Michigan Dune Sunrise
I have written a couple times in the past few months about feeling stuck in a rut. Even though I had been out photographing quite a few times, I was returning with work that really didn’t excite me very much. I was even going to some new places for inspiration. Sometimes they helped, other times not so much. I was really just going through the motions. Not a huge deal, everyone goes through it, and time usually resolves it, sucks while you are in it.
Even though I just enjoy getting out in the woods, or wherever it may be – it builds up after time if I find myself not able to create much I am excited about. I am not sure what it was with this recent trip to the sand dunes that really gave me an energizing jolt. I was excited about being in such a unique place, and particularly excited when the landscape, the light, and my mood all fell into sync. I felt like I was making work that was uniquely my own.
Michigan sand dune lines with passing storm
With the visit to these dunes, I have some shots that I really like. Things just seemed to fall into place. When you get up before dark, hike out somewhere in the dark, you really aren’t quite sure what to expect. Any dawn or evening light could completely fizzle out and go gray. I have experienced that many times, I was prepared for it. I guess you can’t help but have some hope of returning home with at least something. Many times over this past summer that simply didn’t happen.
Sometimes on trips I don’t feel like I had a chance to spend some quality time getting to know a place. Although the sands will shift with time and this landscape will change, I feel like we had a good first meeting, and I look forward to when the moment is right again.
Dune Lines at dawn
See more Silver Lake Sand dunes photos
Sometimes when I’m in a rut I challenge myself to come up with something by putting myself in the shoes of a photographer on assignment.
I’ve documented a tallgrass prairie for over a year and after they burned it I went back and thought there is nothing here for me to film. So I thought what if I were on assignment and I HAD to come back with something. I started looking a little more closely and eventually compositions started revealing themselves.
In fact some of the imagery is a favorite of the nature center where the prairie is located.
Valuable lesson learned that just because you don’t see it right off the bat, doesn’t mean that it isn’t there.
A bit of a delayed response here Kevin, but thanks – that is a good suggestion.
Mark, these are fantastic photographs! I really know how “stuck in a rut” feels. Had a long-lasting one through last winter into spring and everything related to photography just felt empty. Well into late spring, it was like something awoke inside me again and since then, everything is normal again yet different somehow. After having experienced this, I once again deeply appreciate (not just enjoying) to be able to photograph like when I first started out.
Autumn is now turning into early winter here. I hope you will have a wonderful winter, Mark! Looking forward to see more of your work and writings.
Best Wishes
Seung Kye
I know that feeling well Seung Kye. It is like emerging from some deep sleep. Autumn passed so quickly here. Now we face the usually challenging season of ‘Brown.’ Thanks much for stopping by and the kind words.
Nice Mark. Glad to see you get out of your rut though your work is always excellent.
Thanks a lot Richard. I appreciate you stopping by.
Great images, Mark! I can certainly empathize with you regarding not feeling completely “on.” My ruts also come and go, and as Monte said above, it is sort of indicative of something somewhere else in our lives. It does feel good when we get out of those ruts though, and make some truly personal images.
I hope the elation of your high continues!
Thanks Greg. Your reference to being on a high is spot on about the feeling you have when things just seem to work out.
I agree with Cedric … what a gorgeous way to emerge from a rut. The inspiration and renewal shows in this amazing series of shots! I can how the setting would inspire an awakening. I’m in a rut myself. I should get me to some dunes or semblance thereof. 😉
Thanks Ingrid. I am not sure the ‘rut’ is completely gone, but these images give me something to work on for awhile.
What a way to escape from the rut. Sometimes a new location can do it, sometimes a new time of day, sometimes a change in personal situation. We never know, but it sure feels wonderful once the clouds pass and your creativity starts to shine again, which it has done here, wonderfully.
Now, all you have to do is choose the perfect paper to print them on! 😀
The new location certainly helped Paul, especially because it was so different than most spots I have been to. Thanks!
Thanks a lot folks.
@ken, I look forward to seeing just how different it may be next time.
@Monte, I am not sure what it was within. But I do know I was hungering for some different subject matter. This was a decent start.
Exceptional images! Glad to hear of and see the shift that happened there.
First, these are three awesome images. I can see you were in sync with “the landscape, the light, and my mood.” I read just recently that when we enter these lulls there is something within us that needs looked at. For me the past few months have had a lot of personal stuff affecting my time in the field and my creativity.Love that first shot!
These are extraordinary, Mark. And because of the shifting sands, you can return here time after time and never get the same photo twice.
Spectacular photos,beautiful and dramatic. Pretty sweet way to come out of a rut 🙂