My Conditions for Creativity

I can’t speak for all photographers, but for me there are certain conditions that help me enhance my ability to approach scenes creatively.  I suspect strongly that many of these are true for other photographers as well.

First, I find that I work best when I work alone.  I’ve tried to photograph with other people along and in general it only results in snapshots, not the great photos I’m looking for.  I find that other people, even if well-meaning, inhibit me from taking the time and extra effort needed to be truly creative.  I find myself distracted by the need to give attention to them and the usual fact that they are disinterested in the craft of photography.  But even fellow photographers distract me.  I am often drawn to mimic their approaches to a scene rather than allowing my own creative juices to flow.  As a result, when I’m serious about making truly creative photos, I always choose to go solo.

                I also find I get the most creative results when I’ve allotted enough time for my photographic sessions.  It doesn’t work well for me if I’m feeling rushed.  When I’m in a hurry, I’ll settle for the first acceptable shot I find, usually overlooking other possibilities to express the full meaning of the scene.  Such quick sessions are fine for snapshots, but serious creative work demands both the exploration and patience that only adequate time can afford.

                My third condition is closely related to the second.  I find I get the most creative results when I settle on a single scene and work it exhaustively before moving on to another.  The fact is that although something in the scene has attracted my attention, I don’t always see the best creative possibilities at first.  It’s essential for me to consider different viewpoints and ways of capturing a scene.  To employ varying compositional elements to best advantage requires both time and exploration.  Sometimes a single scene can yield several compositions that make the effort worthwhile.  But these usually only become evident after thorough investigation of alternative viewpoints and experimentation with different lenses.

                This means also that I get my best results when I can take off any blinders I’ve brought with me to a session.  In order to be creative, I need to be open to new possibilities.  If I come to a session with a preconceived idea of the photo I want to create, I’m bound to overlook other opportunities the scene has to offer.  That means I must not be committed to a single concept, a single lens or only one viewpoint.  My best, most creative results always come when I’m open to the surprise of new possibilities that have never occurred to me before.

                Distractions of any sort are the enemy of my creativity.  In addition to avoiding other people and allocating enough time, it’s important for me to keep my mind clear of other issues while I’m photographing.  If I’m worried about some problem at home, it’s better if I stay and home and address that problem than to try to make expressive photos while my mind is elsewhere.  It’s one of the principles of mindfulness practice—when making creative photographs, be completely focused on photography and nothing else.

                This means, among other things, taking care of my own creature comforts while on a photo mission.  If I’m too hot or cold, too tired or too hungry, my mind will be on these things and they will divert my attention from creative exploration.  They may be signaling me to wrap up my session and go home much sooner than I’d planned.  So I try to be sure that my own needs are taken care of before I set out for a serious creative photo session.

                Getting fresh ideas is important to creativity.  Often it is easiest to find them when traveling to a new place, perhaps one I’ve never visited before.  I usually find it easiest to see with new eyes in a new place.  Scenes that are familiar to me tend to stifle my ability to see them afresh.  Yet because these are the scenes that are most accessible to me on a regular basis, it’s important for me to overcome the tendency to boredom and routine approaches to the subjects.  How can I find fresh creative ideas in familiar spots?  One way is to return to the scene in different kinds of weather.  Bad weather may be disagreeable, but it often yields the most dramatic photos.  In addition to variety in the weather, the variety in equipment provides fresh chances to capture a scene in new ways.  I can use a different lens than the one normally mounted on my camera so I see scenes differently.  And of course seasonal changes bring on varying looks that open up further creative possibilities.  What’s important is to maintain an open state of mind when I revisit familiar places so I’m able to see fresh opportunities I’ve not seen before.  I don’t want to claim this is easy, but it’s nonetheless essential.

                If you value creativity as much as I do, then think about your own conditions for creativity.  When and under what circumstances do you find you are most creative?  What conditions need to exist for you to do your own best work?  And what do you need to do to assure that your creativity is at its best?  It’s an exercise that is well worth doing, and it will help you assure that you can get perhaps even better results than you were hoping to produce.