Lost my love for photography..

[locolala]

I don't know if this is the right place for this, so mods please move if you feel it's needed.

I'll start off by telling you a little about myself. I'm 24, and working on my master's degree in virology and microbiology. I served in the USMC for 5 years, joined the day I turned 18. I went into a field that I had a great passion for.. combat photography. Little did I know that going into that field would ruin my love for the art. The things I saw, the people I got to know changed my life forever. It got to the point that being behind the lens made me cold hearted and not see the tragedy I captured for what it was. Now that I'm out of the military (medical discharge, the vehicle I was in flipped and I sustained some pretty nasty injuries), I've found that I just don't have the passion for photography anymore. I rarely even want to take pictures at family gatherings or on vacation, even if I just use my cruddy little point and shoot.

Anyhow, what do you fine people think I can do to get this passion back? Do you think it will ever return?

 

[krimi]

yes. i can go months without picking up the camera. I drive by places that others might drool over to shoot. I just don't "see" the shot. For me it takes a change of scenery to start seeing a shot again. I have other things that take up too much of my time so I just go with what is interesting to me at the time. I think this is a very common problem among photographers. Don't panic...find another interest, and keep the camera nearby. It sounds like you should start finding the beauty of the world to shoot. Get out in the woods..shoot some nature.

 

[tomjacob]

Hello

I am having a great craze of photography when i was a student and was roaming in city and out of city for fun with friends.Now i am married and i have some responsibility so i have left my craze for my family.

 

[jann1033]

maybe try taking some photos of something totally different ie flowers or bugs, nice sunsets, anything that is less tragic. imo sometimes when you are in a situation that is saturated with tragedy/ things hard to deal with ,you kind of shut down to protect yourself. maybe a total change in what you are photographing would help you. if not, maybe life is just in the way right now and when things calm down you'll get back into it.

 

[WillowBelle]

I have a girlfriend who was a professional photographer for years! She did weddings and outdoor shots. She had a few magazine covers for a kyaking magazine. She did it so often she overdid it herself and sold everything and walked away from the business. It took her a few years, but she is now slowly starting to get back into the swing of things.

Not nearly on the same level of what you are going through, but I find that in the colder months I basically hybernate. I live in a rural area where everything turns brown and dies - there are no great city lights and hustle bustle to capture. It's a great big yawner around here. Come spring, I'm ready to start taking pictures again of the world waking up.

Maybe you just need to wait for your spring. It will happen - don't push it. The camera will be there just like an old friend when you're ready to pick it up again.

As a side-note, thank you for your service. My DH is a former Marine. He is a veteran of the first Desert Storm as an air traffic controller - oh the stories he can tell!

 

[Frantasmic]

I think your ticker event will be what is needed to jump start you again.

Your hobby became a job, and an unpleasant one at that.

Once you have a new life to tend for, everything that little person does will fill you with awe, wonder, and joy. You'll want to capture it well.

 

[wingawh]

Hey there!

First of all thank you for your service.

As for getting back in to photography - think about picking up an in expensive film or toy camera such as a Holga for less than $30.00. It is fun to balance being able to shoot a ton of digital images quickly to thinking about the composition and having to wait to get the film back. It may just spark some new feelings and photos.

Just a thought.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

Sounds like maybe a trip to Disney?

It can't hurt to check out some of the contests on here and imagine what you would do to replicate it or what you'd do differently to make it your own.
I have to say, I also agree with Frantasmic. According to your ticker, in 216 days things will change for the better. Congratulations!

 

[shawn68]

I understand what you are going through. About 10 years ago I worked for a small town paper as their photographer. The town and surrounding towns were so small we didn't have police officers. I took the photo job knowing in advance that I would also have to take crime scene photos after I passed my classes and background checks.
I became very jaded, and hated seeing the blood and carnage in the surrounding small towns. I knew I might be taking photos of smashed windows and vandalism, things like that, but nothing prepared me to witness suicides and murder scenes. Luckily I saw only 10-15 in my 2 years there, but I did put my camera away for about three years after that, even letting great job opportunities pass me by.
I overcame it with picking up the camera only to take landscape shots. No people, as when I did, it seemed when I put my eye to viewfinder I just saw death.
Slowly, over time, I overcame it, and now my camera is again attached to my hand, and yes, I do take photos of people. It will stick with you forever, but it will lessen over time.
Good luck, and thanks for your service. We don't say it enough, but we appreciate you and your fellow soldiers.

 

[CYInterview]

The important thing is to find subjects that make you feel passionate. We have to reinvent ourselves at times.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I never have enjoyed photography. Too much work. I'm only into it because of all the cool gear.

 

[Gdad]

The important thing is to find subjects that make you feel passionate. We have to reinvent ourselves at times.

I think this is very good advice. The wonderful thing about photography as a hobby is that it dovetails into so many other aspects of our lives. Go do what it is you enjoy doing- and at some point taking a few pictures along the way will sound like fun again.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Being a former Marine and Nam vet, I know what your experiencing. Upon my return, there were things I avoided because of the reminders. It took a long time for those feelings to go away. This was way before PTSD was recognized as a medical problem. Recovering on your own may not do it as quickly as you would like. PTSD does not manifest itself in the ways portrayed in the media. It can't hurt to seek some help so you can recover your passions in life quicker. Good luck and Semper Fi!!!

 

[Marlton Mom]

Ahhh the blessings of youth! 24 is a great age but perhaps a little young to realize that the pendulum of life swings constantly and so do our interests. I was really into photography when I was in high school and college, and then my life changed and it wasn't a passion any more. I lost my photography 'focus' so to speak and really just put the camera away.

Things in your life will change, and I can say with all certainty for the better. One day you will be blessed with children. Let me tell you children really reawaken your creative drives. Perhaps it won't be children that relight the fire of creativity but you will find that it will be something that brings you back to the camera.

Speaking as a 46 year old woman, I have found that I have had periods of time where my interests are all consuming, and then the need to put my focus there disappears. Photography is like a bike, once you've got the fundamentals you will never lose them.

Have no fear. Your mind and creative spirit are telling you you need to take a break. When you are ready it will come back.

Best of luck and thank you for all your efforts to help make our country strong!

Sincerely,
Marlton Mom
PS Good luck with starting a family!!

 

[Tillikumtrainer]

as a photo, you never loose your love for it, sometimes it comes and goes.

 

[Icemann]

If you are asking you are still interested.You sound like a very smart person and you just hit a hickup in life no big deal,happens to everyone.I just picked my camera up after way to many years on the shelf.Find something worth your time and take way too many pictures of it and experiment.If you are thinking about it you must want to try it again look for fun stuff or something you like. Good Luck and MERRY CHRISTMAS

And A big Thank You for what you have done without people like you we wouldn't be able to do what we like and want to do.

 

[saturndb]

First I would like to thank you for your service to our country so that we may enjoy the freedoms that we have and I hope you heal completely from your injuries.

It sounds like you associate the camera with your military experience, I would say go out and photograph what you loved photographing before you went into the service and see if you can recapture that love/passion again. Don't let the camera become the focus of reminding you of what experiences you went thru.


Dave

 

[Wishes2you]

First off I would also like to Thank you for your service.

I looked at your post and what was below. I love to photograph
things that I love. You put that you have 4 horses that you ride.
I love horses and always have. My first thought was I would love to
photograph her horses. Someone else mentioned nature. Start small
by taking a camera out riding. Enjoy those beautiful horses and life.
Give it time It sounds like you have some healing to do. Again Thank you
and God Bless you.

 

[Wishes2you]

Forgot one of these.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I see Gianna'sPapa mentioned PTSD and that was my thought as well. Totally understandable with what you saw and what you went through, and very common in those who've experienced war and strife as I'm sure you know.

I think I'd probably just put the camera down for a while and begin to appreciate not having it. Really miss it. Miss the opportunities you see without it - in civilian, normal life. Hopefully that might ignite a passion for shooting in a whole different way.

It's also good to talk this out with someone if you haven't already. My father suffered from PTSD after WWII and there was very little recognition or help available back then. Fortunately, there is today. Be smart and take advantage of it because it's sure to affect other areas of your life besides photography if it's not addressed.

Good luck.