I lived in several suburban areas in the Washington, DC area for over thirty years and had a very interesting career. During a portion of it I did a significant amount of foreign and domestic travel that enabled me to make pictures in locations I would not normally be able to visit. All good, but I realized after a period of time that I really didn’t like living in the DC area any more. My kids were gone and for a variety of reasons I felt stifled. I know … a lot of people love it, so if I offend anyone, I apologize! But anyway, I had had enough. It got to the point where as much as I wanted to photograph, my desire to do so was loosing steam. I didn’t stop, but I did less and less and went into my darkroom fewer and fewer times. It was time to cut the cord and take a flyer!

But things don’t work out as easily as you always want them to so it was important to try to keep my head in the game in whatever way I could. And I think this important. For many reasons, it becomes difficult to photograph, either because of the demands of your job, or all that is involved in raising a family, or myriad other reasons. Somehow you need to keep your head in the game. Stay interested, keep trying to learn, find ways to motivate yourself so you are still trying to live a photographic life. Whether it is reading monographs of photographers that you admire, or going to exhibits at galleries or museums, or taking a workshop – it is critical to do whatever it takes!

I did some interesting things that worked for me, like investigating different cameras and formats. Yes I admit I like cameras as precision mechanical devices, but I continued to go to exhibits, read and study a lot, particularly through reviewing the magazines, monographs and newsletters I have in my photographic library and by doing research on the various Internet photography forums and websites. I also took a workshop very close to where I now live with Michael Smith and Paula Chamlee, and eventually assisted Michael during a weekend long printing marathon. It was while driving through Doylestown on route to the workshop that I discovered completely by accident exactly where I would like to live! I guess that can happen when you blindly trust your GPS rather than look for the fastest route! So by dumb luck I stumbled onto where I would be moving and doing what I wanted to do for the next phase of my life. It took me a couple of years to make it happen, but it did. And now that I visit the DC area vs. living there I have begun to think about it photographically again. Go figure!

So I did whatever I had to do to keep my head in the game, which ultimately led to me making a significant life change. I am not suggesting something this dramatic as a course of action for others, but what I am saying is don’t ever give up. Do whatever works for you to keep your head in the game so you will have a fighting chance to rekindle your photographic spark!