These Things Helped Me Get Excited About Photography Again

[@scottchenoweth4937]

Kyle is the Mac Daddy. Well, according to Jason Kummerfeldt (grainydays) a few years ago. I agree. Jason and Kyle got to me. I shoot 120 & 135 film about 80% of the time now. Thank you, Kyle.

[@KyleMcDougall]

🙏

[@CanonEurope]

Love those little prints ❤

[@KyleMcDougall]

🙌

[@dianeschuller]

I've gone through something nearly identical recently. I too left my camera at home and used my phone (which I often have poo-poo'd) and set it to square. I was so pleased with what I captured that it got me excited again. But in a different direction. I really appreciate you sharing this and your experience. And something I also did was open up two little decor boxes where I keep some old proofs. They were a selection of old photos I took and had printed out to see if they worked in print. By seeing these again, that really intensified my excitement -- and confidence.

[@Ezpzfilm]

Kyle, Thank you for being honest about how sometimes one can spend a whole day shooting and come back with "nothing". I feel these days as if it's almost expected to go out and come back with amazing results and share them with the world in order to receive recognition. That can also contribute to burnouts. the never ending cycle of producing top notch quality work. We are beings that need rest and also need to embrace "error", or the imperfect occurrences - according to our standards - You are amazing brother, and your work is inspiring. Thank you for sharing this.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Daniel. Yeah, it's the reality, and something that should be embraced. The process should be enjoyed as a whole, and it's unrealistic to think you can go out every time and make great work. I go through very long periods of making nothing I'm happy with, only to be followed up by a trip where I end up making a number of images that I'm very happy with. Just gotta stick with it and try and enjoy it all!

[@markrawlings1496]

Something I do every now and then (I got the idea from one of your videos). Intentionally take what would be considered the wrong lens. Leave everything but the "wrong" lens at home. Such as taking a 70-200 lens when you plan to shoot tall buildings while walking around in a large city. A 15-35 would be perfect, but the 70-200 forces me to focus on details. Sometimes the results are good, sometimes terrible and a few times I don't know what happened (film or digital).

[@KyleMcDougall]

Just did something very similar to that for the last four-day trip I was on. Shooting with something that I normally wouldn't. It really surprised me and I discovered a new 'format' that I probably wouldn't have shot otherwise.

[@garonkiesel1646]

I love both pinhole and phone photography. Their limitations ignite creativity that I otherwise wouldn’t access.

[@Rick-rf7om]

Motivational and inspirational as always. Thank you Kyle.

[@krautnapped]

As someone who has laid out hundreds of pages of layouts professionally and loves photography as their side creative outlet, it's amusing to see you doing the opposite! Seeing you mess around with InDesign as something you do to gain perspective is the same way I approach film and digital photography. It's funny how you can see a rhyme in someone else's work that you deeply respect. (Also, that you admit you're going to leave it to another creative professional when the time comes for the rubber to meet the road) Haha!

[@davidxflood]

I also recommend reversal processing your 4x5 negatives. The process is very straight forward and Foma 100 4x5 works very well for this. Thanks for the nice video!

[@mguytv]

This is such a great video - anyone who has ever picked up a camera will have faced moments where you lose perspective and get too bogged down in the details - brilliant idea to take a step back and see the bigger picture. Bravo!

[@spencersanderson4590]

The carpet shot is really nice

[@Dylanwade_]

The strangest coincidence. I’ve been feeling so stuck lately, so the three things I’ve done have been used my phone camera, got into some old photo books, and then came to see what you’ve been up to. I guess I’m on the right track…

[@zak.k]

I took a B&W Darkroom Techniques class this winter with George Webber as the Instructor at SAIT. Very knowledgeable and humble, a surprise seeing his work showcased here. Great video!

[@KyleMcDougall]

Nice. Prairie Gothic is one of my favourites.

[@latitude35mm]

Loved this. Learning to “play” is key to being a creative. The process isn’t a linear stream that can be turned on like a tap. Taking that time to rest and the explore is the fuel to the fire. Also 10/10 for your welsh pronunciation! 😂 Da Iawn!!!!

[@MichaelMasaki]

Kyle - you are such a creative inspiration. I hope you continue to stay inspired just as much as you consistently inspire so many of us! Really enjoy seeing (and re-watching!) every video you put out

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Michael. I appreciate that.

[@philipdahl9001]

Thanks for this video, good food for thought. I have had some serious medical issues over the last couple of years and my photography has really suffered. I'm finally getting healthy enough to get out with a camera again. I built a 4x5 pinhole camera just before I started having problems and it's easy to carry around so I have started to use it recently to see if I can get inspired about photography again.

[@samgerers]

I've been experimenting with shooting paper negatives portraits in 6x6 with flash. It's more difficult to get exposure right, it doesn't quite handle like predicted, but it's a fun project!

[@James.5703]

great advice that can be transferred to so many other creative endeavors. Thanks Kyle

[@jaypage8823]

I think most creatives can relate to your experience trying to sail through the doldrums. The creative spring doesn't flow all the time.

[@robert_skonblad]

Thanks for this! It made me realize that it's really time for me to get a bunch of small prints of my 6x6 photos, like the ones you have

[@aheadachewithpictures]

That carpet texture image is phenomenal

[@KyleMcDougall]

🙏

[@tim_butcher]

This is epic, Kyle. It’s the phase I love the most in my own work. Thanks for sharing your process.

[@KyleMcDougall]

I'm definitely learning to enjoy the experimentation phase more. It's way too easy to think everything needs to be serious work all the time.

[@mattbray_studio]

Timely as ever Kyle, thanks for the great advice! I like that old tree project too

[@kapurar]

Thank you! A great learning experience

[@sarahstellino1954]

Really loved this one. I think I'll try experimenting this weekend! Thanks for the reminder

[@KyleMcDougall]

Glad you enjoyed, Sarah. Thanks for watching!

[@liveinaweorg]

Damn! I wrote a piece on my blog yesterday saying I had hit a creative block for the last month. Maybe the weather got the better of the both of us, Kyle. It has been crap! I bought Sean Tucker's 'Parable - Keeping faith' which I recommend wholeheartedly. Made me think about my own upbringing and gave me some ideas. Enjoyed you telling us about your way of dealing with block. Loved the seaside images especially, made me think of 70's holiday pictures. I'm looking forward to your pinhole work and 4x5 paper negs.

[@KyleMcDougall]

I've heard great things about Sean's book. It's been on my list to get one.

[@ablanco5]

This is such a helpful video! Thank you. Also which SELPHY printer do you have --the small 1500 or the even smaller square which prints Polaroid style prints? It is definitely a helpful tool for sequencing--but would love to know which one you use.

[@KyleMcDougall]

I have the 1300. Did a video about it a while ago.

[@320dena]

Another great video! So many useful suggestions and the podcast recommendation came just in time for my road trip next week. Looking forward to seeing what you do with the paper negatives and pinhole camera. I’m inspired by historical processes.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Photo Work is full of great episodes. Perfect for road trips.

[@sanyoochoa3304]

Always appreciate these videos of yours showing that we all go through this. Love your input on this topic. Gotta ask how did you manage to print your square shots in the selphy?

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers. Just printed them normal, and then cut with scissors.

[@AI-Hallucination]

Good stuff I am always looking at your channel you a godfather on the tube stay strong

[@john.m.peterson]

Nice touch with the clips of 8mm film 📽️

[@kapurar]

Thank you Kyle for a very inspiring video. 🇨🇦

[@littleguyenterprise]

What was the canon printer mentioned for printing iPhone pictures?

[@puleddu]

I think it's the Canon Selphy CP 1300. He mentioned it a couple of times in the past as well, like in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/goDPaHuHe6Z5l7c

[@littleguyenterprise]

Thanks man! Definitely going to purchase.

[@orange_light_pictures]

I love your channel and your resent series of images of Rural Wales has been really cool; the NLS (National Library of Scotland) is an amazing resource, the way you can zoom into maps but also overlay newer images from google or other services to see how things have changed and developed, it's really fascinating.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Didn't know you could overlay newer images. That's pretty cool.

[@keithparker7412]

I’ve been in a season where I lack inspiration for photography. I’ll go out with friends to take photos but I don’t see anything that I want to shoot. This video has some good tips I’m gonna try to implement to try and get back into the groove. As always, Your photos are phenomenal. Super enjoyed the iPhone photos haha

[@KyleMcDougall]

Cheers, Keith. Hopefully some of this helps you!

[@ChrisHunt4497]

I really like listening to you, thanks. ❤

[@BIbiVstf3sx]

The rest seasons is winter and last about 6 month!

[@GirdHerd]

Kyle, The next time you are in one of your experimenting phases could you consider using and reviewing Diafine developer with some of your B&W film? I just "discovered" this amazing developer and would love to get your thoughts on it.

[@KyleMcDougall]

I'll put it on the list.

[@HolmesThom]

Living for the day Kyle McDougall says my photo is something he “quite enjoys”… ❤

[@Yusaku_VCP]

interesting photographies you've got Mr.McDougall, Hi I'm Yusaku from Philippines, new subscriber! I'll dive in to your all work.

[@KyleMcDougall]

🙏

[@debx2000]

Nice photos of Great Yarmouth

[@KyleMcDougall]

Always an interesting place to explore.

[@RogerHyam]

I've been in the play season forever. It's like Narnia. Will the Christmas of a serious project ever arrive?

[@KyleMcDougall]

Nothing wrong with the play season.

[@Eliguitar1]

A valuable reminder that the camera phone is perhaps the most powerful of all cameras.

[@KyleMcDougall]

Yep, it's an amazing tool in our pockets. Up until this point I barely used it.

[@Eliguitar1]

@@KyleMcDougall It's an incredibly powerful tool. A great way to keep track of locations for future projects, including geotags.

[@ChrisW.Fuji_Canon]

good work

[@hit.the_north]

Good honest vid 👍

[@DLivingston]

Have an affliate link for that printer?

[@KyleMcDougall]

Possibly in my video I did about it.

[@DLivingston]

@@KyleMcDougall Okay, ill have to check that out.

[@mcgruber2]

Peanut if you’re staying in the room no talking.