International Photography Awards 2009; Importance of Being Inspired as a blogger

While scourging through my feeds yesterday, I came across the International Photography Awards 2009. I checked it out wanting a pick me up before touching my long to-do list for my blogs. The gallery at their their website is superb! I was easily inspired by the clever concepts and degree of skill of these photographers.

Here are some of my favorite International Photography Awards 2009 entries:

• Puma Lift by Nadav Kander – I particularly like this one the most because it’s just so well made and conceptualized
• Anti Smoking by Kelvin Murray, United Kingdom
• Cole_1 by Barbara Cole
• Zimbabwe’s Cholera Crisis by Robin Hammond, United Kingdom
• Stop the Violence by Francois Robert, United States
• Floating Seal by Yosuke Kashiwakura, Japan
• Ranexa Campaign Photograph by Andy Glass, United States
• Snowstorm by Arman Zhenikeyev, Kazakhstan
• Taj Mahal by Thamer Al-Tassan, Saudi Arabia
• Autumn in Alberta’s Rockies by Linda Caldwell, United States
• Monsoon by Deepak Singh Dogra, India
• Observer by Pawel Bieniewski, Poland

It’s great to be able to see some of this year’s best photos in just one place and it sort of made me think about myself as a blogger and photographer. Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit uninspired and it has been showing in my posts and photos. I have tried pushing myself out of the “blogging pit” slightly but there’s only so far that I can force myself. I believe that I have to get to the root of what’s causing this and improve myself if ever I want to be successful in this path that I’ve chosen.

Blogging is very draining to one’s creativity. You have to make your research, think about what other people want to read, come up with a write-ups, produce pictures (and other media), design layouts, do SEOs, interact with viewers, promote your blog, tinker with computer codes all day, etc… and then do it again the next day.

When I was in nursing school, blogging was my outlet. My “thing” that helped me improve myself outside nursing. For a while it was great but now blogging is already what I do, and I have replaced my outlet to unproductive and ineffective habits.

To be a better blogger, I have to think of ways that will keep me constantly inspired so that, when I’m working, I don’t just do it to reach a status quo but rather push beyond what is expected.

While writing this post, I realized that viewing the gallery at the International Photography Awards 2009 has actually inspired me and so, I should actively find more ways that will keep me constantly inspired. This is my latest project for myself.