Apply a Method to Find Inspiration in Photography
Tip # 8: Finding Inspiration Requires Fullness
The stress of daily problems is an obstacle to the search of inspiration.
When searching for inspiration, try to rest and clear your mind. Focus on meditation and identifying peace and serenity within yourself.
For example, when I am on the road to sites, marketing to prospective clients, communicating about my work, or even selling my fine art prints, I am not in a state of mind to find inspiration. I know that I am going through a phase of intense stress during which material contingencies take precedence over creativity.
These periods of commercial communication or marketing are absolutely necessary for living. They allow me to earn money to continue to successfully create my future collections of fine art photographs. It is a necessity that I cannot escape.
But often, after weeks of travel and representation, I need to time to regain the fullness needed to create new photographs. In these moments of rest, I stop communicating and worrying about my commercial actions. I try to empty my head and feel totally free.
I await the glow of inspiration. I isolate myself in nature.
But during these periods of plenitude and serenity, I remain open to my surrounding environment, patiently watching for the first signs of inspiration.
I believe that isolating myself from the world through communication in the media, social networks, and telephone, allows me to better understand the nature of my next creations.
In general, the photographic themes for my collections will arise by themselves.
It is as if my unconscious was able to discern interesting subjects to guide me towards new creative paths.
I recommend that you let your soul and your emotions speak.
This state that I consider to be a trance is impossible to find when I am concerned with my commercial to-do list. Only isolation allows me to find the roots of inspiration.
Often, art projects that I am contemplating begin with the famous small seeds that I previously mentioned. At the beginning, it is a bit of a DIY. I am moving forward by successive trials and errors. The initial idea will become stronger and more assertive with experience.
Inspiration often comes from my dreams and my imagination. Only the calm linked to isolation far from the daily hubbub of society can allow interesting collections to emerge in front of me.
Tip # 9: Finding Inspiration Is an Active Process
If inspiration is not the result of your work as a photographer, you must actively search for it.
For example, it is not by sitting at your desk you will find it.
You must engage yourself in different ways to acquire inspiration.
You need to create a spark. That is why you must dream of ideas and formulate new ideas.
When you seek inspiration, you must make an expressive request.
You must ask to go forwards creatively. You must create this desire to surpass yourself which will allow you to go further in your photographs.
For example, when I search for inspiration, it is because I am not satisfied with what I do, what I already get, or what I have already achieved. I ask myself questions. I am facing a problem and I must find a solution. So, I create a spark that will eventually result in a stronger flame of inspiration.
These few lines may seem a little vague, but it is nevertheless an essential principle for the search for inspiration. You must be aware for that first spark.
Tip # 10: Enjoying the Effects of Inspiration
When you are going to be inspired, you will experience very strong moments of excitement and exaltation. In the morning, you will have no trouble getting up. In the evening, you will have great difficulty in falling asleep.
These moments of intense creativity will give you moments of indescribable well-being. As you create your nature photographs, you will feel a kind of drunkenness and serenity.
It is as if time has no more hold on you. You will be one with everything around you. You will be in complete fusion with the outside world. You will be relaxed. Your ideas will be clear.
Everything will seem natural to you. It is an incomparable feeling of well-being.
It is for this reason that you should always seek inspiration. It is in this state of mind that you will produce your best photographic work. You will desire for mor. You will feel an immense pleasure to continue to create.
Tip # 11: Finding Inspiration Requires Methodology
As I described earlier, inspiration is difficult to define.
I recommend that you hold fast to a method for creating interesting photos. The experience taught me that to create interesting works, I had to concentrate on specific and well-defined themes.
You must do the same. When you decide to create a special collection, choose a direction of artistic work, and stick with it.
Always write down on paper the project synopsis which you want to work.
Always look at what other photographers have done on the subject.
Sometimes, explore unknown tracks that do not look incredibly promising. When opened, they may lead you to great creative ideas. You may be surprised.
After taking a decision on an artistic choice, I advise you not to change but to persevere with your idea.
You will see your inspiration strengthening as the project progresses.
In my case, I have often found that starting from a simple and not overly ambitious guideline allowed me to complete large-scale projects worthy of exhibitions.
I think that self-denial and tenacity are two essential elements to advance in the quest for inspiration.
Once you have found inspiration, a true creative spiral will occur. Inexplicably, everything will flow logically. The photos follow in a natural and consistent way to create a coherent collection.
To find inspiration in nature photography, the choice of a theme even tenuous, is essential. It will lead to perspectives that were not foreseeable at the start. You must always hold on. A simple idea can end up creating real masterpieces that will meet their audience.
Tip # 12: Finding Inspiration in Nature Photography Requires Organization
In the previous paragraph, I mentioned the fact that a good methodology is necessary to find inspiration.
This is what I do in my daily work. I also think a good organization of your digital flow is an important factor in photographic creation.
For example, my artistic photographic work is organized in three different sections:
- The photo projects.
- The series.
- The collections.
Sometimes I may manage projects without truly being inspired. The photos of these projects will be selected, classified and archived according to my own methods. I am not talking about it here because these methods are beyond the scope of this article.
Then I extract photos that will power series with generic themes.
Finally, from these series, I extract collections that become the final photographs that I propose as artworks.
This method of organization is a way to maintain great inspiration even when it seems rare.
You should always organize your data for future use. It is a way for you to channel your creativity and not to get lost in your collections. In this way, you will remain consistent with your photographic approach.
