Perfect! So we know we can be creative, it won’t come completely naturally, and works best with multiple outlets. I want to start being more creative but that doesn’t really tell me where to begin. Help?! I think the best way to tackle it is in three parts, so we will continue our examination by looking at how creativity is not something that just comes naturally.
The greatest creative masters of our time didn’t just wake up one morning and start making masterpieces. Sure each one of them had a special gift and talent in their own creative arena, but at the beginning this talent was latent at best. It required endless hours of honing their craft.
Honing their craft meant they put in endless hours of practice to hone their technique. As Ray Bradbury said, “I know you've heard it a thousand times before. But it's true -- hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice. If you don't love something, then don't do it.” This is why yesterday’s post about what Feeds Our Creativity is so important. Practicing can be an extremely monotonous exercise, and if you don’t have a deep passion for what you are doing, then you will not be successful in putting in the hours.
As most of you know I have developed a passion for photography over this past year. Unfortunately, with my weakened immune system and the very cold weather we have been having, I haven’t gotten to practice my craft as much as I would like since getting out of the hospital. I decided this year that I was going to really work at taking my photography to the next level. So this meant I need to “practice, practice, practice”.
Practice, Practice, Practice is a bit of a misleading phrase though because it is missing a huge component; learning. If we aren’t continually honing our knowledge base we will have nothing to practice. So this weather has actually been good for me, providing me the perfect time to focus on learning. With my new found commitment to learning the craft I am doing something I have never ever done before, reading the manual. If you want to find out if you have a true passion for photography, the perfect litmus test is go out and get one of Thom Hogan’s manuals for your camera. If you can get through the 800 pages, you know you have a passion for photography, because it is tough trust me J I just finished it last night and am so excited to start learning and refining techniques.
Jim Brandano of JP Brandano Photography wrote a wonderful post that has become a mantra of mine when it comes to photography. In his post, A. B. S.....ALWAYS BE SHOOTING, ALWAYS BE SHOOTING he uses a play on Alec Baldwin’s famous speech from the movie Glengarry Glen Ross, Always Be Closing. A quick Coles’ notes version of his post is if you want to become a better photographer you have to use your camera. You need to Always Be Shooting. I really recommend you go check out his post, he is a wonderful writer and his pictures are magnificent. His blog is one of the first ones I read each and every day.
This goes way beyond just photography though, whatever passionate creative endeavour you have you need to practice to take it to the next level. If you seriously want to build on your creativity you should take up these two mantras:
-LPPR ->Learn, practice, practice, repeat
-AB_ -> Always be (insert your creative endeavour here)
Tomorrow we will continue our examination of the myths by looking at how our creativity is at its best when it has multiple outlets to be released through.
What are your mantras when it comes to your passionate endeavours?
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