by successfulbob | photography, photography - art quote, photography education
Happy Sunday!
Let’s talk about a mindset for creating photographic art courtesy of Henry David Thoreau in the book Walden.
“Only that day dawns to which we are awake.” Henry David Thoreau
Why do pop into philosophy when talking about creating art? I believe to create the best work, or to see many things to which we are exposed that could become art, we have to live and be in the moment. Many times in our lives we tend to miss out on many opportunities because we are living either in the past or the future.
“What the heck are you talking about Bob???”
How many times in the day do you put yourself in automatic mode? By that I mean as you do things are you aware that you are doing them while you are doing them? Or, are you thinking about something that happened yesterday that was a problem or worried about something that hasn’t happened yet that MIGHT be a problem? Ever driven home and wondered how you got there? Do you always brush your teeth exactly the same way? Eaten a meal but not tasted the food? These are all signs you are not in the moment and might be missing out on your life.
It is the brain’s job to create thoughts. Tons of thoughts. When chatting about this with another photographer she said, “I know what you mean! I call it my ‘circus’ when I can’t get my brain and inner voice to be quiet!” It’s also the brain’s job to do things automatically for us like regulate our heart. Make the lungs take in air and expel it. All that is great, and quite wonderful, until we allow the brain to control too many things without being in the moment concouisly thinking.
How can we start to take back the brain and make it help us better?
Learn to meditate.
Here are some simple ideas for getting into meditation. Brush your teeth or shave with your opposite hand. Take a different route to and from work or the store when driving your car. Concentrate on one thing at a time. The idea of multitasking is a misnomer. Your brain can not do multiple things at one time it must switch modes and it will actually take longer to do the tasks.
SIT for a little while and be here now. What sounds do you hear? Take control of your breathing and be aware of it. When a thought comes unbidden let it go. There is a book that I found helpful on learning how to meditate by Jon Kabat-Zinn called Wherever You Go – There You Are It gives you exercises and ideas on learning to quiet to mind so you are here now.
Ever notice when you go on a trip you find a lot more photo opportunities? That’s an example of leaving our automatic self behind and seeing what s right in front of you. That’s what I’m talking about!
BE
HERE
NOW
As a friend of mine used to say, “I have an extremely busy day today! I better meditate for an hour rather than for fifteen minutes…”
Seems counter-intuitive but she accomplished an awful lot on a regular basis!
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | photography, photography - art quote, photography education
Henri Cartier-Bresson.
If you are a photographer the mere mention of the name brings at least one if not more images to mind. Well today I turn to Henri to help us think about photographic creativity, inspiration and art.
“Make visible what, without you might never have been seen.” Henri Cartier-Bresson
Many of these things only we can see which means only we can share. Sometimes it may be as simple as a snapshot capturing a fleeting moment. It’s important but is it art? Only time will tell which is which. I believe the answer will be art more times than not depending on how much we practice. How well we know our equipment. How we can pre-visualize the result of what we may be photographing because we know our craft so well.
Photography is so much more than just pushing a button. Although today the technology has gotten so good a mere push of a button will often give a result that is exposed OK and probably in focus. The difference lies in our ability to harness the camera by knowing what and how the camera sees verses what and how the eye sees.
This, I believe, is the difference between an artistic photographic image… and a picture.
Learn to see as the camera sees, Create art. Help people see.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
Henri Cartier-Bresson photo
by successfulbob | photography - art quote, photography education
Not sure if I’ve written about this quote before but I believe it needs exposure and a reminder never hurts on important stuff!
“The difference between a good photographer and a bad one? You never the the good photographers’ bad pictures.”
As photographers we have a tendency to not edit tight enough. Not get to the best of the very best and only show those images. Not using a critical eye enough. It is always easier to see problems in others images than our own because we are too close. I am guilty of this myself. I know what went into the making of the image and that info colors decisions. But, people viewing your image don’t have that information. Only the image you see. As an excellent photographer once told me an image needs to stand on it’s own. No back story. No information other than what is in front of the viewer at that moment.
A way to get around this problem is to get a ‘photo critique’ buddy. Someone who’s opinion you respect. and you can critique each others images for only showing the A+ winners. Maybe even run your photos past multiple people to see which images rise to the top from all viewers.
This brings me to one more problem. Insecurity. Happens to me all the time. I don’t always feel my images hold up to other that I see and I end up feeling I’m not a very good photographer. Let’s keep this between you and me shall we? We have to remember that we are making comparisons to other peoples finished and polished images. We don’t see their discards and to use a video term using our B-roll as a comparison.
Stand tall. Make the best images you can. And only show the best to help show others how good you really are.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – I’m heading to the editing room shortly to start getting getting rid of the image that don’t have the most impact on my web site. How about you?
by successfulbob | photography - art quote, photography education
Vince is a wonderful source of short quotes that pack a punch so that’s where I head today fro inspiration on the Sunday Photo/Art quote.
Sometimes we as photographers tend to get into a little insulated shell of comfort having left our creative childlike ‘What If’ questions behind. We always want to be successful in every image we make. If it isn’t wonderful we don’t want to share because the feedback we might receive might not be what we want to hear. If that’s something you are facing, “MAN-UP!” as my wife likes to say…
“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” Vincent Van Gogh
I challenge you this week to attempt something photographically that you know is not your forte and explore the unknown. Only by going into the places we have not been before creatively can we grow exponentially.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
by successfulbob | photography, photography - art quote, photography education
When was the last time you talk a long walk outside of the box?
“What the heck are you talking about Bob??” I’m talking about expanding your skill set by trying new and different things with your photography. There is a tendency I notice among many photographers that they get into a groove in creating a certain kind of imagery, very well I might add, but not growing and developing their craft. It’s bee said that a groove is nothing more than a well smoothed rut. But that’s not today’s Photo/Art Quote.
We check in with Pablo for that…
“I am always doing tat which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” Pablo Picasso
The way I attack this is to assign myself personal projects. Whether it is to expand photography skills to another genre or push the boundaries of what I can accomplish with Photoshop. And, I try to do this often. I recommend at least try something really out of your wheelhouse at least once a month. I try to learn something new each day and have a project at least once a week.
Pablo_Picasso, 1910-11, Guitariste, La mandoliniste, Woman playing guitar, oil on canvas
Remember when you first got into photography? The playing? The wonder? The constant asking of the question, ‘What happens if I do that?’ Get back to it. Experiment! Play! Ask ‘What if?’ more often. If you do I think you’ll get back to the fun of being a photographer.
Yours in Creative Photography, Bob
PS – As a side bonus almost all of my personal projects have turned into dollars down the road… Food for thought.
