Motivation Isn’t There at the Start

Yesterday reminded me of something important.

Twice, I nearly didn’t go out with the camera.

The first time, David was leading a group walk up the hill towards the snow patches. I had rooms to clean, and if I’m honest, I just didn’t feel like it. Low energy, long to-do list… all the usual excuses.

I started cleaning. Got partway through the first room.

And then I stopped.

What am I doing?

It was a beautiful day. We were closed. The rooms could wait. The light wouldn’t.

Isn’t this exactly why we moved to Scotland?

So I put the hoover down, grabbed a camera, and joined the group.

I came back with fresh air in my lungs, a clear head—and a couple of photographs I really liked. One of the hills, and one of a scatter of stag bones that just caught my eye.

The second time was later that evening.

Around 8pm, the sun was starting to set. I’d already cleaned the rooms, already been out once, and I was tired.

Really tired.

But the light… the light was good.

So I dragged myself out again, this time towards the RSPB tower.

And again—photos I was genuinely pleased with.

The Truth About Motivation

Here’s the thing:

I didn’t feel motivated either time.

Not at the start.

Motivation didn’t come first—action did.

And that’s something I see again and again in photography.

You don’t wait until you feel inspired.

You go out, you take photos…and then the inspiration shows up.

The More You Shoot, The Better You Get

Photography isn’t about waiting for the perfect moment.

It’s about:

• getting out regularly

• trying things

• making mistakes

• noticing more each time

The more you shoot:

• the more you see

• the more you understand light

• the more instinctive it all becomes

Those two short outings yesterday? They moved me forward more than sitting inside ever would have.

Stop Carrying the Whole World With You

The other thing that helped?

I didn’t take all my gear.

No heavy bag. No “just in case” lenses.

Just a small camera—my Fujifilm X-E5 mirrorless camera with a 23mm lens—slung over my shoulder.

Light. Simple. No pressure.

And because of that, I:

• moved more freely

• experimented more

• didn’t overthink

I walked closer. Stepped back. Looked for details. Played with the light. Even tried a bit of ICM.

And I enjoyed it.

Sometimes we make photography feel like hard work before we’ve even left the house.

Make It Easy to Say Yes

If you want to get out more with your camera, try this:

• Don’t wait to feel motivated

• Don’t over-plan

• Don’t pack everything

Instead:

• Pick up a small kit

• Go for a short walk

• See what you find

That’s it.

Start Local. Start Small. Start Today.

You don’t need a big trip. You don’t need hours.

Some of the most rewarding photography comes from:

• a short walk

• familiar places

• ordinary moments in good light

Yesterday proved that to me, twice.

And both times, the hardest part was simply getting out the door.