How I Find Inspiration in the Everyday | Chesapeake Photographer

1. “To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”
   — Elliott Erwitt

Finding inspiration in the everyday, ordinary moments is one of my favorite things to do. It is a challenge, for sure, but I welcome the challenge. It's something I am always and forever working on.
​I have worked hard to train my eyes and my brain to seek out these things- to study the light, to think about composition, to think about colors. 

There are others whose work I admire, who I feel are so much better at this than me. But I also know this: comparison is the thief of joy.
You will never know joy if you are comparing your progress and your work to others. Your path is your path. Your creative journey is yours alone. 
 

Here are a few of the ways I continue to find inspiration in the everyday:

• l look for repeating patterns, colors, and shapes. These are foundational in photography and I'm still always amazed at how I find them naturally in the world around me. It's a fun exercise to do even when I don't have my camera on me. It helps train my eyes and brain to see these things almost subconsciously. 
• I look for beautiful light. Photography is essentially the study of light. I am always looking at the way that light falls on things and the directionality of it. I feel like there is always something more to learn about light. Beautiful light will always be an inspiration for me. 
• I look for things that make me laugh. I love to laugh (who doesn't?!) and I like to think I have a sense of humor. I am always looking for the humor in things, even in my sessions. Kids never disappoint- they are hilarious! And they do strange things! My images aren't always obviously humorous, sometimes it's more subtle. Sometimes it's a juxtaposition. The point is that you find the thing that brings you joy, that makes life interesting. Photograph that. 
• I shift my perspective to one of gratitude. I am going to link a blog post I did here announcing that I had an image chosen for the inaugural exhibition of the Documentary Family Awards "Transforming Perspectives". I think this blog goes more in depth than I will here about the subject, but man, the act of shifting your perspective is so powerful. I've been trying so hard to live my life with more gratitude. I've found that when I intentionally focus on that, life just gets better. Love is the foundation for most things in our life. And honestly, that's just beautiful. Be appreciative. Be present. You'll find inspiration there.  

These are just a few of the ways I am striving to better myself and my art. When I am in a creative rut, it helps to do things that are different. Something that allows you to stretch your creative muscles. Sometimes when you do something out of the ordinary, it sparks that one thing that was missing, or obstructing, your creative flow.

Give some of these a try, ponder on them a bit, then come back here and tell me what you think or what you did. Reach out to me on Facebook or Instagram! I'd love to hear about and see what you are working on!