The Photographer’s Gym
by
Adrian Barnett
“The creative adult is the child who survived.” ~ Ursula Le Guin
Our imagination can sometimes die as we get older. We cease to be curious and become more accepting of things. In the above quote, I love the idea of the child surviving because curiosity is the foundation of creativity and, while it might seem abstract, there are practical strategies you can employ to enhance your own creative abilities. However, before you think you don’t have time, it is a simple yet fascinating endeavour that only takes a few minutes a day and is achievable by everyone.
A good first step is to embrace learning. Take time out to read a good book and think how you might recreate and photograph certain scenes. You don’t actually have to go about physically creating something elaborate – just think about how you would go about planning a scene… what lights would you use if expense was not an option? What lenses would give you the dimension you wanted? Let your imagination run!
Charlie Chaplin once said, “You’ll never find a rainbow if you’re looking down.” We created the scene in the image above utilizing a vintage cinema and used some of my late father’s old camera equipment and original 35mm film reels. Inspiration can come from anywhere. You just need to train yourself to look.
Cultivate Curiosity – What would be your approach to photographing Excitement, Sadness, Fear, or Laughter? How would you go about creating these emotions in your images? You might want to inject more warm romance into your wedding photography or photograph babies or animals in different ways to reflect their personalities. You don’t want to be churning out “mugshots” and calling them “headshots.” Think about professional business portraits that engage in a creative way. How can you be more creative in what you offer for your clients?
Diversify Your Interests – Engage in a variety of activities, hobbies, and subjects. If you are not a reader, watch a film to look at it with new eyes and think how it has been shot to create moods and to move a story. Observe the lighting and composition with critical eyes and think about the choice of lenses that the cinematographer may have used. Then, put that into practice with your own lenses.
This is why Bergit and I like using primes almost exclusively in our work. Each one has a different character. If you only have zooms, lock them off at one focal length and photograph a static subject at a variety of different apertures and see what impact it has on the finished image. What you will learn about your lenses will become second nature when it comes to being more creative in your photography. The best chefs use different knives for different jobs, so why shouldn’t we use different lenses?
Challenge assumptions and inquire about the world around you – Curiosity thrives on questions, so start being the child again. Look at films or photographs by iconic photographers that you admire and ask what pleases you about an image. Try and identify the elements that make an image special, and then put that into practice. Don’t copy that content; use the knowledge to enhance the next thing you photograph. It’s like music where a particular chord change gives you an emotional rush. A good musician will ask why certain chord combinations work so well;
it’s the same with photography and the paintings by the Great Masters. Let your curiosity run wild. Ask why certain things work especially well and whether or not you can utilise them in your own work.
I was working on a panel of images for a project and sent them to be viewed by a well-known and respected photographer in Texas. He told me one of my images reminded him of a Caravaggio. I was so chuffed! It seemed like my work in studying some of the Great Masters and their use of lighting and colors had paid off.
If you can do those few simple steps, it’s a great start. You have already begun to exercise your brain and train it into thinking critically instead of simply snapping away. Slow down. Use a prime lens. Use a tripod. Think before you shoot! You will really will benefit from this approach, we promise you!
Create a Stimulating Environment – Start by surrounding yourself with inspiration, surrounding yourself with things that inspire you… artwork, books, or nature. Try to minimize distractions and to create a space conducive to focus and deep thought. Sometimes a simple change of scenery can invigorate creativity. Try working in different environments, such as coffee shops, parks, or libraries. We deliberately schedule several “away days” in our calendar at regular intervals and take ourselves somewhere away from phones and social media. Interestingly enough, some of our best ideas have actually originated in pubs!
Foster a Growth Mindset – Everything you do and experience can add to your growth. Understand that failure is an integral part of the creative process, so embrace failure. Learn from your mistakes and see them as opportunities for growth. Again, ask questions… What went wrong, and why? What can be done to improve things the next time?
Practice Resilience – Develop resilience in the face of challenges. Keep pushing forward even when things get tough. “Stuff” happens, even to the best and the most experienced of us. You can’t avoid it, but you can control how you react to it! It involves a simple change of mindset that can work wonders. I call it “Taking my chill pill.”
Celebrate Progress – Acknowledge and celebrate small victories along the way. Progress, no matter how small, fuels motivation and creativity. Don’t go overboard, but don’t beat yourself up about how things could have gone better. Every little victory is still a victory.
Brainstorming – Set aside time for brainstorming sessions to generate ideas without judgment. Just ask yourself “What if?” and then go out and try it! The COVID lockdown meant that we had more time to explore ideas. Fortunately, our studio is in the grounds where we live, so we got ourselves coffee and went into the studio to try out all sorts of different lighting ideas and setups where we could fail in private and without having to work to a deadline. We simply tried things out to see what worked, and when things went really well we made notes and learned how we could use our knowledge in real-life shoots in the future.
Mind Mapping – Use mind maps to visually organize your thoughts and explore connections between ideas. I always carry a notebook with me where I write down ideas, lyrics, slogans, and generally link random things. It was this technique we used to come up with this image for a charity. They formed a choir from people with no singing experience to perform on stage to raise money for mental health support. The lyrics from a famous REM song became the driving inspiration behind the finished image. Because Bergit and I had experimented with our different lights, we quickly worked out a way to create the image as it appeared in my sketch pad. Although it doesn’t look like it, the image was shot outdoors in daylight. Our experiments and learning experiences had paid off.
Seek Inspiration from Others – Collaborate with others to gain new perspectives and insights. Listening to other people rather than just talking about what great ideas you have is always useful. Sometimes a throwaway idea from someone else can spark something great within you. Don’t forget to give them credit and involve them!
Consume Diverse Content – Read books, watch films, listen to music, and explore art from different cultures and genres. Watch world cinema, for example. Watch a film or read a book you otherwise would never consider. Bergit and myself have a whole host of films we want to watch for knowledge, inspiration, and to enhance our lives. Every now and then we come across a real gem that makes us look at life in a different way, and we are enhanced by this experience.
(Rodgers & Hammerstein)
Connect with Creative Communities – Join online forums, attend workshops, or participate in local meet-ups to connect with other creatives. This is what we did with this wartime shoot. I was inspired by the BBC TV Drama “SS-GB” and its unique style and lighting. We gathered models with vintage outfits, along with make-up artists and hair stylists who all added their own contributions to the final result. I’ve lost count of the number of times this shoot has been featured in places around the world.
START TODAY! Start small with manageable tasks and give yourself an achievable goal to shoot something you wouldn’t normally shoot. It will give you fresh enthusiasm if you are feeling jaded – and will benefit you in the long run. Then, set deadlines to give you an incentive, but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t quite make your deadlines. Go easy on yourself, and enjoy it!
By following these steps and incorporating them into your daily routine, you can cultivate creativity and unleash your full creative potential. Remember, creativity is not something you find. It’s something you create through intentional practice and exploration.
Also keep in mind that the key to stretching your capabilities is to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them. Challenge yourself regularly with new techniques and subjects to keep growing as a photographer.
Although a great photograph excels in technical proficiency and aesthetic appeal, a creative photograph pushes the boundaries of traditional photography through innovation and originality. Being creative is vitally important because it enriches the photographic process, fosters personal growth, delivers immeasurable satisfaction, and enhances the ability to connect with and inspire others.
Adrian I Barnett is the son of Film Producer & Director G Ivan Barnett. His experiences with his father have influenced his styles and approaches to photography. He holds a Licentiateship with the Society of Photographers, UK and writes short fiction stories as well as business articles on photography, branding, and advertising.
