This a new beginning! During the summer, I was increasingly feeling that my creativity was waning; my Blog and Instagram processes were efficient but increasingly uninspiring: I needed some kind of “re-boot”. Photography was still my passion; however I needed to get to the next level of challenge, focus and process. Five things coelesced over three months to enable me to know that I now see myself as a “landscape photographer, looking for the deeper meaning”.
A video by Alister Benn of ”Expressive Photography” , with a giveaway three-part e-book, shared an approach comprising “5 triggers of creativity“ which I immediately related to. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatchv%3D0UwzPyeLfq4
Luminosity, Contrast, Colour, Geometry and Atmosphere became the lens through which I considered all past images I’d taken and I knew would become my checklist for taking compositions out in the field. In order to own the process, I added Connection as a sixth quality I desired to engender into each image, both to remind me to “feel” each shot as I take it, and also try to portray something of that feeling to the viewer.
I’d used my monthly Blog and posting 5 images a week on Instagram as positive incentive to get me out in the field and continually practice my composition and technical skills. However, I realised that my Instagram commitment was becoming too onerous: also, during recent months it was sometimes challenging to think of a Blog subject/project that might interest others. It had all become rather mechanical: I needed to rejuvenate my creativity! I resolved to only post on Instagram twice a week and ensure that they were quality images in my new style: https://www.instagram.com/mikepalmercreativity/.
When I first launched my website, I subconsciously felt the need to legitimise my presence and perceived skill level by including shots from various genres, taken since 2010. Hence, I included 2 portfolios with 16 subsections containing 172 images. Having established a following of 150 people on both my website and Instagram, I felt that these platforms no longer reflected how I now wanted to present to the world. I therefore spent two months completely refashioning my website to meet my new philosophy: this now contains one portfolio with 3 sections and 42 images: https://www.mikepalmercreativity.co.uk/landscapes, as well as 6 new selected images with audio commentary: https://www.mikepalmercreativity.co.uk/selected-images .
In July, I attended the first weekend of the third year of a personal development programme that I’d attended during 2013-2015. This also stimulated deeper insights about myself, my place in the universe, and how I might now start to make more conscious connections between this and my photography. Hence “looking for a deeper meaning” in my philosophy, both for me when out in the field, and potentially for the viewer of any image.
I saw each of these activities as a major step forward, and while working it all through decided that I’d step back from going out in the field, take a sabbatical to allow the creative juices to rest, and hopefully re-emerge with a renewed enthusiasm and focused approach. It worked! I’m now raring to go to realise my renewed focus within my transformed approach...
The main images for the website and this Blog and the following three shots are my first attempts at using this new approach and I’m hoping you may see a development in my style: using light more consciously; ensuring contrast and colour in the image complements this; looking for balance/geometry in the composition; aiming to recreate the atmosphere that I experienced when taking the shot; and finally, providing an image that has a deeper meaning for me, and might also for you…
I invite you to let me know in the comments below whether or not you think these early attempts fulfill my objectives…
