Photographer Clay

Category: motivation

  • Finding your motivation

    Finding your motivation

    This has been a challenge I have faced over the past couple of years. Recently, completed reading the book “Inner Excellence” by Jim Murphy, which stands out as one of the motivational and inspirational books I have ever encountered. One of the recommendations in book was to maintain a daily journal, documenting the events of the day, highlighting went well, identifying areas that went poorly or need improvement, and goals for the following day. So far I am just about a week into maintaining a handwritten journal, and it already had a significant positive impact. I feel more motivated to write and pursue my photography, even if it is simply an image with my cellphone like the photograph above.

    In doing this, I have found that I overly complicate things rather than simplifying the tasks at hand, which often leads to unnecessary stress and confusion. Instead of breaking down each task into manageable steps, I get caught up in the details and lose sight of the bigger picture. Along with this, I often allow the inner critic and past failures to rule my thoughts, creating a cycle of self-doubt and hesitation that prevents me from moving forward. This tendency to overthink not only hinders my productivity but also stifles my creativity, leaving me feeling overwhelmed and unfulfilled as I grapple with the expectations I place on myself. It’s a journey of learning to challenge these negative patterns and finding more constructive ways to approach my responsibilities.

    I hereby challenge you to try the same things if you are feeling uninspired or unmotivated. It very well could change your world, mindset, and creativity. Engaging in new experiences can open doors to fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that ignite your passion. Embrace the small steps of change, whether it’s a new hobby, exploring different art forms, or simply changing your daily routine. Each effort, no matter how insignificant it may seem, can lead to profound transformations, rejuvenating your spirit and encouraging your creative juices to flow. Remember, inspiration often hides in unexpected places, waiting for you to seek it out.

  • Sometimes the sun shines through a storm

    Sometimes the sun shines through a storm

    For the past month or so, my desktop computer has been experiencing a frustrating memory management issue, which has resulted in the machine unexpectedly rebooting at the most inconvenient times. It has been particularly exasperating, especially when I was immersed in gaming sessions or processing photographs, where any interruption could ruin my focus and waste valuable time. A couple of days ago, feeling a wave of hope despite my frustrations, I decided to perform a diagnostic test to pinpoint the source of these disruptions, and I learned that there was indeed a serious problem with the computer memory. Unlike my typical luck with tech mishaps, fortune smiled upon me, as I discovered a fantastic sale on memory modules just when I needed it the most. Seizing the opportunity, I was able to double the memory from 32 Gb to an impressive 64 Gb for less than $100. Since upgrading, I have put my system through its paces with early tests using Photoshop and similar resource-intensive programs, and I have noticed a significant improvement in speed and responsiveness. The once annoying crashes have become a thing of the past, allowing me to work efficiently and enjoy my gaming without interruption, truly transforming my computing experience.

    Sometimes in the middle of a storm a ray of light comes through showing you the path to move towards.

  • Motivating yourself as an artist

    Motivating yourself as an artist

    I seemingly lost my motivation a couple of years ago when we were in the process of moving and beginning to travel. For the past year, I have been looking for a way to get my motivation back. I’ve been trying too hard. It is like looking for happiness. You can’t find it, happiness finds you. It is like the old country music song, “Looking for love in all the wrong places“

    What I have found is that the motivation and inspiration is there I’m just wanting it to be extraordinary whereas what I really need is to find the ordinary and make it extraordinary. Art, inspiration, and motivation are all around us. To coin another old adage, I couldn’t find the forest because of the trees.

    I’m not saying I’m back to where I was, that will never happen because I’m not that same person. As time moves forward we must move with it. We can’t stay in one place forever, that is why we have the ability to move. Unlike a tree or plant that is stuck in one spot we have the ability to move forward.

  • It isn’t always about you.

    It isn’t always about you.

    I have pondered this post for a couple of weeks now. In fact, I started to write it and gave it a title, then I stopped because it was going to be too much of a rant on new or beginning photographers and selling their services to customers. I ran through several wording styles in my head and then finally deleted the entire post this morning.

    The reason I wanted to start over was that I have been reading a book, Inner Excellence by Jim Murphy, and yesterday I came upon two quotes that resonated with me. The first was, “if all you see is chickens and chicken scratch, it doesn’t matter if you are an eagle; flying won’t be part of your world.” The second was, “expect nothing, prepare for anything.”

    These were very powerful messages for me, igniting a self-reflective journey. Instead of concerning myself with what others were doing or how they were marketing their photography services, I needed to focus on mastering my own mind. By doing so, I would subsequently empower myself to master my unique vision and skills in producing the art I truly want to create. My obsession with the perceived failures of others was clouding my judgment and inhibiting my own self-mastery.

    Rather than rant about this publicly, I realized there’s tremendous value in working to demonstrate the message I was attempting to relay to others. The true path to inspire and be of service to others lies in action rather than mere words or criticisms. By focusing on my inner growth and honing my skills, I could transform the frustrations I feel into motivation and clarity. In doing so, I pave the way to uplift others in their journeys, reminding them that personal excellence often stems from a place of introspection and self-awareness.

    This renewed perspective has encouraged me to cultivate a mindset where I expect nothing but prepare for anything. Embracing this principle allows me to navigate challenges without getting bogged down by the comparative metrics that often stifle creativity and joy in the craft. Each photographer’s journey is unique, and by staying true to my own path, I can create visuals that reflect my personal story, thus leaving space for authentic connections with others who appreciate my work. Through this reflection, I turn the quest for excellence into both a personal and collective endeavor, fostering a community where creativity thrives.

  • Photographic vision

    Photographic vision

    One of the things that I have discovered about photography is that you must learn to see the world around you. On many occasions I have been hiking through the woods or along a trail and had other people ask, “getting anything good”? What most of them have missed are the wildflowers, small insects, the colorful leaf, or the way the sunlight highlights a scene. So much of it is being able to see the world with a different perspective and to pay attention to the details of our world.

    It matters not your genre of photography. What matters is the ability to see and capture the unique world around you.

  • All creativity isn’t art

    All creativity isn’t art

    One of the biggest misconceptions about creativity is the swapping and substituting of terms to encompass all art or all creativity. At its root, creativity is creating. It’s making something, anything! While you can say that all art is creative, all creativity doesn’t have to be art.

    This is something that I have often wondered about, and I have been guilty of falling into that misconception. There are times when I feel creative but definitely not creating art.

    While all creativity may not be art, being creative inspires me. It inspires me to want to become more creative and work towards creating something artistic.

    I just today realized that by ignoring my blog as I have for the past year and a half, I have become less and less creative. Writing this blog has, in the past, inspired me to create art. What reminded me of this was today was time to renew my blog site and domain name. How I was reminded was that my Venmo account didn’t have sufficient funds to renew (I keep only enough funds in my Venmo to pay for many of my online accounts as a way of lowering my chances of being hacked and scammers stealing funds). With all that being said, I hope to become more active in writing my thoughts and I certainly hope that you join me by reading and then sharing your thoughts on what I have written with the intend to keep us all creative.

  • Make a photograph rather than take a photograph

    Make a photograph rather than take a photograph

    Many of you may be familiar with the Ansel Adams quote; “You don’t take a photograph you make it”. I would argue that many people take photographs rather than make them. I’ve heard many people discuss a picture as “straight out of the camera” and hold it up as a badge of honor. To be brutally honest the majority of the time the picture sucks. I’m certain that many people will be offended by that statement or tell me I’m rude for making such a statement. I’m not by any stretch of the imagination an expert or produce the greatest photographs consistently however I understand that and strive to learn and improve. In fact, I recently faced a reality of my own: I have become lazy and begun to accept mediocrity in my photography.

    I’ve had the opportunity to visit some stunning places over the past year, but I’ve realized that I often rushed through taking photographs and found myself wandering aimlessly. I would see a beautiful scene, point my camera, and press the button without much thought. However, when I reviewed the photographs, I was frequently disappointed. I have only myself to blame as I have most of the tools needed to do better.

    Lately, I’ve been training with a highly skilled photographer and educator, whose expertise surpasses mine by leaps and bounds. I’ve dedicated significant time to mastering various techniques aimed at enriching the viewer’s experience when admiring my photographs. We don’t improve by continuing to do the same thing over and again unless we are willing to open our minds to change and new ideas.

    Challenge yourself and begin to expand your knowledge and skills. Experiment and test out new techniques. Become the artist you want to be by challenging yourself to grow and learn. If you don’t you will be left behind.

  • Photography is about vision. It’s an inspiration to see the world through your own unique perspective.

    Photography is about vision. It’s an inspiration to see the world through your own unique perspective.

    I’ve touched on this before, but it bears repeating: photography, to me, is about vision and the inspiration to view the world from my unique perspective. I think other photographers share this sentiment. It’s simple to see the world as it objectively exists—as the camera lens captures it—but is that the way our minds truly interpret a scene or subject?

    Our smartphones, with their cameras, enable us to apply filters or effects to highlight and communicate with the viewer, even if we are that viewer. I urge photographers, regardless of your level of engagement, to present the world as you envision it in your mind, not just as the camera records it.

  • Art or Not? Exploring the Boundaries of Creativity

    Art or Not? Exploring the Boundaries of Creativity

    I have set a goal to talk and think more about creating art using my photography. I understand that many photographers spend more time discussing technique and equipment than contemplating art. It’s easier to discuss equipment and technique, while art is much less clearly defined.

    As I mentioned yesterday, I often aim to infuse my photography with more artistic expression, but I frequently fall short of my intended mark. While I may grasp the message I sought to convey through a photograph, if the audience does not resonate with it, then it falls short of its intended impact. I hesitate to label it as a failure, as I believe that in art, there are no true failures but rather lessons for future works of art.

    While working with a model to create film noir looks, we were walking down an alleyway when I noticed the “star” (which I believe was the planet Venus) in the sky. This made me think about the metaphorical dark alleys we sometimes have to navigate in life, with potential dangers lurking in the shadows, to reach our goals. It may not resonate with everyone, but it left a strong impression on me at the time. What do you think about this perspective?

  • Challenges and Passion in Crafting Artful Photography

    Challenges and Passion in Crafting Artful Photography

    In the early days of photography, a photograph was scoffed at by the art world and denied the status of art. It’s hard to believe, but it wasn’t until around 1940, a whole century later, that the art world finally came to acknowledge photography’s undeniable artistry and beauty. A century of resistance couldn’t diminish the profound impact that photography would have on the art world. Not every photograph deserves to be called art, regardless of popular belief. Crafting art requires more than just capturing an image with a click.

    I often encounter challenges as I strive to create art with my photographs. Despite the frustrations that may arise, my love for photography drives me to persist. Embracing these obstacles is an integral part of my journey, and I am determined to overcome them with passion and dedication. I often face various challenges and obstacles that sometimes hinder my creative process. However, I strive to overcome these hurdles and continue creating regularly. In the past, there were very few weeks where I didn’t acquire new images to work on and create from.

    If you, like me, are facing challenges and obstacles that hold you back, remember that you are not alone. Let’s continue to inspire each other to create more art through our photography.