How to be inspired - Photographer edition: 10 ideas to get you unstuck

Every so often, I find myself in a place where I’m not hitting on all cylinders or everything feels monotonous and tiresome. Some people call it a ‘creative slump’. For me, the range of emotions that come with this peculiar downturn starts with frustration, carries through to irritation and ends with helplessness. Nothing feels inspiring and when you look around at the world, it feels as if everyone else is thriving when you’re just trying to survive. How do I find my mojo again? Will I ever find my mojo?

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Mary ParkhillComment
Autumn in Alaska - changing leaves and a shifting perspective

As the cooler air arrives in Juneau, Alaska, I can sense the urgency of the sun setting. Each day the darkness lingers a bit longer, the sunshine feels less intense and the wildlife seems to know winter is coming.

Unlike the east coast, the tree leaf colors tend to be yellow instead of the brilliant reds and oranges. The boats in the harbor have slowed down, many of them will stay put for the rest of the season instead of cruising back and forth. The cruise ships and tourists have slowed and the seasonal restaurants are now closed.

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Mary ParkhillComment
4 Considerations for Photographing Eagles During the Winter in Juneau, Alaska

How Snow Impacts Photographing Eagles - In my opinion, photographing eagles during the winter is harder than the summer and here’s why. The Bald Eagle has a white head, which makes it harder for my camera to focus on against a white, snowy backdrop. There’s also less light during these months. Not only are the days shorter in length (right now I believe the sunrise is around 8:30 am and the sunset is around 3:00 pm) but the amount of light that is available throughout the daytime is often hidden amidst swirling snowflakes and clouds.

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Mary ParkhillComment
Humpback Whale Breaching in Juneau, Alaska | Wildlife Photography

One of the biggest surprises of my life has been how much I have enjoyed photographing Humpback whales. Going into my summer in Juneau, Alaska, my goal was to capture landscape photographs. However, when I was spending time on the water fishing for halibut and salmon, I started noticing humpback whales coming up for air and found myself gazing at them until they showed their flukes and dived to the depths of the ocean. These gentle giants grabbed my heart and ever since, I have been hooked trying to photograph them in an effort to tell their story.

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Best Way To Carry DSLR While Traveling | Mary's Mark Photography

Over the last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to quite a few locations in search for awe-inspiring photographs. I’ve managed to explore Singapore, Hong Kong, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Alaska and a few other places. As a landscape photographer, its tough to find the right balance of camera equipment to take while still remaining flexible and mobile. It’s a mental dance that I do each time I pack for a trip.

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Mary ParkhillComment