How to Tell if You're In a Photographic Rut

I have fun taking pictures like this. I hope you have fun looking at them. But you know what? Even if you didn't, I'd keeping taking them. Does that mean I'm in a rut? Not by my definition. What do you think?

I suspect that most photographers who are in a rut are well aware of it and don't need some happy-go-lucky blogger to remind them of it. Feel to read no further and wait for the next post. Those who you who are blissfully unaware of your rut-status and wish to stay that way should take the same advice. If, on the other hand, you have a sneaking suspicion that all is not well in photoland and you're looking for confirming evidence, here is where you'll find it.

Eight Clues That You May Be in a Rut

1. You keep using the same equipment and shooting the same subjects in the same way, yet you expect different results.
2. You find yourself more interested in what your equipment can do—and telling anyone who’ll listen—than in actually doing anything with it.
3. When someone asks you why you photographed a particular subject you have no idea how to answer.
4. You are absolutely convinced that your camera and/or lenses are pieces of crap, despite the fact that thousands of other photographers are producing amazing photos with the same equipment. The possibility that some are even producing better photos with worse equipment than you have is nothing less than depressing.
5. You spend hundreds of dollars and countless hours mastering Photoshop in the hope of making your photographs look better. Your effort shows, but not in a good way. (It doesn't help that more than one of your photographer friends has described what you do as “polishing a turd.”)
6. You’re obsessed with duplicating the working methods of famous photographers such as Adams, Arbus, Avedon, Cartier-Bresson, etc. yet can’t understand why your results haven't produced nearly as much interest.
7. You are convinced that there’s a vast conspiracy by camera companies, critics, and the media to ignore work that embraces traditional artistic values (or challenges them). By coincidence the work that you happen to be referring to is your own.
8. You've lost your passion for photography and aren't  having any fun.

If you've read this far, the good news is that if you can do something to correct Number 8, Numbers 1 - 7 will take care of themselves. The more you're motivated by emotions such devotion, passion, curiosity, self-improvement and fun, the less likely you are to fall into a rut, and if you do you're not likely to stay there long. If you've completely forgotten how to have fun, then you need more help than Shutterfinger can provide. Good luck to you and may you find your mojo in one piece and still able to work its spell.

Comments

[Chromatic Dramatic]

Nah... you've got it wrong!!! ;)

The first means you're insane...

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. (Albert Einstein).

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alberteins133991.html

[Tim]

#3 is only a modifier, not an independent symptom.

I might see a scene thinking "that looks nice / photogenic" and make a photo of it thinking "get a decent view in the finder" but that's operating on instinct, compared to a post-hoc rationalized philosophy such as "compose for leading lines / positional harmony in the viewfinder" - out in the wild, I might be thinking visual harmony without consciously thinking of the phrase "visual harmony" in so few words. In those circumstances, "I dunno why I took it" is a reasonable statement.

[Nikhil Ramkarran]

Excellent post. I find that when I feel I am in a rut, I stop taking photos and start viewing other photographer's more and reading more, generally. I don't do this to find ideas, but to refresh my memory as to how others see photography.

Often, by seeing the diverse styles of others I remember what is the story I want to tell.

[alex-virt]

Thank you for another excellent article, Gordon. I am especially guilty of #2.

I'd like to add one thing: if your photography is in a rut, it is most likely because your life is in a rut too. Mine sure is.