The Photographic Doldrums

Wild pony at sunset at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Island, VA (click to enlarge)
X-T2, 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 lens @ 400mm; 1/500th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 400 (JPEG)

In the Northern Hemisphere, we are fast approaching the time of year that many of us feel the "photographic doldrums" slowly creep in.  As the daylight becomes shorter each day, many days become overcast, there is not much greenery on the trees and plants, it becomes cold.  Overall, the winter season for many of us is too long and dreary.

For landscape photographers, with a few exceptions, the landscapes are not very interesting nor photographic.  Wildlife migrates south or tucks in for the cold days.  For street photographers, more people probably stay inside rather than brave the cold winter air outside.  For travel photographers, many places are closed or have reduced hours making many places largely inaccessible.  For wedding and portrait photographers, the busy season is long over.  

For those of you in the Southern Hemisphere, spring has arrived and summer is almost upon you.  You have just come out of your winter doldrums and things are looking bright! Lucky you!

How can you stay photographically active and keep yourself from falling into the photographic doldrums?  There are several ways.

First, try a genre of photography which you normally don't practice.  If you are a landscape photographer, try some street photography.  See how well you do.  You will probably find out you don't do so well.  If not, challenge yourself to improve.  Study, learn, and practice.  Learning a new type of photography can be inspiring.

Try intimate landscapes instead of grand landscapes.  Look for urban landscapes.  If you don't like the cold, stay inside, buy some flowers from a local florist and try some macro photography.  Not only will you start to see in different ways, but you'll have to get pretty adept at lighting.

Try extracting small elements from a scene.  Interpret through abstract juxtapositions, contrasts and colors.  Reduce, reduce, reduce and try some minimalist photography.  Look at Michael Kenna's or Bruce Percy's work.  Winter works well with that genre.

Photograph, not just take snapshots, at family and friends' events.  Make portraits of your family members.

I could go on but my point is to try something different to stimulate your creativity.  You will stay sharp, learn new skills and easily make it until the spring blossoms arrive!

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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