7 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Photography

We’ve all heard of writer’s block, those endless hours of staring at a blank page, hoping for the faintest spark of an idea. Photographers are no less susceptible to periods of creative drought or feeling stuck in a rut. So, what do we do?

Here are some quick-fire tips I have found helpful in findng inspiration and restarting the creative juices.

1. Read, Read, Read

The internet is full of blogs, websites and forums dedicated to the art and craft of photography, so you’re sure to find some inspiration here.

• The Photo Forum -discussion groups, monthly photo theme, articles, tips.
• Digital Photography Review - an online photography forum established in 1999. A place to discuss, ask questions, debate on photography.
• Coolphotoblogs

2. Look and Learn

The growth of digital photography and the internet has seen an explosion of photo sharing sites and interest in photography in general. By looking at the work of other photographers you’ll soon be reaching for your camera. Sites like Flickr have millions of photos and powerful search facilities.

3. Watch the Pros

Go to the library and pick up some photography books. From ‘how to’ manuals to inspiring coffee table books, you’re sure to find images by some of the world’s greatest photographers which will inspire you. Pay attention to the photography you see elsewhere too. Magazines, Sunday supplements and even advertisements are a great source for photographic inspiration. But most importantly, try to work out what it is you like about the pictures you see. What makes them ’stand out’? Then try to apply the same ideas to your own shots.

4. Keep a Daybook

Artists do it. Novelists do it. So why not photographers? It’s a great way of getting ideas down on paper. From something as simple as a note on a location worth visiting to pages and pages of drafts, revisions and proofs of a project in progress, the Daybook is the place to put everything filed under ‘photography’.

5. Set Yourself a Challenge

Try setting yourself a really ridiculous challenge. Take 100 shots in an hour.  Take a photo every single day, from the same spot. Pick a simple theme and take 50 photos. Create a series of self-portraits on a theme. The list is endless. By forcing yourself to think creatively you’ll produce some interesting shots.

6. Have a Day Out

A change is as good as a rest, they say. So why not plan a trip to the countryside (if you live in the city) or the city (if you live in the suburbs) simply to take pictures.

7. Break the Rules

Develop your compositional skills by shooting the most ordinary things and the people around you in unusual and unexpected ways. Break every rule in the book. Do the opposite. Shoot into the light; slow down the shutter speed while handholding the camera; turn the camera upside down. The list is endless. Anyone can get a great shot of a landscape; getting a memorable shot of a playground swing takes a bit more skill. You may never use any of the photos, but at least you had fun unblocking yourself from a visual rut.

What tips would you give someone looking for inspiration? What has worked well for you? What hasn’t? Share you experience and ideas on finding inspiration for taking digital images below.

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