Comments on: The Burden http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/ Nature photography, art, environment Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:48:58 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Mark http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/comment-page-1/#comment-20672 Mark Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:19:52 +0000 http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/#comment-20672 The latest issue of Lenswork brings another aspect into this - professional photographer vs. enthusiast. Brooks Jensen puts forth an interesting question - how many photographers once turned full time pro grow creatively? The latest issue of Lenswork brings another aspect into this – professional photographer vs. enthusiast. Brooks Jensen puts forth an interesting question – how many photographers once turned full time pro grow creatively?

]]> By: Carl http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/comment-page-1/#comment-20476 Carl Fri, 22 Aug 2008 07:38:03 +0000 http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/#comment-20476 Hey Mark, I wish I had more time right now to delve into this a little more. I think creating is more valuable than 'creativity' - being a little more clever or tricky isn't overly important. We all find many things in life that we find rewarding, and it's not unreasonable to pursue those - creative pursuits are probably no different. A good read on this subject is the book 'The Novel", by James Michener - definitely check it out, particularly if you're familiar with his work. Cheers Carl Hey Mark,

I wish I had more time right now to delve into this a little more.

I think creating is more valuable than ‘creativity’ – being a little more clever or tricky isn’t overly important.

We all find many things in life that we find rewarding, and it’s not unreasonable to pursue those – creative pursuits are probably no different.

A good read on this subject is the book ‘The Novel”, by James Michener – definitely check it out, particularly if you’re familiar with his work.

Cheers

Carl

]]> By: PhotoNetCast #10 - It’s all about Books | PhotoNetCast http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/comment-page-1/#comment-20410 PhotoNetCast #10 - It’s all about Books | PhotoNetCast Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:43:09 +0000 http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/#comment-20410 [...] Jim: Capturing Creativity, via Graf Nature Photography [...] [...] Jim: Capturing Creativity, via Graf Nature Photography [...]

]]> By: Vikki Speil http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/comment-page-1/#comment-20399 Vikki Speil Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:17:49 +0000 http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/#comment-20399 I think it (happiness, peace, contentment etc . . .) is about finding a balance, especially when it comes to being creative. While it is important (i think) to think about your experiences, both good and bad and translate them into creative imagery or literature, it is also important not to over-do it. If you spend all day thinking "how do I feel, what do I think, what do others think of Me" and so on - I think there is a danger in becoming too self-absorbed and consequently becoming rather miserable. I think it is important (in a Proustian fashion) to also translate the present world, the smaller things in life, our surroundings. . . I am not saying do not be creative - I think that as an artist (painter sculpture, writer, poet) you need to exert your creative ideas in order to survive, but that to maintain some degree of sanity, some of these creations need not soley be about deep philosophical musings of ones own expereinces . . . I think it (happiness, peace, contentment etc . . .) is about finding a balance, especially when it comes to being creative. While it is important (i think) to think about your experiences, both good and bad and translate them into creative imagery or literature, it is also important not to over-do it.

If you spend all day thinking “how do I feel, what do I think, what do others think of Me” and so on – I think there is a danger in becoming too self-absorbed and consequently becoming rather miserable. I think it is important (in a Proustian fashion) to also translate the present world, the smaller things in life, our surroundings. . .

I am not saying do not be creative – I think that as an artist (painter sculpture, writer, poet) you need to exert your creative ideas in order to survive, but that to maintain some degree of sanity, some of these creations need not soley be about deep philosophical musings of ones own expereinces . . .

]]> By: Jim Goldstein http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/comment-page-1/#comment-20367 Jim Goldstein Mon, 18 Aug 2008 04:54:26 +0000 http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/#comment-20367 The Capturing Creativity article was a great read! Thanks for pointing me to it. I will definitely be rereading it in the future. Funny I think the concept of "creative burden" is as much a philosophical concept as a half full/empty glass. I've yet to think of my past experience as a creative burden as much as I look at it as a step toward something new. The Capturing Creativity article was a great read! Thanks for pointing me to it. I will definitely be rereading it in the future. Funny I think the concept of “creative burden” is as much a philosophical concept as a half full/empty glass. I’ve yet to think of my past experience as a creative burden as much as I look at it as a step toward something new.

]]> By: Diane - Daily Walks http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/comment-page-1/#comment-20364 Diane - Daily Walks Mon, 18 Aug 2008 01:24:15 +0000 http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/#comment-20364 Very good article, Mark, and interesting responses as well. All of life is a series of experiences, the last one ultimately effecting the next. Can we become stifled by our experiences and the pattern that begins to develop from these? Definitely! The ultimate challenge is to keep pushing beyond the our personal boundaries both in life and in art. Not always easy to do but I think, as creative individuals, we are almost forced to. Otherwise, we get depressed :-) I like your image and the thought accompanying it! Very good article, Mark, and interesting responses as well.

All of life is a series of experiences, the last one ultimately effecting the next. Can we become stifled by our experiences and the pattern that begins to develop from these? Definitely! The ultimate challenge is to keep pushing beyond the our personal boundaries both in life and in art. Not always easy to do but I think, as creative individuals, we are almost forced to. Otherwise, we get depressed :-)

I like your image and the thought accompanying it!

]]> By: Michael Brown http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/comment-page-1/#comment-20344 Michael Brown Sun, 17 Aug 2008 02:55:04 +0000 http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/#comment-20344 Would I still develop blocks to trying new things if I worked in my own little cave? Now that's a interesting thought! Well you know, ..... I have just written about 3 sentences giving a few thoughts on this a bit more in depth, only to wind up going back and changing each sentence. So, ... I deleted it, since there is a lot of food for thought on this one. Interesting! Would I still develop blocks to trying new things if I worked in my own little cave?
Now that’s a interesting thought!

Well you know, ….. I have just written about 3 sentences giving a few thoughts on this a bit more in depth, only to wind up going back and changing each sentence. So, … I deleted it, since there is a lot of food for thought on this one.

Interesting!

]]> By: Mark http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/comment-page-1/#comment-20343 Mark Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:52:43 +0000 http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/#comment-20343 Thanks for the contributions to this. Michael it is that and more... Sometimes I wonder even if you worked in your own little cave, would you develop blocks to trying new things? Thanks for the contributions to this. Michael it is that and more… Sometimes I wonder even if you worked in your own little cave, would you develop blocks to trying new things?

]]> By: Michael Brown http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/comment-page-1/#comment-20340 Michael Brown Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:29:33 +0000 http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/#comment-20340 Nicely written Mark! Not fully awake here this morning after staying up very late to get some work done, and probably needing to read this again, ... I take it that you are somewhat talking about the outside influence from other photographers possibly hindering one's creativity? If so, eliminating that outside influence which can become a burden to one's creativity is one of the best steps anyone could ever take in order to turn that creativity up a notch. I better drink some more coffee here before writing any more! : ) Nicely written Mark!
Not fully awake here this morning after staying up very late to get some work done, and probably needing to read this again, … I take it that you are somewhat talking about the outside influence from other photographers possibly hindering one’s creativity?
If so, eliminating that outside influence which can become a burden to one’s creativity is one of the best steps anyone could ever take in order to turn that creativity up a notch.

I better drink some more coffee here before writing any more! : )

]]> By: Paul Grecian http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/comment-page-1/#comment-20328 Paul Grecian Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:32:40 +0000 http://grafphoto.com/wordpress/2008/08/13/the-burden/#comment-20328 Mark, Having been a dad for 11 years now, I became very conscious of my daughter's creativity and her total freedom to do what she wanted. I've tried to adopt that freedom when I work so that I can just let-go and not think about an end use. Growth though is not something that can be totally controlled, we change and learn as we age. But then what choice is there? My work reflects who I am now and who I have been. I don't necessarily feel that makes my newer work better or not as good as my earlier work, just different. Mark,

Having been a dad for 11 years now, I became very conscious of my daughter’s creativity and her total freedom to do what she wanted. I’ve tried to adopt that freedom when I work so that I can just let-go and not think about an end use. Growth though is not something that can be totally controlled, we change and learn as we age. But then what choice is there? My work reflects who I am now and who I have been. I don’t necessarily feel that makes my newer work better or not as good as my earlier work, just different.

]]>