Same old, same old?

“If you keep on doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep on getting what you’ve always got.” - W. L. Bateman

Not that I want to rush through Christmas to get to year’s end, but I have been thinking about the direction of my photography over the past year and where it might be headed in the year to come.

I always seem to consider my equipment first and how it could/should be better, when in reality we all know good photography starts in the eye. There will always be the latest, fastest, best, most advanced gear to desire, debate, and drool over! Ugh. So I’m not sure that’s always a valid concern.

Or do you, like me, stop and ruminate whether or not you are in a creative ebb, experiencing low mojo, or just in need of new different editing software? ;)

Do you ask yourself, how can I take my photography to next level? What the heck is the next level? Do I need to go to the next level? Ugh.

Rather than invest in more, new, different equipment, should I invest in my photographic education? There’s always something we can learn right? Every time I’ve watched a webinar or a class on Creative Live for instance, I either learn something new or relearn something I’ve forgotten or haven’t tried in a long time. And there's always tutorials from Adobe and trust photographers available on youtube.

Also within the past few weeks I’ve watched this TED Talk by artist Phil Hansen several times – it’s got me thinking!

This guy really went to some amazing creative lengths to rethink his limitations!

So what are some creative dimensions we can visit as photographers that are so far outside-the-box we end up back in it? Pinhole camera anyone? Can we go outside of the basic elements of photography (camera, lenses, "film", software) and reinvent our medium? I mean it's not like I'm a painter and I'm going to try sculpting for a new perspective... I want a drone! Now there's a different perspective!!

Goodness, I’ve got a lot of questions going on here. Take some time and think these through. Then will you please come back and comment and help us all rethink our coming photographic year, our next level, and our shared creative journey? No idea will be too ridiculous to entertain after watching Phil Hansen use hamburger grease to paint a portrait, lol!

p.s. Same old, same old does work for cookie recipes doesn’t it? ;)

On an end of year side note: I found this post to be helpful in corralling my wildly spinning disorganized thoughts. It’s at least given me a framework of goals that some might also find helpful regardless of your organizational savvy-ness.

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, & A Happy New Year to you all!