I love shooting film but I just burnt out doing it so I decided to shoot digital again. It really helped me to enjoy the process again. Not because it was better but because I could just concentrate on taking photos. I actually didn't take more photos but it got me where I wanted to be quicker with projects & kept me motivated. Sometimes we just need a change in what we do or sometimes we just need to do nothing.
I can really relate to this, I have done this so many times where I go out with the intention of taking lots of photos but come back with nothing and really struggled to even get the camera out of this bag and I have felt this way of a very long time now. I really want to start a project as just taking photos daily on walks or little moments really isn’t doing it for me I feel I need to nail down an idea and work towards an end goal. I am glad to here that others stuggle with similar issues its just finding a way of working through them. I want to start a new project but I feel I want to change gear to do so but i never know if this is just making another excuse not to start.
My "burn out" was actually side effects of depression. I started losing interest in everything, photography being one of them. Mental health education and proper treatment is super important and unfortunately often neglected.
Are you in my head? So much of this resonated. For my mental (& creative) health, the realisation that I will always have the ebbs and flows in mood, energy, or creative motivation helped me manage. What worked for me was to not resist. Rest when I needed to, get stuff done when the energy surfaced. Not fighting the ups and downs, while it doesn't make them less severe, definitely shortens their length. What a video, Matt. Thank you
I think any creative can relate to ups and downs. I was worried about depression back when Trump was ahead in the polls (4 years of him as someone’s choice gives me PTSD). I just take a break from photography and enjoy reading and walking and doing things for myself. Gradually you will heal and the muse returns. Hang in there. Recognizing the issue is a good step.
I relate to every single thing you’ve said as a parent as a RUclipsr and as a photographer. I have recently been studying Joel Meyerowitz and he mentioned going through your photos and study them for themes and make zines as a good practice. I plan on doing this to try to get motivated again.
Welcome timing for me, Matt. Have been in a creative burnout phase for the past few months and it’s helpful to know that it’s not so unusual to experience. Thanks, Jeff
Friends always tell me that it's so cool that I have a hobby that I'm very passionate about and that they want that to in their lives. I always say that it's not always great and the creative burnout can really kick your ass mentally. It's great when you are inspired to create, shoot with an idea and purpose and enjoy it but sometimes it just all goes away and makes you doubt everything. With time I learned that going back to the basics works for me. A few months after jumping into large format I got overwhelmed by the whole process, thought that since it's 5x7 it means I should really think hard before shooting - that made me not photograph at all and getting hit by "you don't deserve that camera" etc. And one day I went for a walk with my wife and she told me to at least take the instax so that I don't mop around. And yeah, on that one walk I found more joy than I have in weeks and sort of used it as a new starting point. Just rambling here but maybe it will help someone one day too.
Sometimes you just gotta stop looking at a scene as a photographer and just enjoy it for what it is. That means sometimes you just don't take pictures. It's okay to do that and it doesn't necessarily mean you are in a rut (though you might be - only you can know that). Great video as always, Matt.
I an totally in the phase that you describe. The tendency to overthink the elements, purposes, etc. of a potential image keep the shutter button locked and immobile. I miss making images from the sheer joy and response to seeing an image that resonated on a soulful level. Still, I can shoot the weddings and reunions but the connection is not the same.
This video is so well timed! I usually flow between illustration, photography, and writing and tend to shift to the another when I'm stuck or burnt out in one medium. (I have a bad habit of exhausting all my creative energy in one medium obsessing over a specific project to where I don't work in that medium again for months 😅). Lately, I've been trying to design my first mural piece which is such a different process than my smaller illustrations and I've just been frustratedly stuck on how to fill such a weird composition ratio. I don't think I realized how much I tie my self-worth to my creative outputs until you talked about it (7:33) and being stuck on this mural design is definitely triggering this. I definitely appreciate this kind of video more than a video about some county fair photos that you weren't excited to take!
Dealing with this literally as we speak so this is perfect timing. I went to our county fair last night and got maybe 1 photo I’m happy with. Same thing happened to me and it wasn’t clicking. Happened in NYC last week too
1. Yes to pretty pictures. I really feel like not every photograph has to be deep with a story to it. Sometimes its nice for pictures to just be.... nice. 2. Parent burnout is real... Even witb a school day, I get 4-5 hours at most, and I'll be scrambling to get something done, and fail 90% of the time. Even though it's not my job, it's still frustrating.
Trying to shoot photos during Woodward Dream Cruise this year was like this, almost all week. I kept taking my camera and finding nothing I found interesting enough to shoot.
I am sorta in a rut but also it's just too hot here in Nashville to get out much. With it being almost at 100 degrees everyday with a feels like over 100 I just am not getting out. 😅
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I love shooting film but I just burnt out doing it so I decided to shoot digital again. It really helped me to enjoy the process again. Not because it was better but because I could just concentrate on taking photos. I actually didn't take more photos but it got me where I wanted to be quicker with projects & kept me motivated. Sometimes we just need a change in what we do or sometimes we just need to do nothing.
So much of this resonates, Matt. As a parent I'm very much on countdown to the school starting a week today!
It's important to learn to embrace those hiatesses away from photography. They are just as important as the times you do photography.
I can really relate to this, I have done this so many times where I go out with the intention of taking lots of photos but come back with nothing and really struggled to even get the camera out of this bag and I have felt this way of a very long time now. I really want to start a project as just taking photos daily on walks or little moments really isn’t doing it for me I feel I need to nail down an idea and work towards an end goal. I am glad to here that others stuggle with similar issues its just finding a way of working through them. I want to start a new project but I feel I want to change gear to do so but i never know if this is just making another excuse not to start.
My "burn out" was actually side effects of depression. I started losing interest in everything, photography being one of them. Mental health education and proper treatment is super important and unfortunately often neglected.
Are you in my head? So much of this resonated.
For my mental (& creative) health, the realisation that I will always have the ebbs and flows in mood, energy, or creative motivation helped me manage. What worked for me was to not resist. Rest when I needed to, get stuff done when the energy surfaced. Not fighting the ups and downs, while it doesn't make them less severe, definitely shortens their length.
What a video, Matt. Thank you
I think any creative can relate to ups and downs. I was worried about depression back when Trump was ahead in the polls (4 years of him as someone’s choice gives me PTSD). I just take a break from photography and enjoy reading and walking and doing things for myself. Gradually you will heal and the muse returns. Hang in there. Recognizing the issue is a good step.
I relate to every single thing you’ve said as a parent as a RUclipsr and as a photographer. I have recently been studying Joel Meyerowitz and he mentioned going through your photos and study them for themes and make zines as a good practice. I plan on doing this to try to get motivated again.
Welcome timing for me, Matt. Have been in a creative burnout phase for the past few months and it’s helpful to know that it’s not so unusual to experience. Thanks, Jeff
Friends always tell me that it's so cool that I have a hobby that I'm very passionate about and that they want that to in their lives. I always say that it's not always great and the creative burnout can really kick your ass mentally. It's great when you are inspired to create, shoot with an idea and purpose and enjoy it but sometimes it just all goes away and makes you doubt everything. With time I learned that going back to the basics works for me.
A few months after jumping into large format I got overwhelmed by the whole process, thought that since it's 5x7 it means I should really think hard before shooting - that made me not photograph at all and getting hit by "you don't deserve that camera" etc. And one day I went for a walk with my wife and she told me to at least take the instax so that I don't mop around. And yeah, on that one walk I found more joy than I have in weeks and sort of used it as a new starting point.
Just rambling here but maybe it will help someone one day too.
Sometimes you just gotta stop looking at a scene as a photographer and just enjoy it for what it is. That means sometimes you just don't take pictures. It's okay to do that and it doesn't necessarily mean you are in a rut (though you might be - only you can know that).
Great video as always, Matt.
Definitely get all that. The self criticism and value as a person especially. That photo book tip is something I’ll definitely do.
Love your channel man!!!
I an totally in the phase that you describe. The tendency to overthink the elements, purposes, etc. of a potential image keep the shutter button locked and immobile. I miss making images from the sheer joy and response to seeing an image that resonated on a soulful level. Still, I can shoot the weddings and reunions but the connection is not the same.
This video is so well timed! I usually flow between illustration, photography, and writing and tend to shift to the another when I'm stuck or burnt out in one medium. (I have a bad habit of exhausting all my creative energy in one medium obsessing over a specific project to where I don't work in that medium again for months 😅). Lately, I've been trying to design my first mural piece which is such a different process than my smaller illustrations and I've just been frustratedly stuck on how to fill such a weird composition ratio. I don't think I realized how much I tie my self-worth to my creative outputs until you talked about it (7:33) and being stuck on this mural design is definitely triggering this. I definitely appreciate this kind of video more than a video about some county fair photos that you weren't excited to take!
Some time it is what it is and you have to except it and go with it
Dealing with this literally as we speak so this is perfect timing. I went to our county fair last night and got maybe 1 photo I’m happy with. Same thing happened to me and it wasn’t clicking. Happened in NYC last week too
1. Yes to pretty pictures. I really feel like not every photograph has to be deep with a story to it. Sometimes its nice for pictures to just be.... nice.
2. Parent burnout is real... Even witb a school day, I get 4-5 hours at most, and I'll be scrambling to get something done, and fail 90% of the time. Even though it's not my job, it's still frustrating.
You should curate a community zine called pretty pictures ✨
Trying to shoot photos during Woodward Dream Cruise this year was like this, almost all week. I kept taking my camera and finding nothing I found interesting enough to shoot.
Needed this ❤
I feel you 100%!!!!!
I am sorta in a rut but also it's just too hot here in Nashville to get out much. With it being almost at 100 degrees everyday with a feels like over 100 I just am not getting out. 😅
Preach!
Bull-whip on top of an RV made everything look boring.