I just have to wonder about the creative process that sees something so mundane while seeing the potential to be something different. How? What's are the steps that goes through your mind?
Hi Jen, sorry it's taken so long to respond. No excuse other than I am so throughly engrossed I forget to check for comments. As to the steps in my mind, for me it's more a matter of what first transpires in the my heart. I try to keep in touch with the fluctuations of my emotions - when something "spikes," like a diving rod, I know I've reacted to something of interest. An emotional response, however, as in life, is just the beginning, and is a signal that the brain needs to be engaged. The trick for me, however, is to begin the discernment process while keeping alive the childlike response of being thrilled by something that just tickled my senses. It takes practice to reign in the "judging" dictator whose voice, if not checked, can easily drown out the flash of joy: "What? A bunch of old sewing machines? Are you kidding me? Nothing to look at here - move along!" If I listen to this traffic cop, I'd miss most on what sparked my interest. Instead, I take it as a sign that there's a gem hiding in the rough, if only I trust my intuition and just begin. It's like writing. A writer will tell you that they begin with a nugget of an idea and then follow the path to where it leads. It's never where they thought they would end up. Such as with the creative process of creating photographic images. Even after taking a few exposures of Miami Sewing Machines, I still hadn't the foggiest notion what I would be doing with it. It's only after I again engaged my brain, where I store knowledge of the elements and principles of design, and decipher what my emotions are saying in relation to what element/principle best corresponds. Slowly a vision begins to unfold, where upon I "practice" several versions on a theme until something magical reveals itself. Sorry I've rambled, but this is it in a very small nutshell. Mark
My first thoughts when viewing this image were of how golden it looked, as if the vault doors of Fort Knox had been opened. As I focused-in, I realized they were simply old sewing machines. It's amazing how these old rusted devices were made to look so glorious.
I just have to wonder about the creative process that sees something so mundane while seeing the potential to be something different. How? What's are the steps that goes through your mind?
ReplyDeleteHi Jen, sorry it's taken so long to respond. No excuse other than I am so throughly engrossed I forget to check for comments. As to the steps in my mind, for me it's more a matter of what first transpires in the my heart. I try to keep in touch with the fluctuations of my emotions - when something "spikes," like a diving rod, I know I've reacted to something of interest. An emotional response, however, as in life, is just the beginning, and is a signal that the brain needs to be engaged. The trick for me, however, is to begin the discernment process while keeping alive the childlike response of being thrilled by something that just tickled my senses. It takes practice to reign in the "judging" dictator whose voice, if not checked, can easily drown out the flash of joy: "What? A bunch of old sewing machines? Are you kidding me? Nothing to look at here - move along!" If I listen to this traffic cop, I'd miss most on what sparked my interest. Instead, I take it as a sign that there's a gem hiding in the rough, if only I trust my intuition and just begin. It's like writing. A writer will tell you that they begin with a nugget of an idea and then follow the path to where it leads. It's never where they thought they would end up. Such as with the creative process of creating photographic images. Even after taking a few exposures of Miami Sewing Machines, I still hadn't the foggiest notion what I would be doing with it. It's only after I again engaged my brain, where I store knowledge of the elements and principles of design, and decipher what my emotions are saying in relation to what element/principle best corresponds. Slowly a vision begins to unfold, where upon I "practice" several versions on a theme until something magical reveals itself. Sorry I've rambled, but this is it in a very small nutshell. Mark
ReplyDeleteMy first thoughts when viewing this image were of how golden it looked, as if the vault doors of Fort Knox had been opened. As I focused-in, I realized they were simply old sewing machines. It's amazing how these old rusted devices were made to look so glorious.
ReplyDeleteThanks Bryan - it's even more so at 40" - the small size here does little to reflect the detail and contrast between machines and the background.
ReplyDelete