Burn Out

<p>While Fall 2013 was a good season for shooting football I find myself in something of a burn out period. I just seem to have lost my passion and when I do shoot it is almost torture. Anybody gone thru this and have tips to help with the burn out? I appreciate any helpful tips. </p>

<p>Take a rest, then get back into it....I usually set a specific agenda which forces me to engage even when I'm not inspired. Sometimes it is subject based, sometimes color or shape based, etc...but it demands that I take at least 20 shots of different subjects meeting the criteria during a 24 hr period, and then sit down and critique them.</p>

<p>Maybe you are doing something wrong. Wrong for you, that is. Are you stuck in a rut, taking the same kind of photos with the same equipment? Are you not getting positive feedback? Are you wishing I had the super camera or super lens you can't afford? I've shot a lot of big time and small time football and some local high school and college teams play in fields at night they should be arrested for. Basically three spots of light and dark, real and pit black dark in other places. Or stands in the background void of fans, just bare metal.<br>

Think of what does excite you now, what would excite you?<br>

Why do you have to shoot football?</p>

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<p>Take a rest, then get back into it....</p>

 

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<p>I'd say that's the best advice, but that may be easier for me to say than you. I'm retired, and photography is a passion, not a profession. But when I start feeling burned out, I'll take some time off, read a couple of books, write poetry (the other passion), clean up the digital darkroom, then grab my trusty old Olympus OM-1 and go shoot things I don't normally shoot. Works every time...</p>

<p>Great responses and ideas. Going to work thru some more things and I do appreciate people sharing.</p>

 

<p>A new camera always worked for me. </p>

<p>Don't shoot. Print. And give them away. It'll make photography feel really worthwhile and re-energize you. Then when you;re ready, you can go back shooting.</p>

I find that exhibiting my work gives me a lot of perspective, and allows me to see

what I have been doing, and think about what I need to do. For me, I have done this

through all forms of photography, like fashion, product, wedding, aerial, architectural,

etc. And it usually wasnt the photography itself I burnt out on, but the people I

worked with. The one thing I never get tired of is formal portrait work, which makes

me think that is my calling. Perhaps this can help you somehow.

<p>I know the problem, I've encountered that when photographing polo, thinking I'm just shooting the same old thing. I decided to find different ways of shooting, like using long shutter speeds or short lenses. One gave me some excellent results and one put me in harm's way.<br>

I've also found that by writing a blog about what I have photographed, it helps me to see what I may have missed or have photographed poorly (there's a lot of that). It also helps crystallise what I could photograph next on a given subject or a different way of doing it.<br>

An idea that crops up regularly is to go out with a single camera body and lens, forcing you to put more thought into the act of taking pictures. Something I've considered is the Lomo <a href="http://microsites.lomography.com/konstruktor/">Konstruktor</a> camera, which you build from what is essentially a glorified Airfix kit. It has a 50/10 lens and has only bulb or 1/80 for shutter speeds. Using that would be a real challenge.<br>

Anyway, those are some rambling thoughts, I hope some of it helps.</p>

<p>There is quite a big difference between a burn out of work, and feeling burnt out with a passion, frankly. With work, there are periods when things just aren't working out and work becomes a "must do" without any joy, inspiration or feel-good factor. Personally, when it happens, I do try to keep things simple, focus on doing what I need to do to "mentally clean my desk", and go home. But other than that, well, I need the work so I cannot just cast it aside.<br>

Photography for me is just a passion and a hobby; it's easier to let go of it for a while, even if I miss the activity. Currently I'm not shooting much, not getting much ideas; a bit on a low. As William, I use it to clean up the backlog of older photos, reading up, spending time on other hobbies, enjoying time with friends - a pity since I love photography, but the alternatives aren't bad by any stretch of imagination. And every now and then I still go out and try to get back into things with photography. Since it's not the first time I've been a bit low on photographic drive, I know some day it will just come back to me. As a positive side effect, it also pushes me to try different things and rethink what I actually want out of it.<br>

So, it depends a bit if your income depends on these photos or not, but if you can step away from it for a while, do so. Try a different type of photography and/or explore something you did not explore yet. If you have to shoot for income, just do it as quickly and professionally as possible, get the shots, go home asap and enjoy the parts of life that currently do make you feel more inspired.</p>

<p>Great ideas. Wouter could have written my response. Perhaps you could go purchase some inexpensive CFL lighting and set up a little home studio, then try to come up with ideas for things you don't normally shoot (ie closeups, things in motion, different lighting angles, etc.). You are definitely not alone, but the desire does eventually come back. </p>

<p>WOW! I am thankful for the replies. I am taking a few days off before I have to get back into shooting. Got a couple of concerts lined up just for my enjoyment. I did two things that I think are helping. I shoot with a Canon 1D Mark III as my main body and have a Canon 7D as my second body. I sold off the 7D and a couple of lenses that I accumulated and was not using. That has reduced some of the clutter. <br>

I also have been clearing off my "to do" list of getting prints to people. None of it was work I got paid for but something I wanted to give them. <br>

Finally, I am replacing some equipment. My trusty Manfrotto monopod gave up the ghost after 10 years. I replaced it this week and I am replacing a tripod that went missing. No idea how that happened but it needs to be replaced. <br>

Once again some super ideas that I think will help. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. </p>

 

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<p>A new camera always worked for me.<br>

Buying new stuff will only make you more unhappy. http://storyofstuff.org/movies/<br>

Move that lens 180 degrees and photograph the fans. I get this way regarding landscape photography until I motivate myself to photograph something totally different.</p>

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<p>"Photography for me is just a passion..."</p>

<p>Herr Doktor S.Freud replies: " Sooo, Tell me Jimmy also how is your your love life doing? <em>Brennschluss</em> may signify something deeper in ze subconscious. Tell me about your dreams now please.".... " What!, you dream about <em>big white lenses</em>?,, Ach so, now we are <em>getting</em> somewhere.".... (:-)</p>

<p>I been shooting weddings for over 25 years and I got burnt out a while back. I joined a local amateur photography club. that kind of got me a little more interested in the art of photography and a challenge entering their topical print completions. just my 2 cents</p>

<p>I shouldn't have read this thread. I just ordered some BW film and filters to try out on my MF camera. Always used color previously. Guess this thread bored me!</p>