I learned photography in high-school continued in college and then I graduated and of course I knew everything…. (or so I thought). A few years later I found my skills stagnant, my photographs were boring, and my desire to photograph was fleeting. I would see other artists works and be blown away! I remember attending a few different art openings of friends I graduated with and having the realization that I was obsolete, my friends have passed me by because they pushed themselves to continue to grow and learn.
I resolved to not let that happen again. It was a good lesson in life to learn as well. I read in a book one time that you have to kick your own butt. I started to give myself assignments. If I knew I was going to the zoo I would make a list of shots I wanted to get. I would look at other photographers works and see how I could improve myself. These “assignments” also had a side blessing I didn’t consider for years. I learned how to work confined. Most people say artists are free creators. While that sounds awesome, it’s almost never the case in the professional art world. If your a designer, illustrator, graphic artist, photographer…. you are given rules to follow, a box to stay within. How you handle your box is the difference maker.
So if you have a chance, confine yourself to silly parameters. Figure a way to limit your subject and see what you can do. Then critique yourself honestly. In the past I have used this as a way to push myself, to redefine my eye and mind.
Maybe next time I do this I will only photograph things that are orange, or objects that start with the letter G. They say the learner will inherit the earth, while the learned will find themselves comfortably living in a world that no longer exists.
Well said. I know exactly how that feels, seeing everyone else doing amazing work while I’m doing nothing, or at least nothing amazing. I like the idea of specific assignments, I think I will have to try that
I might try your suggestion soon.
Loving the bokeh
Yes, yes! Love this post!
Thanks for liking my blog by the way!
I love your blog as well and intend to follow!
It is so interesting how the visual arts, movement art (dance), and musical art all intersect. It seems that no matter what type of art you study or strive to excel at all of our experiences overlap in some ways. I am an opera singer and strive my best to “perfect,” my art/technique/style and so on knowing that the perfecting is never attainable (if it was that would take most of the fun out of it anyways). I completely identify with striving for freshness in every piece I sing or perform (as you do with each photograph).
It is so important to find new ways of looking at things, seeing the musical notes on the page as more than they are, understanding the nuances that follow. How is the text interpreted and represented rhythmically (is it speech like or lyrical), how does the language flow naturally when you speak it, did the composer set the piece in a specific style, how far can I go in adding my own interpretation without eclipsing what the composer would have wanted?
These things help to keep me fresh but when I feel really stuck I love to look at the history and context behind a piece. Why was it written, who wrote the poetry, why did the composer select that text, what inspired the text? Maybe looking at the history of a particular item or place you are to photograph would bring a new emotional depth and connection to your heart and therefore help your keen eye and sensitivity? I often find this helps me in music.
I would love to hear a photographer’s perspective on keeping a musical performance fresh as well! I like the idea of assignments…maybe new tempos, or switching dynamics, never do the same things twice.
So often, even though photography and music are both beautiful arts, I find the two worlds don’t intersect enough. I really wish that more collaborative efforts could be made between the different disciplines to present something “all together.” It would pretty awesome I think. I believe we could become better at our own art through learning about the artistic process of others who practice completely different facets of/in the arts.
Hi fstop, thanks for the follow. Nice blog yerself!
I agree with this post. As a songwriter I find I get stuck in a style (torch songs, folk ditties etc.) or using the same old chords. Other people’s music always sounds so good to me I swear I could never match it. So I cheat! When I hear a song I love I try and write it. My version rarely sounds anything like the song that inspired it, but it pulls me out of my rut and evolves my writing. I think Wilde said that “talent creates but genius steals”!
You have some great photography here (love the smoke pics)
ROS
I’m really struggling to keep my interest in photography alive. I have only been dabbling less than two years, but I am losing interest in the growing/studying part. I wasn’t sure if it was my ADD or hobbies or something else. This gives me a little more insight.
I have been where you are several times. Learning can become overwhelming at times. One thing I have done in the past is I will see something cool like maybe a shot where the world is moving but the subject is still and decide to do it too.
The first thing i do is Google it and see how its done. When I do it and I learn more about photography and the technique without feeling like I am learning : ) It’s also hard to be a photographer when you feel like an island drifting in the ocean. So join a peer group or make up assignments like I do. You have very nice images so keep it up : )
I like this ‘back to business’ post you wrote. I share in your view and liken it with my first writing experiences that was’nt working out as i thought it will be.So i had to consult world phamos writers books and began eating them voraciously.
Ever since then i found my self reading more and also composing good articles and write ups that some will soon be published and posted.
“Never say Never”
Was your challenge in this series color or small things? Either way, they are great! I love the philosophy behind them. Sometimes it’s difficult to stay “fresh.”
Hi
My little fake mission was to gather childhood memories. I remember my Legos and gears from my erector set and how my grandma always sewed my ripped jeans
Interesting thoughts.
I’m currently doing some photography with a folding camera which gives me 8 shots per film (6×9), it’s a sure bet that it’s making me much more selective about what I shoot – I hope that selectiveness follows me back to my digital work.
I know some photographers who are happy to take just one photograph a day when they go out on a landscape session.