We all get stuck in a creative rut from time to time...
It might be that you simply don't have the energy to go out and shoot. Perhaps every photo you take just isn't doing it for you.
Either way, finding a way to get your mojo back is critical. That's easier said than done sometimes, though.
Fortunately, the crew from Mango Street have some simple photography challenges that will get you back to making awesome photos again.
Oddly enough, their advice is to place restrictions on yourself to force your brain to think about photography in new ways.
Check out how they challenge one another in the video above, and keep on reading for a step-by-step summary of a few of the challenges they present.
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Shoot With Your Back on the Ground
One of the most common culprits of a creative rut (and really boring looking photos) is taking every photo from your eye level.
Now, no one takes every photo from eye level, but there's certainly more than enough images out there that offer a view of a scene that is typical for an average-sized adult.
That's why forcing yourself to shoot from ground-level can kickstart your creativity.
Not only does it put you in a novel situation that makes you look at your subject in an entirely different way, but it also forces you to get back to basics in terms of composition and framing.
How you frame a portrait from your eye level and how you frame a portrait when looking up at the subject from below, can be two very different tasks.
The same is true of any other subject, too - landscapes, architecture, street scenes, you name it.
The point is that something as simple as changing the perspective from which you shoot can be all you need to start taking more creative photos once again.
Learn More:
Shoot With Your Camera Above Your Head
Much like the previous challenge, this one is all about getting you out of your comfort zone and forcing you to see subjects in an entirely different way.
The primary difference, though, is that it's much more difficult to get a high-quality shot with your camera above your head than it is to get a high-quality shot with your back on the ground.
At least in the latter situation you have an easier means of supporting your camera. But with your camera held above your head, you have the additional challenge of trying to keep it still to avoid camera shake.
Naturally, shooting in shutter priority mode and increasing the shutter speed to a speed that's fast enough to avoid camera shake is something to consider. You can also crank up the ISO if need be.
An additional challenge is that if your camera doesn't have an articulating LCD, you'll have to compose the shot blind.
Of course, holding your camera above your head and shooting blind isn't something normally recommended to get a great photo.
However, if you're in the depths of a creative rut, breaking a bunch of rules might be just what you need to find your way again!
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Shoot Upside Down and Between Your Legs
One thing that can get you into a creative rut is being self-conscious.
Whether that manifests as being wary of taking photos of strangers when you're doing street photography or being embarrassed about your gear or something in between, a quick way to get over being self-conscious is to put yourself in a situation in which you look impossibly ridiculous.
Shooting upside down and between your legs fits the bill...
Additionally, just like the previous two tips, shooting upside down makes you look at your subject in a whole new way.
I mean, how often do you look at something you're photographing from an upside down point of view?
Who knows - taking this kind of unique shooting position might allow you to see things that you've never seen before, with more creative photos a result of that.
Learn More:
- Photography Composition Tip: How to Use Perspective
- Composition Mistakes Every Photographer Should Avoid
Shoot With a Shutter Speed of 1/30th of a Second or Slower (Without a Tripod)
Shooting with a slow shutter speed gives you a chance to create images with interesting motion effects.
Usually, that involves using a tripod so you blur the motion of the subject without camera shake.
However, these challenges are all about breaking convention, so why not try a slow shutter speed while holding the camera?
The point with this challenge isn't necessarily to see if you can get a tack-sharp photo - that will be extremely difficult.
Instead, the purpose is twofold: one, see how you can use motion blur to your advantage, and two, find ways to stabilize your camera as best you can.
Breaking out of your creative rut isn't just dependent upon the artistic aspects of photography. Instead, working on technical matters like shutter speed and how you hold the camera can give you new ideas about how to approach your photography.
Give these tricks a try (and check out the video for a few more), and you'll have all sorts of ways to get your creative mojo back in no time.