SANDRA LAFORGE PHOTOGRAPHY
A Path to Inspiration: Part 1
Even the most creative people get stuck, in fact, that was our inspiration for writing this blog. We've both had those days when we sat staring through the camera or an empty work table searching for inspiration that never came. We've been stuck, frustrated, inspiration-less.
After years of working through this non-creative state, we've found ways around and through it. You see, being stuck with no bright flashes of inspiration to kick-start your creativity isn't the worst thing. It is the normal thing. It's frustrating, but also it is a necessary step in the creative process.
Why? Because we can't keep doing the same things day-after-day and expect to be inspired. And when we become uninspired, it's a reminder that we need to shake things up and do something different to change our state of being.
Inspiration can come in many forms. Here are five tips for breaking or changing habits that can lead to increased creativity:
- Heighten your awareness. Pay attention Slow down and look around.
- Change your routine. take a different route while driving or taking walk. When you are in a routine, your are often on autopilot unaware of your surroundings. Anything that takes you out of your routine will help shift your point of view.
- Put on your rose-colored (or yellow or blue) glasses and see things from a new perspective. Change the way you look at nature. It is constantly changing and can be quite a muse.
- Learn something new. It's another way to shift your outlook and experiences.
- Relax. That's right, chill out, meditate, listen to baroque music - anything to calm yourself and allow your right brain to kick in. According to neuroscientists, deep relaxation is an ideal state for creativity, as well as good humor and pleasure.
Still feeling stuck? Remember, inspiration is everywhere, especially on social media sites like Instagram and Pinterest. Here are just four of the creative people we follow for inspiration.
Let's inspire each other. Please comment below and share your tips, websites, pages,places, anything that inspires you!
In our next blog post, Carol and I will share our personal stories of inspiration and some of the artists who inspire us. Stay tuned!
My project with Carol Lipworth Designs on location: watch
Carol Lipworth Designs on location in Costa Rica:
Sandra La Forge Photography
Carol Lipworth Designs
Hurricane Harvey: Riding the Storm Out
Hurricane Harvey:
Riding the Storm Out
UPDATE: Texas continues to dig out and clean up from the wrath of Hurricane Harvey. We cannot thank you enough for many ways you have come to our rescue. As flooding continues in our great state, please consider the victims and I encourage you to assist by clicking the link below:
The forecasters tell us we are about half way through Tropical Storm Harvey's effects so when there was a break in the weather, we grabbed our cameras and raingear and headed out to explore.
Some positives of us getting off the sofa (what are you binge watching?):
- A chance to capture a catastrophic event. We talked to stranded drivers, were present while a kayaker going paddled a popular intersection, and most interestingly witnessed the 4th largest city all but come to a standstill.
- Great time for reflection pics in the high water.
- In our case, exploring areas usually bombarded with major traffic (we live inside the Houston loop)
- An opportunity to help. We were on the scene for a car wreck, translated for someone needing a ride to rescue their mother and also cleaned two storm drains that were backing up the high water.
Some safety tips:
- Keep an eye on changing weather conditions. Tropical storms are unpredictable.
- Beware of crazy motorists. Due to high water, cars were being forced to drive both directions on a one-way highway. We witnessed a wreck not 10 feet in front of us.
- Don’t go it alone! Luckily my best friend and partner (in crime) is a photo bug as well. Better in pairs.
Humanity prevailed as we headed back home on foot, a truck load of young men offered us a ride as the rain had just started drizzling again. Today’s excursion will provide some great photos for my ongoing water project.
Improve with Fellow Photographers
There is so much to gain by traveling with fellow photographers, whether they are professionals or hobbyists. Here are a few reasons you may want to give it a shot (pun intended).
Learn New Tips and Tricks:
On a recent trip, there was much joking about a particular enhancement software (it has the word "pro" in it, that's all I will say). Some of the photographers on the tour were “purists” who did not agree with such techniques. Others did, so I decided to try it. It was a fun experiment, but I learned it was not my thing. The take away is that I may not have tried it if it hadn’t been part of our group discussion. If the schedule allows, spend time-sharing photos, asking for critiques or learning a new editing technique. I have benefitted immensely from other photographers’ knowledge on every trip. If you are traveling with a professional photographer, hang on every word and ask questions! One of our favorites, editorial and adventure photographer Tom Bol, is so helpful with non-stop enthusiasm.
Draw from Others’ Experiences:
Places to Shoot: Your travel buddies are a great source of information and experience. Ask them about the places they have traveled and which locations they would recommend. People love to share their experiences and you’ll learn details you could never get from a brochure. We are very excited to add a couple of new destinations we had not considered thanks to our travel friends.
Gear: We all want to find the best gear for our photography, so ask what works for them, what they like, what they don’t and why. Real feedback beats online reviews everytime!
Workshops: Workshops are my new favorite way to travel, learn from others and get great photos. Ask for recommendations about workshops they’ve attended and what they liked about them.
Friends for Life!
On a recent trip to Cuba, two pairs of people in our group had met while traveling alone on other tours years before. In both cases, they now meet up and travel together a few times each year. How wonderful to find companionship through a shared interest! Having a travel buddy is a great way to see the world and share experiences.
It is a big beautiful world out there. Traveling with fellow photographers is a great way to improve your skills, learn new tips and techniques and enjoy your passion with like-minded folks.
Outdoor photography and Images by the Hubble
You do not have to be even mildly interested in Science or Space to be in awe of the photographs the Hubble telescope is sending back to earth. The creator of this beautiful and wondrous world has my praise today as I enjoy these images and cannot help but be a bit jealous of the vantage point of the Hubble. As an avid outdoor photographer, I claim to go anywhere to get the shot! I hope our future generations have the opportunity to travel and photograph beyond earth and share my passion to "go anywhere.....".
The photo below is called the butterfly produced by a dying star.
Photography from a Child's Perspective
Let's face it, people today are the most "photographed" ever in the history of recorded images. Armed with smart phones, tablets, and the occasional "camera", people everywhere are photographing themselves.
A camera for me is more of an accessory than a tool or gadget, rarely will you find me without a camera close by......For this reason, I get excited when the children in our family asked to borrow my "camera". Here is an example of a picture taken while on a recent outing.
The picture above was taken by my grandson, Michael, age 10, who just happens to be the cute cowboy in a previous blog.
Seeing the world through their eyes is so interesting and innovative! Next time you have your phone or other recording device pointed at your children or grandchildren, hand them the camera and ask them to give it try. You will be pleasantly surprised at their perspective.