Get Creative

A small edit of pictures to along with creating a book

To be creative, you must have fun

The creative process has to be fun. If rational thought was given to everything then nothing new would ever be. The mess you see above is the culmination of 2 years of taking pictures near where we now live. This project was born to get me back out and shooting. Only trouble is, I made it somewhat serious. That was a mistake. It was never going to be a project that would, perhaps one day be made in to a zine and sold to whoever I sold the idea to. It simply was to just get me out shooting. But I foolishly thought people might want to see it. Truth is they won’t. Its terrible work.

I stopped shooting for it. Then let it sit for the best part of 9 months. Fast Forward to now. Well yesterday actually but you know what I mean. I decided to have fun with it. I decided to make mistakes with it. I decided I need to actually make something. Be creative.

Now my creative mind is, lets say sub par when it comes to making a book of all things. But I did it anyway. I printed off a whole lot of the “work”, made a very primitive 5x5 square book using the finest of materials. 80gsm printer paper. I know right! Really taking it to a new level of crap. But its mine to have fun with, that is was I had to hand so I did it. After all its a 1 of 1 so anything goes.

Then I just went with the flow, spread the prints out and began to poorly sequence them. Bare in mind there is no story to this so I just went for it in the most logical way I could. By the way did I mention what I printed the images on? 80GSM printer paper! Yep! the most finest of papers! But I don’t care, this is just me having fun with it.

The book layout begins, changes every page and then stuck down. Securing its fate in the book.

I don’t know why I never done this sooner! I’ve had books printed before, and while that process is fun and educational. Actually making something was so much more. When you make a mistake you feel it. And I’ve left them all in there. Mistakes are where we learn. The idea of being creative is to have fun, create something then refine it next time.

I should have typed the copy and glued it in, but I kind of liked the idea of actually writing in it. Ink to paper. If my handwriting was better it may not look so bad. After some thought I went with it. Its unique and more personal.

Last picture in the book - One Click From Home

“Don’t wait for inspiration, it comes while working.” - henri matisse

Don’t wait for an idea to come to you. Just make something and the inspiration will happen as whatever you are making evolves. Have fun with it. Pick up a pencil and draw. Pick up that brush and paint. Pick up the pen and write something.

Do you remember as a child, or even now as an adult. Looking at clouds and your imagination see’s something in it? Let that part of your soul escape and run wild and be creative.

I’ll leave this long post with a final image of a cloud I saw this evening. Let me know in the comments what you see.

I see a ducks head .

The Farm Shop

I’m sure most of you have seen Clarksons Farm.

Yes it is entertainment and full of laughs. However what that show has done is pretty incredible. It highlighted how difficult farming is in the UK. And despite some opinions, Clarkson and everyone working there, care.

And I can only imagine it is the same for every farmer, farm worker. They care.

But the government have made it incredibly difficult for them.

So what is the point of this blog. What’s a Farm shop got yo do with photography? Nothing. Nothing at all.

Just an observation.

The curious mind

“i wonder who has walked here before me”

This is something I frequently ask myself. When I’m in a town or city, but especially when in a woodland space. An open field. By a wild river bank.

If you have ever wondered this, then me and you would get on just fine. Even more questions bounce around my head when like the picture above, I’m in an area with archaeological evidence, that shows people have been there for thousands of years. In the case of the picture above, it has approx 5000-6000 years of history dating back to the bronze age. Every possibility that it could go beyond that too.

As I stood looking down this valley, which is a great defensive position, I wondered, how many battles took place here between conflicting tribes? Did the Romans face much adversary when they first laid eyes upon the ancient hill fort that exists? Did the occupiers see the far superior force and run? Or did they stand strong and defend what was theirs?

Am I the only one to wonder these things?

The English Author Samuel Johnson described curiosity beautifully.

“the thirst of the soul”

I really like that.

Be curious in life. Ask questions, even if only to yourself. There is always room for learning. There is always room for growing. There is no limit to how broad our knowledge can be or should be.