creative rut

Probably the worst feeling as an artist is the feeling of being unable to create. Lately I've felt held back. I have pages and page full of ideas to shoot, yet I can't for the life of me find either the props I need or the locations I want to make these happen. Location seems to be what is really holding me back at this point. (this being the reason my 365 failed yet again after a few days)

I'm very tired of shooting in fields/forests/etc. It is what I tend to fall into because living in a small town in Texas, that's what is available. Savannah is similar in this except there I have a few more indoor options with access to college buildings etc.

Another thing holding me back is a lack of models. I spent most of last summer shooting self-portraits daily but I don't find them satisfying anymore. They are convenient when lacking models and it's always nice that when acting as photographer and model as you know exactly what you want the pose/emotion to be. Now they just feel redundant and make me unhappy with how I look. This is part of why I haven't been shooting as many daily lookbook shots as last summer. Even though I don't consider those to be as serious as my portfolio work, it's equally as frustrating to be unhappy with yourself in photographs.

Sometimes it feels unfair that so many people are so fortunate to grow up in cities that are completely filled with art. To live in a place where there are multiple modeling agencies to test with, stylists to collaborate with, creative people to work with. In my town, we have ONE agency that only shoots one extreme to the other - bikini lad girls covered in oil or really awful photographs you'd find in a high school yearbook. I am very envious of everyone in better situations but I'm trying not to let it bring me down and I'm trying to make the best of what I have been given.

I'm trying to work on finding new locations in a small town I've lived in nearly my whole life, trying to be inspired by the things I've owned for years, and trying to enjoy shooting the face I see everyday.

I'm going to drive and walk around and take notes of things and try to look at everything in a new light and hope things start to click soon. What do you do to get out of creative ruts? Any tips?


xoxo,
rockie