Halloween 2009

Halloween 2009 – post processed for extra spookiness!

How to find Inspiration on a grey day

You know those days – stuck inside with grey weather and in a rut creatively, feeling that there’s nothing you can do.

I’m a photographer by hobby, and when such a day happens (like yesterday) one often wallows in it a bit.

There are lots of great posts out there on finding inspiration by a variety of means (especially breaking photographers block), but sometimes you are away from other people and or the internet, so what can you do?

Keep a notebook. Nothing fancy, just something dedicated for ideas of things to try kept nearby on your desk or close at hand. When you do have ideas, jot them down, so that when a grey day does happen and you are feeling uninspired, you have a list you can delve into. Something that can be applied to all creative outlets, whether you write, code, make music, art or photographs.

There are all sorts of online tools you can use in collating list of things and links (like delicious appropriately tagged or favoriting inspirational photos online showing techniques you wish to try).

But when it comes to regularly accessed lists, the simplicity of pen and paper can’t be beaten, and it’s great for recharging your inspiration now and again when it’s flagging.

Gotta love those clouds

Gotta love those clouds, originally uploaded by Al Power.

Taken on a visit to Sissinghurst in Kent, at the weekend. Lens was a 17-40mm f4 shot at 1/400th at f/8.0 aperture with a focal length of 32 mm. I believe the clouds are of type Cumulus (low detached) Humilis (not tall) Radiatus (in rows due to wind).