BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Learning to See Creatively

Stephen L. Dorton

How to Come Back After Being Burned Out?

How do you get back into the swing of things after you have burned out of photography for a while? I have a passion for photography, and I have invested a lot of time and money on it! I want to find my back to it! Do you have any steps to take to get back? I carry my camera everywhere, but when I feel like taking a shot of something, I lose interest in it!
Please help!!!!!!

To love this question, log in above
August 18, 2004

doug Nelson

I can only speak of my own experiences. I've burned myself out doing photos on trips. I get back and find I am not particularly satisfied with any of my shots.
Then I find that the problem was not my shots so much as my attitude. I cannot change the time of day in which I was at a potentially great place, and I see that the midday light produced weak slides of pretty good compositions. I made the mistake of trying to do National Geographic, when, as an amateur, I should have been photographing whatever pleased me for whatever reason.
We DO have to step away from things we love from time to time. Be looking at a lot of other people's photographs. Ask yourself what you like or don't like about them. Whatever you do, don't throw money at the problem. In fact, put a 50mm on your SLR and look at the way light falls on things.

To love this comment, log in above
August 19, 2004

Michael Kaplan

I certainly can not tell you what will make you more interested. I can only tell you what did it for me and can sum it up in one word.

DIGITAL

I got tired of the films, developing, costs etc and for the past many years stopped using my trusty old A-1. I then in 1999 bought the Canon Elura digital camcorder. I loved digital and I loved the camcorder; to be able to get moving picture and voice like that inspired me. Well the camcorder had a progressive scan mode which basically; records the odd and even scan lines as one frame so you would not see the scan lines if there was movement in the frame.

I started playing with stills from digital and that got me wanting a digital camera. I bought the Fuji S602 and it was refreshing. I loved digital, the immediate satisfaction of seeing what you are taking; the capacity of not 24 or 36 exposure but the ability to have many and larger card to shoot and re-shoot to your hearts content. I sold my S602 after 6 months and bought the Canon 10D and lenses.

I have been shooting more now then I ever did. Yup, thanks to digital, it renewed my love for photography and I've been taking better quality pictures then ever before.
Michael Kaplan
Canon EOS-10D
http://www.pbase.com/mkaplan

To love this comment, log in above
August 24, 2004

Steven Libersky

Hi Stephan,

Take a class! I took one from Brenda Tharp and even though I was unable to
finish it because of time, I was
able to start looking at different type and different styles of photography. It inspired! Brenda has
a good class.

Steve

To love this comment, log in above
August 24, 2004

- Greg McCroskery

BetterPhoto Member

Contact Greg McCroskery
Greg McCroskery's Gallery

Stephen,
I think all of the above suggestions are very good. If you're not using digital -- get a digital camera, soon! I also had lost a lot of my creative enthusiasm for photography a few years ago -- digital renewed that, and it continues. Another thing the helped me was the purchase of my little Canon G2 digital. That camera (because of the versitile flip out and twist LCD) got me shooting from creative angles that I hadn't done before -- it got me fired up creatively. I hope you renew your passion.
God Bless,
Greg

To love this comment, log in above
August 24, 2004

Julia S. Chadwick

Stephen,
I think that we all go through phases with things that we love, I know that I've been there before MANY TIMES! For me the answer was not to go digital (guess I'm just different that way.) For me the answer was to just take a break, I left my camara at home for a while and checked out a book from the liabrary instead. I found that reading and learning new things about photography make me want to get me camara back out and try the things that I had been learning about, but the great thing was not only did I get back from being burned out...but my pictures were much better! And that excited me more....Don't stress about it, that just makes it work, just relax and know it will be back in it's own time! Hope this helps! If I can help more please feel free to contact me!

Julia

To love this comment, log in above
August 24, 2004

KJ Callaway

Stephen,
I agree that we all go through phases like this. Mine happened when I started teaching photography to middle school students a couple of years ago. I spent so much time correcting their mistakes and critiquing their images that it became more of a job than a creative outlet for me...plus, all my students wanted to see every photo I took, so the pressure to make every one great was overwhelming. I started thinking too much and forgot how to take pictures just for the sheer fun of it. I took a break from teaching and started taking pictures that pleased me, and eventually was able to overcome my burned out feelings and enjoy my craft again! I hope you get your passion back soon! ---Kate

To love this comment, log in above
September 11, 2004

John P. Sandstedt

I've read a lot of books featuring projects you can try to improve your images. But, the best recommendation I ever heard came from Sam Garcia of The Nikon School. When asked how many shots of a subject he took, he indicated that if a subject is worth his "stopping the car to photograph," he shoots a 36-exposure roll.

Now, I'D combine a portion of this with another book recommendation. Shoot a 36-exposure roll using ONLY a 50 mm lens. You can shoot only one subject or at one locale. The point is regain your fascination with the normal lens.

Then, repeat the exercise with a wide angle lens. Remember ONLY the wide angle lens. Then, obviously, move to the telephoto.

Experiment with composition, lighting, f-stop, hyperfocal distance, etc. If you shoot all three rolls in the same locale, you can compare the majesty of the place under all the many different "focuses" achievable with these lenses.

Remember to try to "create" an image. You're now out there taking snapshots. And, I think that's the real point. Too many of us take too many snapshots and that's when boredom takes over.

But, be careful if you use a lens like my Tamron 28-200 mm zoom. NO CHEATING!

Several folks have indicated they just to digital cameras. I don't own one, but I'm not sure that's the answer to your question because it's too easy to take a lot of picture on the theory that you can erase them. I believe in, and try to create, an image I'd hang on the wall in every picture I make.

HAVE FUN.

To love this comment, log in above
September 21, 2004

Fawn M. Schutt

If you love Photography, you might feel burned out but you will still want to get out and do it again. -Fawn

To love this comment, log in above
November 17, 2004

Charles Shaffer

Hi, I'm new to this site and can identify with this one. I tried to make photography a business and just couldn't make it go. It was ten years before I picked up my gear again and found my passion renewed.

My first rule is to shoot what I like simply, because I like it. Shoot to please your self first.

My second rule is to not pressure my self with "unrealistic expectations". This is hard for me as I'm a type A personality and a perfectionist. Just shoot for the fun of it.

My third rule is to ACCEPT my current abilities but to make it a goal to learn and improve. Read books, study pictures of artist, and EXPERIMENT. Just remember rules one and two.

My forth rule is to enjoy the experience.

Regards,
Chuck

To love this comment, log in above
June 30, 2005

Kay Beausoleil

Stephen, you've had excellent suggestions so far. I've been a serious amateur for over 15 years, and at least once a year, I've been tempted to sell all my equipment and take up stamp collecting or something. Usually it's when the perfectionist in me kicks in, and nothing I do is good enough for my lofty standards. And when I'm assuming inspiration comes easily to everyone but me.

Experience tells me that a change of pace is then in order. What worked this time is going to museums and looking not at photographs but at paintings. I'd wonder what drove the artist and what I liked or didn't about what I was seeing. I'd try to imagine the great masters in context -- dealing with preconceived ideas of their peers, struggling to find sponsors and mentors, repeating endlessly what would sell at the time, teaching apprentices with more talent than the teacher, you get the drift.

Looking at lighting, texture and subject didn't hurt either, and I came home refreshed and ready to take up the camera again.

Maybe you're putting too much stress on yourself carrying the camera around all the time while you're still blocked? For me, it wouldn't work because I have a legacy of Catholic guilt, and that really stifles creativity!

However, one more idea: sometimes when I'm blocked, I play a silly game of "Today I'm Eliot Porter" or whoever my photographer of the day is. The pictures I make aren't masterpieces, but I have fun doing them. It might be worth a try.

And the key may just be "fun". Which means doing something radically different because whatever you're doing now isn't, obviously, working.

Good luck, and listen to the muses!