Stephen Walton Photography Workshops

Simply requiring a camera to take photographs may make it seem easy to pick it up and take shots when you’ve got lots of time on your hands. But 2020 has proved to me that you need a lot more than the camera to be a photographer during times of global unrest.

Over the past 12-18 months I’ve experienced a huge dent in motivation and excitement in getting out there and taking photos. While I’m more comfortable with taking portraits I do love a good woodland or landscape when the location is right – which has been made more complicated during the lockdowns of the pandemic.

What Has Changed in Me as a Photographer During the Pandemic?

Knowing I couldn’t freely visit the locations I had frequently before made adjusting my mindset and ideas more hard work and I’m just not a compromising person in general – well at least not with my own art. Photographers love to have control of their products and not being able to shoot what I want puts me off completely.

Not only did I lose motivation, but also inspiration. For me, inspiration comes in many forms – music, films and exhibitions but even these didn’t seem to bubble up any excitement for me photographically speaking.

The camera has stayed in my bag for months (until lately). I even bought a new lens around December and didn’t take a shot with it until March, and even then it was about 5 frames.

What Could I Have Done Better as a Photographer?

Upon reflection, I think making the most of my surroundings and being adaptable would have been a better way to make the most of the time I had. Refusing to comply with the limitation on movement meant I just stayed home without the urge to get the camera out.

I wish I had started some home-based photo projects – product photography, food shots, and little creative exercises that would just have kept me fascinated with the art of creating. Hindsight is a beautiful thing, but acknowledging my failures will only help me in the future (though I’m praying this pandemic is at an end now).

What About You?

I would really enjoy if this blog gets added to with your experiences and feelings about the year that was 2020 (and a bit of 2021 too).