Comments on: What Inspires You?

By: osselin

osselin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 15:14:32 +0000

All. The secret is to find the way to show and process anything in our mind.

By: Bill McMyne

Bill McMyne — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:02:03 +0000

I am inspired if I am able to leave the day to day world behind and free my mind to truly see what is around me. When that happens I find that my surroundings continually inspire me no matter where I am. If that has not happened, nothing is inspiring. I try to become as technically proficient as possible so that it becomes second nature, leaving my mind to focus on what it sees rather than camera settings. What triggers this visual freedom? Many times it is something in my surroundings that really stands out and pulls my mind away. It might be an unusual sky, lighting, composition, color or face. Often looking at the work of others inspires me because I see what is possible if I learn to see and learn my craft. I find that a well written sentence that describes a typical scene in a very unusual way inspires me…why can’t I learn to photograph that in the same way the writer saw and described it.

I will close with the observation that we all suffer from a lack of creativity or inspiration at times. In the past, this could have a self-perpetuating effect on me because I would struggle to “break out” of it by forcing myself to make images, only to be further disappointed. Having gone through this so many times and always found that it will end if I just let it, I no longer struggle. I simply accept it and focus on other interests. When I am ready, the stimulus is always there around me and I am off again!

As always, thanks for the stimulating blog and images Cole.

By: Melvi

Melvi — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:07:30 +0000

I am inspired when I see emotions. They are anywhere, everywhere.. an elderly man going straight to obituaries in the newspapers at breakfast,a boy with an ipod stuck in his ears sitting the playground, in my mom’s kitchen, a single baby shoe on the street, airports, pictures of friends that are far away from me n their family.. all these make great inspiration to me..

By: Gary

Gary — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:08:20 +0000

I find that Shaun’s answer is pretty close to my means for getting inspired and out the door. He said “… often I have a subject and specific site in mind when I head out the door. I tend to work in projects anyway, rather than shoot randomly, so this works for me. Once out shooting, I often find unrelated subjects that inspire new projects, or that are strong enough images to stand on their own.”

I also definitely stumble onto fresh subjects that offer a whole new direction for the day or a project. My “projects” are sometimes just later realizations about what I have been shooting without having had that conscious direction when I started. It seems that some force leads me to gather more images within the “project” with an almost unrecognized inspiration floating in me somewhere.

I also travel a lot around the US and that never fails to get me out because who wants to sit in a hotel room? (… rain or shine)

There is such an amazing diversity of subjects and places in this country (no matter where you are). If it’s a new place, then I’ll be inspired by something I’ve never seen before. And even if I’m returning to a place, the light is different this time and even the same subject will re-inspire me.

I just wish I could get the discipline to always have my camera with me… can’t seem to get that through my head!

By: Deborah Parkin

Deborah Parkin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:34:33 +0000

I am inspired by two things in particular. My children and my memories. I use photography to capture time passing by and to project my memories. I am also inspired by other photographers, music and life in general. I have learnt to put the camera down sometimes just so I can observe, contemplate and learn.

By: Cole

Cole — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:24:12 +0000

It’s amazing that we all go through the same creativity challenges.

It’s also been pointed out a couple times that perhaps there are really two challenges: feeling creative and getting out the door.

I am more challenged with getting out the door, life is just so busy.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:45:37 +0000

There are steps everyone has to take, that causes one to leaving their current frame of mind and opening or reenergize the creative side of one’s self.
To be Inspired and to be motivated are the first two steps. I find that sometimes I get ‘Inspired’ but lack the drive or ‘motivation’ to execute. Then some times it is the other way around, I up and running, but nothing is clicking. The Arts do this to all who care to participles in the challenges of self or creative expression.
For me sometimes it is picking a project (a concept which I learn from you Cole), and then sometimes the creative side opens up after I decide to work on a different approach, using the camera or lighting (or what ever). For example working at improving how I address dynamic range within a shot, but using different aperture settings or using a light meter instead of the camera’s metering system.
In simple terms, the desire to do something different or to improve your skills in the tools I use.
They work hand in hand for me. I have a vision but my skills might not be strong enough, to make it work.

By: elaine

elaine — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:06:29 +0000

Hey! Well I have to admit I am in a low inspiration mood at the moment but I guess what always makes it for me is going into one of these places wher people can’t see you (airport, stations etc..) and look at them interacting…and one of my favouire moment for photos is the sun after the rain!!(and thanks for reminding me about your blog in the newsletter:)

By: Cole Thompson

Cole Thompson — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:43:15 +0000

Thanks Nina. My blog was all set up and delivered ready to go by Daryle Dickens of Web Palaver.

Super easy, super good stuff!

http://www.WebPalaver.com
The Marketing Guy for Artists
“Want to make a living selling your art?”
“Let’s talk about it.”

By: Nina

Nina — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:37:10 +0000

P.S. Man, you have a serious blog here, Cole; copyrights and all. I’m impressed! Who’s your host, may I ask? You can email me if you’d rather. Have a wonderful evening and love to the family.