness that besets all photographers from time to time. It’s the complete loss of motivation and ability to take pictures. And yes, it happens to all of us. The seriousness of it cannot be understated. In fact, it’s potentially deadly to the pursuit of future photographic fun.

Take your camera with you everywhere.

Yes, everywhere. If you look and see, photographic opportunities abound.

Set up a still life on your kitchen table.

Your subjects can be anything from eggs to insects. Set up some lights, or use window light. Experiment and learn.

Put your most seldom used lens on your camera and drive to a location where there’s a lot happening.

The zoo, a local festival, parade, concert or sporting activity. Using this lens – and this lens only – take photographs of what you see. If that scares you a little, just go there with every lens you have.

Assign yourself a theme and get about photographing it.

That theme could be anything at all. To ensure its completion, make a date that you’ll present those images to friends and family. Then work to its finality.

Set a date to go out taking photographs with friends.

Their enthusiasm will help you along and you’ll enjoy hanging out with fellow photographers.

Join your local camera club.

Offer to do some portraits of friends and family. Set up times and interesting locations and research the techniques.

Because there will be some expectations, you’ll automatically try your best.

Try something new.

Assign yourself to photograph something you’ve never photographed before, possibly because you weren’t particularly interested in that kind of photography, or because you felt it was beyond your abilities.

Learning new skills in any field of photography can only add interest and knowledge.

Change something.

Try a different kind of film, filter, lens or technique and expand your vision.

Buy a compact digital and shoot everything you see.

Shooting digitally costs nothing, except for any prints you might make. If these fail, see your doctor. Your heart has probably stopped.

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