How did you get your mojo back?how

snerkler

For one reason or another I’ve not picked up my camera for over 3 months, by far and away the longest spell since taking up photography. I know the weather’s not been great, but I’ve also just not been bothered. Once upon a time I’d even take photos of Star Wars Lego just so I could take a photo

I guess a number of you will have found yourself in a similar position and I was just wondering how you got your mojo back? I’m not looking for you to suggest things for me, just intrigued about how you got back into taking photos

shotokan101

Asking the wrong guy mate.....

273K

Just buy some new gear.

I don’t know if this answers your question, but I find that when I’m using my camera less is when I have less time for activities such as family outings/going into town/travel. I don’t generally go out for the purpose of photographing a particular thing, e.g. bird/event/landscape, but I always take my camera with me when I go out on those activities and usually find things to photograph, even if it’s just the kids (I don't know if you'd class this as 'photography', because most people do that with a phone nowadays, but I just prefer to use a 'proper' camera). So making more time for them usually equals taking pictures again.

Other things that work for me:
1. Don’t worry about it, just accept you’re at a place in your life where photography’s not happening. I guess it depends if you’re still into it but busy with something else, or just don’t feel interested anymore.

2. For the past year or so I’ve been try to enter the photo comp every month. Which means I take at least one photo a month.  I’ve gone from “choose a picture I’ve taken that month that happens to fit the theme” to specifically plan and execute a picture for the comp, which usually involves more thinking and time with the camera.

3. New gear, seriously. Nothing major, a cheap old lens off eBay or a filter or something like that to play with.

273K

Oh, and by the way, I recently found someone on flickr whose entire feed is pictures of lego figures.

shotokan101

C'mon - you're pulling my Lego!   

273K

Be amazed.
GolPlaysWithLego

(I don't think this is even the one I was thinking of)

snerkler

Whatever floats you boat I guess They're clearly pretty good at lighting etc though.

AMc

FWIW I find this time of year particularly miserable - cold, wet, bad light and short days.  
Nothing much to look forward to until the spring.  The landscape looks grey and flat.
I think it's easy to become a little depressed - not the big black dog - just down and a bit lethargic.  Hard to summon up the energy to do things, even that you know you'll enjoy.
Physical activity and getting outdoors are great counters to that feeling, even when you really don't feel like it.

One of my favourite quotes:
“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”
Pablo Picasso

Given where you live and your passion for landscape photography I can't help but feel you need to wrap up warm and get out there onto the Peaks.  Take a walk and finish in a warm pub with a good roast dinner and a few good or not even good images on the memory card.

As 273K suggests buying something might spur you on or using something you rarely use to mix things up.

What works for me sometimes is getting out the Holga lens.  As I know it can't produce the critically sharp, super sophisticated images I aspire to it stops me trying and that means I look for what works with what I've got.
Perhaps go out with just your E-M1 and a prime and see what you can fit into the constraint?
Set the camera to mono and see how that changes what you shoot?

You've come such a long way since you first arrived on this bit of AVF so I know you'll get through a bit of photographer's block

Peakoverload

I think it's more a case of identifying why you lost your mojo in the first place as until you've done that you can't really fix the problem. For me it was lack of time. By not having enough time to go to places that I would normally take my camera to I became frustrated by photography which then made me enjoy it less. I still wouldn't say that I'm out of that 'funk' but I've started to try and focus on learning a new technique/skill to spark my imagination and that has helped but also not to think that it's all about taking new photos. For example over the past few months I've been teaching myself new things in both Lightroom and Photoshop, things that I would never normally do to my photos. Doing this has expanded my knowledge, made me revisit old photos and try different techniques on them and given me ideas for new photographs when I have more time available to take them.

CFC1

Getting your new d850 should've given you a boost.

Why not join a camera club? Maybe having competitions to go for would keep you active... As well as outings and practical club nights.