michael_phlin_jahapne Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 I wish I could put creativity in an aerosol can and spray it around my darkroom, in a similar way to how I freshen my bathroom with strawberry potpourri scents, but alas.... I sometimes drink, sometimes meditate, and often look at photo books for inspiration. I also go out on purposefully experimental shoots--where I act on a list of common tendencies (with respect to subject matter, composition, etc.) and try to do the complete opposite. Usually the results are clumsy, but always informative, and sometimes even sublime. And when I go out "for real" again, I always feel sharper. Just wondering what other rituals folks use to stay fresh. -Thursty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triblett_lungre_thurd Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 i snort a few lines of ovaltine... but that's just me. sincerely, me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 I sleep with my head in the "crisper" drawer of the refrigerator. <P> Ellis<P> <I>"Disclaimer: This mesage is intended to impart a sense of humor. Given the inability of internet communications to carry inflections, tone and facial expressions it may fail miserably in its intent. The sender acknowledges the limitations of the technology and assigns to the software in which this message was composed any ill feelings that may arise."</I> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triblett_lungre_thurd Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 jeez ellis, where'd ya get that fancy limit of liability tag? i've been needing one of those fer a long time. me p.s. how's that atlanta heat, bubba? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triblett_lungre_thurd Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 okay fine, be that way, ellis. ya stuck-up, Strom Thurdman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ellis_vener_photography Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 Tribby!<P> How's the Atlanta heat Tribby? let me put it this this way; I would be surprised if it has been 90 degrees or above more than 3 or 4 times this summer. Sort of different from Houston.<P<> to serious answerthe question T.S put forth. I go to museums and I teach, but mainly i put a camera in front of my face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
art_haykin Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 Try a high colonic and a shot of Wild Turkey on an empty stomach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_phlin_jahapne Posted July 31, 2003 Author Share Posted July 31, 2003 Sometimes I make a laughing picture. What would this look like? Maybe a pile of rocks in the shape of a clown, maybe a black sun type image superimposed over a recycling bin. Do you like to laugh, too? Its good for you, its creative, and its fun. Laugh More: Laughter is one of the best things for your mental and physical state. People are naturally attracted to someone who has a good sense of humor. You can develop a good outlook and a good sense of humor by associating with and surrounding yourself with pleasant happy people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom_hieb Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 When I feel stale I like to give myself a somewhat arbitrary project or assignment. For example, I recently assigned myself the project of making 100 pinhole images. As part of the project I built a nice pinhole camera out of oak that takes 4x5 film holders. I could have just used a pinhole on one of my large format cameras, but building the camera was part of the re-freshening. Researching pinhole photography was also refrehsening. I have only taken about 30 images so far, but already it has been mentally stimulating to try and figure out just what a good pinhole image should be and just what advantages, if any, you get fom a pinhole. I have yet to take any pictures tht are very good, but it has been fun and I have learned that you can get amazingly sharp images with a well-made pinhole and a lot of unsharp masking in Photshop. Try doing something a little odd or a little out of the ordinary to refresh your creativity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_jordan5 Posted July 31, 2003 Share Posted July 31, 2003 My creativity-rejuvenating ritual, which I do at least once a week, is to take a hit of acid, eat some schrooms, pour a stiff tumbler of Glenmorangie, smoke a stogie, put some Pat Metheny on the platter, light a stick of Nag Champa, dim the lights, and then sit back on my couch, take three slow deep breaths, and, ummm, whoaa, dude like what was the question again? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_sherck Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 For myself, I find that going out to photograph with other photographers is very illuminating, refreshing, invigorating, and so on. I try to get out with the Midwest large format group as often as I can and I believe that not only has my photography improved by associating with these great people, I also have greater interest in photography as a result of it. And I've made some fine friends, too. If you're anywhere near Indiana/Illinois/Michigan/Ohio/Kentucky, feel free to join us some time. If you're too far away, see if there's a group near you. And if you can't find another LF photographer to shoot with, you ought to be able to find someone. Maybe an afternoon shooting 35mm candid portraits or something will help. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric_floyd Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 Chris this explains your vivid Colors in your images...Can I come over! I live in Issaquah! HAAHAH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julian_thomas Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 Its too hot and too humid to shoot here so I'm doing an exercise I do on a fairly regular basis... someone called it Zen photography. Bascially I often fall into traps of trying to make photographs rather than 'seeing' first. When I find this happening I put away the camera and for a couple of weeks just walk around, trying to note what catches my eye - what is that I find 'attractive'. After the walks I make notes, sketch formal things, bascially trying to tune in to what my vision is. After doing this and then getting the camera out again I'm always fresher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ola_lagarhus Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 What is needed is an idea or ideas, and then a goal and preservance to reach that goal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnanian Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 do assignment work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_wehman Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 There's got to be something to the booze thing. Consider the "Golden Age of American Literature."....Hemingway, Lewis, Fitzgerald, Steinbeck, Williams, and tracking right up to Cheever ....Ya gotta wonder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian_diaz Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 It's a well known fact that in order to be a famous writer you either have to be an alcoholic or commit suicide young. Visual artists generally have to be insane, but they can get away from the suicide trap. But as for creativity, some (probably very few) writers and artists inhale the scent of rotting apples. I prefer to complete Photo 101-type assignments that I give myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_barlow Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 Take a 35mm camera and about 4 rolls of film and find a good, well-occupied playground full of children. Spend a few hours making pictures of children playing. Burn a lot of film and try to do things you couldn't do with LF. You'll have lots of fun, get some nice images, and loosen up that ol' large format sphincter that seems to get so tight in all of us once in a while. Your LF work will improve immediately. All best, Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaron_van_de_sande Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 Avoid rituals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjmurray Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 Buy a new piece of equipment. You'll just have to get out to try it out and you'll be all juiced up because you have something new! The creativity spark will be re-ignited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael_chini Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 I always have 3 or 4 projects going on at once. A couple are just ongoing indefinitely. So when things get stale, I just switch. If I really feel a dry-spell coming on, I listen to music; spend some time alone and think; watch some new dvd's and maybe (rarely) travel a bit. I find that my favorite photobooks motivate me but also tend to influence my way of working which I sometimes do not want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psychophoto Posted August 2, 2003 Share Posted August 2, 2003 <i>"There's got to be something to the booze thing."</i> <p> Yeah, just look at Hunter S. Thompson... But seriously, ritual is exactly what you want to avoid. Do something random. Feed your brain. Watch movies, read magazines, listen to music. Find a photographer and try to emulate his or her style for a day. Take something in photography that you don't think you like or are any good at and do it anyway. Try painting. Do anything you can to make yourself think. That's how I do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_stimac Posted August 4, 2003 Share Posted August 4, 2003 Lots of coffee and lots of driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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