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If you’re feeling a little stuck or all your photos just seem bland lately, it sure can become frustrating. But you’re not alone. In his latest video, William Patino shares his own experience and dives into an often-overlooked but essential part of photography: having a vision. He explains why a clear sense of direction is crucial not only for creating meaningful images but also for maintaining motivation. So, let’s dive right in and help you find your vision and rekindle your spark.
Why vision matters
William admits he’s been in a bit of a funk lately, struggling to find the motivation to shoot. He realized that what he’s been missing is a clear vision—an understanding of what he wants to achieve with his photography.
So, why vision? Without it, it’s hard to push yourself to wake up for sunrise shoots, hike to remote locations, or invest the time and effort landscape photography often demands. Vision provides purpose. It helps you stay focused and motivated, even during challenging times. So, how do you find yours?
1. Break it down: Take smaller steps
One reason photographers can lose their vision is the overwhelming pressure to create perfect images. William suggests breaking your creative journey into smaller, manageable steps instead of aiming for lofty goals right away. This is especially difficult for beginners, who tend to look at those flawless photos from the masters and compare themselves with them. This can be discouraging and overwhelming.
The solution: instead of striving for a flawless portfolio image, focus on improving one area of your photography. Whether it’s finding stronger subjects, capturing better light, or refining your editing skills, zeroing in on specific aspects of your work can make growth feel more achievable.
2. Explore new themes and techniques
William also encourages experimenting with fresh ideas to reignite your creativity. Dedicate a few weeks to photographing specific subjects like trees, intimate details on the ground, or abstract patterns using intentional camera movement (ICM). You could also try night photography, black-and-white images, or long exposures. The sky’s the limit! By exploring new styles and themes, you’ll challenge yourself in new ways and rediscover the joy of creating.
3. Practice without pressure
Not every outing needs to produce share-worthy images. William suggests spending some time with the camera just as training. It’s an opportunity to build familiarity with your gear and practice techniques. The more comfortable you become, the more prepared you’ll be when those once-in-a-lifetime moments arise.
4. Spend time in nature
For William, spending time in nature—without the pressure to shoot—has been a key part of rekindling his creativity. This is one of the techniques that works for me as well. Whether it’s hiking, boating, or simply enjoying golden hour in your local park while walking a dog, being outside allows inspiration to come naturally.
So, instead of forcing yourself to create constantly, focus on observing the beauty around you. Let the landscape speak to you, and over time, you’ll start noticing moments that spark your creativity again.
5. Reflect on what you love
As William heads into a new year, he plans to reflect on what he loves most about being outdoors and photographing landscapes. By reconnecting with the emotions and experiences that originally drew you to photography, you can rediscover your vision and find renewed purpose.
While WIlliam’s tips are focused mainly on landscape photographers, I think anyone can find them useful. Even if you don’t shoot landscapes, an occasional retreat to nature, or just enjoying the time outside, can do wonders for your inspiration (and mental health). Therefore, if you’ve been feeling stuck, consider giving these tips a try.
[One CRUCIAL Thing We Need In Landscape Photography | William Patino]