Had an interesting comment come my way that had me thinking. “I just don’t see how you guys keep coming up with new photographs. I struggle to just take one.” I was talking with a photographer who had hit the creative wall and was seeking some kind of words to break it down. This post is for him but I thought I’d share it with all. We’ve all been there, I sure have been, putting that camera to the eye was just simply no joy. How do you get past that wall?
On the fun side of feeling in the mood, I simply hit the shutter release of my camera and let ‘er rip! Seriously, put the camera into CH and hold down that shutter release and listen to that beautiful sound! Yep, sounds down right silly if not stupid. But you would be surprised how that sound triggers something in your mind and that wall now has a hole in it, just big enough to get the process back on track. So once you format your card to clear out all those photos of your foot, you’re good to go.
The bigger wall comes when you’re sitting at your desk or on your couch and you ponder where to take your passion next. One of the big barriers that kills creativity is money. Life does get in the way of life at times there is no doubt. This might be the time to turn to a shooting colleague and head out for a day. While it might only save you a few pennies, being able to ride someone’s else’s juice for a while often shakes loose the cob webs so your heart can get past your mind. Cause that’s what we’re talking about here when you creativity is in the lost and found.
Then there is the grand project, the big investment in funds and heart. It’s a huge hurdle that an instructor of mine long ago helped out with a simple concept, the Idea File. Coming up with the “big project” requires knowing what you want as an end result and than putting into place all the elements to get there. The thing about the big project is the time investment. The big project doesn’t happen overnight, it might but more than likely, it could be years. And this then comes under the heading of goals and perhaps that where creativity starts. Does any of this answer the question where “us guys keep coming up with new photographs.”
I can only speak for myself, but the new photographs comes from simply pushing. There are days when nothing comes and others when the shutter never rests. I does come in part from taking risks, some that totally fail and others that work. This shoot is a prime example of a quiet day made worst when smoke from a wildfire shut things down. Then, a slight breeze, a willing subject and bam, a photo worth putting on the wall. So I guess the new photos comes from knowing that without getting out and clicking, there will be nothing. So, the answer is simple I guess when it’s all boiled down. Just get out and shoot and never forget creativity is the heartbeat of passion.