7 Unexpected Sources of Creativity That You (And Your Camera) Will Love
“It takes a lot of imagination to be a good photographer. You need less imagination to be a painter because you can invent things. But in photography everything is so ordinary; it takes a lot of looking before you learn to see the extraordinary.”
There’s no denying that these are stressful times.
We are living through a pandemic. Many of us have been affected directly, or indirectly, by Covid-19. Finding ways to alleviate the stress associated with so much uncertainty is important. But can creativity thrive during adversity? Yes, it can, and here’s why it should.
Scientists studying creative self-expression found that during artistic activity, 75 percent of people studied experienced a decrease in their levels of cortisol, the hormone associated with stress.
And if you’re worried that you don’t have the mental space for being creative during lock down, constraints are “good for innovation” according to Harvard Business Review. Think of all the great artists and musicians who have created inspiring work during periods of adversity.
Here are our top tips for finding creative inspiration during lock down:
1. Your home
After several weeks of lock down, you may feel tired of your own four walls, but your home can still be a source of inspiration.
Take your camera, or your phone, and try photographing different areas of your house, using light and angles that you have never noticed before. It could be a corner of a bedspread, a shadow on the wall, or a collection of your children’s toys. Search for intricate details and unusual shapes.
2. Document your family’s experience of lock down in 5 images
If you had to sum up the experiences of the last few weeks in 5 images what would those be?
Creating a visual diary can be evocative. This is the largest global collective experience of our lifetime, so it might be interesting to compare your 5 images of lock down with a friend from another country.
3. Shoot portraits of your family using natural light
You don’t need a photography studio or expensive equipment to shoot a great portrait. Place your subject next to a window, with the light on one side of their face. A larger window will give you a softer light, whereas a smaller window will give a harder edge to the shadows, which gives a more dramatic look.
If you need to add some more light to your subject’s face, you can make a homemade reflector. This just needs to be a large white object held next to your subject, to bounce light onto their face. A large piece of white cardboard would do the trick.
The French photographer Henri Cartier once said, “Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” 10,000 photos might be a bit excessive, but make sure to take a good number. The human face is so expressive that each millisecond involves a subtle change of expression.
4. Rediscover your backyard
If you have a garden, why not try some flower photography. It is best to photograph flowers on a cloudy day, so wait until the sky is a bit overcast for best results.
You can also bring flowers inside and photograph them against a white piece of card. Get up close to ensure that the flower is large within your frame. Flowers are so intricate that too busy a background will be distracting. Opt for simple backgrounds, so that your flowers will stand out.
5. Take a walk through your neighborhood
You might know your neighborhood like the back of your hand, but it’s always nice to step back and look at familiar sights with the eyes of a tourist.
You may discover or experience something new. Why not search for some historical photographs of your neighborhood and recreate the same shots in the modern-day.
6. Find a local nature trail or preserve
This is a good opportunity to practice your landscape photography. You can create depth by using a wide-angle lens. If you’re new to photography, it can be useful to enhance your composition skills by adhering to the rule of thirds. Like all rules, it isn’t prescriptive, but it can help to enhance your visual aesthetic.
The rule of thirds splits an image into nine equal segments. Place your subject along the lines that separate the squares and use other elements in the frame to compliment your subject and add depth and interest.
The best light for landscape photography is either first thing in the morning, shortly after sunrise, or an hour or two before sunset. The ‘golden hour’, as it’s termed, has a quality of light that is softer and warmer than the rest of the day. Shoot photographs during that time and they will be infused with beautiful and golden light.
7. Find inspiration on instagram
Here are our top 5 picks of photographers to follow on Instagram:
@rebeccamiller99
Rebecca Miller
New York photographer, Rebecca Miller, is known for her captivating portraits. She has photographed Patti Smith, Eva Green, Helena Bonham-Carter, Christina Hendricks amongst many others.
Follow Rebecca >
@benlowy
Ben Lowy
American photojournalist, Ben Lowy, started his career covering the Iraq war. His work has been featured on the cover of Time Magazine and he was the recipient of the ICP Infinity Award for Photojournalism.
Follow Ben >
@dguttenfelder
David Guttenfelder
Photographer and 2020 National Geographic Explorer, David Guttenfelder is most well-known for his photos of North Korea.
Follow David >
@astrodub
Angeliki Jackson
Graphic designer and photographer Angeliki Jackson was named one of the top 10 artists and photographers to follow on Instagram:
Follow Angeliki >
@dvl
Dustin Vaughn-Luma
California based photographer, Dustin Vaughn-Luma, attempts to document life as it exists, chaotic and unabashed.
Follow Dustin >
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