I was struggling to come up with a topic for this blog post….Jethro Tull’s Thick as a Brick album playing in my headphones made me think of this image……..which has nothing to do with the topic I landed on….but there is a process…just not sure how it works…..any how….wanted to share the five essential things that inspire or keep me on track photography wise….and not all are rooted in actual photography.
1. Morning Coffee. I do nothing….without starting my day with coffee. It is the fuel that kickstarts my day and for the most part, other parts of my day as well. Am I a coffee snob…a connoisseur of sorts?….absolutely not. At home my fav is almost any medium columbian blend…..but I can’t drive by too many Tim Hortons without the car magically pulling into the drive thru. Starbucks was my daily go to have when I was working in an office but after leaving the corporate world behind…it has become nothing more than a treat every now and then. Before any shoot…be it a family session, portrait session or a journey into the night….it usually always starts with a coffee.
2. Walking….yes walking. It may have been forced on us by COVID but walking has kept me sane and has actually been the inspirational source for some images and sessions as a whole. The physical health benefits are obvious but the mental health aspect was a huge driver for me. Walking made me realize just how much we have taken some things for granted and I am hopeful that if one positive thing comes out of self isolation and quarantine restrictions , it’s a new awareness of the things we need to appreciate more. Photographer Richard Martin is a strong believer in walking and revisiting places in order for one to “see” better….I totally agree. My immediate neighbourhood has many coastal vistas and I for one never tire of the daily visitations.
3. Contact with other creatives - Coffee, beer and or wine….getting together with other creatives for drinks goes a long way to establish good relationships and collaborations. For me it’s just another excuse to have another coffee. Zoom meetings aren’t just for the office anymore. I spent many nights “Zooming” with other photographers sharing stories and talking about the need to create in a pandemic. Relationships among creatives is a huge necessity in my eyes. Supporting each other in any way possible through tough times will hopefully lead to some positive creative results in the future. Many photographic communities thrive now in a helpful supportive way…competition will always erode good relationships but those photographers that choose to help other than hinder, will do much better in the long run. I have really enjoyed meeting new people in Halifax and the relationship with other photographers has opened many doors.
4. Learning….never stop….Portfolio reviews and maybe even the odd workshop….I am a huge believer in workshop learning and portfolio review. Over the years I have attended many workshops that have covered many different topics or themes and the notes I have taken from each one of them remain fresh in my brain…very easy to look back and refresh my enthusiasm by a quick skim of the old notes or course material. Portfolio review, albeit difficult at times….is a must for any creative to grow and continue to grow their art. I have never regretted any of the feedback I have received from many of my mentors….none were harsh or punitive….almost all were a reason for me to tighten focus or lose ties to past mistakes. COVID caused many of us to be at home for long periods of time and that allowed us to educate ourselves thru the enormous amount of online training….I know myself….my photoshop skills have improved a great deal due to the online course availability.
5. Music…find your best and keep looking for more. Admittedly being a child of the late 50’s, 60’s and 70’s my roots are entrenched in so called”Classic Rock” but my tastes never seem to get paralyzed by genre. My playlists be it Spotify or Apple Music clearly indicate my sense of musical crazy. When I think about it…music is almost always part of what I do and serves to inspire regardless of activity. On my way to any shoot there are usually tunes that pound a deeper beat and when I edit, softer singer/songwriter stylings fill the headphones. When I walk …it’s the time that I revert back to my 70’s roots and blast the classics so the traffic is totally obliterated. As I write this ,John Cougar Mellencamp is “Crumbling Down” into the night. Music is a must have.
So now you have a brief glimpse into the sanity that is my photography process…..coffee, walking, good friends, education and music. Essential activities that help bolster creativity and inspire others, but unless we change the adversity into opportunity life will just be harder.
Carry on people.