Aurora, Colorado
It comes together,
with patience and persistence–
determined like Fall.
Copyright © 2012 Gary Cooper Photography. All Rights Reserved.
creativity
All posts tagged creativity
A few years ago I bought a hand-held GPS to take out hiking. The next trek I went out on, I powered that baby up and headed out on the trails of Manassas, Virginia. I walked along and watched with wonder and amazement how this little piece of electronics was following my movement with 12′ accuracy. This was cool–I was feeling cool. At least until I walked into a tree.
After pulling the sticks and leaves out of my hair, and taking a quick glance around for anyone that might have seen me, I took a mental step back and reflected on what happened. Here I am, out on a hike, away from it all, in a place I love to be, recharging, and my entire focus was somewhere else. Instead of enhancing my trek, it was detracting from it. I was missing the very essence of being outside.
This afternoon I went to Starbuck to write. I ordered, sat down, and immediately buried my head into my journal scratching away thoughts, ideas, and frustrations. My entire focus was on filling the blank pages and emptying my head. I was totally oblivious to any and everything going on around me. At least until I looked up. I was struck and in awe of the things around me. I was seeing things that I haven’t seen before. The view struck me to the point I could not write anymore.
I can go on with similar stories with my camera(s). We’ve all been there–getting wrapped up in the settings, buttons, the cool widgets, light, and on.
I love technology–sometimes too much, but there are times that I wonder how much I miss because of that technology. Or in the case of writing, how much of the world do I miss?
For me, I have come to realize that there is balance. I still take my GPS with me, but its attached to the top of my pack. Sometimes I take a smaller camera or I just put it in “auto” and focus my energy on the world I hope to capture. With writing, I still focus with intensity, but I take the time to look up (before or after) and “see.”
For me, photography and writing is more about learning to see the world around me, than learning the electronics or completely putting my head into the blank pages.
Copyright © 2012 Gary Cooper Photography. All Rights Reserved.
This shot is a reminder to me that the key to great photography is to get out and take as many shots as I can–and then some more. Rarely can I aim, frame, push the shutter just once and expect something great–unless I’m lucky. This particular image is one of a thousand (literally) shots I took over a three-week period.
My challenge, get out and do it again. And again. Then again.
The same philosophy applies to writing–do it again, and again, then again.
Copyright © 2012 Gary Cooper Photography. All Rights Reserved.
You can never go wrong by getting eye level or lower with any subject. Having a camera in-hand gives you that license (most of the time) to “get that angle.” Get down on the ground and crawl around, climb a ladder, or shoot from below. Find that view no one sees walking around.
Copyright © 2012 Gary Cooper Photography. All Rights Reserved.
The side perspective–
offers another heart soul;
like the feel of rain.
Copyright © 2012 Gary Cooper Photography. All Rights Reserved.
I really like the emotion in this shot.
We came across this scene while driving through a wind farm along I-70 in Kansas.
Up until this passing storm, the weather was hot and dry.
It reminds me of how vulnerable we are with regard to the weather.
We have no control over its mood or change.
We have a hard time anticipating or predicting.
Sometimes we are just along for the ride.
Copyright © 2012 Gary Cooper Photography. All Rights Reserved.
Look closely at things;
find beauty at all levels–
like spring transitions.
Copyright © 2012 Gary Cooper Photography. All Rights Reserved.
“The eye, which is the reflector of the external world, is also the mirror of the soul within.” G. Seaver
In portrait photography, the eye is one of the most important features to get right. A great emotional shot has two elements with the eyes, they have to be in-focus and they should have some reflection of the external world. That small reflection of light will give life and personality to any portrait. You’ll notice that portraits that do have the eyes in focus or that little bit of catch-light, are lifeless and flat.
It doesn’t matter what kind of camera the shot was taken with, if the eyes are right, it will most likely be a great shot.
Copyright © 2012 Gary Cooper Photography. All Rights Reserved.
One creative angle I try to take is to invoke curiosity. In this image, what does the sign say? Where does the road end? What does the top of the high-ground look like? To the left and right, and on. The ultimate goal: ”how did he do that?”
Copyright © 2012 Gary Cooper Photography. All Rights Reserved.
…or Finding Balance.
I have been in a creative slump for the past couple of weeks with my photography and writing.
Pushing myself to get unstuck by taking a couple of shots of flowers and bugs in the front yard was not working. I made excuses that I had taken every flower shot that could be taken. I then tried looking at other photographer’s and artists to spark an inspiration. That led me into a further funk by inspiring me to think that “everyone else is better than me.”
I turned to writing and hammered out a stream of consciousness to unclog the brain and while the words flowed–pen and paper did not inspire me. Sure it unclogged the drain, but there was nothing new or enlightening.
I began to doubt myself and wonder if I had what it takes. I questioned whether photography, writing, or anything else creative is really a passion of mine. I wondered if it all was really worth my time. Maybe I was chasing a dream that was not really me.
One of the challenges with my creative mind is that it is always working, always thinking. Sometimes, I look at things and try to figure out what the lighting was and how to recreate it, or how to change it. I see the imperfections. I look for the imperfections thinking that these observations prove my worth as a photographer.
Twitter, blogs, and Facebook did not help because they were constant streams of ideas–non-stop, everyday like trains in a metro station. While they are a great source for networking and sharing ideas, they were giving me the sensation that being creative is a constant endeavor. I felt I was being left behind. The fun was gone.
As I was brain dumping on paper, I realized that I just needed a break. I needed to put down the camera, pen, brush, whatever, and put it all aside–forget about being creative. I needed to take a vacation from myself and not feel guilty or left behind. So I did.
How did I finally recover? I let go of the light, exposure, and anything-everything technical and observed the world through the eyes of a child.
–gtc
Copyright © 2012 Gary Cooper Photography. All Rights Reserved.
Via Flickr:
Denver International Airport
iPhone 4S — Tuned with Aperture.
GT Cooper Photography
