THE POWER OF PHOTO - HOW TO FIND YOUR PHOTO VOICE
CHARLOTTE KIM BOED
THE POWER OF PHOTO - HOW TO FIND YOUR PHOTO VOICE Edition 1, 2021 Kim Plus Publishing Postbox 104 2100, Copenhagen O Denmark mail@kimpluspublishing.com www.kimpluspublishing.com All rights reserved Copyright © Kim Plus Publishing, 2021 ISBN 978-87-972179-2-4 No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO MASTER
“The Power of Photo” is a six-step photo method that will guide you through finding your personal photo voice, step-by-step. It is for photography lovers and invites anyone in the world to find their own personal photo voice, no matter if you use photography as a hobby or for business. “The Power of Photo” tools will inspire and help you generate creativity and new ideas. Additionally, there will be some warmup exercises that combine personal development with photography and creativity that can enhance your life quality. You are about to learn how to process your photo ideas systematically and more easily, without feeling frustrated or overwhelmed. “The Power of Photo” will give you more focused mind power that will boost your energy and give you inspiration and resources to share your photographic work with the world. You do not need to be an experienced photographer when all is said and done. It is about finding your personal approach to photography that gives value to the image and what you want to say with your
photography that matters. Regardless of whether you are a beginner, hobby photographer, occasional photographer, or a professional photographer. All that matters is that you want more from your everyday life. If you want creative freedom and personal development, then this is the book for you.
CREATIVITY FOREWORD
To be creative is not a special ability for a chosen few. Everybody can enter their own creative world, investigate what you want to express and what is burning to be expressed. We are strongly controlled by our sense of sight, influenced by what we see and, therefore, how we perceive the world. How do you perceive the world you live in? What is important for you to tell? Even though ten people point their camera in the same direction from the same distance to photograph the same tree, the ten photographs will each come out differently. What you express is unique because it comes through you. That uniqueness is why it is important to find your own creative visual language. Photography is a journey. It is quite fast to push the button, but the initial buildup time can be slow. Preparing, selecting ideas and waiting for the moment of Zen for the right light or a special movement. The photographic journey is also an inwards journey: Use this book as an opportunity to look inside yourself and make your photographic reflections visible to the world outside. May you enter an eventful travel into the world of photography and through that into yourself. Henriette Lykke, BA (Hons), Performing Arts, Photography, Certified Art Spirit Coach
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am about to take you on my 25-year photography journey, starting with nothing but a big dream of being a creative person. As a 20-year-old, I was living in Copenhagen, I had no technical skills or knowledge, no experience, and absolutely no idea what I was doing. I was just experimenting and having fun, but also, I was struggling through creative mistakes, trying to find my artistic voice. This journey was not easy with the ups and downs that followed. My Story I lived in Paris to find inspiration in late 1980s, where I met the Danish avantgarde fashion photographer Gunnar Larsen. He was shooting many models with white painted make up skin and with totally black eyes. His fashion magazine was called "Gunnar". I thought his work was so awesome and fantastic. It was at that time, I decided to become a photographer. When I returned home to Copenhagen, I wanted to pursue working as a photo apprentice. For some years I looked for a photo company where I could start as an apprentice. After some years working as a freelance photographer assistant in many different photo
companies, my persistence paid off. Finally I found a great place in Copenhagen, and I worked there happily for almost five years. After completing my apprenticeship, I started my own freelance company in Copenhagen in beginning of year 2000 working as a commercial art photographer. After 15 years of freelance work, and because I was interested in art too, I decided in 2007 to combine the study of art photo and art history at Copenhagen University where I wrote my dissertation about "Tendencies in Cross-cultural Photography - seen in Relation to East and West". My Mission My mission as a photographer is to inspire you to work creatively with your photography, and to find your personal photo voice. I am interested in "creativity", as it brings a lot of joy and pleasure in my life. I want to share my working experience and joy with you. I think that creative photography can enrich your life, as well as discovering that fun and enjoyment goes hand in hand with creativity. Perhaps you are actively creative at this moment, or perhaps you are not so active with creative things anymore, or maybe you have never thought yourself as creative. No matter where you are in the process, everybody is born creative, but as we get older we get less and less creative because practical things and adult responsibility are more in focus for us, as we grow older. I am asking you, dear reader: Does everything have to be so adult, so serious and practical for the rest of your life? Why do we forget how to have fun? Where is the inner child? Why not let go of ourselves and enjoy life more and celebrate the beauty of creativity. After many years working with photography and art history, I want to spread more knowledge and awareness of creativity and focus on how much joy it can create. Working with creativity can be your best friend in thick and thin throughout life.
Why Am I Doing This Photo Method? I think creativity stands for freedom to express yourself. It gives me joy to share my creativity with others. During the years I have developed my own approach to photo creativity. This book you are reading is all about: How you can approach and enhance your creativity and be more aware of the creative processes in your everyday life. When you have a blueprint system, a method that works, then it is much easier to become resourceful and feel more inspired and get motivated to challenge and boost yourself in a new way. I want to emphasize that I think creativity is deeply connected to finding your personal photo voice. While you are reading this book. I hope, if possible, you will be open, activate your creativity and empower yourself. In this way it will be easier for you to find your personal photo voice. I hope “The Power of Photo” will inspire you to enjoy yourself. Are you ready for the journey with me?
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1. GET INTO CREATIVITY MODE
1.1 Introduction to Chapters 1.2 What Is Creativity with Photo? 1.3 Why Be Creative with Photography? 1.4 Using Creativity 1.5 Why Creativity Matters CHAPTER 2. CLARITY, FOCUS, TARGET
2.1 How Creativity Works with Your Mind 2.2 Get in Touch with Yourself 2.3 Focus on Joy and Interests 2.4 Creative Frames, Habits, and Tools CHAPTER 3. CONNECT WITH YOUR MIND
3.1 Exercise 1: Your Creative Meditation Guide 3.2 Exercise 2: Your Self Coaching Guide CHAPTER 4. THINKING LENSES INTRODUCTION
4.1 Foreword 4.2 Pink Lens 4.3 Create Your Idea Project 4.4 Identifying Yourself 4.5 Exercise 1: Brainstorm 4.6 Blue Lens 4.7 Research Facts 4.8 Black Lens 4.9 Analyze Area 4.10 Yellow Lens 4.11 Thinking Break 4.12 Exercise 1: Meditate and Breathe 4.13 Green Lens 4.14 Decide on Your Idea 4.15 Sort Out Method 4.16 Exercise 1: Put Down Your Idea 4.17 Red Lens
1 1 2 3 5 5 7 7 8 9 12 14 14 17 21 21 26 26 27 29 31 31 35 35 38 38 41 43 43 44 46 48
4.18 Realize Your Idea 4.19 Exercise 1: Test Shoot Your Idea
48 50
CHAPTER 5. ACTIVATE YOUR IDEAS
53 53
5.1 Considerations CHAPTER 6. WHAT IS NEXT?
6.1 Afterwords 6.2 Other Resources from the Author
56 56 57
CHAPTER 1. GET INTO CREATIVITY MODE
1.1 Introduction to Chapters
Welcome to my creative photo world. I am very happy you have taken the time to make this creative journey with me. You must be interested in working with your personal growth as a photographer, since you are reading this book. My 6-step "Thinking Lenses" method is about practicing creativity and finding a home for your personal photo voice as a photographer. You can categorize it as a long-term commitment, combined with personal development. If you are open to changes, then your quality of life will grow. This book will give you: education, knowledge, pleasure, and fun. It will boost more inspiration and creativity into your life. Just click, love, and grow.
I will now give you a brief overview of the book content, so you can immediately decide what is the most relevant issues for you to focus on.
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In first chapter, I describe the way I understand creativity and what it can be used for. The second and third chapters are all about clarity and connecting, finding home to yourself. The fourth chapter is the center of the book and will take you through my 6-colored “Thinking Lenses”. I have made an illustration of the colored lenses so it will be easier for you to see what the ”Thinking Lenses” are about. The fifth chapter focuses on how to activate your ideas and get them out in real life. It covers ways of thinking and ways to take action. Finally, the sixth chapter focuses on, how to be aware and keep your creative momentum as a photographer. 1.2 What Is Creativity with Photo?
When you look for the word "creativity" in the dictionary it says: "The word creativity derives from the Latin word "creare" which means to create. It is a form of human activity, which has always existed since humanity saw the daylight".
Creativity is a very abstract concept, with a lot of different meanings in all sorts of contexts. I consider creativity as being our most significant and important intellectual asset in all our walks of life. The topic creativity is a huge area to cover so I have chosen only to focus on the photography aspects, combined with personal development, spirituality, idea concepts and art.
My approach to creative photography is within the experimental staged photography genre. I usually like to work with the images so they have an “edge”. What I mean by this is: Perhaps you have made a new expression with an image, and when you look at it, you are not sure if it is art, documentation, commercial or an illustration. It is something undefined, something indefinite that you cannot instantly categorize. 2
This is what I call, "to work with edges". You find different topics and combine them in new connections. This is what I think is the key for understanding creativity. It is all about making new connections. In fourth chapter "Thinking Lenses Method" I will share with you some tools and methods as to how you can generate new ideas and connections. Remember that technical skills can always be learned by everybody. I think, the more important thing is what you want to say with your photography. When you distinguish between “creativity” and “technical” concepts then you will get a new view on your personal approach to photography. 1.3 Why Be Creative with Photography?
I want to share with you some of my thoughts about being creative. I would like to emphasize there are my own personal thoughts, values, and opinions. It is not necessarily the "holy grail" of truth. I advise you to make your own conclusions and opinions. What is in it for me? Well, I have asked myself this question many years ago. I found some advantages and disadvantages. In general, I wish to communicate as simple and as clearly as possible. So I have had fun experimenting and made some sentence bullet points, shown in a graphically visual fun way, instead of the traditional written word, systematically written sentence by sentence linear. Here they are:
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Creative sentences.
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1.4 Using Creativity
Creativity with the camera opens up for a magical fantasy world where you can explore your ideas in many ways. They can come to expression in many layers. I think it is important to find out what is it you really want to tell with your pictures. What is on your mind? Do you want to share it with others?
Why not take some time to think about the meaning and purpose of your creative work? Perhaps you already have a project you are working on. What is it your work tells yourself and others? No matter what photo genre field you work with, it comes down to one fundamental thing: "What is your message?".
When you become aware and know your message for yourself and to the outer world, then it will become much easier to navigate through your creative road map.
Perhaps you are already clear about your message in your conscious mind? Or perhaps you are in an uncertain stage at this moment. Maybe you are trapped in your everyday life, where you do not have the time or energy to figure out your potential creativity, because you get disturbed by a lot of practical things in your life. If you want to connect more with your creativity, then try to focus, give your energy 100 percent to the creative world. That is the best way to get in contact with your creativity. 1.5 Why Creativity Matters
Previously I shared my thoughts about what creativity means to me. I have given you reasons to be creative with advantages and disadvantages. Creativity can give you a dimension of deeper meaning 5
and purpose. Sharing your work with others can give you an extra lifelong quality of life and an awareness of just being present in the moment.
To live and be present in the moment is like the ancient Indian Buddhist philosophers have written down in Sanskrit textbooks thousands of years ago. Nowadays western spiritual specialists have been influenced and adapted this ancient philosophy. The spiritual gurus in our time still advocate for being present in the moment like in ancient time. Human spiritual development has not changed much since then.
In my own life, I try every single day to be present in the moment, living physically and mentally healthy with the body and soul. I do things with my life that gives me meaning, pleasure and enjoyment. This is why I am especially interested in creativity, because it inspires me to live creatively and to share creativity with others.
In next chapters we will connect and find home again.
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CHAPTER 2. CLARITY, FOCUS, TARGET
2.1 How Creativity Works with Your Mind
When we human beings want to connect with our inner selves and empower ourselves on a deeper level, it is good to be aware of how your mind works in the two levels of consciousness. There is the conscious and unconscious mind. The conscious mind is where you are aware of your thinking. The unconscious mind is where your mind is "thinking", but you are not aware of it. When you step backwards and observe what your conscious mind is thinking about, then you have become the awakened observer of your mind. This means that you do not have to depend on your conscious mind, or what it is thinking. You can now choose to be the observer who sees things from above. You can decide if you want to let go of your conscious mind or stay in it.
The observer role comes from the ancient Buddhist meditation tradition. A lot of different spiritual leaders and gurus in the western world would call it: "to become awaken". Like the spiritual author Eckhart Tolle mentions in some of his You Tube videos: "You can see yourself like the "I" and the "self". The "I" is the human and the "self" 7
is the being. The observer role is like having a third eye that you can turn on and off. The thought of being aware of your ability to connect with your two mind-sets gives you more freedom to work creatively with your thoughts and ideas. Because you are aware of your mind, you can have control over your impulsive feelings and thoughts: They do not control you. Always remember you are more than your feelings and thoughts.
If you have decided to connect with your creativity then you have to commit yourself, and ask yourself, who are you as a creative person? What do you want to do with your creativity? To figure that out it is important to clarify your identity as a photographer. Get into the right creative mode in your everyday life.
Perhaps you are already clear about your creative message in your conscious mind? Perhaps you are in an uncertain stage at this moment or, maybe, you are trapped in your everyday life and you do not have the time or energy to figure out your creativity because you get disturbed by a lot of practical things around you. 2.2 Get in Touch with Yourself
I often use meditation, self-coaching, and self-hypnosis, when I want to get in touch with myself and train my creativity muscle. These tools have helped me a lot in my creative journey to become more clear, certain, and focused.
No matter what technique suits you best, listen to your inner intuition. Your best friend, your mind, will guide you in the right direction, especially when you just take it easy and listen to your silent internal voice. Often, we human beings tend to be loud, critical and judging in our everyday conscious life, because we are surrounded with a lot of 8
distractions and noise. To connect with creativity, we need to become quieter in our external thoughts and go deeper with our internal voice.
If you sincerely want to engage with your creativity, then use different techniques and focus. A good and quick way to get in contact with your creative mind is to meditate. We all learn in different ways and have individual needs and preferences. If you prefer running or walking, doing gym, sports or doing whatever suits you best, then it is just as good as meditating, because you will get in deep contact with your true conscious and unconscious mind. When you are in contact with your body, then your conscious mind is in a relaxed state of mind, and it opens up for the unconscious mind. Being aware of your conscious "every day you" and connecting with your unconscious mind, will give you a deeper dimension enabling a switching between two kinds of consciousnesses. This will allow you to be more open to your true self and intuition. 2.3 Focus on Joy and Interests
What makes some days better at being creative than other days? Do you know days when your mood is low because you have not been creative for a long time? Perhaps you are in a bad mood and just want to hide in bed under the duvet, or maybe a few days have passed and you get up in the morning feeling the day is pointless and the easiest thing is to just to remain passive, doing nothing at all. Do you want to be in a bad mood for the rest of your life? Ask yourself if your mind and body are well connected? Sometimes our mind goes against our emotions and our logical sense. When that happens the body reacts with unease and feels out of balance. If you feel like that, then it is time to take it easy and be good to yourself. Once you have become aware of how your mind and body are connected, then find the interests that make you happy. Ask yourself
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these fundamental questions: What has value in my life? What is important to me? What makes me happy?
You will have to decide how much it means to you, to live a life with joy and pleasure. Everyday life can be filled with all sorts of duties, chores and appointments, so there seems to be no time at all to be creative. Prioritize your time and tune into your creative time: Turn off computer, mobile, radio, TV, and so on. It makes you focus more easily on a creative state of mind and makes you more focused and powerful in your decision making. Relax and get in touch with your creativity and intuition. How do we get in touch with creativity? It can sometimes be difficult to get in touch with your intuition if you do not relax and have peace and quietness. The best thing you can do is clear your mind of noise and distractions. Stress and pressure can be a creativity killer, so the best thing you can do is kill stress and eliminate pressure in every single way. Pay attention to your inner peace. Stress can easily arise in everyday life, when we think about what we have not achieved. We begin to feel stress over not having completed what we had planned, and then maybe delay the task indefinitely because we feel in doubt about how we should approach the task. The worst thing we can do is to stress over all the things we envision we have not achieved, or strive for unrealistic goals. It is like driving on the motorway on a dark night and having turned on the long motorway light you see a lot of things coming your way. When you dip the light you can immediately focus on the things that are closer to you and it all seems more manageable, because you focus on the immediate, important things. When it is time to focus long term, then use the long-distance light, but not before it is necessary. My mantra is: "Each thing in its own time". I try to live this way, but sometimes it is easier to say than do. •
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How do we create space for creativity? We cannot force creativity to come to us, but we can create creative spaces and equip ourselves with discipline and a lifestyle that enables us to let creativity come more easily to us. In this way we can live a creative life with interest, purpose and meaning.
The creative process can sometimes seem mysterious, but you can incorporate a number of methods, techniques and work disciplines that can enhance your creative life, but only if you feel good about it. We live in a self-absorbed Western media culture and sometimes we forget to be in our bodies and be present in the moment without always having to occupy ourselves with this and that and planning for the future. To find inner peace and get connected with creativity, I think sometimes it can be good to let go of ourselves. I think, the more we let go of ourselves, and the ego, and focus on others rather than ourselves, the easier it will be to enhance creativity in a more playful and casual way that we can share with others.
When I was in my early 20s, my relationship with creativity was definitely more self-absorbed. At that age, you think everything is centered around you, and that you are untouchable, and you can go around with your magic wand wishing this and that. Now I am older and have realized that value of true self-insight and knowledge of yourself is necessary if you want to commit to creative processes.
In Danish researcher Lene Tanggard's book: "In the Shower with Picasso: Sparking Your Creativity and Imagination”, Tanggard quotes Juhani Pallasmaa, a Finnish architect's philosophical thoughts and mentions, how a self-absorbed culture can affect us: "(...) we in a self-absorbed culture are relatively bad at being in the body and forgetting ourselves. Maybe that's why there are so many 11
today who need to actively seek out self-forgetfulness through mindfulness and all these baths and walks. Maybe we have overlooked the value of forgetting ourselves (...)".
Pallasmaa believes that in Western culture we are self-absorbed and so aware of the conscious reflection that it hinders work.
The creative process can at times seem mysterious and difficult to handle, but we can incorporate presence and awareness daily to meet creativity in our everyday life. It is about letting go of the control freak in us. We just have to realize that there are many things in life that we cannot foresee. We get to creativity more easily by not trying to predict the future but letting go of the control. Instead, why not be present in the moment and live in the present moment. 2.4 Creative Frames, Habits, and Tools
How do I create room for creativity? Why not invite creativity to come home to you. Perhaps you have, or can make, some extra space at home for your personal working area with your tools? Why not make your own creative space, a room where you can play and experiment with your creativity? A place where you can have fun and put stickers, postcards, posters, silly things of whatever inspires you up on your wall. The awareness of the possibility to create your own space physically and mentally gives extra pleasure and joy in life.
Sometimes the unknown creative process can be mysterious and difficult to manage, but if we want, we can make our own framework, for instance with techniques, methods and discipline. When we have committed to working with creativity, it is all about letting go of the ego’s desire to control. •
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We have to realize there are many things in life that we cannot predict. We will enter the creative domain much easier if we do not feel the urge to command and predict the future. Let go of your ego control freak. Be in the moment, live in the moment, relax and go with the flow, and improvise. See where your ideas take you, and not where your ego takes the idea.
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CHAPTER 3. CONNECT WITH YOUR MIND
In coming pages, I will give you some tools to train your ability to get more in touch with yourself in a conscious and convenient way. The exercises can give you a lifelong experience of being in balance, where you can perceive time and reality in a different way. The exercises will awaken the following senses in your mind and body: 1. Your Creative Meditation Guide: This meditation is made to inspire and open up your creative senses and visual ability. 2. Your Self Coaching Guide: Empowers you to take action yourself and develop more awareness of your "being" and "doing". I hope you will enjoy the journey and good luck with the exercises. 3.1 Exercise 1: Your Creative Meditation Guide
We will start this Creative Meditation by finding a place to sit or lie down. It does not matter which position you chose. If you are sitting up, then remember to sit erected with a straight spine, so you can breathe in and out effortlessly. If you lie down, have your 14
arms placed relaxed just beside your body. Spread your feet a little away from each other, letting them naturally relax.
Remember the most important thing is that you feel comfortable, no matter what position you choose. Start by taking a long deep breath, all the way down your stomach. If you cannot feel your breath down your stomach, then put your hand on your stomach and feel it rise and fall as the air goes in and out. Just relax and go into yourself and close your eyes. When you breathe in deep, feel your power center in the heart. When you breathe out, then feel your stomach and effortless let the air go out slowly through your mouth. This meditation will fill you with healing energy. Imagine yourself at the beach. See yourself when the sun is rising. You can see the golden light in the horizon. Imagine the sunbeams are touching your face. Feel the sunlight shinning on your face. The sunlight smiles energy onto your face. This light beams energy right into your body with the message to uplift your inner wellness. When we smile, the body gets a message to grow in vitality, healthiness, and inner joy. Feel the sunlight shinning on your face, like it is connected to the universe. It is your personal connection to a greater power. Take a deep breath, feel the golden sunlight going deep into your face and soaking into your skin cells. Your own personal connection to the universe fills you and you receive it taking it all in. Pull the sunlight into your face and feel it going into your head. It goes deep into your brain and it calms your mind. Again, breathe in deeply, and take the energy in. Now, breathe out through your mouth. 15
And then imagine there is a grey energy that is leaving your mouth and is going down to the soil to get recycled. It clears the mind, and cleans old pattern, and believes, and makes space for creative energy: The golden light, fresh intuition. Breathe in through your nose, and slowly out through your mouth. Feel your head filling with wisdom and clarity. Now let the smiling sunlight wander and sink slowly from your head all the way down through your spine. Let the energy spread from your head out to the rest of your body. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. It will clean your nervous system and allow the golden light into your brain and to your spine. Feel how the sunlight is going down through your spine. Going out to your nerve endings, vibrating energy and golden light into them. This resonates with your creative potential, with what you can do, and what you will do. Feel sunlight and energy down through your spine, in your breast, your arms, your legs and all the way down to your feet. The sunlight spreads from the top of your head through your entire body like waves. Take a deep breath and feel the sunlight flow through your body as electricity. It is like your body has energy circulating freely from the top of your head to your toes. Feel the energy going through your body like fluid oil into your muscles. It takes away your anxiety and tension, it relaxes your body. Smiling energy floods into your nose, the back of your head, and goes into your heart. Feel the loving energy. Let this loving and caring energy stay with you. Feel the energy in your heart. Turn the energy inwards and fill up your inner self with gratitude. This energy, this loving 16
gratitude in your heart, is the strongest energy in the entire universe. Let the energy, stress and anxiety leave your body as you breathe out through your mouth. Old, blocking energy disappears when you breathe out slowly. Let go of your blocking energy. Breathe in, be open to the warm loving creative energy that will come to you naturally. Let the smiling healing energy spread to the rest of your body. Vitalizing energy is spreading from your heart to the rest of your body. It floods into your nervous system all the way from your fingers down to your toes. Fill up your body with golden light and the healing energy from your heart. Feel yourself surrounded by healing golden light. Smiling energy is a strong way to develop appreciation, caring, love, and strength. Let your whole body feel the golden light. Feel how you are shinning with an inner glow, feel yourself shine and smile with the universe. You are filled with love, care, and creativity. Take this smiling, creative energy, the light you have inside you, out with you for the rest of your day, and let it be a wonderful day. 3.2 Exercise 2: Your Self Coaching Guide
I use the self-coaching method of five questions in my daily life, when I doubt things, people and when events need some extra consideration. I find that by putting words to feelings, it is easier to accept the state of mind you are in and just let go.
I remember that feelings were not something to be shown or spoken about in my Danish childhood upbringing. As I perceived it, personal inner feelings were seen as a weakness to be hidden away. For many 17
years as a child, I felt mentally inhibited because I had difficulties putting words to my feelings in front of my family. When I moved away from home, I rebelled and my emotions changed to the opposite of feeling inhibited, since I decided in my early 20s to connect with creativity. I realized I had to open up, and accept and express good and bad feelings, because creativity was deeply rooted to personal feelings.
I am telling you my childhood story because I want to highlight the following coaching questions all of which involve your personal feelings. Have you asked yourself how you relate to your personal feelings? To develop as human being why not be honest when you communicate with yourself? Remember, you are your best friend. Take care and be good to yourself. Here are the five self-coaching challenging questions you can use when you have a challenge or a problem to deal with or need to be clear about a situation. 1. What have you experienced? What happened? Is there a challenge? A problem? Has something been said? Or done to you? 2. What did it do to you? What did you feel? 3. What can you learn from what has happened? 4. Who or what can you forgive? (with what has happened) 5. What meaning can you create out from what that has happened? These five questions will make you more aware of your thought process. It has helped me a lot during times when life events, people and things have challenged me. Sometimes life happens so fast it is first when you come home and relax that you have time to think about your day. What do you do then? Why not empower yourself and turn it around so that life does not get in your way, but you let life come into your way, by acknowledging and accepting: Joy, pain, and challenges, all that life brings us human beings. We are sometimes our own worst enemy by complicating things. •
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Wheel of Life To make our life circumstances clearer, I have made a "Wheel of Life" exercise that you can also make. It shows ten important areas of your life. And there is a scale from 1-10 you can use, where you mark up, where you are in the scale. It will give you a clear indication of what areas in your life that are low and which are high, where you need to adjust your balance points.
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Insert your scale from 1-10.
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CHAPTER 4. THINKING LENSES INTRODUCTION
4.1 Foreword
In previous chapters, we have been through how to get into the creativity mode and get clear and focus on the target and dreams. We have now reached the center of the book, where there is room to experiment, explore and unlock creative energy. For many years, I have been developing the creative photo method "Thinking Lenses". This method is adjusted to persons like you and me who like personal development combined with the creative photo approach. I would like to share with you my creative working processes, since I am a lifelong photographer, dedicated to creative photography.
My method focuses on the creative working process: Before, under and after. My intention is to give inspiration to creative photo friends around the world. The universal photographers do not care about: Age, gender, race, country or religion. The only thing that matters is the awareness of the potential creativity that is built into each human being. My method focuses on a holistic working approach from A to Z in the creative process, from the idea in your mind to actually realizing it in the real world. 21
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The 6 lenses are classified with colored lenses and each of the colors symbolize a mental state of mind as human being. Every 6 of the steps I have thought of as a creative working flow, where one step in the process logically and automatic takes over the next step.
The reason why I call my method "Thinking Lenses", is because a photographer sees through the eye, and then think. The lenses are a metaphor for the human third eye.
My method suggests that you take action no matter who you are, and where you are in your photographic journey. As a photographer it is not enough only to work with theory, processes and analysis. You also need to take action. Get your hands and feet wet. This is why I got inspired to write down my own creative methods. I have been working hands-on with photo creativity for many years and have gotten my hands and feet wet many times. It is for certain that you will make mistakes when you practice your photo skills and photo shootings. However, you get better and better because you are learning from your mistakes. Do not see mistakes as an enemy, instead learn from it and improve your process.
"Thinking Lenses" method is an extra extended tool, that can be combined with your already known knowledge about photography. I hope from the bottom of my heart that I can inspire you in your creative self-exploration journey.
I do not know how active or passive you are with creativity by now. Perhaps you are already active, and your creative side just needs to be updated, or maybe you passively have put your creativity on standby. Perhaps your creative side needs to be refreshed to awaken again. 22
Everybody is born with the ability to be creative. Remember when you were a child, probably doing fun creative things, right? As we get older, we get less and less creative. No matter where you are in your creative journey, I hope you will find inspiration to approach your creativity with new eyes.
I have tried to make the processes as simple as possible, step-by-step. My creative working experience has taught me that the less you have to speculate about things that do not matter, the more you will get in touch with your creative workflow. It will work for you with less effort, as there is nothing to worry about. Have you ever thought about why creative workplaces, for example, IT, advertising and design companies, let their employees play in playrooms, when they are at work with table tennis, Hawaii hanging chairs, flip flop machines and so on. That is because the company wants the employees to relax and have fun with no worries, so they will get better at their creative jobs.
We all know that getting hundreds of ideas in short time that is not possible for an untrained person. On the other hand, we know if we train our mental and physical muscles then it is possible, because you are present in the moment enjoying the moment. Little by little you will get closer to achieving your goals. It is like training for a marathon. As a non-experience runner, you do not start running 100 kilometers all at once. You train yourself step-by-step and eventually one day you can run the whole entire 100 kilometer marathon. It is the same when training your creativity muscle.
I consider the ability to get ideas overall is a gift sent from heaven. It is a quite unique experience that can enrich and change your life. The problem can sometimes be that we need to organize our thoughts, our disordered ideas. We need to take time and effort to systemize the ideas. I have felt a need for myself to optimize the creative working process and that is why I have created this method. 23
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I have made a brief introduction to my “Thinking Lenses” by making an illustration. There are six sections. Each lens has different colors, and they represent certain universal human archetypes with different psychological aspects.
It works best if you work with the intended chronological method stepby-step, but perhaps there are some of the colored lenses that you want to focus more on than another. Depending on where you are in your photographic journey. I suggest you just skip some pages if you already know about it.
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Here is my 6-colored Thinking Lenses illustration.
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4.2 Pink Lens
Is light loose, positive, easy going. 4.3 Create Your Idea Project
What interests you? What inspires you? Why not make new connections, cross connections. Experiment with connections. Generating ideas by brainstorming is about getting as many ideas as possible: Quantity and not quality. The more ideas you get, the more likely you will find ideas of quality.
If you are passionate about your ideas and have committed to being creative, then I suggest you take your creativity seriously and deliberately take time to enjoy yourself playing with ideas and possibilities. Look in the calendar and systemize your creative time. Mark in your calendar, what day or days you want to work with your creativity. It is like a lot of other priorities in life, where you also have to organize your activities. Perhaps you do sports, walking a dog, or play guitar? If so, then you allocate certain days and times during the week to do these activities. The same goes with creativity, it needs priority and attention. The more you train your creativity muscle, the more likely you will generate great ideas. •
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I think we all have experienced when loose ideas keep popping up in our minds. It must be because the idea in the mind wants to tell us something, since it keeps popping up, again and again. When this happens to me, then I am open and aware in my consciousness. Every time I just registrar the idea on a piece of note paper or on my mobile note pad. In every situation you should take your inner voice and your ideas seriously. Listen to yourself and your ideas. Believe in your inner voice, this will help you move forward. If you want to develop your ideas, then you have to hang on to your idea, dive deep and identify what it is your idea wants with you. Is there something you should pay attention to? If you have no idea why it keeps popping up in your head, then get in touch with your creative side and take action.
When getting in touch with creativity I clear my mind and empty it from disturbance. When impulsive, bobbling, ideas come and go, I quickly brainstorm and spontaneously write down the idea-association words on a piece of A4-physical paper or in my mobile. By doing so you confirm and strengthen your thoughts, and reassure yourself that your mind wants somehow to tell you something. In my daily life, I sometimes wonder around in my chaotic fantasy. This can be good or bad. It is no longer a painful ritual to write down my ideas 24 hours a day. Ideas are just here and there and everywhere and it has become a habit to write down my ideas. It is now something I just do without thinking about it. It just feels great to put words to ideas because then they will not disturb me anymore and I can focus on something else. 4.4 Identifying Yourself
How do you identify yourself? In the beginning of my 20s I had a tendency to focus a lot on things that surrounded me in Copenhagen, especially the creative culture which gave me ideas, and I would ask myself: "What is going on in this creative society at the moment?” or "What do other photographers do?" or "What is trendy at the moment?" and so on. The only thing you get out of asking yourself all these questions is that it might disturb your own personal intentions 27
with photography. Because you hear a lot of other different voices that can be louder than your own inner voice. Of course, you must consider the outer circumstances of the intentions of your photography, when everything is said and done, you have to take a stance and pay attention to your own inner mind, how you interpret the world, what you see through your lens, and how you interpret it visually, through the wonderful photographic tools that exist.
How do I find my own personal photo style? Try not to be disturbed by the exterior circumstances. The only thing that counts is your own inner conviction. Hang on to them. When you hold on to your own conviction, it will be easier getting in contact with your own personal photo voice. Do you have something in your heart that needs to come out. It will automatically come out if you listen and release your photographic intuitive inner voice.
Identifying and collecting your ideas can sometimes be a challenge. Days go by and you have collected your many ideas. They may be crazy ideas, wonderful ideas, daring ideas, dream alike ideas and so on. If you have a certain project you want to pursue, then sort out your ideas. It can sometimes be challenging to decide what ideas that work best for you.
Why not have an organized systematic approach where you break down your ideas, step-by-step? You might ask: How do I identify a possible idea?
I would typically imagine some drawers and label them: A, B, and C. Each box would have a selection of things I had to organize and put into its respective box. It is like having, for example, three different drawers taken out of your working table. Where A, is the number one 28
priority, the drawer with the best ideas. B is the second drawer with good ideas. Then there is the C drawer with ideas that maybe, but not necessarily, can be used. I use this drawer for ideas I believe are not the best but which are difficult to throw out.
When I have to see things in a new way, change perspective make decisions, I ask myself questions with a contrasting approach. I use opposite words, like "good vs. bad", "black vs. white" and "dog vs. cat" and so on. This will challenge your everyday automatic thinking. It will disrupt your mind. You can question your ideas by using what I call: "Contrasting Question Approach". Ask yourself, for instance: What content in the picture is good or bad? What does the picture tell as against not tell? What picture expression do I want versus a nonpicture expression? 4.5 Exercise 1: Brainstorm
Get as many spontaneous ideas as possible. Your goal is quantity at this stage. The more brainstorm ideas you generate, the more likely there is a possibility for you to find “quality” ideas. There is nothing right or wrong, experiment with your approach to generate new ideas. Write down your ideas on a piece of paper, or in any digital device.
This brainstorm exercise is intended for beginners. When you start, just go nuts, crazy and wild with your ideas, and do not feel inhibited. Be totally spontaneous and feel free, there are no limitations, restrictions or demands. This exercise is made for training your creativity muscle.
Brainstorming is a classic and efficient way to generate new ideas. It is especially a great method to apply in the initial phase of your project, where everything is open and floating and might not be connected to anything. •
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How do I start as beginner? 1. First of all be mentally prepared, by staying open and positive. In this way you will feel you are automatically open for new inputs. Begin noting down your spontaneous ideas. When you write your ideas down, do not immediately judge your ideas critically, just write them down. You can always be critical and analyze your ideas later. 2. Make as many ideas as possible. Go after quantity. Get unexpected, crazy, wild ideas. Build on your own, and others’ ideas. Keep the focus on the sensations that the idea gives you. Be visual and write down your ideas and make doodles if you feel strongly inspired. 3. Make your brainstorm last for about: 5, 10, 20, 30, 60 minutes, depending on your creative situation. Adjust your brainstorm to what you are working with. The point is to set a deadline and frame the time by giving yourself rules. 4. After you have written down your ideas, select your ideas from your many ideas and find the “quality” ideas. What are “quality” ideas? When I mention the word “quality”, then it is the ideas that you think are the very best and has value. Perhaps you have chosen three high “quality” ideas out of maybe 50 of your mixed “quantity” ideas. 5. If you for instance chose three “quality” ideas out of your many others then I am sure you are on your right path. Keep your one to three ideas for now. Put them on standby and let us continue with the blue lens. In the next chapter you are going to swim in the blue ocean of information.
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4.6 Blue Lens
Is cool, not showing emotions, run by logic. 4.7 Research Facts
Prepare yourself to be selective and get inspiration and insights for your idea. Look for something that inspires you. It can be anything you collect knowledge from, just like a journalist or detective would do. Be cool and critical, see things from the sideline. When you take in and absorb all the information that is out there, the challenge is to find relevant information versus irrelevant information and to filter out all that does not interest you. Doing this will give you a solid impression of the overall topic you want to work with.
When I have to figure out an idea for a photo that I would like to work with, I use the internet a lot for research. Before the internet existed, I had the same approach towards collecting knowledge. I remember when I was an apprentice in my mid 20s as a commercial photographer in Copenhagen, the company I worked for had loads of different kind of magazines such as photo, culture, art, fashion, and lifestyle magazines. There were local magazines and international ones. I clearly remember tearing out the pages from magazines that inspired me. It could be images of an idea, something that impressed me like a model’s expression, the style and the techniques. I could be inspired by anything. I would put all my magazine pages in a big cartoon box and 31
archive them. Every time I needed an idea, I would take out my carton box and spread it all over the table, or floor. I would make a big collage of different impressions and moods that the torn-out pages expressed to me. It is fun to think back to the middle of the 1990s, remembering how slow the idea and photography process was at that time.
I would begin to use the internet more and more as a "search machine tool". I clearly remember when I used the search engine Yahoo for the first time. I got very excited about the www-internet. It gave me lots of energy to think about the huge impact and potential a search machine would have on our everyday life. It gave me a feeling of being in an open encyclopedia, a global landscape which gave endless possibilities of communicating, sharing knowledge with the global community. I remember thinking it was like looking out of a window and seeing the whole world. “Wow! How awesome is that", which is what I thought at that time and I still do.
Right here and now, you might ask yourself: How do I approach finding such inspiration for an idea? Here is my suggestion for research: 1. You can find more knowledge about your ideal project from the internet. Use search engines like Google, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo and so on, whatever suits you best in your specific situation. They are great working tools to give you an impression of the number of existing materials, or ideas that are already out there. It will give you inspiration and an overview platform from where you can approach your idea. 2. I will give you an example: If you have ideas about a certain topic or concept, such as the word "love", when you search Google for the word "love", then, in the picture section, it will show you many different interpretations of how others think and visualize the "love" theme. What is awesome about the Google search is that a lot of images just pop up in all kinds of 32
versions. Perhaps something you have not even thought about could be shown in a new way, in a different angle, or from a new perspective. Allow yourself to be inspired by earlier work from other creative people. 3. Find deeper information and collect more knowledge, explore different angles that can inspire you. Ask yourself, are you inspired? Do you feel anything? Pictures are a very personal thing, and that feeling is rooted in subjective expressions and feelings. Get in touch with your intuitive side and connect your creative mind with the research part. If you want to dig deep into your research, then I suggest you use the knowledge from the past, present and future. When you have collected different kind of ideas, images, text about the word "love", it will bring you closer to the perception, the concept of "love", seen from many angles. 4. When you are finished researching, why not put it all together in one big collage of ideas. We can call it "The Image Mood Board". Clothes designers love to use the mood boards when they are designing new collections. When you have made the "The Image Mood Board", it is much easier for you to get an overall impression of your different ideas, impulses, and expressions. If you want to remind and confront yourself with your ideas physically every day, why not print the material out and put it on the wall? If you have a lot of material, which is difficult to put on the wall, perhaps because of not enough space, why not make a screen saver of the pictures and save it to your computer? You can also take pictures of ideas with your mobile phone, and later look at it in your computer. In my early young days I would have used a polaroid system where you just loaded the camera with instant-film. When you pressed the button, the Polaroid would come out instantly and the image would develop fixed and ready to see in about one to three minutes. The Polaroid system still exits, but in very limited luxury edition. 5. After you have made the mood board ask yourself, "Is there something in particular about this that inspires me?" And 33
"Why do I like it?" Is it the feeling? Is it the expression? Is it the mood? Color? Style? Technique? What is it that inspired you? Put words to your thoughts. Have a conversation with yourself. Write it down on a piece of paper, or with your mobile, or dictate into a microphone, or other digital device. Whatever suits you best. 6. After completing your research on the internet and you have looked at your mood board, the time has come to start sorting out of your ideas. It is natural that some ideas are stronger than others. Just accept this fact and let go of the ideas that are less impressive to you or that are visually neutral. In this way, you will train your eye and mind to be very flexible and you would not be hanging on to old believes. Sometimes it can be difficult to sort out your ideas, should they stay or go? From time to time it will be necessary to "kill your darlings". In the final end, you have to accept the fact that it is a process and let yourself float with the wind and listen to your heart and intuition.
Next is the black lens where you are going to see things through the macro and micro cosmos.
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4.8 Black Lens
Is critical, sharp and negative seeing. 4.9 Analyze Area
We have reached the point where you probably have some loose ideas for your project. By now, you have identified your idea and have researched your different topics on the internet. You have found exciting topics and new insight from information that connects to your idea.
It is time to cut down irrelevant material. The black lens will give you the ability to be sharp and analyze your work in process. You will ask yourself about the challenge, problems, nuances of your idea.
Why is it important to analyze and be critical? My experience with analysis is that it gives you an opportunity to consciously process your impressions and ideas. The analysis will tell you if your idea works or if it needs to be adjusted. One thing is what is in your mind, another thing is how you specifically execute your idea and let it come out and express itself in the real world. Therefore, I think, as a photographer it is a good idea to get clarified with yourself and your ideas and afterwards find out what is already out there regarding information that can further inspire you. 35
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There are many "pre-fathers and pre-mothers" from the 1800s and 1900s photography history, who have walked the same roads and explored photography, like we do today. They made their experience and observations, for instance, Louis Daguerre, Eadweard Muybridge, Nadar, Man Ray and so on. Why not get inspired by the past and use earlier photographers’ pioneer knowledge, and their experiences in the field of photography. The past can contribute to further development in the present moment and the future.
Perhaps you are wondering: What can it be used for? What is in it for me? My experience with creative processes has shown me that it can be used to develop awareness in a more detailed way. It will enable you to zoom in and out of your overall working process, to see the little and big picture of your project. It works brilliantly in training your mind to have the ability to see the micro and macro aspects of your project simultaneously.
Why use your time analyzing? A good question. Why even bother using time on that? When asking yourself fundamental questions you will get les confused with yourself and the project.
Here is a great analyzing tool to use: “the wh-questions" with: “who, what, where, why, and how”.
You can make questions like: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Who is the picture for? What is the content of picture? Where is the photo shoot taking place? Why make this picture? 36
5. How can I realize my picture idea? These questions are just examples. I suggest you make your own questions that fit to your current situation. When you ask yourself questions, you see your own creative processes more clearly. You can also by the micro and macro approach dive much deeper into your project and have a greater understanding and relationship with yourself and your idea.
When you have asked yourself “the wh-questions”, I could imagine by now, you are more aware and confident with your analyzing approach. To go back to the concept of micro and macro, what was that about?
With the concept word micro, I think the micro thinking is about taking subjective personal choices. What do you really get out of your creative aspirations and challenges on a personal level? Why use time to do this project that requires sweat and effort? Some photographers call their photo work "tear sheet" on their websites. Ask yourself, is it worth going through? Because you are the only one who really knows the answer.
What about the concept word macro? I think it is about having the ability to zoom out of your project. See it from above and ask yourself objectively: Why are you doing this project? What does it mean to you? What is the meaning with it? When you question yourself on a macro-level, then you will get a clearer mind-set, having an inner dialog with yourself. You will see your idea set in a bigger perspective. Perhaps something that is bigger than yourself.
Next is the yellow lens, where we will take it easy and have a good time. 37
4.10 Yellow Lens
Is relaxed, empathy and caring. 4.11 Thinking Break
By now, perhaps your mind is overloaded with impressions and new ideas. Maybe you need a rest in the creative process. Just let things rest for a little while. Take it easy, be good to yourself. Accept the situation and just let go. Your idea is in an incubation stage meaning your thoughts and ideas need to take form. If you chose to accept the situation and think positive, your condition will ease your pain and you will have fewer headaches. Perhaps you are in limbo between chaos and order. If you feel that you are in this state of mind, like a lot of creatives have experienced before you and me, then do not worry. This is a natural working process, sooner or later, when you are dealing with new ideas it is inevitable to feel: Hesitation, doubt, frustration, limitations, or problems. When, and if, you are in this state of mind, then it is all about taking good care of yourself.
Right now, you need to erase the blackboard inside you head. Why not shift focus from being inside your head and move outside your head by feeling your body. For example, take a bath like Picasso did. He used to lie in his bathtub when he wanted to relax. Perhaps you like running or going for a walk, doing yoga, and so on. •
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What do you do, when you have a new spontaneous idea and you do not know what to do with it? I have noticed, during the many years working with my own creative projects, that when I get very eager to find solutions for new ideas and think about the ideas 24 hours a day, I do not take my time and take it easy. What happens is that I block my free working energy. My impatience and eagerness to find solutions get in my way because I do not let my mind rest and take it easy.
Why does this happen that you block your mind? I have noticed from time to time, that every time I relax and take it easier my subconscious mind will help me solve the idea. I have been so eager to solve the idea, I have focused on the idea way too much and have not found the solution to the idea because my mind is getting tired of too much intense focus and it needs a rest. This is why the mind blocks. It is quite simple but can be very frustrating if you have a deadline and you feel nothing is happening with your ideas, and you get restless and you do not know what to do of yourself. Perhaps you have promised somebody that you would deliver your ideas on a certain day.
For those of you who work commissioned for a customer-client with time pressure and limitations it is even more important that you take care of yourself. Perhaps you are so serious and focused because you want so much to find a solution, it is getting too much for your brain to cope with. This is when you need to take time and unplug yourself from your project so that you can avoid stress.
You probably know the situation when you are bathing and relaxing and new thoughts come to you, or when we are walking outdoors, your spirit feels free. Or when we are cleaning at home, doing the dishes, suddenly a new idea comes out from nowhere. It is your subconsciousness that wants to tell you something. Take it seriously and listen. It often happens that we do not hear our unconscious voice, because the conscious ego voice is so loud, and if we at the same time 39
are busy, working under pressure or even stressed, then it will be very difficult to get in touch with our inner selves.
Shift your focus and disrupt your normal routines and thinking patterns. Do something out of your usual routine. It will create new connections to your brain. It will activate your thinking to pursue new alternative ways.
How do I do this? To live and be in the moment is a strong message that will challenge your time-awareness, according to the thousands of year old ancient Indian-Sanskrit and Buddhism-texts. Spiritual leaders and gurus like author Eckhart Tolle speak again and again to the modern Western society: "Be in the moment and accept the situation". It will reduce pressure, stress, and anxiety. It is a simple "exercise of life" to practice, and it works. If you feel out of balance do the following: Focus on something other than your ideas. Indulge yourself and be good to yourself by doing things you love to do.
Make activities that give you joy, something that makes you happy. Find out what you love doing. Suggestions are: Running, walking, sauna, shower-bathtub, meditation, music, yoga, tennis, gym-fitness, beauty salon, books, football, dance, cooking, golf and so on. Do what makes you happy, as long as you enjoy what you are doing.
The list is endless, there are so many things, little or big, we can do to uplift ourselves. It is all about finding your own way to let go, accept your condition and take things easier. •
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When you do activities you like, then you will automatically gain more of your energy and vitality again. Your earlier stored anxiety will disappear like the dew from the grass because you are doing something that makes you happy and lifting you up.
When you consciously activate yourself with pleasurable things, your mind will automatically shift your focus away from your idea-world. Your subconscious mind will now work for you without you even have to lift a finger. Your conscious mind will rest in peace while your subconscious mind works. 4.12 Exercise 1: Meditate and Breathe
You can enhance your experience with the conscious-unconscious mind, by working with your breathing. Here I will describe the liberating exercise that makes your mind calm immediately. The reason why breathing technique is effective is because your breath is connected to your nerve system within the spine. When breath and nerves are in balance, it gives you the inner feeling of peace that we all desire. You can breathe in and out with open or closed eyes. Sit on a chair or lie down for five or more minutes. It depends on what feels right for you in your situation. I train meditation every morning for about 20-30 minutes. I combine the breathing exercise with other meditation techniques, depending on the particular day. Mostly, I breathe in and out for about five to ten minutes.
Here is what you do: 1. Breathe in and out deeply, try to breath down to your stomach. Putting a hand on your stomach will let you know if you are breathing deeply enough as you can feel your stomach going in and out. Do this three times. 41
2. When you feel more relaxed, focus and feel your lungs are breathing in and out. Do this in your own time. 3. Let your attention come to the center of your heart, where you feel your heartbeat. This will be your anchor, where you keep your focus. 4. After a little while, your mind will automatically start to wonder. Do not worry, be patient with yourself. It is very normal that the human-mind is restless. Thinking about all sorts of things in the past, presence and future. Just accept your thoughts and gently let go of your thoughts. Critical, negative and judgmental thoughts are quite normal and often occur in the human mind. I think it is because we unconsciously want to "protect ourselves" so we put up a line of defense. Be aware of this, accept your thoughts and gently let go and come back to your heart center with your breath and focus on your in and out breathing. Do this in your own time. 5. If you want to stay focused and quiet for a longer time, then you can use a mantra. Repeat a mantra-sound over and over again. The mantra-sound is designed to let you stay concentrated, so you can be more present in yourself. According to traditional Indian Sanskrit texts this mantra “So Ham” is always used with the breathing. The meaning of the words can be translated to something like: “I am that” or “I am what I am”. I hope this meditation will give you inner peace. The more you practice the more it will work for you.
Next is the green lens, where your energy will be high.
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4.13 Green Lens
Is vital, creative, original, rebellion. 4.14 Decide on Your Idea
By now, you will have identified your idea with the pink lens, researched facts with the blue lens, analyzed with the black lens and relaxed with the yellow lens. So now we come to the green lens, and we are so close to realizing the idea. Perhaps like me, you have a lot of different ideas pointing in many different directions. You like all your ideas in one way or another.
We human beings make decisions in many ways, depending on the situation we are in. We often decide using intuition, emotions, logic, force, and so on. To make a clear, certain and logical long-term decision the analysis approach can be a great way to accelerate your decision-making. Just as you did with the black lens, you ask yourself: What is good and bad? And why is it good and bad?
How do I sort out my ideas? Sorting out your ideas can sometimes be challenging. To "kill your darlings" is hard. I think we all know the dilemma where you have to pick one thing instead of another. You want it all, but you know you 43
cannot have it all. Do not worry about your dilemma, because you are not alone. You, me and many other creative people are forced to take many necessary decisions due to our circumstances. In my early creativity years, I reached a point where I had enough of being passive, not being able to take a quick decision, so I had to develop my own method. With having a method, I could take faster actions and be more determined in my creative process without feeling doubt and hesitation. You can do the same thing too. Here is my sort out method with bullet-points that will systematically give you an instant overview of your ideas. 4.15 Sort Out Method
1. Now it is all about being realistic. Turn on your critical green eye lens. When I am in this situation, where I have 101 ideas for a photo project, and perhaps I only need one idea, then what do you do? I systemize my 101 ideas and cut them up in smaller sizes, so it seems less overwhelming to pick out ideas. I would typically cut the 101 ideas into three stacks and call them A, B, C. Split your stack sizes to fit your needs. Call them whatever you like. Just name your stacks, so it will be logical and easy for you to find your stacks again when you need material from your archive. Create order and identification. It is efficient to first make a rough sorting of the stacks. We have by now cut our 101 ideas into different stacks called A, B, C. The purpose is to fine-tune the stacks. Stack A is my absolute number one favorite, my best ideas. B is my good ideas, that need consideration. C is the less good ideas. Those that I am neutral about. 2. When you have organized your sections into A, B, or C, perhaps you have some files from your digital devices still to organize. Why not print work material out? If you have the time, put it on the wall, or if there is a lot of material that needs more space, then spread them on the floor. If you do not have time or space to print your material, then use a computer, 44
iPad, or phone. Use any digital device that suits your needs, as long as it works well for you. When you have visualized and arranged your sections, physically or digitally, it is about time to listen to your intuition and logic sense, because we are about to dive deeper into each section. 3. After you have sorted out the sections begin with focusing on A section. At first glance, maybe you have chosen your favorite ideas too quickly without putting words on it. Perhaps you do not even know yet, why you have chosen these ideas except that you felt strongly for them. Look at section A with loving eyes and honestly question yourself: "What did I feel and what inspired me when I selected this?”. Become confident with your inner process. Work with your questions and answers. Make your questions as clear and simple as possible, without complicating things too much. Is there any repetitiveness in the ideas, images that you are choosing? The things you chose, is it something that gives you a special expression? Is it the form, color, idea, intention, or motive that inspire you? 4. If you want to, do the same with B and C section, like in section A. It is possible that you do not have to continue with section B and C if you are totally inspired and absorbed in the A section already. Use only B and C section if you need more time to process their advantages or disadvantages. But remember to stay focused. Do not let yourself be interrupted by your impulses from the inside or outside environment. It is you and only you, who know your inner feelings, thoughts, wishes, dreams and needs. You are the only person to take responsibility for your decisions. The challenge of this limiting frame process can be a great way to learn to get to know yourself better. It will strengthen your decision-making skills. There are many layers when you work with creative processes and choices. You will become more in contact with your personal feelings and spirituality. It is like onion rings that reveal themselves, layer by layer. 5. If necessary, do more analyzing of your three stacks A, B, C. 45
In addition, if you want to dive deeper into each section, then ask: “Who, what, where, why, and how?" Ask yourself simple fundamental questions like: "Who is involved in the idea?", or "What challenges and problems are there?" or "Where are the advantages vs. disadvantages of the idea?". If you need more answers, these “wh-questions” enable you to dive deeper. 6. After finishing reviewing your sections, and you have sorted out sections A, B, C, it will be much easier to make adjustments. Here you can work more in details with each section. Here is an example scenario: You have five different portrait versions that you like, and they are made in five different ways. Put your favorite portrait in A section, then you have four others left that you put into the B and C section, depending on your decisions. Difficult to choose? Perhaps you are prioritizing things that have less value? Do not focus too much on what other photographers do, or what your family, friends and neighbors think. Listen to your senses, emotions, your visual language, your visions, and intuition. This will give you character and will empower you. It will also give you an edge with your personal photo voice. 7. After you have completed the raw selections of A, B, C and analyzed the stacks, then it is about being present in the moment, continuing your workflow ideas. Fine tune your ideas and use your imagination. If it helps, why not close your eyes and visualize. Try to imagine your project in your head. Is your mind accepting your ideas? Do you see or feel something? Get spontaneous ideas, experiment, pump up your energy, have a positive attitude, put words onto your ideas, break your patterns, and process your ideas. Is the idea communicating with you? 4.16 Exercise 1: Put Down Your Idea
After you have sorted out your stacks, you are probably clearer about your photo ideas. It is time to begin with the fun and exciting part of making notes and documents to record your most important thoughts 46
and ideas about the project. You can do this by using old fashion handwritten paper, notebooks, sketches, drawings or collage-boards. Or you can use the modern digital devices to put down your ideas. It does not matter what you use, as long as the way to record your ideas works for you and your work flow.
If you need to make decisions about your project and you are not sure what to decide, then I suggest you use meditation. It will gently guide you through your decision making.
I hope by now you have become more confident in your decision making. Next is the red lens, where you set your practice free and put it into action.
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4.17 Red Lens
Is passionate, daring, brave, fearless. 4.18 Realize Your Idea
The time has come where you are going to realize your project. Let me just briefly summarize what we have been through until now in our creative working flow.
The pink lens generated many ideas that we wanted to give birth to. The blue lens researched and saved your project working material. The black lens analyzed and processed your idea and put words on your project. The yellow lens relaxed your mind by enjoying yourself. Finally, the green lens is where you have sorted out and put down ideas and then decided on your idea.
We have reached the exiting moment. It is time to test your idea, let your idea take off. Imagine and visualize your idea in your head. Put it all together and be flexible with the impulsive ideas that are coming to you. A great working flow is when you feel energy and enjoy what you are doing. The feeling and energy you put into your project will determine how you harvest your fruits. Now that you have chosen the idea you want to work with, it is time to ask yourself: •
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How can I put my photo idea out there in the real world? If you want to be 100 percent sure about your idea, if your idea will really work, then you have to make a test. Researching your idea and project beforehand will give you a clarity about what will work, and what will not work. Taking your idea from inside your head to outside of your head can be exciting but also challenging. It is fun to get loose ideas, but it will take some extra determination, effort, energy and persistence if you want to realize your idea. If you want to build a bridge between your fantasy world of ideas and connect it to the tangible world we are living in. Why not be realistic? Plan your idea from where you are at the moment, taking into account your given possibilities, surroundings, and environment.
The easiest way to get your ideas out into the world is to plan and organize yourself. In other words, put your things in a system, and believe you can do it. If you do not deep down inside believe you can do it, then nobody else will believe in it. This is why it is important to be aware of taking yourself seriously. You are your own true best friend. Praise yourself and your creativity. Believe in your project. The law of attraction works fine here. By that I mean, what you think is what you get. It is not only in creative photography projects that this exists. The law of attraction exists in many other aspects of our lives, as you probably know already.
Be your own best friend and have a conversation with yourself before testing your idea. Put things into frames. Ask yourself if things are relevant to your project. I suggest you make your own questions, those which are relevant for you. Here are some of my own questions that I want to share with you.
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My questions are: Why work with this project? What will I gain with these photos? What can it be used for? Is there something that can be done better? How can I realize this idea? What does it take to realize this idea? What is possible to do, right here and now? What am I learning? After you have questioned yourself: You are probably clearer of how to realize your creative project. The next step will be to test shoot your idea. 4.19 Exercise 1: Test Shoot Your Idea
I have made this photo test exercise to boost your energy, so you will get closer to your photo idea. Perhaps you are thinking: Why make a photo test? Throughout the years, my test shootings have taught me that test shooting is good for staged idea photography. It is great to know in advance how you can approach your photo ideas. In this way you will know beforehand if your idea is working, or if something needs to be adjusted.
Testing benefit: There is room and space to experiment and make as many mistakes as you like. A free kindergarten place, or a sandbox, where you can play.
Usually creative people like painters, designers, writers, musicians, actors, and so on, make drafts, when they want to see if their ideas can stand alone: If it is working. The same goes for photography, where we make the draft test to begin with. In this way you will get your hands 50
and feet wet immediately. Testing is a very efficient way to improve your work process.
Here is my step-by-step guide. 1. Create pictures of your interest. If you feel joy and energy then it is for sure the right subject or object you have chosen. Your inspiration can be anything from persons, buildings, streets, natures, animals, and so on. 2. Focus on what you like and not what others think you should like. Make the photo project personal and shoot for yourself and not for your family, friends and entourage. This means you can think more freely. In the beginning you do not need to define your style or project. The only thing that matters is how you feel about it in the end. 3. The key is to take your time. Do not rush the process. Follow your gut feeling. Listen to your heart. Do not rush or stress with your idea and test shooting. If you feel something should be modified in the shooting, then rethink your concept, until you are satisfied. Never give up if you believe in your idea. Remember to make notes of your test shootings, what you are doing, so you can learn by your mistakes. By documenting your work approach and techniques. You will get more certain about the good and bad things in your photo project. If the shootings do not work first time, then try again and continue to rinse and repeat, until you feel you are getting better and better results. 4. If you are in doubt about things in your picture, then perhaps share a little of your test work with your photo friends or on the internet social media groups. Pay attention, perhaps your personal project might become more unpersonal as you share it with others. I think it can be a good approach to ask others for their opinion in the early test phase, as long as you are aware of not oversharing your test work and relying too much 51
on the opinion of others. In the long run, ask yourself if your work gives meaning to you. That is the only thing that matters. 5. Experiment with your test shooting and make different variations of your images. In this way you go more in depth with your work and it becomes even more personal. Because you know all the details and processes you have been through. In this way you will develop more certainty and clarity. Good luck with your test shooting and remember to enjoy yourself.
By now, I hope the 6-colored lenses has boosted your energy and you are inspired to continue. In the next chapter we are going to talk about how to activate ideas in your everyday life and how to empower yourself by taking action.
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CHAPTER 5. ACTIVATE YOUR IDEAS
5.1 Considerations
In this chapter, we are going to look closer at how to keep up momentum with the creative working spirit. I want to emphasize how important it is to be aware of your working habits if you want to have fruitful creative outputs in the long run.
When you have decided to bring your ideas into life, then your creativity needs attention and be taken care of, just like a little child. In the long term, as I have mentioned before, to succeed it is necessary to discipline yourself. You have to put things into a system. In other words, you must be friends with yourself. Perhaps you think it all sounds tight, but you do need to overcome pre-working hurdles, before realizing your ideas and putting them into action. Discipline is the key to unlock challenges, if you want to be creatively productive. Take for instance an elite sports person. They plan and train every day, in certain time schedules. Also day traders who trade stocks. They have their daily rituals every morning before they enter
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the stock market, or think about writers they also have their daily routines.
To be able to focus on your creative work, it is important that you are aware of your time, and how you use it. I think we all know the situation where we have not planned the day in advance that it just runs away from us and we feel nothing has been achieved. Perhaps there are some emails that need to be answered, and then the phone rings, and then perhaps we watch breaking news on television, that removes us from our creative work. Focusing is all about eliminating interruptions, social media, mobile telephone, radio, TV, all kinds of noise and distractions. I get distracted and misled so easily. I have tried it so many times. This is why I pay extra attention on how to keep my focus when working.
Perhaps you are asking: "How can I have more time for enjoyment and creativity?" After all, a day only has 24 hours. It can be challenging to have time for creativity. To succeed you must recognize that you need to take action and take back time and prepare and plan when you want to be creative. How many hours do you want to spend on it? The primary is to feel joy and it must make sense to you, whatever choices you are facing. It can be very simple: Prepare and plan in your calendar when you want to be creative. It is like everything else in life that you have to prioritize people, things, and events in your life.
How do you get motivated? You have to focus on the positive joy of your creative work, what it gives. Feel the buzz, the energy. Try to be curious about what the new day is bringing you. When you see things from a wider perspective you realize that you are the only one taking responsibility for your creativity and actions. When you focus on the joy and pleasure that creativity gives you then you are 54
more likely to feel positive energy which in turn will keep your spirit high. If you keep practicing a positive attitude, your motivational speech to yourself will become a habit. The more you practice this habit, the more it can become something you start with. Just try a few days, then some weeks, then some months, and then some years. Hopefully, in just some weeks you will wonder why it was so difficult for you to keep your motivation high.
Things go much easier as soon as we accept that life consists of good and bad days, that ups and downs exist, and we learn to accept being in our bodies with our emotions. Yes, in other words, it is about trying to be in balance and connected with our inner thoughts. The feelings we feel and the actions we take.
Are you "one" with yourself? Are you connected with yourself? Do your thoughts, feelings, and actions, communicate well with each other in a synchronous way? If they do, then there is a great chance that you might create things easier because your mind is likely to be peaceful and not being focused on obstacles or problems. No matter where you are in your creative journey, just feel the "human" and the "being" within you, it can give you inner peace.
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CHAPTER 6. WHAT IS NEXT?
6.1 Afterwords
Congratulations you have now travelled the creative photo journey with me. We are at the last chapter. It is awesome you are still here with me. I really appreciate the time that you have taken to read this book. It must be because you are interested in developing your personal photography skills, just like me.
What is next in your creative photo journey? We have been through different aspects of creativity and how it is possible to approach creativity, step-by-step. If you have decided to work seriously with creativity, then remember to keep your creative spirit by focusing on your creative lifestyle and do not let distractions take you down into a rabbit hole.
Remember to listen to your creative self. What you believe in, not your family’s, friends’, or neighbors’ opinions. Make your working project clear and simple for yourself. Do not over complicate the process. Stay calm and as clear as possible in your mind. I know it sometimes is 56
easier said than done, but if you are in doubt about certain issues, then you can always analyze your doubt by asking yourself questions.
Make new habits, do small changes day by day instead of trying to do it all as quickly as possible. Do not feel overwhelmed like trying to eat an elephant. Do micro commitments, take small bites of the elephant instead.
When you are preparing for a creative project, why not use methods and routines that you know work for you. By now, hopefully, you are inspired by this book to work, develop and find your own creative working spirit. When mastering something you enjoy doing your spirit will automatically boost your energy and make you even more creative and happy.
Empower yourself by believing in yourself and trust your ideas. Be persistent and hang on to your creative photo ideas. 6.2 Other Resources from the Author
Hope I have inspired you to continue developing your personal photo voice with full awareness. Please be patient and good to yourself. It can take time to develop your mind in new directions and make new habits. You are already on your way, just by taking your time reading about my method "Thinking Lenses" that has guided you to enhance and boost your creative life. When all comes to all, you are truly the only one that can lead yourself in the creative labyrinth. I have suggested a frame of work and given you some tools. Now it is up to you, how you want to use it.
We all learn in different ways. Some learn better visually, some by the written word or by listening. I felt there was an extra need to combine 57
the different aspects of learning, therefore I decided to make a video course of "Thinking Lenses". These days, I am in the process of making different inspirational photo videos that you can dive more into. They will support and develop your creative photo journey and take you to the next level. If you are interested in my further photo video courses.
Here is the link to my courses: www.udemy.com (search my name and courses will appear when launched).
If you have any questions about finding your photo voice and creativity, then you are very welcome to contact me. I will be happy to help you. Also, if you have any questions about my method "Thinking Lenses", the 6-step colored lenses, or other photography questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would love to hear from you.
Here is the contact information to my photo school: Kim Plus Photo Attn: Charlotte Kim Boed Postbox 104 2100 Copenhagen O Denmark mail@kimplusphoto.com www.kimplusphoto.com •
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You are also welcome to join my Facebook group “Kim Plus Photo". In this free creative room, you will meet other like-minded spirits. We inspire and support each other as a photo family from all over the world. We help each other and share our images, experiences and knowledge. The communication tone is very inspiring, positive, friendly and uplifting. I look forward to be seeing you there.
If you consider using photography or creativity as a tool in personal development as well as in recovery, then I warmly recommend Henriette Lykke who has written the foreword to my book. You can find more information about her on Instagram and Facebook by searching for “Henriette Lykke” or “Kunstsalonen”. Henriette is one of the leading Danish pioneers in art-based personal development using spirituality and yoga in her work.
I hope you have found my book useful, if you enjoyed it, would you then please leave a review on the site where you bought the book? I would really appreciate it. Thank you so much in advance.
You can get my latest free photo e-book and newsletter at https://kimplusphoto.com/free-tools
I dedicate with love this book to all the creative souls in the world. I wish you good luck with your creative journey.
Enjoy yourself.
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