How To Find 365 Project Motivation and Inspiration
Posted by Katrina Kennedy on Jul 19, 2012 in 365, Blog | 3 comments
Summer.
It’s filled with photo worthy activities. We should have mounds and mounds of photos. Shouldn’t we?
Summer brings good light. Longer days. A little relaxation.
And fewer photos.
Why?
With two boys home, my summer is filled with activity. My great intentions of catching up with projects, cleaning the house, and getting ahead on a few things seem to fall away exchanged for bike rides, time in the garden, goofing, and just hanging out together. Not a bad exchange.
How do I keep up with my 365 project when I have so many other things going on?
It can get difficult. Yes, activities should keep me taking photos, but sometimes I find myself so involved in the activity, that taking photographs isn’t practical. And, well, sometimes I just don’t want to.
I’m enjoying the activities.
I’m spending time in the garden digging in the dirt.
I’m preparing our weekly Sunday night dinners for friends and family.
Summer is the time of year that I really get into the activities. I’m doing more and more.
All that doing can make carrying my camera impractical.
How do I keep up with my 365 project?
In this time of extra time, I find I’ve got to work at my photography a bit more.
Somedays I grab my camera with great intention and say, I’m going to create some photos today. Those are often the good days.
Keep my camera within reach
I keep my camera on the fireplace mantle with my most frequently used lenses. They are safe, but within reach. I only recently added my lenses to the mantle. I was frustrated with going to take the shot only to realize I needed my 50mm lens stashed safely away upstairs. I’m able to respond quickly when I hear “you’ve got to see this” shouted from outside. The closer they are, the easier the shot.
Use the camera I have
My phone is almost always in my pocket. I use it when I see an opportunity, just in case I don’t have time to create a more intentional photo during the day. It saves me.
Try a new app. Process things differently. Have fun with it.
Go out for the shot
Leaving the house with the purpose of taking photos has always worked well for me. I attempt to create opportunities to get out with my camera and my boys. It can be as simple as saying, let’s go to lunch (at the restaurant with the really great light) or let’s go to the zoo today. Knowing I’m leaving with the purpose of taking photos makes it much easier.
Go on a photo walk. Grab a list. Get moving.
Connect with creativity
At this half way point in the year, I find myself digging deep to find my creativity. I nudge it by taking inspiration from others. I immerse myself in information from sources like CreativeLive and David DeChumin. I look through photos from the CY365 Gallery and Flickr Explore.
Look back
Each evening after Ian goes to bed I take a little computer time to look through past years of 365. Something about connecting with my old projects reminds me to keep going with my current project. I know I’ll be pleased with the results even after days of feeling no creativity. I see the amazing results of persistence.
Looking back reminds me that I’ve been in this same spot before. A few times. And it hasn’t always been easy.
My creativity and motivation with my 365 project has peaks and valleys. On the days I’m extra motivated I go with it. I shoot and enjoy the creative process. On the days when I’m stuck for ideas, feeling unmotivated I grab a shot here or there and just roll with it. I know it will return. It always seems to return. I can’t force it, but nudging it seems to work.
What about you? How do you keep your creativity and motivation going for your own 365 Project?
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The 365 gallery and your classes and prompts are definitely what’s keeping me motivated and going!! I want so badly to take pictures that I love!! And every time you do a post that relates to a “last year on this day I … ” I sooo want to have that!!
One other thing is that I am using a Project Life kit for my pictures. The first few months I was really good about doing the journaling every Sunday. Lately I’ve bees a little less good but I find when my motivation is lacking it really helps to work on the album. I’ll either get caught up on that journaling or order my prints and get them into the album. Looking at it all together like that and reminiscing about moments that would have been long forgotten if not for this project keep me going. Right now my album is 100% done through July 4th and I smile about something different every time I flip through it and think about how fun it will be to share “that” story with my grandkids!
EXACTLY what I needed to read. I have been so baffled by the fact that I have had so many experiences yet find I didn’t catch a POTD. As you said, I am involved more and my camera is not top on my list but I don’t want to miss a single day of this little project. Thank you for the links, too! Perfect topic!!
So glad you like them Erin.