Photography Is A Journey – Phase 4: The Photographic Lull

I’ve basically outdone myself and just broken down photography into 3 phases, and so let’s do a recap.

In Phase 1, it’s all about the possibilities, the sheer excitement of owning a DSLR and being able to take wonderful imagery. Then in Phase 2, we progress to getting very involved with the technicalities, and the ‘wanting to get more gear’ ideas. Then in Phase 3, we take it up a notch and get involved in the first official event as an appointed photographer.

Now, right up to this point, some photographers tend to find themselves getting caught up between Phase 2 and 3. The journey also does intertwine with Phase 1 since this phase’s various possibilities will drive you towards different equipment’s uses in Phase 2 and open doors for more opportunities in Phase 3. Generally, it means that there will be more shoots, and more gear, until finally you have all the gear you feel you want to get. So you keep shooting more, and more, and more… and not to mention, continue to find justifications to any new gear you acquire.

Then one fine day it happens. You feel uninspired. You run out of things to shoot. You start feeling a little down. Perhaps one event too many and you start to lose track of why you do this. Why do you do photography? The next job feels like a chore. The invitation from a fellow friend just starting photography to shoot a place you’ve already done twice over, and you can only stifle a yawn. The irony is, this phase, The Photographic Lull can happen if you’ve been shooting thousands of frames recently, or even when you’ve shot only a handful in the past few months. The bottom line is the whole feeling of deflation and the lack of inspiration.

It is one of the many lows most of us photographers go through. And it’s hard to pick ourselves up from this. And very often, at times like this, we do the strangest things. Examples include shooting with an iPhone, taking photos with toy cameras, dabbling with film for the first time, taking random photowalks, revisiting an old photographic flame, just to name a few.

There are many self, home-cooked remedies to this. One thing I’ve personally found to work wonders is to go back and look at old shots that you took yourself over the course of your journey. Particularly the old favorites or the ones that others complimented you for. Somehow that in itself, sometimes lights up enough of a flicker within you, that you find a new spark of inspiration. Or at the very least gives you a tad bit of a confidence boost. And then you find that little bit of drive to keep on going on this journey.

It could even be attending a workshop, or meeting new people in the photography business. Shootfest was one such opportunity. And it worked its wonders for me as well.

Sometimes there are those who don’t find this little spark. Unfortunately as a result of this, the drybox sees your camera gear a lot more than you do. And it may come to pass that you may never pick it up again to shoot like you used to.

But it’s not all doom and gloom for all. To some, it becomes a bit of soul searching. If you’re passionate enough about photography, somehow or rather, you’d be able to drag yourself out of the little rut, even if in desperation, and try and find a new challenge.

That in itself is not something to belittle. And very often, this passion will drive you to the next phase in this journey. And it’s one I’ve not yet reached. But I do know what I’d like to call it.

It’s called: Defining The Photographer In You.

Photography Is A Journey

Phase 1 – The Possibilities are Limitless
Phase 2 – The Gear What-Ifs
Phase 3 – The Official Assignment
Phase 4 – The Photographic Lull
Phase 5 – Defining The Photographer In You