What To Do When Frustration Knocks On Your Door...

What to do, when frustration knocks on your door...

posted on 30th of october, 2012

Hi guys, I decided to write this post to help myself (and maybe others) to get out of misery of frustration that strikes us - photographers from time to time...

So... recently I haven't created any image (for a while already) - mostly because of no time (20 minutes per day is not enough for me), unfavorable conditions (temporarily lost the only space where I was able to set the lights...) and too noisy results of my travel photography from last months... Basically - lady Frustration knocked on my door and is my company these days (weeks, months)...

I do realize, that the only way out is to create and upload new images, that will sell and make me feel like it is all worth it... but those obstacles are demotivating every time I think of grabbing the camera... - "You don't have enough time for it - don't even try - you will not even finish setting lights, so why wasting your precious time?... " - says lady Frustration every time... And I am such a jerk, that I listen to her and let myself get seduced... - but it is so easy to do nothing when working hard is needed...

So as I am writing this post, I made a commitment to take it step-by-step (- you cannot climb Mt. Everest in half an hour, but if you do couple of steps every day [uphill off-course], on day you will find yourself on top - right?).

The plan is to upload one image as soon as it will be ready - no matter if it is gonna take a week to create it (or two weeks...) but every day I am going to do (in my limited time) a couple of steps which will get me closer to upload...

The first step is to choose a concept - that is the task for tomorrow (Actually the step 1 was to make a commitment and say it loud - that is this article you are just reading...) So, the concept has to be achievable with things I have on hand, must be possible to do it with minimum studio setup and has to have selling potential (- ouch )... Next days I have to shoot it and Photoshop it (- one adjustment layer a day if faster is not possible) and than upload it... So that is my plan - wish me luck... :)

Jan
(If you have some better method of saying Good bye to lady Frustration I would be grateful if you share it...)

Tags: frustration help limits motivation plan

Comments (10)

	Posted by Janceluch on November 24, 2012 DONE! I have just uploaded the file and it is pending now - lovely :) - took me a bit longer than I was expecting and it is not the best concept ever, but with busy last weeks, plus all the technical difficulties and amount of retouching that got into play, I am glad that I have made it till the upload... No matter whether the file will be rejected or approved, it is a great feeling to achieve the goal... So if you feel down, remember that it is YOU who decides whether to "be the victim" or to be "in control of the situation"... Good luck and head up!
	Posted by Janceluch on November 03, 2012 Slowly I am getting back on track, but she is trying hard - yesterday my computer got frozen... after hour of retouching - all was lost... So sad, that Photoshop does not have the recovery of document after crashes (as Indesign for example)... So I have lost one day to redo yesterdays tasks - and the learning point - I am hitting Ctrl+S every 10 minutes from now on... (and you should not forget to do it as well if your computer likes to crash from time to time... )
	Posted by Debramillet on November 01, 2012 So glad for you that your getting your inspiration back and on a side note im sure you made others who feel stuck in a rut feel better :)
	Posted by Janceluch on November 01, 2012 Thank you for your ideas and support. I actually got motivated after posting this article and read your understanding comments - looks like sometimes the problem only needs to be talked over (with someone who understands) and that already moves you half way out of sorrow... Till now I managed to choose image idea, shoot it and started to Photoshop the image - step by step I am climbing that mountain... :) ... meanwhile Lady F is nervously biting her nails while sitting on her packed suitcase in the hallway... :)
	Posted by Debramillet on October 31, 2012 I agree with Inyrdreams. Sounds like being in the studio has become a chore, maybe outside will bring your inspiration back. Dont worry about the conditions outside, even if you get a few "bad lighting, wrong time of day" refusals, being outside is good for one's soul :)
	Posted by Viocara on October 31, 2012 Beautiful!Very Good advise!Thank You!
	Posted by Egomezta on October 31, 2012 We all suffer it from time to time. Don't worry it will go away soon. Give yourself some free time, carry your camera everywhere and you'll find something to make the frustration go away.
	Posted by Petin on October 31, 2012 From my point of view, photography should be also about pleasure not only about target settings. I personally would leave the activity for a while ( 2-3 months ), just at the moment you feel you miss it, it is time to come back. In the meanwhile you can still look around you, look after ideas, inspiration... Write it down not to forget it later. I wish you fast recovery...
	Posted by Inyrdreams on October 31, 2012 lady frustration is a pain! maybe this is the time to go on a walk and play tourist? forget about the lights and the set ups and see what is around you with new eyes. grab a friend, walk around the area where you live and take a camera!
	Posted by Dan1 on October 30, 2012 I've had health problems over the past 2 1/2 years. Some time on a walker (ankle surgery). Even more time recovering from a staff infection which turned into mercr (almost killed me) - from that i had a pic line in my right shoulder which left me very weak. So i can understand not having the time. I think it's great that you try a little a day. Good luck and hope you can find more time to take pics.