Whenever possible, work alone to boost your creativity.
What artists have long suspected has born out to be true, according to Susan Cain in her new book, Quiet. Years of experiments have shown collaboration tends to create fewer and lower quality ideas, compared to people creating on their own. Brainstorming, to remain effective, should be a solitary activity.
But my experience tells me that the work itself is also better when I’m alone. This could be dangerous if your chosen field is wildlife photography, but the creative center of your brain doesn’t care as much about your subject matter as the way it’s approached.
As much as other humans may give us comfort, telling us we are on the right track with an idea (see the popularity of Instagram and Flickr), art is about pushing ideas past where others are comfortable.
Together, we remain comfortable. Alone, we remain unique.
- Seth Godin
(This is the core creativity problem in photography today: everyone is looking to external tools to solve an internal problem.)
Do not automate your creativity.
…can teach you a lot about basics of photography.
…can expose you to new techniques and photographers.
…can provide great fodder for your tumblog.
…can be the ultimate creativity-killing distraction.
Comfort is where art goes to die.
No photographer has arrived, it’s all a journey and everyone needs to get better. Never get discouraged by the photographers who seem to be leaps and bounds beyond your capabilities. They’re not.
You’ve gone down a unique path with your life that no one else can duplicate. So have they. That’s where they get their perspective. Figure out what’s different about your perspective and use it.
From Hugh MacLeod’s Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity:
Art suffers the moment other people start paying for it. The more you need the money, the more people will tell you what to do. The less control you will have. The more bullshit you will have to swallow. The less joy it will bring. Know this and plan accordingly.
