It just happens once in a while, to me as probably to all of you as well. We don’t have the drive to go out shooting, we feel like our images look all the same, lack creativity. It’s called “Photographers Block”. What we shouldn’t do (and I’m very much guilty of this) is then to go out to buy new gear, a new camera, another lens, because we feel this motivates us and will take our photography to the next level. This trap, commonly called G.A.S.(Gear Acquisition Syndrome), will only help the camera manufactures make profit and won’t make us better photographers. Because most of us already own perfectly fine cameras.
Sometimes all it takes to get over “Photographers Block” is to look for a different view point, a fresh angle in our photography. When I suffer from”Photographers Block”I look through images from fellow bloggers or through my Instagram contacts to look for fresh ideas, inspirations. Photographs that “turn me on”, that have contents, perspectives that I find appealing, that I’d like to try myself. Not copying it, but using at as new fuel for my own creative variations.
For that reason I decided to start a new series on “Streets of Nuremberg”, where once every while I post an image where I think that might serve one or the other as inspiration to try something new, find a fresh angle to his or her photography and overcome “Photographers Block”. A sort of little “bump”towards new creativity. I call this “Instant Inspiration”. If you take up on this little inspirations I invite you to share the results in the comments, post a link to your image, as sharing ideas between us could be fun for everyone.
So the first “Instant Inspiration” is to shoot the streets from a very low angle. I took the image above with the PEN-F and the 25mm f/1.8 lens (a “nifty fifty” in full frame equivalent). The legs are those of my wife, I didn’t sneak up to a stranger ;-).
Have fun!
Related Posts:
Instant Inspiration (2) – Motion Blur
Instant Inspiration (3) – Silhouettes
Instant Inspiration (4) – Juxtaposition
Instant Inspiration (5) – Puddle Shooting
Instant Inspiration (6) – Storefront Windows
Nice ideas, especially about the GAS, an addiction I should break!
Thanks, Tim, highly appreciated! Marcus
This is wonderful advice, and spot on. For so many of the native flowers and plants I like to photograph, the only way to do so is to hit the ground. It was hard at first — I was a little embarassed. But now? Not so much. A couple of weeks ago I was on the ground in a public place when someone asked, “Have you fallen, and you can’t get up?” I know what to say, now. I told him, “No, I haven’t fallen, and I don’t want to get up!” Everyone laughed — and I got my photo.
i’ve been working my way through your tips. I probably won’t always comment, but they really are great — so helpful.
Thanks for sharing that story, Linda! Aren’t we photographers a crazy bunch 😉 ? And thank you so much for your feedback on the tips, this is awesome and so much appreciated! Marcus
This is a great piece of advice, and something I always forget to try when I’m out! I was suffering from some photographers block lately but started focusing on shadows and light and it helped me get out of the rut.
Jeff, this is awesome feedback. When writing my posts I always hope they actually inspire or empower someone. Thanks for taking the time for commenting! Marcus
Great ideas, thanks for this 🙂
Thanks so much, glad you find the ideas useful! Marcus
Excellent series, thank you. Greetings from New York City.
Thanks so much for your feedback, Jack! Greetings back to my favorite city!
Really wonderful, cool images.
Thanks do much, appreciate your feedback so much!
Great topic and motivation to continue my photography. Thanks
Thanks Denise, your feedback means a lot! 😊🙏
Great topic. I was just reading an article about shooting from different perspectives, shooting from underneath objects, from directly up above, at eye level. It does make a difference. Love your article and laughed at your comment about the close up figure being your wife. I just shot one of my son’s dog in her bed with a warm fire behind her while I was lying on the floor to get the shot. If she had been my dogs, they would have been all over me, thinking I’d gotten down to their level to play.
Thanks! Too bad there is no “making of” from your photographing your son’s dog 😉
That was an interesting read and funny coincidence… I just spend the evening outside on my knees in the snow taking pictures from a low angle (northern lights pictures) 🙂 I had a different reason though, I couldn’t find my tripod…… But it made some interesting shots so I will be continuing taking pictures from a low angle. I love how much snow I can incorporate into my pictures from this angle.
Anyways, I will be following your blog from now on and thanks for the visit on mine!
I would love to see Nothern Lights once in my life, it’s on my bucket list. Appreciate your visit, comment and follow and look forward enjoying more of your wonderful photographs on your blog!
Great post, thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks for visit and comment! Glad you like it!
Great shot. Nice post!
Thanks, Glen! Visit and comment highly appreciated 😊
nice perspective 🙂
Thanks 😊
Great idea and interesting photo! 🙂 I do feel like I’m stuck in my photography at the moment and need a fresh approach… as for equipment and technique, I still haven’t tried it all, so that’s where I’m going to head, for now…
Thanks, will post more of those!
Mag die Perspektive sehr, so einfach aber doch wirkungsvoll. das macht Street Fotografie aus… Top!
Danke 😊
Thanks for the reblog – highly appreciated!
This is one low perspective shot of a church aisle I tried sometime ago:
https://wordpress.com/post/madrasnallamadrasblog.wordpress.com/3882
Would love to see your shot, but the link seems not to be working. Maybe you can verify and repost. Thanks 🙂
Try this link:https://madrasnallamadrasblog.wordpress.com/2016/09/26/st-marys-church/
The new link works like a charm. Your image of the church aisle is a areat example of low perspective! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks
Good suggestion to overcome Photographer’s Block and G.A.S. will try it out.
So happy you like it! Thats what I intended! Will do more of this in the future! Thanks for visit and comment!
Inspiring post, Marcus. I couldn´t agree more. It is always a good advice to change the perspective and to play with the angle. I like your (new) view. Keep going on.
Stefan, thanks for the great feedback 😊!
Great advice, Marcus, and I love your new perspective.
Thanks, Jane, this means a lot to me!
It’s definitely rejuvenating to try out something different! I like the idea of your series. 😃
Happy you like it! Have fun! I promise I will post more “Instant Inspirations”.
I love this idea. I may have to take a “down low” photo this week. Thank you!
Your comment makes me happy. I had hoped that someone takes up the concept! Thanks!!