When Inspiration Is Too Much
by Amanda on August 25, 2010
If you are anything like me, you spend a lot of time pouring over other people’s photographs on photography websites, blogs and in books and magazines. There is such an amazing truckload of inspiration out there for all kinds of photography no matter what your needs. I sometimes share some of my photography inspirations here on Mocking Bird but I try not to overload you with other people’s photographs as there are so many great blogs out there already doing that.
As great as all this inspiration is, sometimes the volumes of photography available to peruse can actually be debilitating to your own photography. If we spend more time looking at other people’s photography than shooting ourselves, this can actually be doing our photography harm. The only way to improve is to practise and the only way to find your own voice and style is by trying out different things and seeing where you fit.
I think a lot of people get caught up in shooting fads, shooting what everyone else is shooting and trying to fit in. As pretty as all that can be, it doesn’t help you grow as a photographer. For me, photography is about being original and having a style and voice that is recognizable as your own. I may not always achieve this myself, but when I shoot, I remind myself that these are my stories, my photographs and not something that should be heavily influenced by someone else.
I hope I’m not sounding too preachy with this post but I do want new photographers to be themselves, to be original, to share their own voice in new and amazing ways that only they can. I also mainly wrote this post to remind myself to get out there and shoot for me too. I’ve been doing a lot of shooting for non personal reasons of late and along the way forgot to make time to shoot for me. We all need to shoot for ourselves too!
p.s. We welcomed the newest little bub to our family yesterday. Hooray for darling, little Aislin!
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Great reminder…I love looking at other people’s photographers, but I don’t take too many notes about what they’ve done because I want my photographs to be a reflection of MY eye.
Thank you for this post Amanda! you are so right! so much inspiration around!
I guess photography is as any art: you study other artists, you learn techniques and then forget all that and find and follow your way (when you find it……) and your way evolves over the time as well.
Other people work is to me as a refreshing and inspirational way to continue doing my own pictures and learning new ways, but is like impossible to me to try to be someone else so when I try to experience doing as others I just learn is NOT my way :). I keep a few photographers in my everyday inspiration (you are one of them) even if my style is quite different. The inspiration is giving me is a “soul” inspiration of a way of looking at magic in the world, not to try to the the same.
“I think a lot of people get caught up in shooting fads, shooting what everyone else is shooting and trying to fit in.”
It happens a lot I think in communities organised around specific cameras like Holgas and Polaroids that impose a very specific look on the image. Sites like Flickr don’t help. I’m not an amazing fan of Flickr, but I put some of my photos up there occasionally (and have a chat on some of the groups). It bugs me that the photos I really like are hardly ever looked at, whereas a lot of the photos I think are borderline get all the attention because I took them with a Holga or some such. Sometimes it’s tempting to abandon what I like and be Mr Popular for a while!
Yeah. It happens a lot I think in communities organised around cameras like Holgas and Polaroids that have a very specific look. The first time you see a Holga photograph or a Polaroid it is very different, and exciting, especially if all you’ve seen are digital. But a boring photograph is still a boring photograph, whatever it was taken with.
It’s especially prevalent I think in commuti
I think about this a lot.
I put some of my pictures on Flickr, which I’m not
with cameras like Holgas that have a look you can’t escape.
Oops, I left a ton of junk in the bottom of that comment (everything after “Yeah”)
Sorry!
I have been thinking a lot about this lately. I found that my editing style was being influenced a lot by what I was seeing from other people, and while I enjoy looking at some images with an “action-y” style, my own true style is more natural, clean and crisp.
Also, I have found that I could spend all my time looking at blogs and flickr and getting inspired, rather than actually shooting and living. Now I limit my online “get inspired time”.
As a newbie to photography, I am very grateful for this post. Your words of wisdom will be taken to heart :)
ah! I definitely needed to hear this, so thank you so much for sharing your reminder to yourself with all of us :) Love your blog and YOUR original photography..
Ashley, I love that you called it a “reflection of my eye”.
Catalina, I think you said it perfectly. I do think you have to learn from others, without a doubt and being aware of your own voice is so important.
Gary, you speak to my heart! That was one of the things that bugged me about flickr most. There was a time there when I was taking photographs that I would now deem to be “samey” and am now embarrassed by them and they are the ones that got the most hits, most comments, got to explore etc. I’ve deleted most of them.
Other photographs that I was proud of got barely any views. So yes, I totally understand that problem with flickr. Unfortunately, it’s a huge site with so many viewers that the majority of people are perhaps interested in a particular type of shot – we know they love the “bokeh”!
I think the trick to flickr is finding like minded people who appreciate the kinds of photographs that you do. I started getting a lot more out of flickr when I built friendships with those who got the same things I did.
I used to get WAY more comments than I do now and it was because I was uploading those kinds of photos, the kinds of photos that get to explore. After a while it started to bug me because I think a lot of the time people just comment to be seen and not to actually contribute to what they really think about your photography.
It’s a funny place, that ole flickr!
Hannah, I think that’s another great point. All the time spent looking at other people’s photos is time NOT spent out there shooting.
Michele, thank you. I’m glad it can be somewhat helpful. :)
Hannah 2, yes, a lot of the time these kinds of posts are written as reminders to myself and hopefully can work for a few other people out there too. Thanks for commenting. :)
Just wanted to say thanks for sharing – I really appreciated your words, they meant a lot.
Excellent advice on an easy “trap” to get into. I am guessing everyone has done it at one time or another. Somewhat of a natural progression. Recognizing it, and doing your “own thing” is something else.
Congratulations on your new addition!
Not too preachy at all. There’s just so much amazing out there and all within reach of the keyboard. There’s a lot to learn + technical knowledge is especially valuable. I agree that inspiration overload could be detrimental in finding your voice; not to mention hurt your spirit in comparison. At times, it makes uttering the words, “I’m not like them” {heavy sigh included} leave my lips so easily.
As someone making a slow and fastidious return to black + white film, I’m trying to be mindful about my own space, the why.s + how.s of capturing a moment or story that convey my unique spirit. Your post is a great reminder of that.
What I find really lovely is the self-movement and growth {technically + creatively} in your art as a result of being inspired. I’m happy to say I’m amidst this loveliness right now. Your posts and photographs have contributed to this sweet development! : ) Thanks, Amanda!
I agree with you, sometimes too much inspiration just overwhelms me and I can’t think of anything to do of my own that is creative. Thanks for sharing this truth, inspiration is good, but a balance of it and your own creativity is even better. :)
Also, congrats on the new addition to the family!
I definitely agree that seeking out too much inspiration is counter-productive and takes precious time away from learning through the act of taking photos. However, I do feel that fads have their place when used in moderation. I don’t think our photography voice is stagnant – it changes with life experiences, equipment used and the natural journey of progressing to find that voice. Fads allow someone to see a different perspective and try it for themselves. Then they can do what they please with the style and move on as part of their self-discovery. I don’t think you should be ashamed of the faddish photos in your history, because it’s been a contributor in some way that brought you to your perspective today. I’ll happily try a fad if it appeals to me and see if it works for me, then move on or go back to what I did before. However, I think it’s important to always stay true to yourself whilst moving through the discovery – for example, I love digital photography and that is all I do. I’m not ashamed of that and I have no interest in taking film photos – but they sure do inspire me!
Gorgeous. Absolutely.
so true! i’ve noticed this with myself and am relieved to see it’s something that others noticed too. i think your advice to make sure you’re not looking at others work more than you’re shooting your own is wonderful and very insightful!
“If you are anything like me, you spend a lot of time pouring over other people’s photographs on photography websites, blogs and in books and magazines.”
I feel so guilty of this!
But there are times it feels safer sitting in a bookstore awing over the work others have so beautifully accomplished because at the moment I’m not failing… It takes courage for me to go out with my camera and start snapping photos that reveal something about ME… Does that make any sense? I appreciate this post for it’s a reminder for me to spend less time in the bookstore and less at the computer and more time with my camera in my hands taking the photos that I love.
Thank you!
Not preachy at all — thanks for this! Yup, I got to the point where I’m skimming through photos just to skim b/c there’s so much, and skimming through my favorite blogs as if it’s homework. Arghh…way too much info and visual overload. So I’ve cut back on the obsessive checking etc, and am enjoying looking at other people’s works, and doing my own so much more.
it is difficult not to be influenced by what we see and are attracted to – i agree. great thoughts about that. but at the same time, i strive to stay true to my art and seeing it develop over time. i want to be challenged and excited by difference and not the conformity adapting to the sameness as you so very well explained.
as always, thank you for sharing your thoughts :) i think about such stuff often but don’t translate them into words as well as you do. i guess it’s all about being true to yourself :)
I’m glad you talked about this.
I’m still learning and developing my own style, and lately I’ve felt like I’m doing something “wrong” (not really, but a little) because I don’t shoot like all the people who’s work I’m keeping an eye on. I see trends (heavily processed photos of ferris wheels, anyone?) and I sometimes feel dismayed because the thing I’m not into is clearly so popular.
But I need to remember that the most important things are to a) practice practice practice, and b) stay true to what inspires ME. I love polaroids and holgas from others, but they’re not really MY thing, and that’s ok! There’s room for all, even those of us shooting digital photos with bright colors. :)
Amy… Exactly.
I do a lot of promoting of film photography on this blog but I hope I don’t ever make digital shooters feel that I am anti digital, I’m not at all. I shoot digital all the time and am currently coveting both the 5D mark 11 and the Olympus EP1.
I think what you said is exactly right. You can totally be inspired by the work of others and that may not be your style. I love lots of photographers whose style is something I’d never try for myself.
Thank you to everyone for such an amazing conversation. I get such a thrill when posts spark such great dialogues from all you lovely birdies!
this is such an important post amanda! i think we all stare ourselves blind on other people’s work from time to time. and it is a complex question you’re addressing.
this issue is present in all kinds of art. i’ve thought a lot about how to perform classical music since i’m a pianist and piano teacher: there’s this heavy tradition that we’re representing, but at the same time a heavy demand that our musical interpretations should be original. i think it’s becoming very very difficult to be original – it’s like whatever you’re doing, it’s been done before…
there are lots of photography tips and advice out there on how to take ‘great photos’: the photo should be sharp, the main motif should be placed in a certain way in the frame, overexposing is bad, blurry is bad, the wrong kind of bokeh is bad and so on. but i’m having a bit of trouble with this – because my work as a musician demands certain things of me i’ve decided to do what i want when i shoot. on the other hand: maybe we need to look at and try stuff that other people have done before, just to become more experienced photographers, to develop our tools and then see what represents ourselves in a good way?
in this context, it’s sort of difficult to tell whether our art represents our own voice. did this idea come from me, or am i (subconsciously) ‘parroting’ something i’ve seen somewhere else? when we work with visual arts like photography, we probably have a well developed visual memory and keep storing things we’ve seen, and this will probably shine through in our work.
and then there’s the issue of how our photos are interpreted. i’ve done a few ‘feet’ photos this summer (the kind when you shoot your feet from above so they appear in the lower part of the photo). everybody’s doing them now and it’s clear that i’m being influenced by what i’ve seen on the internet. in my head, my feet photos still feel very personal because my shots are being done in a context where something important is happening. in certain situations, the feet photos are the perfect symbol of something i want to remember – but i know that from the outside, it looks just like another feet photo.
so it’s difficult to ‘see’ yourself and evaluate whether you’re expressing your true voice, because things get blurry with emotion!
this has been on my mind during the summer; i’ve done a lot of photographing and photoshopping and sometimes this ridiculous idea pops into my head: ‘it doesn’t look like those dreamy, romantic photos that everybody loves so much, no one is going to like this’! it’s so stupid because like you say, it’s all about finding your own style and being genuine – but i guess we’ve all thought this thought?
that’s why your post is important: it’s a reminder for me to be honest with myself.
Amanda, great post!
This is actually something that i have been thinking about all week. One of the biggest things for me personally is that i find if i look at too much of other peoples work, i start to get discouraged about my own photography! If i overdo it, it crosses a line from ‘inspired’ to ‘overwhelmed’. There are so many people out there with so much talent and its easy to wish you were shooting like them, instead of like you. I made a decision this week to focus on my own photography, instead of other peoples. Im sure that my photography will improve so much as a result of this one simple decision.
Thanks for writing about this in such a lucid and non-aggressive way, Manda. :) It’s exactly how I’ve been feeling about design and photography for some time, especially the former ever since I started working professionally as a designer.
Just like Whitney said above, the more time we spend looking at others’ work, the less we spend on crafting our own work. What I’ve learnt, in the process of limiting where my attention is spent, is to develop my own voice. It’s not about what other people are doing or seeing — it will always be more exciting than our own!
your words were perfect and brilliant. if i said what you said, i would have sounded bitchy because my words would have been a mess and i would have stumbled horribly and probably sustained a broken toe in the process, but you were not preachy at all….and i’m assuming all your body parts are in tact and wonderful.
thank you for this.
So, true. I am not a photographer, per say, but I find myself over stimulated by other people. Sometimes, I just take a break because it is too much.
Thank you for sharing this. I just came across your blog tonight and it was PERFECT timing! I just started a photo blog this week (yes, this week) and I’m trying to discover my own style…I’m trying to embrace my beginner status, but I already feel like I’m behind the curve. Nothing like surfing other people’s blogs to put off taking your own pictures. This is a great reminder to accept (and potentially) embrace myself right where I’m at. Creativity comes from within. THANK YOU again for your post. Just the right thing at the right time.
oh gosh, this is definitely about me. i get easily distracted by anything beautiful, i spent so much time wandering through photography blogs, i stare at photos that take me breath away and make my heart jump, all that inspiration is really a lot if not too much. and, yet, even if i have heard people telling me that i have some kind of “my” style, i am not so sure myself if i am on the right way, if it really is who i am and the pictures i take are the pictures i want to take; it they reflect me enough or they are just a result of enourmous amounts of inpsiration and influence of other people work….
thank you for this post Amanda, i am going to think more about what you’ve said. this is really important.
Feeling so much better about the 300 shots it took to get 3 for pub, today.
Took my breath away, that opening shot.
I started feeling that when I started noticing bloggers I used to read all the time posting the same things almost within days. It was eerie and made me uncomfortable. There are so many subject matters to shoot in this world, so many more props too!
People always think I am joking or not being true when I say I do not look at other photographers portfolios. Maybe once or twice a year to see what they are up to. It’s not that I don’t admire them but I don’t want my own vision to be corrupted by what others are doing.
When I do, I look at their use of light, shadows, colors, not the props or styling. I let my own mind take over that part.
If it means anything, I wear it as a badge of honor that I have *never* made it to Explore on Flickr and yet, I am fully self employed in food photography and working everyday for books or other clients.
It’s liberating to be uncool :)