Thursday, March 18, 2010

kind of like writers block ... except without the writing part

So i seem to have a little bit of "photographer's block" (sounds like some kind of disease) ... it comes from not having any time to just take photos recently & it's another little source of frustration right now. Being busy really doesn't help as sometimes i just like to go somewhere with the camera & see what i find. & right now, even at home i don't feel like i'm seeing anything. I have two "projects" i need to do but nothing is coming to me. Maybe instead of "photographer's block" it should be "photographer's funk" ... so how about some suggestions for getting the metaphoric juices flowing? Because i'm afraid unless i take some pretty pictures soon i may wither up & become the crazy cat lady a couple of decades too early!

3 comments:

  1. Have you read Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott? It's a creative writing book but there are a lot of things she talks about that relate to being a visual artist as well.
    One of her chapters is about Writer's Block. She says, "The problem is acceptance...We're taught to improve uncomfortable situations, to change things, alleviate unpleasant feelings. But if you accept the reality that you have been given - that you are not in a productive creative period- you free yourself to begin filling up again. I encourage my students at times like these to get one page of anything written, three hundred words of memories or dreams or stream of consciousness..."
    This can translate to visual art pretty easily, I think it might be easier with traditional art vs photography tho. I know when I'm in a slump, just taking photos for the hell of it doesn't always help. Find somewhere familiar to go, get up early (before sunrise) and just take pictures.

    "Funk" is a much better word! When I get in a funk (I've been in a photography funk since September! It's awful), I work on something else. My blog, or my art journal or something. Stop worrying about it, take a break from your cameras and think about something else. Or do what Lamott suggests and just shoot anything and everything you see possible!

    Sorry for such a long post, I hope it helps tho and I hope you get out of your funk soon :)
    Kendra

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  2. don't worry about the length chica ... maybe i'll hike up the hill across from our house in the morning or something ... i have a maybe idea, nothing exciting but maybe i'll get to try that tomorrow. I plan on taking the camera with me to work though, sometimes i see stuff on my drive & that means after i can head where ever for a little while. Just hate this funk!

    Thanks for the advice & suggestions, i appreciate your rant! xx

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  3. The book "bird by bird" is an excellent one to have in the creative library - I benefit a lot from Lamott and also from Julia Cameron. Cameron talks about going out on "artist dates" where you try a different venue-go to an inspiring movie or play outside and it starts to re-awaken your "first love"

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