Going Dark

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Every so often I go dark and stop taking pictures. I’m not referring to commissioned work for clients - just my personal work. And it doesn't mean I’m bored with picture making, I’m just not feeling inspired enough to lift the camera to my eye. And it doesn’t mean I put my cameras away either. I still carry one around I just don’t use it.

These periods don’t usually last long and I don't consider it a time of stagnation. I consciously offset my personal dry spell by observing and experiencing other people’s creativity. It’s refreshing and, in a way, a relief to just bear witness to the work of others and not put any pressure on myself to create.

This past 3 weeks has been the longest stretch I have gone without making a picture just for me and I didn’t really notice the moment when I came out of the dark. The file sat in my camera for a few days before I even downloaded it to the computer. Ironically, the picture that signifies the end of this ‘going dark’ period is of a very moody scene I 'saw' recently. Go figure.

I am always reading the blogs of the latest photography wunderkinds. They both inspire and frustrate me with their unbound creativity and ‘what rules?’ processes.

One piece of advice that is often repeated is to ‘just keep taking pictures’ in a practise makes perfect way of learning. And for less experienced photographers in this digital age it can be a good approach - as long as each of those pictures is a step along from the previous.

Back in the day of film it was not so easy (or affordable) to just keep clicking. You had to be careful with each frame (especially if using the 4 x 5 format). It taught me to be more reflective about my photography and more considered about when I pressed the shutter. In fact, besides the nerves and excitement I experienced on my first real professional assignment, I remember thinking how cool it was that the client was paying for each roll I exposed!

I see these dark periods as important to my growth as a photographer and, while I don’t want to experience too many or for too long, I know there are rewards for not taking pictures.