I’m having trouble, not so much with my love for photography, but finding the time to be creative, even having the time to simply shoot. Life can overwhelm one and when that happens, perhaps it’s better to take a small step back and not force yourself to shoot, or whatever it is that’s overwhelming you – the results are often bad, the images almost apologetic.
Likewise, I confess to having trouble thinking of new posts to write about, primarily for the same reasons and I feel pressured to find something to write about. Granted, I have imposed the pressure on myself – I don’t have to write a post every week, but I almost feel compelled to. I knew when I started that I would find it hard to write, to find material to write about, week after week, trying to think of good stories to tell, or something you might find interesting…it is getting harder. Realizing that I’m spending a good deal of time just wracking my brains about a topic to write about, when there are so many other things I could be doing. It is arduous.
Perhaps it’s the same with my photography, I have less time for it, being busy all through the week – as we all are – takes away my creativity, partly because of time and partly, because of whatever time is left, I don’t have the energy, I’m sure you know only too well yourself!
Looking back through my images, especially over the last few years, there’s a great deal of images that I have not really sat down and given time to look through them properly. I was “rushing” from one day to the next, I was shooting more than editing and a goodly number images were being left by the wayside, not looked at and nor given any consideration. Forgotten – almost!
It’s not lost on me that our society has changed and we (most of us) have changed with it, whether we want to admit it or not. I certainly do not have the patience I once used to have and like so many of us I want things sooner. The effort that was required to develop and print your own work is forgotten by many and not even experienced by most; it is a digital age. Everything thing is instant. But that’s just part of it, we are pulled in way more directions now, with so many things on our minds.
This morning was the first time in a month that I was able to walk through the wood, I miss my walks and apart from taking my camera in there and shooting a few frames, the wood is a beautiful and relaxing place to be. The relaxing nature of the environment always brought fought thoughts and ideas, not just for photography, but for so many other things in my life. Life had become strenuous, more complicated than I would like and I had forgotten how to relax.
Are all these factors combining to negatively effect my photography? or am I just not as good or creative as I think I am. Probably the latter, though it could be the former, oh no, now I’m really stressed out!! Time to take a step back, take stock, relax, do something else other than photography or even think about it!
What is the reality for me? I am around photography all day long, it is a huge part of my life – I live a breath it, photography courses through my veins. However, there are so many aspects of my life that do warrant my attention, that I let slip by the wayside, that I really shouldn’t. Balance. You need it, I need it, it is all important. Why? Simply because Mr Miyagi says so and he was very wise.
I had previously written about slowing down and it is part of the process of stopping to take stock, evaluate what it is you’re doing or trying to achieve – for many of us it is an on-going process. Life does not stand still, it is constantly changing and evolving. As does your photography. Don’t over think it, don’t go in hot pursuit of the images, they will find you. An important factor here is to keep your mind free and open, so that when these images present themselves, you are in the right space to capture them. Having given this advice to myself, I hope that I can detach myself long enough to absorb it.