Do your creative batteries feel as flat and lifeless as last weeks left overs?
I have found a list of at least 60 ways to breathe new life into your love of photography and re-energise your inspiration.
1. Play with Photoshop
So much of photography today happens after you have pressed the shutter button. Why not experiment a bit in a image manipulation program like Photoshop and see what you can discover and create.
2. Read the Manual
Your camera possibly has more settings, functions and potential than you know about...or know what to do with. Read and try something new.
3. Watch a Movie
Imagine some of the movie sets and action as stills and learn from the professional cinematographers. Lighting, landscapes, portraits are all found in your favourite films.
4. Read the Newspaper
Or more correctly look at the pictures especially for black and white ideas. Though the Sunday paper has some striking images and photojournalism in colour.
5. Visit a Flea Market
Strange objects mean strange shapes, odd shadows and plenty of potential for unique compositions
6 Shop at the Farmer's Market
An amazing source of colour, shapes, people and displays. Added bonus is fresh dinner too.
7. Check out some Wedding Photo Websites
The images on the Wedding Photojournalist Association website might get you thinking about events from a new angle. Instead of tripods and posing, get involved in the crowd and document the scene.
8 Hit the Water
You don't have to be a scuba diver to shoot underwater. Just grab an underwater housing and hit the beach, a swimming pool, pond or dam. Remember to look up as well as down as some gorgeous images can result when the light hits the water.
9. Hit the Streets
There is a reason street photography is popular - it constantly changes and there are so many images to be found.
10. Join a Demonstration
Demonstrations are full of colour, emotion and crowds. Have a go at abstract, photojournalism, portraits or something new.
11. Watch a Sports Event
If you can't get the prime spot with the pros and haven't got a lens longer than your arm why not go to the local oval on a Saturday afternoon. You can get closer and try something new or visit a club of a sport that is not usually covered - fencing, marital arts, croquet are a few ideas.
12. Visit the Zoo
It isn't quite your classic African safari but there are still a huge array of photographic subjects that are hard to come by anywhere else. You don't have to just shoot what's in the cages (with your camera of course) but check out the emotions and reactions of the visitors (especially kids) to the animals.
13. Shoot fast at a Race Track
Race tracks (cars, motorbikes, horses) give you the opportunity to use speed in your images. Fast cars and a faster shutter speed can make for some amazing images. You could also try rally driving if are prepared to get dirty or get really adventurous and take your camera in the car for a ride.
14. Visit an Exhibition
Obvious I know, but often forgotten. Most towns have art galleries that you will find photographic images. Have a look and check out what they did to get up on the wall.
15. Browse Google Images
You don't even have to leave home for this one. Toss random keywords in your search field and see what images turn up. Admire the good ones and ask what you could do to improve others.
16. Join Flickr Groups
The images in Flickr Groups are fabulous for getting ideas on a theme, also the discussions allow you to learn how to have a go at it. It allows you to post your pictures to get feedback for improvement and things to think about.
17 Just Step Back and Observe
For portrait photographers, the impulse is to get in there and get the shoots. Sometimes though lower your camera and just observing your subject can give you new insight to their personality and reveal a whole new side. Just have your camera ready for when they do that quirky unique thing that makes them special. This is true for children, adults, weddings, animals and anything else that moves.
18. Roam the World
While this is dream of most photographers, unfortunately it is not always possible. You can however, check out the internet or travel guides for places with interesting topography and see what other photographers have done with.
19. Change Your Angle
Are you like the majority of people who shoot an object from straight in front of it. Try changing your angle and shoot from down low or above or tilt your camera and see what you can create.
20. Change Your Time
Are you stuck in a rut of shooting at the same time every weekend? Break out and discover how the light at dusk, mid-afternoon, early morning or night can change your images and ideas. It's not just the change of light that can make a difference, just changing routine can give you a new perspective.
21 Browse Stock Sites
You don't have to be a buyer to check out the images on stock sites. Have a look at the top-sellers will give you an idea of what the market wants from professional photographers, but browsing various categories will give you ideas to try with a theme.
22. Write a Blog
Darren Rowse from Digital Photography School states how much writing about photography has improved his images. Don't worry if no body else reads it; just expressing your thoughts and ideas can lead to new ones.
23. Read a Blog
Here you can learn not only what happened to produce an image but where the idea came from and get to ask any questions you might have to help you create your own inspiring shoots.
24. Buy a Photography Book
Each photography book can give you a heap of new idea. Photography guides will show you different techniques to try out while books of image collections will inspire with the techniques the professionals have used. If money is in short supply - check out your local library.
25. Browse a Bookshop
Apart from photography books, have a look at the covers of any other books to get ideas for shots, especially commercial images.
26. Check out Magazine Racks
If you can get ideas from book covers, have a look at your local newsagency at all the magazine covers. As they are designed to stand out from the crowd, take note of what catches your eye and how you can use in your photography to make your next photo stand out too.
27. Make Friends in the Photography World
Some people like to shoot by themselves, others are happy to work in groups. Everyone can benefit from feedback, ideas and discussions with others. If you can't join groups physically, then there are plenty online communities.
28. Join Photography Organisations
If you are a professional or aspiring to be one, and are not a member of a professional photography association, then join. They can assist you with insurance, legal issues plus their news, contest and interviews with fellow photographers can inspire you and motivate you to make your own mark on the comunity.
29. Shoot Yourself
Again with the camera, things aren't that bad. But if you are lacking a subject, be brave and put yourself in the picture for once.
30. Revisit Your Past
Go back through that stack of old images you have stuck away, including the ones that make you cringe. Give them another look and try the shot again with your new skills and knowledge.
31. Revisit Old Places
The same goes for visiting locations. Even if you have used a location once before, it does not mean that you will take the same image days, months or years later. The light will have changed, your skills are different and so are you.
32 Ask Questions
Some of the greatest works of art have come from asking the best questions. The first one you could try asking is "What if...?" What if I try a new technique? What if I change focus? What if I look from a new angle? What if I get a flash of inspiration?
33. Leave Constructive Feedback
As mentioned, writing blogs can help with new ideas, as will writing comments about other people's work. Ensure that the feedback you leave is constructive and specific. I love the use of the natural lighting for example is a lot more beneficial than Great Shot! Look at the details and you can begin to incorporate them in your own work.
34. Join Photo Contests
Every man and his friends seem to have their own photo competition these days. Why? It's a great way to inspire photographers to shoot outside of their comfort zone and will challenge you to look outside of your routine.
35. Choose a theme
Competitions are useful as well as offering prizes, they also give you subjects to shoot. Or pick your own theme and run with it. One great one I've found is Photo Challenge where a different theme is given on a daily basis, but has a list of past themes to give you ideas and resources
36. Check out Major Winners
Have a look at the winners of national and international photo competitions and see how far your images are those at the top and what you need to do to get there.
37. Go Back to Basics
If you have had a camera for a while and have been bending and breaking the rules of photography in order to challenge yourself, go back to when you were first learning techniques and work within the guidelines with a new more experienced eye.
38. Just Shoot it
Alternatively, are you a stickler for the rules and don't take a shoot until all the elements are lined up. What you happen if you just went ahead without all the preparation. One of the joys of digital is that it allows you to delete "mistakes" but at worst all you have used is some memory space and time, in trying new compositions, lighting and ideas.
39. Get a Cause
What are you passionate about? It is amazing the motivation that can come from working for the common good. Select you favorite cause and offer them your skills. You could end up shooting all sorts of new challenges from advertising images, t-shirt graphics to emotional demonstrations. The variety is almost as satisfying as the involvement.
40. Play with Textures
Stop focusing on the composition and light and look instead at the texture of a subject. Emphasise the sense of touch rather than sight in a series of images and see what turns up.
41. Play with Colours
Rather than be traditional, have a go at painting your pictures with bold colours and sharp contrasts. Maybe a series of different tones, or just one or two colours and see what happens to your results. Is it time you experimented more with colours?
42. Drop the Colour
At the other end of the spectrum, you could go way back to focus on black and white. Often without colour, the shadows and contrasts increase in importance and change the feel of an image.
43. Play with Settings
Are you stuck in automatic? Change the settings on your camera, play with exposure, change the ISO, alter the shutter speed or aperture. Try a fully manual mode and then learn from your results.
44. Play with a Point and Shoot
Alternatively, you might be relying heavily on all the options that come from an expensive DSLR. I dare you to put it aside and grab a little piont and shoot. Downgrade in gadgets and upgrade your creativity.
45. Just Play
One of the great benefits of digital photography is there is no cost for making mistakes. So stop stressing about if a shot will turn out perfectly or will be a cringe-inducing disaster and just take pictures, Just enjoy the experience and forget about the results.
46. Try a Different Subject
Do you favor portraits, landscapes, wildlife? Why not try a different area? you don't have a do it professionally, but trying something new will give you new skills and techniques and could inspire new ways of creating amazing images
47. Read Forums
It has been said that photography groups can be a source of inspiration and learning, but so can photography forums. You can pose questions to get specific answers, but just reading through them can get the ideas flowing.
48. Start a Project
Once you have an idea for a single image why not expand on it and develop a whole series of photographs. See how far you can take the concept and include textures, light and composition.
49. Take a Photography Class
There is always something new to learn or a new way of approaching something. Photography class make new ideas and challenges very simple - you get assignments on topics and you come up with a novel view on a theme.
50. Take Any Class
Don't limit your education to just photography. What other interests do you have? Cooking classes allow you to improve your images with food and color, as will gardening, even a pottery class could be a source of new ideas and inspiration. Plus you will meet new people to be your models.
51. Define Your Perfect Image
What is your perfect picture? Can you visualise it? Bet it's in your head right now. How can you make it work and what has to happen to make it a reality? You know the answers, now you just have to go and do it.
52. Create a Shooting Schedule
There is a lot to be said about planning ahead. Decide in advance what you want to shoot and when and put it in your diary for the next few weekends or months, but don't forget to stay flexible and open to opportunities.
53. Try a New Model
Do you always use the same subject or models with similar looks? Have a go at a completely new look, the opposite sex, a different age or ethnic group. You will be amazed at how a new model will lead to new ideas.
54. Ignore Stupid Comments
While this might not improve inspiration it could stop it from being blocked. When you ask for feedback, you will often encounter someone with something dumb to say. You need to be able to separate the constructive comments from the pointless ones in order to learn and grow.
55. Do Something Totally Outrageous
Ever thought "That won't work!" and not tried a shot! But what if it had? Give yourself permission to do something outrageous and really silly sounding and see if it works. Shoot while spinning in a circle or out of a train window and treat it as a learning experience, even if you get some really strange looks while doing it. At least you will know what if...!
56. Limit Yourself'
Some fabulous works of art have been produced under strict cencorship. So challenge yourself. Limit yourself to one object or the next ten minutes or your street. Take the challenge and push your creativity under pressure.
57. Tell a Story
Imagine a story and then go out and take the images to go with it. For ideas read your local newspaper and then expand on it. It could be the local junior sports team, a charity event, a festival or natural disaster. Learn where the story began and illustrate it through to completion. Make sure to capture all the different characters.
58. Print Your Pictures
It is all well and good to view your images on a computer screen but nothing beats printing them out and holding them, or seeing them up on your wall matted and framed. Print them and test if they still work on paper or if not how you can improve them.
59. Travel
There is nothing like going to a new site, town, state or country to inspire different images. When travelling immerse yourelf in a different culture (just be aware of local customs and protocol) to get memorable results. If you can't travel, why not check out local festivals and look at it from a tourists' perspective.
60. Buy New Equipment
If all else fails, buy something new. A new lens or filter can spark some new ideas and images.
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