Sometimes photographers get into a rut. Admit it, we all do. But Steve, what can I do to get out of my photography rut? Well I'm glad you asked. I do it in a bunch of ways, but primarily by shooting film. As you might know I'm primarily a studio based digital editorial & beauty photographer for most of my photography. That's my "professional" photography gig.
But to answer the question, to keep fresh I take my photography in other areas, genre's, themes, etc. to stay out of the rut. That's really the easiest thing to do. You can shoot a personal project, you can stick to a consistent theme for a shoot, shoot with a single lens, stick to 36 shots, shoot only the color blue for a project, copy a magazine editorial, shoot the same image every day for a month, etc. etc. You get the idea.
Well, like I mentioned, to keep fresh when I'm not in studio I shoot street photography and I shoot with film cameras. Except for a few film cameras that I like to shoot regularly, my "stay out of a rut" gig is to shoot a different film camera every time I go out.
But wait Steve, isn't that expensive? Not really. There are literally thousands of film cameras out there no one is using. You can ask a friend to donate their unused cameras, you can buy them online for little $$$. Of course most quality film cameras hold their value and can be pricy. I'm not talking about those. I'm talking about stopping off at Goodwill and picking up 3 cameras for $10 type of bargain.
As an example, here's my current inventory of film cameras. I have 35mm, 110mm, 120mm, & Polaroid film cameras. Most of these cameras (almost all of the point & shoots) were picked up at Goodwill. The rest were given to me, purchased online, or purchased at flea-markets. Bottom-line, if you are a smart buyer you can get good value.
So that's my "get my hiney out of a photography rut" solution, I shoot film and different cameras.
So what have you got???
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAKwiYBAA8wRpiZBHazhryEj3o8ONydyYL4YEpxTETEqVANPcA7ILVq-0nlB1ZWLWTYFKBTMz5nAZ2qltnk94B6IHsbID8NmHHAWCbKdGdss-bAg69d7IdosksEYjsjoMk5ApVV5y9mM/s320/Cameras+1.jpg) |
OK, some of these are pricey, but not overpriced |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbL5BlBCn8nKi-dYg2XOwJW5zCIu0GvdT1Xqze6DDyrVP4otDWvtH2otIv0m2berkzFDmFj6NpgabXNvkPhrFD572CdjAKLGpzLC7enGdFDKaGU1RQ2ph9P8-qxSxM8CPY5DPL4YqxL3s/s320/Cameras+2.jpg) |
All of these cameras were given to me, purchased at Goodwill or at flea markets |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0ISj12MV34sBOYmjq3FmeRjJQYRA4kq4t5JGWiBptW-2MnX6oiD8rOPXJIOOMQaciH6ERMHZnCdZjofOTUmv582-pp_RCB8l1XOIwLg03O4LsCHtZhtn3Y9yeopXBhbY8P-35JityQ0/s320/Cameras+3.jpg) |
My Polaroids were all purchased at Goodwill, except for 2 SX-70's on the top row & 1 Spectra |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjn5VdJBawiGeTS0uFwDREelX1icI8ydXwKlqGyCJqgDQ1pAqcl0WAi9NcXpJJKQj3jJZaG-IFQYrj5pb6MGJ3rj7sj2OnU7Fhw7VleHqpnIiFObOH__XFeoWhyphenhyphenE4BgS5d_0oQf06dow0/s320/Cameras+4.jpg) |
A bin of cameras ready to be used! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoR-bXQVIxCymzytvQ1iG8EQa-U7jQeH4WQNFGHgsynk6EmRZ3SqpzTfkJcaS3cW4owk2R7IvaQL0HN17wDdbhFwH6M_ANjeNtqSH9Jn-1nDI4SJeMsTHzAk5Bd6h-xI4KeA_n6sFn5s/s320/Cameras+5.jpg) |
2 more bins of cameras that would loved to be used |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr10g89tzocY95uiu4xvFxoiDqDZ8hufRZ9U-fNCm_Bd1UmeUXo941PRvJaMXkiHHEK53-V4f827hqn6dAiGChwu_Tc_3Z6CouNh6EYl7LIV5BloNKuixXTdiiCGB-JscqCCAehcMg-1Q/s320/Cameras+6.jpg) |
I totally dig Polaroids |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQmstENH5D7ln0rR6I6_LQMZYuB_crv9KYIquqSD0QWo9jhOQ2w0Nmk0A8xRWRmzmHwt999XUExo_57w8B84D8DcteZ7TlulqDAtpmUYx_fEFVC5cGzqNFSim6kexkmXRaYIxYVaIv4Y/s320/Cameras+7.jpg) |
More cameras!! |