On YouTube, photography trends often become painfully obvious. Suddenly, all the photographers you follow are talking about the same thing. It could be a new lens, or new pricing.
No idea if it is seasonal, but in recent weeks, a surprising number of street photographers have suddenly been talking about a ‘photographic rut’. That English photographic rut could be translated freely as a creative dip for photographers. That doubt, that for a moment you don't know why you are photographing anymore, is familiar to all kinds of photographers, I think. In all honesty, I haven't experienced it yet. I'm curious to know what that feels like, though.
After 20 years behind a computer, photography actually feels liberating to me. Refreshing. I get my inspiration from different things. And I think that every day I think of something, meet someone or do something that makes me think, that makes me think with enthusiasm about what comes after the next turn in my photography road trip.
I get my inspiration from books, for example. Beauty in the photographs of Vincent Peters, the light in the paintings of Edward Hopper, the narrative of Sean Tucker (an audiobook). I love browsing through hundreds of photos and seeing in two or three of them something I want to recreate, or whatever I want to see and capture once.
I can lose myself in YouTube videos, and not the ones that are just about new lenses or cameras, like the ones from Jason Vong or Kai W. I'm talking about the concoctions of Pierre T. Lambert or Faizal Westcott. People thinking about the profession, discussing their bumps and possible solutions. Thinkers. Who make me think.
What I get really excited about is other photographers. And then I don't care if you photograph landscapes like Dave Zuuring, or makes tintype portraits such as Lawrence Mooij. The great thing about (street) photography is that you can get inspiration from conversations with other photographers. They motivate, encounter the same challenges as you and get excited about the same things as you. Feel free to DM me at Instagram, I would love to come for coffee.
Finally, and perhaps this one is the most obvious, I get my inspiration from travelling. Short or long. Near or far. Change of scenery is the most inspiring factor in my photography. I get very happy from Utrecht, Antwerp or Eindhoven. Filtering large, new cities. You start taking different pictures in an unfamiliar city. Seeing new things, new people, different types. It's great to get lost and find your way back, looking over your camera.
I was lucky enough to spend part of my summer holidays in New York. A mecca for photographers, in my opinion doesn't matter much what kind of photography you do. The light is different there, indirect via skyscrapers. You are small, unobtrusive. The familiar click of the camera confirms the picture taken. It's an experience, one that you should and must make happen. A wave of inspiration that takes you from Coney Island, Brooklyn to deep in Central Park, Manhattan. Me, anyway.
In New York, I bought a photo book of Callie Shell, who was doing a portrait of the Obamas, I met local photographer Richard Koek for a long and very fun conversation and I watched endless interview videos of Pauli B. on YouTube. I was on holiday and immersed myself in the city, with my family and my trusty camera. My inspiration bucket slowly filled up, but never overflowed. Tired, not for a moment. Too much inspiration? I don't think it's possible, really. Just let everything happen, and you'll get over that dip in no time. You might not even notice you were in it.
Lots of photo fun.
This article previously appeared in Focus Magazine (the best photography magazine in the Netherlands), for which I was allowed to write a column every issue in 2023 and 2024.