Page 75 - Australian Photography - September 2017

APS FOCUS

NO PHOTOGRAPHER’S BLOCK

There’s a number of easy
ways to beat the dreaded
photographer’s block, writes
the APS’ Brian Rope

BY BR IA N ROPE

e often hear
about ‘writer’s
block’; a con-
Wdition, primar-
ily associated with writ-
ing, in which an author
loses the ability to pro-
duce new work, or experiences a creative
slowdown. There is less use of the term
‘photographer’s block’, but I have heard of
many people who have experienced the
phenomenon of going through a creative portunities. Time has not permitted it uncertainties: the shadowlands of imag- Blue sky day
rut or, even worse, not coming out of it. just yet but I will be embarking on an ination.’ I also learned that in his book, by Brian Rope.
I haven’t personally suffered from pho- exploration of the rest of the new suburb The Electronic Mind Reader, John
tographer’s block. I’ve never had a prob- seeking more shots. I already have my Blaine writes, “He was neither asleep
lem finding something to photograph in eyes on a single tree at the top of a near- nor awake, but in the shadowland some-
all the years I have been a passionate en- by hill with good views in all directions. where between”.
thusiast amateur photographer. Perhaps I am sure there is a project there to cap- My mother died earlier this year and in
that is why, when people learn that I am ture that tree in a whole variety of ways the weeks prior, as she was deteriorating,
a photographer and ask what I take pho- in diverse light at different times of day. she spent a lot of time in the Shadowlands. I
tos of, my response nowadays tends to be I find projects very good for stimulat- took images of mum asleep and combined
along the lines “anything in front of me ing the visual senses. We don’t need to be them with images of dead or decaying
that moves, or that doesn’t move”. working towards an exhibition or entering grass, leaves and objects to try and portray
Many of us shoot substantially more a particular category of a competition. We a sense of that Shadowland between life
images when we go on holidays to a new just need to set ourselves a challenge. and death – all in tones of grey. They are,
and exciting destination, but we don’t The Friends of APS Contemporary of course, very personal images.
have to wait for such an event in our lives. Group’s Facebook page, and its folio One definition of Blue Sky Day is,
I haven’t been on a holiday away from groups, set themes for participants to ad- “using the imagination to think of ideas
home for more than a year, but I have dress if they wish. Recent ones include Blue that do not yet have practical uses or
continued to take many images during Sky Day, Shadowlands, Connections, and make money”. Another speaks of a blue-
that time. There is always something if we In Between. Each of those themes have sky project being one that is “of or denot-
use our eyes, and look for the possibilities. challenged various participants in various ing theoretical research without regard
Earlier this year I sold my home of ways – some have interpreted the themes to any future application of its result”.
twenty three years and bought a new literally; others have explored them by You don’t need any particular reason
place in a new suburb. Documenting thinking ‘outside the square’ about what to capture a particular image. So, go
some of the action involved in prepar- the theme might mean. ahead and use your imagination to think
ing the old home for sale, then moving I find it useful to use the internet to of ideas for photos that may have no
out, provided a few photo opportuni- locate definitions of the themes. For ex- practical use and will not make you any
ties. Documenting the new place being ample, doing that for Shadowlands re- money, but will nevertheless be great
built and, after moving in, looking at the turned the definition, ‘lands or regions shots. You never know, one may end up
nearby surrounds provided further op- of shadows, phantoms, unrealities, or being the best image you ever made. ❂

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