 |
| It's summer. Care to go for a swim? (click to enlarge) Fujifilm X-T4; 16-55mm f/2.8 lens @ 53mm; 1/800th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 320 |
Lately I am finding myself floundering photographically. (see how I worked a fish reference into this blog! LOL) With reduced opportunities to travel, Covid-19 restrictions still in effect in various venues, wildlife refuges, parks and other areas that are photographically rich, then add in the fact that my wife and I are building a new house which has reduced my ability to travel as well as significantly lightened my wallet (I'm beginning to think my wallet is now filled with hydrogen it is so light. I have had to tie a string to it as it continues to 'float' up and out of my pocket), that my desire to photograph has waned considerably. I want to go out and make photographs but I don't seem to be able to figure out what I want to photograph. I'll tell you I don't like this feeling at all.
Seemingly, I don't have much enthusiasm for landscape photography, urban photography, bird or wildlife photography, family photography and certainly can't engage much in travel photography. I'm even bored with photographing one of the things that I've always enjoyed—trains. I don't even have much desire to visit the "tidewater," which I have found rich in subject matter with oysterman, wooden deadrise workboats, old wooden crab pots, derelicts storm washed into the wetlands, old fishing huts on docks as well as the grizzled old weather beaten fisherman unloading their daily catch.
Now add uncertainty as to where I want to go with my photography in the future. I'm not sure any longer as to, photographically, what I want to pursue in the way of compositions and subject matter. Its become quite a bother to me as I think about this everyday. After 50 years of passionately photographing have I lost my desire? A scary thought for me. I don't know into what else I could pour my energy and creative juices.
No worries, however, as I've been here before and I'll be here again in the future, I'm sure. I just have to work my way through these doldrums as I have in the past. How did I get past them? By simply grabbing my bag and going out and looking. Seeing. Exploring. Wandering. When I find the first pleasing subject, my day immediately gets better. I find purpose.
In all seriousness, I do feel as though I am at a crossroads with what subject matter I should pursue in the future. Those thoughts will continue as they have for the past year or more and, eventually, I will figure out where my photography will go. Standby as you'll be along for the ride.
Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.
Thanks for looking. Enjoy!
Dennis A. Mook
All content on this blog is © 2013-2021 Dennis A. Mook. All Rights Reserved. Feel free to point to this blog from your website with full attribution. Permission may be granted for commercial use. Please contact Mr. Mook to discuss permission to reproduce the blog posts and/or images.
This article brings to mind the Yogi Berra-ism "When you get to a fork in the road- take it".
ReplyDeleteI think the history of artistic creativism is for there to be periods of plenty and periods of famine. Van Gogh's greatest period of creativity was at Arles. Also his last. Ansel Adams created most of his highly regarded images in about a 10 year period.
In my opinion, there are two good seasons in the mid-Atlantic. Spring is one of them. It only takes one good photograph (or one good golf shot) to light the fire and get one's enthusiam back.
Thank you so much for your insight. I'm in agreement with everything you wrote. Another Yogi-ism, which is one of my favorites, referred to him ordering a pizza. When asked if he wanted his pizza cut into 6 slices or 8, Yogi replied, "Six. I can't eat 8!"
DeleteThat's a great one! Pure YOGI!
DeleteI understand your feelings Dennis, as I think we've all been there to one degree or another. Wasn't that what Jim Brandenburg was fighting when he decided to make a single photograph each day for 90 days, leading to his Chased By The Light book?
ReplyDeleteI think my desire has waned a little as well. The reports of overcrowding at parks (Yogi Berra: "nobody goes there nowadays, it's too crowded"), rental car shortages, potential gas shortages, etc., beat down the spirit. I know the desire will return, and I hope it does for you as well.
Thanks Jim. I’m confident I’ll get my mojo back. One thing I’m going to do is divest myself of some of my gear, I have too much and that is weighing on my mind. Too many choices degrade the experience.
Delete