Lacking Motivation

A place we’ve all been to at least once. As the last few blogs have mentioned, I’ve had a coming and going of gear and it only has shown to prove that owning gear does not make a photographer. It is a slippery slope to becoming a collector. Yes, there is the case of being both, but what’s important is using your gear.

My plan to do this was streamlining what I own to primarily one camera manufacturer; this way, any shift in camera body would not be too different all whilst using the same lenses. In my opinion, it’s not a great thing to own too many different styles because the manufacturers designs are meant to be unique which is how they receive dedicated followers (not necessarily sponsors).

Now, what about the motivation part? I can’t spontaneously generate motivation, but what I can do is grab my camera and take it outside with me. I can pick a specific subject (e.g., colours, patterns, etc.) and look for them. I can grab a book or watch a movie for inspiration. There are many options; it’s about picking one and running with it to re-ignite consistency.

If you’re also struggling, here is an example of what I have chosen for this weekend:

Camera - Olympus Pen EES-2 (half frame)

Film (if not digital) - Harman Red 125

Location - Palm Springs, CA

Subject - Items in colours that absorb red (i.e., green, blue, black)

Motivation - William Eggleston

Join me on the streets.