Really enjoyed reading this week's text. To be honest i do struggle creatively with photogrpah. There's also a matter of constant comparison with other photographers who so to speak "made it", and on top of that there's this tiny tiny voice in my head, saying that whatever photograph I will ever take is going to be average at best. Still, regardless of those things, I've been doing it, for now 14 years! Despite all my struggles, I still find joy in photographing and I have this need to know more, to discover more. What's the most important is that even my very judgemental self, can see the progress, growth and the joy it brings. I guess my one belief is that, if it brings me joy, I will be doing it, regardless if I'm good at it or not... It is difficult, but somehow it kept me going through all those years and hopefully I'll be doing it with the same amount of joy till the very end.
A grounding belief I have about creativity is that it’s inherent to who I am and when I lean into my own versions of creative acts, I’m ME, if that makes sense. It’s where I feel the most alive. And then being able to share that, to potentially positively impact others, connects the dots between me and another person. It’s incredibly meaningful. Thanks for all you do, Wesley!
I think for me, the act of trying to be creative is more about living a fuller life. That sense seems to become evident in the fact that if I go looking for a picture it's harder to find than if I just slow down and stay open to everything around me. I feel thankful that I'm not in a position where I'm trying to support myself financially with photography. I don't in any way disregard others in that pursuit, but I personally don't feel like my photography is particularly good or notable. I truly enjoy the process of photographing and editing, and I'm aware of the privilege that I can photograph whatever I like and my livelihood isn't relying on what it is, how good it is or if anyone else likes it.
For me that process is a vehicle to presence, and I love getting lost in it. Time, and concerns for just about anything not present in those moments just drift off, and it's a beautiful thing. I'm also quite introverted, yet taking pictures of people is what interests me most. For me to do that well, I need to get out of my comfort zone, and I feel like it's a perfect example of the obstacle being the way. Thank you for this newsletter and continually sparking the thoughts we have about why, and how we do the things we choose to do.
Thanks for saying that, Scott! And yes I agree on so much of this: living a fuller life, and also the powerful feeling of not having to make money from your creativity, that can be a beautiful thing because it brings a certain stability that full-time photographers like myself would love. There is a lot of pressure on the work if it's your only source of income, like it is for me, and I think it's not healthy for everyone. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful it's my full time job, and the support from readers of Process does help me gain a bit more independence so I can create for an audience who gets something out of it, rather than only for clients in a transactional way. I hope to be able to build it out to full independence, but it's a journey.
The most fundamental reason I create is that it fills a need. I can't tell you why I need it, but I do.
The things I need to thrive in life are Creating, Connecting, Contributing, and some amount of Play for No Reason. I'm at my best when all the C's happen every single day, and the play happens now and then during a week. For Connecting, it's in-person or at least a voice connection.
None of these need to be time consuming to keep me healthy, but if any are missing it's an issue for me.
I've learned by trial and error, and paying attention to what matters to me. YMMV!
My #1 belief is that creativity is bravery and generosity. Sharing your work with the world can be such scary thing but it makes people’s lives better, even if it’s only on a small scale. I create work and I’m so appreciative of all the people in my life that also put themselves and their work out into the world.
I believe I need to create my photos because having a job in a STEM field can be too impersonal sometimes. Also, being a father to a toddler can make one forget what is like to be an independent human being. Therefore, sharing my creative work with others help me to connect with them and myself.
Creating is a mostly solitary activity for me, but it helps me connect with my physical environment and with other people in unexpected and satisfying ways.
A big one for me is that everything creative I consume feeds me own writing process. I learn something from every film I watch and book I read. Artists steal, but before they steal they are influenced. PS - I have never looked better!!
I think all of my making is about noticing and responding to what I notice. Maybe my response — and it could be a painting, or a written piece, or even a piece of music — is one I've never seen or heard before. Maybe it's also one that someone else has never seen or heard before and in that we share an experience of seeing something new. We are connected by that newness somehow and that makes me happy.
Beautiful distillation of how to infuse life with creative impulse…my thoughts are that the expression of creative energy needs no recognition…we create to better our own lives. Much of my creativity and vision are expressed through my cooking - the simplest of daily subsistence elevated to something more nurturing and life giving
One belief that keeps me going creatively is that creativity is a necessity. If I feed it, it will flourish and energise me. When I don't have the energy to nurture a habitual creative practice for a while, I find that creativity finds a way to seep into my life, to save me from a creative-less existence.
Something that keeps me going creatively is the fact that I feel that creativity is an outlet that helps me process the day to day. By creating I get to connect to my inner world and therefore get to know myself better.
Really enjoyed reading this week's text. To be honest i do struggle creatively with photogrpah. There's also a matter of constant comparison with other photographers who so to speak "made it", and on top of that there's this tiny tiny voice in my head, saying that whatever photograph I will ever take is going to be average at best. Still, regardless of those things, I've been doing it, for now 14 years! Despite all my struggles, I still find joy in photographing and I have this need to know more, to discover more. What's the most important is that even my very judgemental self, can see the progress, growth and the joy it brings. I guess my one belief is that, if it brings me joy, I will be doing it, regardless if I'm good at it or not... It is difficult, but somehow it kept me going through all those years and hopefully I'll be doing it with the same amount of joy till the very end.
14 years!!! Love the belief and how you described it, thank you for sharing!
A grounding belief I have about creativity is that it’s inherent to who I am and when I lean into my own versions of creative acts, I’m ME, if that makes sense. It’s where I feel the most alive. And then being able to share that, to potentially positively impact others, connects the dots between me and another person. It’s incredibly meaningful. Thanks for all you do, Wesley!
Love this thought, thanks for sharing Jackson, and for the kind words!
One belief that keeps me going creatively is that beauty can be found around us—in small things, in big things, and even in the midst of tough things.
yes yes and yes!
I think for me, the act of trying to be creative is more about living a fuller life. That sense seems to become evident in the fact that if I go looking for a picture it's harder to find than if I just slow down and stay open to everything around me. I feel thankful that I'm not in a position where I'm trying to support myself financially with photography. I don't in any way disregard others in that pursuit, but I personally don't feel like my photography is particularly good or notable. I truly enjoy the process of photographing and editing, and I'm aware of the privilege that I can photograph whatever I like and my livelihood isn't relying on what it is, how good it is or if anyone else likes it.
For me that process is a vehicle to presence, and I love getting lost in it. Time, and concerns for just about anything not present in those moments just drift off, and it's a beautiful thing. I'm also quite introverted, yet taking pictures of people is what interests me most. For me to do that well, I need to get out of my comfort zone, and I feel like it's a perfect example of the obstacle being the way. Thank you for this newsletter and continually sparking the thoughts we have about why, and how we do the things we choose to do.
Thanks for saying that, Scott! And yes I agree on so much of this: living a fuller life, and also the powerful feeling of not having to make money from your creativity, that can be a beautiful thing because it brings a certain stability that full-time photographers like myself would love. There is a lot of pressure on the work if it's your only source of income, like it is for me, and I think it's not healthy for everyone. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful it's my full time job, and the support from readers of Process does help me gain a bit more independence so I can create for an audience who gets something out of it, rather than only for clients in a transactional way. I hope to be able to build it out to full independence, but it's a journey.
I love Andrew Hager's addition to your 10.
The most fundamental reason I create is that it fills a need. I can't tell you why I need it, but I do.
The things I need to thrive in life are Creating, Connecting, Contributing, and some amount of Play for No Reason. I'm at my best when all the C's happen every single day, and the play happens now and then during a week. For Connecting, it's in-person or at least a voice connection.
None of these need to be time consuming to keep me healthy, but if any are missing it's an issue for me.
I've learned by trial and error, and paying attention to what matters to me. YMMV!
yes yes and yes, super on this same page Donn!
My #1 belief is that creativity is bravery and generosity. Sharing your work with the world can be such scary thing but it makes people’s lives better, even if it’s only on a small scale. I create work and I’m so appreciative of all the people in my life that also put themselves and their work out into the world.
Generosity yes yes!
I believe I need to create my photos because having a job in a STEM field can be too impersonal sometimes. Also, being a father to a toddler can make one forget what is like to be an independent human being. Therefore, sharing my creative work with others help me to connect with them and myself.
love both of those thoughts, thank you for sharing Marcus! That second one is big!
Creating is a mostly solitary activity for me, but it helps me connect with my physical environment and with other people in unexpected and satisfying ways.
same for me!
A big one for me is that everything creative I consume feeds me own writing process. I learn something from every film I watch and book I read. Artists steal, but before they steal they are influenced. PS - I have never looked better!!
This is so true! And I feel on top of that, what works best is inspiration from other mediums outside of my own
The belief that no one else sees exactly what I see or how…
facts!
I think all of my making is about noticing and responding to what I notice. Maybe my response — and it could be a painting, or a written piece, or even a piece of music — is one I've never seen or heard before. Maybe it's also one that someone else has never seen or heard before and in that we share an experience of seeing something new. We are connected by that newness somehow and that makes me happy.
love this, jeffrey!
A great read, Wesley. Number 6 really resonated with me. That’s why I like Substack so much. It’s not about the numbers, it’s about community.
:)
Beautiful distillation of how to infuse life with creative impulse…my thoughts are that the expression of creative energy needs no recognition…we create to better our own lives. Much of my creativity and vision are expressed through my cooking - the simplest of daily subsistence elevated to something more nurturing and life giving
Love this thought, thank you for sharing Ellen!
One belief that keeps me going creatively is that creativity is a necessity. If I feed it, it will flourish and energise me. When I don't have the energy to nurture a habitual creative practice for a while, I find that creativity finds a way to seep into my life, to save me from a creative-less existence.
yes yes yes Raquel! Necessity!
Something that keeps me going creatively is the fact that I feel that creativity is an outlet that helps me process the day to day. By creating I get to connect to my inner world and therefore get to know myself better.
Same for me!
One belief that keeps me going going creatively is this quote from writer Annie Dillard (in her book "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek"):
"The answer must be, I think, that beauty and grace are performed whether or not we will or sense them. The least we can do is try to be there.”
Try to be there. I apply this to my photography - street, cityscapes, landscapes. You just don't know what you may find waiting for you.
Thanks for your post, Wesley!
I have that book waiting for me on my shelf! Thanks for sharing and for the kind words Steve!