Breaking Out of a Photographic Depression
By Daniel P. Creighton, ©2001
I found this on this site :
http://www.dcphotog.com/Articles/Article4.htm
which I thought might be interested to some people here . wishing you all of the best ..
Are you in a photographic depression?
It happens to the best photographers. And the worst thing about being in a photographic depression is most don't know why they are in the depression or at the very least make up a lot of reasons for being in the depression. A lot of times these reasons are just excuses that feed the depression. To truly understand how to get out of an artistic depression we must first understand what being depressed is.
To be depressed means that you are pushing down something within you. You, as a photographer are holding down your inner voice, stifling your creativity. In essence you are holding down and depressing 'you' and not letting your personality rise to the surface and grow. Let it come out. Exhale, and breathe again, open your eyes and see again.
Many become photographically depressed because they aren't realistic about their abilities or vision. Perhaps they are also trying to be something or somebody they aren't. Today the photographers that make it are highly visible and this causes a lot of photographers, especially young photographers, to want to emulate their style and photographs. It is normal to want to be like, and create work like, those we admire. The influence and inspiration coming from these sources can be a good thing. But not if you are fighting yourself trying to be like everyone else. Stop fighting it. Be yourself and don't be afraid to be different as it allows your inner expressions to rise up and not be depressed. It is the photographer that tries to put another photographers vision on film, with no regard for his or her own vision, that is usually going to fall short. And falling short is a sure way of starting down that slippery slope towards depression. Always remember that your vision determines your work and who you are as an artist, not anybody else’s style or vision. By emulating someone else you are lying to yourself about your creative needs and few can succeed at lying for long. You can look at nature for inspiration and answers here. Nature will show you how no two trees are alike, no two sunrises the same. And that is exactly what makes them so special. It is no different with your photography. Be different, be unusual, be you, step away from the crowd and soon you will be noticed and possibly admired too. But first you must be true to your vision as that is where you will find the most satisfaction. Create photos for you first, others second.
Maybe you blame others for your depressed feelings. Maybe you received some negative comments on a photo you poured your heart and soul into. And if the comments are just negative with no constructive advice they can hurt. But don’t let others criticism make you think you are a poor photographer or have a lack of vision. You may need to improve, and realizing this and listening to others, and yourself, and using that analysis to fuel your fires is one sure way to not only get out of a depression, instead of using it as an excuse to stay in one, but also to grow as a photographer and expand your vision and technical ability. You may think that others made you feel this way but the truth is only you are making you feel like this. You are depressing you, holding down your inner self. Turn around your negative and depressing feelings and use them as fuel to light a creative fire.
Perhaps there are problems that have you down. We all could use that new piece of equipment to take the next great picture. But by thinking like this, especially when that equipment is out of financial reach, tends to blind us to the potential that is there for great images with the equipment we already own. There is some truth to the statement that lack of equipment can handicap a photographer. But equally true is that with a little bit of ingenuity most photographers can overcome this handicap. And by using creativity and desire to make the most of what you have you may find that you look at things from a fresher perspective and come up with new visions to add to your portfolio. Change your perspective about any of the problems you face photographically and instead of dreading them, welcome them as opportunities, not as dead ends. Learn from, and grow from them. Use it as a way to make a fresh start, a new beginning. You very often cannot control the problems that you discover along the way, only how you react to them.
And when you do start to take chances and find that you made a mistake, or perhaps have made the same mistake several times don’t let it get you down. If you are not making mistakes you are not going to learn and grow as a photographer. Feeling down about your mistakes? Take a chance and address them. You learn much more from your biggest mistakes and how you overcame them than you do from your greatest successes. Having that understanding is what will make you strong and able to fend off another photographic depression.
You can take a step away from depression by controlling your photographic and artistic direction. You can make a difference by being you. Your inner self directs you, not anyone else. So learn to listen to that inner self. Slow down, enjoy your surroundings, enjoy your creativity, and then expand on it and grow with it. In a depression it is often the things we should do that we don't and the things we shouldn't do that we do. Look and respond in the opposite. That is how you can turn it around.
There are few happy endings, but lots of happy beginnings. Every time you fall down get up and start over. Set goals, pursue them, and never be afraid to not reach your goals. Be especially cognizant of what you learn on the way, as that is what matters most. Goals may change and life may change. If you have learned from your experiences then you didn't fail.
Remember who you are and be true to your vision.
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