Every photographer gets to the point where there seems to be nothing interesting to photograph. To make things worse, this conundrum often leads to unexpected hiatus. How do you break free from this indifferent and unproductive state of mind? Alex Kilbee of The Photographic Eye says the WAKE system can be the answer for you.
In the video above, Kilbee explains what it means to WAKE when you feel there’s nothing worth pointing your camera to. Instead of waiting for the next idea or inspiration to drop, the system can help you assess your surroundings better and continue shooting, even if it’s just for creative exercises.
This method involves the following steps:
- What to shoot: Break the notions of what is interesting or worthy of photographing; the Alphabet Challenge, where you look for subjects that look like the letters of the Alphabet, is perfect for this.
- Awareness of what’s there for you to photograph: Exercise better awareness of what’s around you, including the familiar and everyday things. You could be missing interesting shapes, lines, forms, colors and lighting.
- Keep taking photos of anything: Be reactive and instinctual; if something catches your eye, take a photo of it. Don’t overthink it and keep shooting; you can always take a look at what works or what doesn’t later.
- Experiment with ideas and different processes: Don’t be afraid to ask, “What happens when I try this?” The results may surprise you!
Have you tried the WAKE method lately? Are there other methods that you found worked great and helped keep you shooting? Share your insights with us in the comments below, or in our group discussion if you’re already part of the Photofocus Community!
