The Creative Voice
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Creativity has a voice?
Playful exploration of the shadows cast with the rising sun coming through the windows. (EXIF data f9, 1/125s, 48mm, ISO1000, -1EV)
I’m being a bit facetious, however I feel that while creativity is something very personal, I see the term tossed about with little care for how unique and personally expressive it can be. To me it is the intersection of motivation, curiosity and play and each of these components are required for it to come about. There are many times when I’ve been curious and playful, but have taken no action on the thoughts - hence no creative output. I’ve also found myself motivated to take action and curious, but it seems that I can reach a roadblock very easily as judgment and self criticism quickly causes the curiosity to stall. I believe that the playfulness is a key component as it is what drives past the barriers and self imposed constraints to exploration - it allows me to experiment and fail and learn and try something new. It’s almost like when I’m in play mode I’m operating below the radar of The Judge (my inner critic who can often shut down exploration and creativity) as she doesn’t view this activity as serious work.
How do we find and express creativity?
I have been reading David DuChemin’s new book Light, Space and Time which is a series of essays on creativity and creative expression. He poses many questions for us to ponder about how our creativity works, how we work (what is our workflow) and how our workflow approach might potentially block or hinder our creative process.
Initially David talks about the difference in how we see versus how a camera sees and how it is imperative for photographers to envision the way a camera takes three dimensional elements and converts them to two dimensions. It is the photographer’s role to find ways to add dimension and depth to the image through the use of the camera’s tools (e.g., depth of field) and the use of light and time (i.e., shutter speed). I really appreciate this approach and it encourages me to slow down and really spend time understanding what I’m trying to express and how to achieve the best expression of what I see.
One of my favourite quotes from his new book is:
“Want to be more interesting begin by being more interested. Want to be more creative? Be more curious.” Light, Space and Time - David DuChemin
A yellow headed blackbird throwing back his head in joyous song - finding his voice and expressing himself uninhibitedly - perhaps some envy in this image. (EXIF data f5.6, 1/800s, 840mm, ISO11400 - this was a very overcast rainy day in the early morning light and I have applied noise reduction to this image)
Another exceptional photographer, Galen Rowell really spoke to me in his book Inner Game of Outdoor Photography when he wrote of the need to inject ourselves - our feelings and collective humanity into our images. He alludes to the fact that memorable photographs are not created by spectators - which is rather an interesting perspective as photographers often think of themselves as voyeurs or spectators behind the camera. However, I have often heard it said that photographers reveal much about themselves in the images they create - so maybe that should be photographers reveal much about themselves when they create memorable images.
Essentially I find and express my creativity by going inside myself and digging deep to understand what attracts my attention and why. What attracts my attention often reflects something that is going on inside of me.
Kickstarting creativity
I have recently been doing a lot of mindful photography and by that I mean that when I go out for a photography walk I bring along a notebook and a limited amount of equipment (i.e., usually one lens). I make sure that I don’t rush and as I meander I look for anything that captures my attention. When that happens I pause and try to identify what drew my attention and I will often stop and pull out my notebook and describe what I’m seeing, hearing, smelling etc. in terms of what is drawing me to the scene. I will also spend time digging into what emotions are stirred by the scene and what I’m feeling or want to express.
Ironically, I have been reading Emily Carr’s biography (Growing Pains) as a precursor to our trip to Haida Gwaii this summer. I have long been inspired by Emily Carr’s work and my interest in learning more about her life and art led me to do some reading. In her biography she makes note of her creative process.
“I took always in my sketch-sack a little note book. When I had discovered my subject, I sat before it for some while before I touched a brush, feeling my way into it, asking myself these questions, “What attracted you to this particular subject? Why do you want to paint it? What is its core, the thing you are trying to express?” Growing Pains - Emily Carr
Hidden treasures in the early morning light with dew laden grasses backlit and reflecting the warm glow of the rising sun. (EXIF data f5.6, 1/1600s, 840mm, ISO500).
When I read this passage I started to smile - some hundred years later I’m stumbling across a similar creative process as Emily Carr. There must be something very special about delving into the why’s and what’s that attract us to create things - something that helps to connect our thoughts and internal emotions in ways that enable us to create.
During last summer’s photography retreat to New Brunswick, our host Freeman Patterson spoke eloquently of being very mindful of anything that captures your attention and to follow the energy. This fits so well with my approach to mindful photography and Ms. Carr’s approach to creating art in the vast wilderness of turn of the century coastal British Columbia.
What’s captured outside reflects what’s going on inside
I have been reflecting on the scenes and subjects that interest me the most and really get my creative juices flowing. When I visited my friend Heather in Nova Scotia I was amazed to watch her find fascinating abstract compositions all around her. She would see shapes and textures that eluded me and her editing style brought out colours and textures that shifted the mundane scenes to mesmerizing abstracts.
During a trip to Iceland last year (Iceland blog) I met a very talented photographer Linda Wride who sees the world in shapes and patterns. Her multiple exposures are fascinating and when the rest of the group was focused on grander landscape scenes - Linda was focused on the shapes and patterns she saw in rocks or sand trails. Her intimate landscape and abstract images are a delight to view (I highly recommend checking out her IG page).
What this taught me beyond all else is to respect what captures my attention and follow my energy as it is my subconscious mind speaking to me about what is important for me to express. I’m telling my story through my images in ways that I’m not always fully aware of.
Like the foul weather day I spent at Frank Lake marsh captivated by the swallows flying into the wind - I spent over an hour following my energy and got into flow which created some images that I'm really happy with and very proud to have captured (swallows are not easy to photograph).
Do you have a creative outlet such as pottery, music, writing or art/photography? What insights have you gained by the way you express your creativity? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below or reach out to me directly by clicking on the Connect With Me button.
Barn swallow flying in low over the water into a very strong headwind. (EXIF data f5.0, 1/1600s, 840mm, ISO1250)
I hope you’ll come back soon, share a cuppa, relax and enjoy more of my musings.
