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Thinking Creatively, Thinking Photographically
American landscape photographer Ansel Adams once wrote “Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer - and often the supreme disappointment”. Many photographers express surprise when learning that even master photographers, like Ansel Adams, experienced periods of disappointment and frustration with the quality and pace of their work. This idea seems to spring from the belief that somehow they were immune from periods when creative thinking does not come as second nature.
Like the masters, we all go through similar periods where creative thinking is a struggle. With some forethought, however, there are ways that we can prepare ourselves in advance, for when those periods do come. First, we need to recognize that the lack of creative thinking often come from the burdens of everyday life. Secondly, we need to develop a way of life that encourages creative thinking. So, how do we go about thinking creatively, and by extension, applying it photographically?
The Source of a Lack of Creativity
We live in a hectic world that focuses constantly on activities, running from one to the next, encouraging us to achieve the unachievable. This lifestyle floods our thoughts, zaps our energy, all the while encouraging passivity, in mindless, often destructive forms of entertainment.
Recognizing life’s impact upon our creativity, photographer Minor White wrote, “If you could stop the shouting of your own thoughts in your ears, you might be able to hear the small voice of a … pine cone in the sun.” The question then is “How do we stop the shouting?”
Creativity requires an active involvement with the object of our passion. You cannot turn creativity on like a light switch, nor does it work on the clock. For photographers, creativity manifests itself in subject choices and in photographic composition.
Where to Go From Here
In the past few months we have focused on a number of different photographic techniques that illustrate that sometimes creativity simply means to step outside "the box" and try something different. Our member, Bob St.Cyr (PhotoBob), has shown us the way in the accompanying photograph. He didn't use expensive, high end
photographic equipment, he used the most powerful tool available to us - the power of human creativity. His photograph, simple, yet powerful, is testament to the power of creativity.
This month, let's resolve to try something different, let's Think Creatively, Think Photographically.
