The Summer Subject Slump

As the trees, bushes and fields begin to sprout their leaves, blooms and crops, I enter the inevitable struggles to get inspired to go out and take photographs. I think it’s pretty clear that I love taking photographs of trees that are bare of their leaves, desolate and/or foggy atmospheric landscapes and grey moody winter skies etc. It is subject matter that I love and find captivating and beyond beautiful. However, in the spring and summer, for the most part, these subjects and scenes just aren’t available. Herein lies the unfortunate predicament in getting motivated to find subject matter that I can really become inspired by.

In years past, I’ve taken photographs of architecture, focusing more on color, waiting for atmospheric rainy days and street photography(the subject of my next blog post)to name a few. Last year, I really concentrated on the way the light hit the subject, shallow depth of field and seeking out fallen trees, tree stumps and individual trees that were no longer living that were situated among the full, living trees and foliage. A contrast between the two(I would use the word ‘juxtaposition’ here but I came to despise that word and its over-usage in art school)with no real deep meaning behind the image except that I find this cycle of life beautiful. However, I still find it difficult to discover a new groove that really gets me excited to take photographs.

I would really like is to get back out on the streets again(as stated, subject of my next blog post)to use my newly acquired 35mm rangefinder camera and get some street photography on B&W film. The camera is manual focus so this will be a challenge in its own right to find that focusing speed again that I had in college. To go along with this, I will also be trying my hand at what is called ‘zone focusing’ which uses a selected aperture and then determining the range from the photographer that subjects would remain in focus. Although this really is something I am looking forward to, it could be a struggle to find locations within a reasonable distance from home populated enough to make compelling images.

I’ve also been thinking about joining some photography groups online that have assignments and competitions for the members to work on. My favorite podcast, The Photowalk, has monthly assignments set by a featured photographer that selects a single word for you to interpret and photograph in your own way. I am going to attempt to participate in as many of these assignments throughout the summer months as I can to keep me motivated and to get me out there.

*A focus on color as well as architecture*

Of course, I have to remember the family as well. I realized during our Route 66 road trip that I have, in some ways, forgotten to take pictures of my family in the frequency with which I used to. Obviously, Ella has been my favorite muse since she was born and I can’t get enough of that girl. So, I do need to focus more on family, especially since we will be out of doors a lot more often hiking through the woods, going to beaches and doing other warm weather activities.

The best way for me to look at it would be as a personal and inner creative challenge. Something that will force me to think outside my usual, unconventionally-shaped box and hope that it will motivate me to keep pressing the shutter.

Some images from summers past