In moments when I’m in search for inspiration, I usually spend some time looking through various photo books, websites or just end up on Instagram or Flickr. Often I get stuck in a particular photographers work, and in the best cases, this exercise makes me end up in an imagery world of my own, but sometimes it just becomes an exercise in procrastination.
The other day I got stuck in Shelly’s image-feed on Instagram. Looking through her pictures it was so clear that nature and water is a common motive or just part of the scenery. That is something I like. When I look at how she presents nature and water I see that it’s the clearest red thread through her work.
Scrolling through the feed I soon realized that I had a soft spot for her images with figures that are in boats on the move over water. For me this is a theme in her work – is it about being on a journey, or is it about the process? They’re on their way towards something. One common element is that it’s unclear where they’re going.
I see the pictures as symbols of life’s journey. And just like in Shelly’s pictures, sometimes the journey is easy and takes place in calm beautiful waters, at other times the trip is on troubled water and sometimes the journey takes place on a dark bottomless sea. Sometimes we travel alone and sometimes in the company of a friend or animal. My imagination takes me on a journey with memories but it all started in Shelly’s image-world.
comfort with teddy
How do you handle the lack of inspiration? Do you procrastinate by looking through other photographers work, or do you have another secret medicine? If so please share.
Great post, Kristina! I too am often enamored by Shelly’s boat shots. They’re simply fantastic and it’s easy to get lost in the story behind them.
I’m also someone who often gets lost in another photographer’s work, which can lead to two things. 1) I either get motivated by their work and attempt to ‘up my game’ to evolve my own photography, or 2) I get discouraged by that gut feeling that they’re better than me, which then leads to procrastination.
Lately I’ve been trying really really hard to stick with option 1. I think all artists struggle with that feeling of inadequacy, especially when looking at the work of artists that they admire. But it’s far more beneficial, and creatively rewarding, to take inspiration from those other artists and use that to better your own photography.
Balakov is an artist I often get lost in, and was someone I really tried to emulate when I began my own LEGO photography a few years ago. I to this day can’t look at a Stormtrooper minifig or my own without imagining how he would shoot the particular scene! Nowadays I’ve become lost in Chris McVeigh’s work, particularly his Instagram – which is full of not only his best work, but some high-quality behind the scenes shots and “selfies” with his bearded sigfig. I recently made an effort to become more active on Instagram, and it’s all thanks to Chris’ own efforts inspiring me to do so.
Thank you, for sharing. I recognize that “gut feeling that they’re better than me”, but I mostly put it behind myself because I know that I’m not Mike or Chris, and what I do is “me” no more and no less 🙂 What I like with the procrastination part is that it sets my imagination off. My inspiration usually comes from pictures of people or statues that I encounter in one way or another.
I usually just make a simple shot when I’m uninspired. I’ll go to my sandbox, up in my attic and just do a shot of Sandtroopers on patrol. It’s easy to snap a quick photo with my iPhone and upload it.
On instragram, I just don’t post anything. Keep up my streak of daily photos on flickr.com is just habit now, even when I’m uninspired.
That is the best metod, and they are so nice to see your pictures of patrolling officers 🙂 I also take pictures as a way of finding inspiration, but my “self-critics” are so high that I have to work long and hard to get pictures that I think are worth the while when I photograph for inspiration. So the best moments is when I actually have some inspiration as a part of why I do the shot 🙂 I’m so impressed with your work and how you have kept it going Kevin – you are such a big part of my toy-photography- world online … thanks for that.
You are making me blush a bit.
Your work is always some of my favorite, right up there with Avanaut, Captain Kaos, krash override and Power Pig.
I love your style so very much. It always brings a smile to my face.
Thank you Kevin – you are the best!
Great shot. I love the light of this picture.
I usually take my minifigures and I go take some shots in my garden without any idea; I let the nature decide for me, and then I create.
Fantasy is unlimited; with it we can create what we want.
But I have to tell, that sometimes I take inspiration by the shots of Shelly, so clean and colourful.
Thank you 🙂 Yes we need to see other photographers work to get visions for our imagination. I think the fantasy is limited to what we have experienced and that is why inspiration from nature, the garden or other photographers are so important.
Kristina, It’s hard for me to comment on this post for obvious reasons. 😀 But I too have become lost in another photographers work. I do it quite often as a matter of fact. I love art, I love photography and I love to look at it. I originally got lost in Avanaut’s work. It was so hard not to get frustrated with my self for not being able to even approach the level of his work until I finally made peace with my own style. My first few years on IG was getting lost in all toy photography finding inspiration everywhere. That inspiration, from so many different people inspired me to keep pushing myself. I think its good to be inspired by other people without letting them overwhelm you with their own style. Now I look for inspiration from other media, not photography. Certainly you have been a great inspiration, with your talk of motives, I have been forced to look at my own more closely. I like where it has all been leading these past months.
And your right, water has always been in my work. I didn’t really see it myself until the first show in March. When they were on the wall I realized water was in all the image, I have been following that red thread with more intention ever since. It is always nice when others see what you’ve been up too. Thanks my friend.
I will post another challenge this week and maybe that will help us both move our work forward another step. xo
I love the way you work with water in the boating -series 🙂
Shelly, I can’t wait too see the challenge! 😉
I love all the tones in this image!
Your interpretation of Shelly’s work is lovely. Journeying on the water… I too find her work a huge inspiration. The couple of water shots I’ve attempted were done so with Shelly in mind.
While I often find inspiration while admiring other photographers’ works, I’m rarely looking at them from a standpoint of being uninspired. I’ve always got ideas to shoot, just not enough time to execute them! If anything, I’m always hunting for inspiring natural environments to shoot in. Location often plays a huge part in my work.
I do also appreciate studio and graphic design work, and @beardy_giant on IG comes to mind as someone whose work I’d like to aspire to.
Thanks for sharing – Beardy_giant is amazing the way he work the scenes and kind of make cartoons. I really like his work.