I have written a fair number of blogs since I started my photography web store. They are fun for me to write and generally come pretty easily. I think I have only missed a single week since I started this self-assignment many months ago.
Today, as I sit trying to come up with something relevant to write about, I had nothing.
So my first thought was, what can I do to get inspired? Where can I go (either virtually or physically) to generate a creative spark so I would have something meaningful to say; and then it hit me. Where does inspiration come from? Can it be spontaneous or do you have to “look” for it?
For me, there are lots of ways to get inspired. Take a look at my photos; I spend a lot of time trying to make images that capture nature. A lot of my inspiration comes from being outdoors in nature, waiting for the right light or the right moment or hopefully both of those at the same time!
Even a simple walk with the dog can be inspiring for me. Recently I saw these amazing ice crystals formed by the freeze/thaw cycle of the snow. I had to make do with my iPhone. Getting outdoors is indeed a source of inspiration. It is fun to tell a story about how a photo came to be. Sometimes a photo has deeper meanings to me, sometimes a tree is just a tree.
I also try to get inspired by reading. While I do love historical fiction, and history, lately I have been reading the work of other photographers. Guy Tal (https://guytal.com/) has been high on my list of late. I like his photography and I do find his writing to be inspirational, but for me personally, his inspiration seems to come from his isolationism. Mine not so much. I have also been reading Rick Sammon’s “Photo Quest, Discovering your Photographic and Artistic Voice.” (https://ricksammon.com/). Yes, sometimes my blog thoughts have been triggered by something I have read.
A number of my posts are spontaneous. I will be having a conversation with someone or see something while I am driving and I have to create a mental note to myself to circle back later to expound and expand on what started as barely a whisper of a thought. That has served me well (if I can remember the idea). Sometimes I have several “good” thoughts and I need to remember them. I try to get to my computer and write a couple of lines down and before you know it, I have not only written a blog post, I have written several. This worked for me when I was traveling. I was able to have a couple of posts ready to go hoping the lightning of inspiration would strike again.
My interactions with others has been a source of inspiration. I “goat herd” our local photography group. We meet once a month and talk about photography. We do it from a practical nuts and bolts approach sometimes, and others a bit more philosophical. I am often inspired by what others in our eclectic group bring to the meeting. Our topic for January is to talk about our photographic heroes, who are the photographers that influenced us on our photographic journeys. I am sure some have never thought about having a super hero of the photographic variety. I have several, but will talk about Margaret Bourke-White, someone I became enamored with when I was in high school. I am anxious to hear how my peers were influenced.
My new mantra is the “59th Street Bridge Song” by Simon and Garfunkel. You may recall the lyrics “Slow Down, You Move too Fast…” While I like to feel “Groovy,” it is important to slow your mind and “…make the morning last.” Silence can be a great catalyst for creating new ideas and finding inspiration. Give your mind room to being open to new possibilities.
The different intersections of inspiration could also include technology that allows you to create in new ways. Bring your own personal experiences when you seek inspiration. There are so many ways to be inspired, if you let your mind be in touch with the world around you and you give yourself the space to create.
Thanks for stopping by.