If you feel stuck creatively, one way to inspire yourself is to impose limitations on where, when, what or how you can shoot pictures. While attending a photography workshop in 2000, I was challenged to make as many photos as I could from a single spot on the grounds of the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana. The pictures above (all shot on 35mm film) are part of a group of more than a dozen frames I made in one location. I tried many different compositions, experimented with exposures and tried intentional defocus effects. The top center frame has always been a favorite.
If you are looking for inspiration or help with the technical side of your photography, check out my classes at the Lifelong Learning Center in Missoula, Montana. Registration for the May-August 2026 session begins March 30, 2026, at 8:30am.
If you live in the area, visit the Scavengers Photography Club hosted by the Montana Natural History Center. The group meets the third Thursday of the month at 6pm and admission is free.