Are you inspired?

I'd like to know if you feel inspired. I'm fascinated with the concept of inspiration and have indulged myself for years in activities that nourish my creativity. Enlighten me to your process, habits or peculiarities. I look forward to your comments.

Photographic technique is no secret and – provided the interest is there – easily assimilated. But inspiration comes from the soul and when the Muse isn’t around even the best exposure meter is very little help. In their biographies, artists like Michelangelo, da Vinci and Bach said that their most valuable technique was their ability to inspire themselves. This is true of all artists; the moment there is something to say, there becomes a way to say it. -Ralph Gibson, from his book Déjà vu [cited in: Creative Camera December 1972, p. 401]

Comments

[Rick Brotherton]

Joe,

Check out the book "The War of Art". It's about creativity and inspiration. I think you'll like it and it's a quick read.

As for me I tend to find inspiration while riding my bike or swimming. Something about the meditative state you go into that opens up a new channel of thinking.

Rick

[The Actual Joey Himself]

A quote that has always stuck in my mind was, "95% of people have no clue about their surroundings. The other 5% are interested in absolutely everything."

My inspiration mostly comes from people who comment on my work. Most of the comments are 'I love the way you see the world.' I am not a competitive artist, I try to spread the love with postitive comments.

[Fed]

I'm with The Actual Joey both when it comes to sharing and spreading love. Last night I sat down with someone I have never met and share ideas. I left the coffee shop feeling inspired and with a new friend.

I also believe in the idea of being interested in everything(your surroundings, people, others views...) That opens our minds to new things and fills us with so much more to work with.

[Joe Photo]

I'm with you on exercise Rick. It increases your adrenaline and makes you feel More alive and powerful". I feel I can accomplish anything when I'm exercising. I'll check out the book. Thanks, bro.

[Joe Photo]

What up Joey. You do spread the love, brutha. The goal for the 5% is awareness of the moment. That's a tough practice with all the distractions we face. But it is achievable and it begins with awareness... and becomes easier with practice. Blessings.

[Joe Photo]

Right on Fed. I did the same thing for lunch on Wednesday. Give and you receive. It works that way every time. I think of "being interested in everything" as "childlike wonder". Just another reason to be like a kid:)

[Kenny Kim]

Joe u inspire me. :-)

[Rick Brotherton]

Joe, I'm with you. "childlike wonder" is exactly what I love about riding my bike. I'll go out for 3 hours and I feel like a kid playing, just exploring the world. Anytime you to meet for breakfast or lunch let me know. That share thing works well too! - Rick

[Timothy Uhl]

For photography, I go people watching. Library, shopping malls, or public events, are all very inspiring.

Admittedly, I've even tagged along with friends to weddings where I wasn't specifically invited. I always get that "Oh, I wish I had my camera," feeling. It's great for noticing new things that you don't always see when your eyes are smashed up against the viewfinder.

[Jason]

Isn't it funny what inspires a person! Lately I've really found myself inspired by those grainy fake images you see in something like a private detective movie. Where you see the scene and then here the click and later in the movie you see all these images in an envelope showing up in someone's mailbox. I was at an engagement session lately and loved that look of these grainy, kind of soft, voyueristic (sp?) images. Great post Joe!

[Joe Photo]

Thanks Kenny:)

[Joe Photo]

Keep exploring your world Rick. Lunch sounds great.

[Joe Photo]

Hey Timothy, are you a wedding crasher for inspiration? Cool. Disneyland is my favorite place to people watch. Talk about all kinds of people...

[Joe Photo]

Jason, what a great source of inspiration. It just goes to show, when you use your imagination, most anything can inspire you. Keep it up.

[Fed]

If ever in Boston, lunch is on me. Small price for inspiration. Anyone.

[Signe Adams]

I think of art as is an organic ball of ideas. It feeds itself, it grows and mutates, imitates, and inspires itself. It's all around us and it's global. I'm inspired by fine art, but also music, graphic design, pop culture,theater, movies, advertising, fashion, textiles, books, magazines, photography, and more. I look for inspiration it where ever I can find it - every single day. I keep a journal and if I find something that interest me I look into it, learn more about it, write about it, talk about it, play with it. For me it's about absorbing it all and letting it come out as something new and beautiful. The creative process comes full circle when I put the work out there to share.

Edna

[NIck]

Ah, Edna, you said it so much better than I could. I'll just add one of my favorite quotes from Picasso: "Inspiration does exist, but it must find you working" and its corollary from Louis Pasteur: "Chance favors the prepared mind." You can prepare your mind for inspiration, and when it comes, don't ignore it!

Nick (a little late in true introvert form ...)

[Joe Photo]

Hey Rick,
Thanks for the recommendation. I got it for myself for Christmas. -Joe

[Joe Photo]

Edna, You make me smile. Keep up the journaling. When you're famous, it'll be easy to script your life!

[Joe Photo]

Nick, you're right on. Inspiration is all around us, once we realize it's there. -Joe