1. Always Carry a Camera

This one’s a no-brainer if you’re going to find your photographic mojo! How are you going to take great photos if you don’t have a camera with you?

It’s so easy these days, as virtually everyone has a camera built into their mobile phone. My choice though is to always carry my mirrorless camera with at least a small prime lens attached. It’s compact and lightweight and capable of much greater image quality than any camera phone. CHECK MY INSTAGRAM

2. Visit Somewhere New for Photography Inspiration

If I want to refresh my photography inspiration, one of the simplest ways is to visit somewhere new with my camera, to give me fresh scenes to photograph. This doesn’t have to be a major expedition to somewhere exotic, like Antarctica. It could be as simple as going to a nearby village you’ve never visited before, or exploring an unfamiliar area of the local park. Of course, if you have the budget to travel to Antarctica, go for it! (click here to check this site)

3. Shoot an Unfamiliar Subject

What’s your favorite genre of photography? Perhaps wildlife, or landscapes? Why not refresh your inspiration by photographing something different? It’ll make you think about how you take your photos and may make you think in a different way about your regular subjects. why not try street photography (click me)

4. Get out of Your Comfort Zone

Of course, if you really want to stretch yourself, why not pick a subject that wild horses couldn’t persuade you to shoot under normal circumstances?! Personally, portrait photography is completely out of my comfort zone. But on the occasions I’ve tried it and had good results, it’s given my confidence and motivation a huge boos

5. Shoot for a Theme

If you feel your photographic habits lack focus why not set yourself a theme to shoot for? It could be something as simple as going for a photowalk and shooting subjects of a particular shape or color. There’s a new photography challenge over in the Photoblog Forum every week. Why not take part? It could be just what you need to refresh your photography inspiration!

Alternatively, you might choose an ongoing theme that will sustain you over several weeks or months. You could commit to publishing at least one photo a week for a year, or perhaps pick a subject you can document over time. I’ve been working on a project to photograph Aerial shots of Birmingham City as the city is changing monthly with so many new buildings going up. its important to capture how things looked in the past.

6. Try a New Technique

Think of a photographic technique you’ve never tried before. It could be long exposures, shooting underwater, time-lapse photography – the possibilities are endless. If you’re stuck in a rut, why not use that as an excuse to try something new? To get you started, here are some great articles on shooting long exposures, bokeh photography, Rembrandt lighting, photographing the Milky Way, HDR photography and light painting!

7. Watch a Film

Are you wondering what this has to do with photography? While the Director always takes the glory when it comes to the Oscars, the unique look of every film is also down to the Director of Photography, or Cinematographer. They often select the lenses used for each scene and make creative decisions about how they’re shot. Next time you watch a film, look for details such as the framing, depth of field and lighting – you may spot something that inspires you to translate this into your own photography! Here’s a good list of movies for photographers on our forum.

8. Do Some People Watching

The human race is an eternal source of photography inspiration and fascination. When you have some free time, go somewhere that’s well populated and do some people watching. Look at their behaviors, characteristics, and activities, noting which of these would make great photos. Think about how you might go about capturing this on camera, then have a go yourself! If you’re after tips on street photography do take a look here at KeenanRIVALS’ great article on the subject.

9. Find Photography Inspiration in the Work of Others

One of the simplest ways to find inspiration is to look at the work of other great photographers. Places like Flickr, PhotoBlog, and 500PX are excellent resources but you could just as easily take a look at the Magnum Photos website. Moreover, you can browse the local library or bookshops to see which photography books they carry.

Alternatively, you could seek out an exhibition to attend. It doesn’t have to be photography either – the work of painters and sculptors can be just as inspiring.

Whichever source you choose, don’t just hurry through images quickly. Take time to really absorb each one and think about why you do or don’t like it.

10. Share Your Images with Others to Receive Feedback

Social media is a fantastic way to share your pictures with others. PhotoBlog, Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, and 500px are all excellent outlets for photo sharing and feedback from fellow users can be a great boost to your motivation.

11. Join a Camera Club

Photography can be a solitary pastime and it’s easy to feel isolated, especially if your inspiration is waning. If this chimes with you, why not seek out a local camera club to join? Meeting up with other like-minded souls can be so inspiring and it’s a great way to make new friends too!

12. Be Inspired by Bad Weather!

Are you a fairweather photographer? Does your camera stay in its case if the rain comes down? If so, you’re missing out on some great opportunities. Sunshine and blue skies may be very pleasant, but bad weather can offer much more inspiring and dramatic photo opportunities. So, pull on your waterproofs and find some protection for your camera (a free hotel shower cap can be handy for this!) and get out there!

13. Further Your Education

If the weather is really bad and you just can’t get out with your camera, why not indulge in a little self-education indoors, in the warm?

There are so many options out there on the internet these days. If you prefer to learn visually there are services like Kelby One and Lynda, as well as a multitude of YouTube tutorials to learn new techniques. For folks who learn best through reading, there’s a vast array of books available, but I would strongly suggest you stop by Craft and Vision where photographer David DuChemin has curated a wonderful collection of inspirational photography eBooks. What if you spend lots of time commuting to work? Well, then I would suggest you try some of the many photography podcasts out there.

14. Print Your Pictures

With the advent of digital photography, it’s become normal for most people’s photos to live on their computer or smartphone. Gone are the days when we habitually printed all of our photos, and I think the world is a poorer place as a result. There’s something so inspiring about seeing and handling one of your own pictures, printed on paper, canvas or any other medium. If you don’t own a photo printer it’s so easy to use an online service to upload your pictures and receive the prints in the post. Why not make a pledge to print your best photo each month for a year? You’ll have an amazing collection to show to friends and family afterwards.

15. Become a Journalist for the Day

Is there an event coming up near you that might be photographically interesting? If so, why not try your hand at a little photojournalism? It could be your local village fete or carnival, or even a demonstration. Try to find multiple ways in which to shoot the action – perhaps some wide shots of the scene, followed by some closer images of the individuals or groups involved. The buzz of shooting in an evolving situation can offer all sorts of photographic inspiration. If it’s a demonstration or march, be careful not to put yourself in danger! You could even submit your photos to your local newspaper and perhaps find yourself in print.

#amateur #inspiration #tips