All artists are used to getting stuck somewhere in the creative process. Unfortunately, this job is mostly based on creativity, whose frequency depends on many unknown variants, which usually drive artists mad.
The “inspiration trap,” as some refer it to, or the “artists’ slump,” is that moment of waiting. You’ve got no ideas, and even if you have them, they’re impossible to put on paper, computer, or through whatever kind of art you’re doing. However, photography might be the most challenging to transform into art, especially when hitting a wall.
Artists have a hard time with photography composition because our eyes tend to offer a different representation of the view compared to what we capture with the lens. So, here’s where the fun begins. How can you balance the subjects with the background while ensuring symmetry and depth?
When you don’t know how to overcome the creative struggle, here’s what you may need to do.
Table of Contents
Experiment with shadows
Mastering shadows is an excellent start to coming out of a slump since they’re everywhere around us and can be intentional without much happening in the photo. You can experiment with shadows by:
- Playing with the inverse square law, in which the light intensity decreases when the subject moves far away from it;
- Creating silhouettes, where the subject becomes an outline against a light background;
- Adding patterns in the shadows for a more exciting photo through fabrics, such as lace;
- Framing the subject in a shadow placement;
Whether you notice the sun rays coming indoors or are mesmerized by how natural elements look outside, playing with shadows is always a great idea for improving your skills and inducing some creativity. This tip can save you lots of time, especially during problematic situations, and if you rely financially on your activity and put your photography for sale.
Work with reflections
Reflection elements are yet another essential element for practices since they offer an interesting perspective on a view from different perspectives. You can find reflections in water sources, shiny surfaces, and even windows, so you can easily get experimental with them.
What’s more interesting is that you can mess with many image features to make the photo unique. For example, you can play with height by lying lower to the ground and making the photo look grandiose.
Considering reflections when taking a picture allows you to combine techniques, such as the rule of thirds or centering a subject, without dulling the photo. In this case, however, the weather plays an essential role in getting amazing pics, especially after the rain when you can get more shots. The lighting and location also matter, so if you’re in a creative slump, take your gear, walk somewhere lovely, and search for that perfect spot.
Engage with textures
Capturing different textures in photos might be one of the most exciting ways to practice your skills. You can usually capture textures like different shapes and colors by adjusting lighting, so you may need to shoot on sunny days outside and use an artificial light source when taking pictures inside.
Of course, you must search for patterns. You’re lucky to find plenty in the grass, plants, and soil in nature. You’ve got bonus points if natural elements blend in beautifully and create a special textural effect. On the other hand, indoor opportunities lay in textiles, so anything around the house works, but also in food, where there’s a multitude of colors and textures.
Ideally, capturing textiles is best with a tripod and a timer, so there won’t be any shaky pics that could compromise the textural quality. Moreover, using a macro lens is recommended for close-up shots.
Manipulate negative space
Photographing the emptiness surrounding an object is part of minimalist photography, but it takes a bit of effort to put it together beautifully. Instead of focusing on the subject, negative space is all about what’s around it. If you need some help with this idea, you may start by using the rule of thirds to balance the elements, but make sure you capture as few ones as possible.
Watch out for empty concrete walls, backgrounds, and even the sky accompanied by certain objects or shadows that complement the vacuum. Of course, at first, you’ll look out for uniform negative spaces, but they can also have texture, such as grass, if little elements, such as a flower or a tree, accompany them.
Light is essential to negative spaces because it can affect the subject’s form and intention. In addition, size can help you balance negative spaces, so try catching small and massive elements in a balanced way.
Explore long exposure
If you’re a night owl and prefer taking pics at night, you might be familiar with prolonged exposure. The technique allows you to capture moving objects that appear in a razor-sharp motion in the picture. While it’s best to use it at night when the contrasting black tones accompany cheerful lights, long exposure is great for landscapes and urban shots during the golden hour.
What’s sure is that taking the best pics with long exposure requires you to be outside for a while and analyze your surroundings. Regardless, place your camera on the tripod and avoid any movement during the shutter release to better capture the view. You may also need to assess some settings, such as the mode, shutter speed, and aperture, for a successful long-exposure pic.
The best approaches with long exposure include astrophotography, dim scenes, events, and landscapes, but there’s so much more potential for long exposure.
What do you think about these tips?
Being a photographer is challenging, especially if you’re suffering from “artist’s block”. When nothing seems to spark interest, and your brain is on pause mode, it might be best to start somewhere with your pics and see where it will go. We recommend approaching tips like playing with shadows, textures, and negative spaces and challenging yourself. You can learn many new techniques and methods in photography, and they can successfully pull you out of a slump.
Varsha