I am always tinker with getting things just right. This year I guess started with my mental health, and it’s bringing a lot of joy back to a lot of hobbies I’ve left behind. Keep an eye out for more…
We’re did my camera go?
I haven’t made time to pick up my camera much since COVID. Little things here and there, but no major outings. My computer died and I haven’t replaced it, so my hobby of photography has fallen to the wayside… until my Wife volunteers us to take photos for her Brother’s wedding.
I have never shot a wedding, and wasn’t really sure what to expect, but luckily I have been married twice so could pull on that experience, and my wife HAS shot a few weddings before. So between us two, and with my daughter’s help we did it.
Looking at the images we captured over the weekend, I am proud of us, excited to get our images edited and shared with the newlyweds.
Also a big thanks to my wife for helping me pick up my camera again!
Out and about.
Ran out to NULU for breakfast, and ran by Revelry Boutique after. That store is filled with great art and inspiration.
Bought new local art, so I figured it was time to create a little for myself. Picture above was while at breakfast just with my phone. Edited later in Lightroom, but nothing fancy, just played with lighting to get things popping the way I wanted. Small selective edit on the person so help them stand out but not to much… I wanted the natural framing to take care of leading the eye. Enjoy.
That’s not a photo!
It’s been a week. I haven’t made it back to my chicken photo I want to edit away from my normal style. While the creativity hasn’t stopped, I just haven’t posted it here. So here are some tunes while you wait.
Tidal Playlist
Chicken?
This is my standard edit. No preset. Not much effort. This is a standard look for me. My goal over the next week for myself is to push my edits out of my comfort zone a bit. To help in my pursuit of “more creativity” More to come….
Reminder to self…
You started this daily creative challenge for yourself to kick start your creative side again. To create for creativity sake. It’s been a short run and your have learned a lot. You like snapshots of people out interacting with the world. You like capturing people in their element, interacting with each other. You don’t love portrait photography though. You have gotten some good shots over the years, but it likely won’t be a focus as you progress. You still hate group shots. Posing proper has never been your thing. You’re going to stop capturing the same five landscape and/or cityscape photos other people take. Not because they aren’t got photos, that’s not it. It’s because even when you capture them, even when done well, you don’t enjoy it. You may be proud of it, but not like your fry photo. That photo is yours. Take more fry photos.
So here is today’s “fry” photo. A single blade of grass that is red. Spotted on July 4th. Captured low with some of the sidewalk in the foreground to help add perspective.
The Reaction!
So let’s face it, those around us impact what we create. Whether we are fishing for likes and shares on social media or a simple compliment from a friend it fuels what we do. After a while it may even change the focus of what we create, how and/or when we create. Maybe you slowly start to create art you don’t “love” but others do. Maybe you force yourself into a schedule that is hard to keep up with just in hopes the algorithm pics you.
Then let’s look at photo and video (and others mediums as well I’m sure). The reaction here has a tendency to go one step further. The “You’re not sharing that are you?”, mentality spawns thoughts of: Did I get the angle they like? Will they be okay with me posting this anywhere? Can I print it and sell it? Did I get the right permissions?
I love the photo above. The individual in question enjoyed it as well and was nice enough to allow me to use it as needed. For every photo like this I have 20 that someone said no. I don’t like my chin. My shirt looks weird. I’m making a funny face, don’t use that one. I don’t like that because it reminds me of my ex.
The list goes on and on. I respect those wishes, but those people don’t see the same beauty in the art that the creator does. The moment they captured it. The memories that are wrapped up in it. The joy of editing the photo/video and bring it to life.
So today as I scrolled through the sea of photos I can’t use out of respect for my friends thank you to those brave souls who help share in our creative journey. Weird faces and all.
It’s a double challenge! <use your best double-rainbow impression while reading>
What’s in your pockets?
So a couple days ago I wrote, I can (and often do) snap photos of anything that catches my eye, but here is a little secret; lots of those initial snaps are simply not good. Well I thought of that today when I woke up early and decided I was going to challenge myself to go out today and capture a photo using just my phone. Put my money where my mouth is so to speak.
So after breakfast, my morning coffee and getting myself ready to tackle my day… I took a nap. Napped too long. Destroyed all my original plans. BUT THE CHALLENGE MUST GO ON! So we moved the challenge to work.
On break crushed out my first top down what’s in my pocket shot. Creative is an exercise. Got 15 minutes? What can you make?
Tis but a memory…
Oftentimes I find creativity is simply an attempt by the artist to bring to life what is in their brain. Angels, demons. Stories and Poems. Some unique thing unlike something the rest of us could ever had dreamed. Other times it’s an attempt to bring a memory to life. Maybe it’s a familiar picture everyone else has as well. Difference is this one is mine. I created it. It captured my memories, and I hope it brings good ones for you. Sparks something. A smile.
Does the potential for money impact creativity?
It has for me. Creative endeavors that start simply as an outlet often, and sometimes quickly morph into a 2nd source of income; or that’s the hope, right. I like doing this thing, it relaxes me, and now I can make extra money… or maybe it gets big enough I quit my job, do this full time and work for myself.
Even if just for a fleeting moment many of us have this thought. Well from the moment someone, with the intent of a compliment, told me my photos were good, good enough to sell, this thought train ran through my head.
That single complement changed the direction of my photography. Can I make it more marketable? Do I need a website? How many hashtags should I use? Also for good and bad it has changed what I take photos of. I shot more portraits, which I love. I take more “normal shots”, that while I enjoy them many times it doesn’t carry the same passion.
I like finding and capturing interesting compositions parts of a scene that catch my eye. I am not sure they will ever sell, but it is where I feel the most creative. It is what I enjoy the most. This is what I will do more of:
Where do I use The Creative?
Great question! For me it’s often at the desk. I can (and often do) snap photos of anything that catches my eye, but here is a little secret; lots of those initial snaps are simply not good.
So for me I often times have to apply my creativity behind the computer screen and not the camera lens. I am much better with layout and flow in post. I often times just get to excited when I have a camera in hand and I’m just taking pictures for me.
So this one was downtown where I live. A street I’ve been on many times, just caught it at the right time at an interesting angle. Added some contrast in the sky and cleaned up made the color match what was in my head to finish it off.
You have to start somewhere…
I have been lacking motivation in the creative department lately, and if there is one thing I know the hardest part is often times starting. Creative ideas will come if you start doing creative things. They don’t have to be perfect. They don’t all have to be innovative. New to you is a good start. Hell old familiar creative endeavors maybe your way to start.
I had a friend once that always watched Blazing Saddles when he needed to get his creative juices flowing. It had nothing to do with what he was creating, it was just a sure fire way for him to get inspiration.
So I plan to create something daily for a bit. Maybe new photos, maybe new edits on old favorites. The goal is to rebuild habits I’ve put down, like taking my camera everywhere for starters.
Here is my first creative endeavor of the project, an edit of a photo of my parents from 2014. A couple factors kept me from using it back then, but I’ve learned a lot since then, one of the biggest… How to crop.
