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09/09/2002 11:13:09 AM · #1 |
The amount of creative minds that have come together at this site always astounds me, but intrigues me.
My question is: How did you come to be so creative? Are you graphic designers? Artists? In school where your mind is always being challenged? Born that way? (hehe).
I have always had a better time at expressing myself in words (well, for the most part), so, getting a visual idea and translating it well in a photo is a goal I have.
Any comments?
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09/09/2002 11:19:27 AM · #2 |
Originally posted by Karen Bryan:
My question is: How did you come to be so creative? Are you graphic designers?
As a full time graphic designer for the last few years, I feel less and less creative as the seconds tick by. Not that I really ever felt that creative to being with. But I agree with you, there's a lot of good talent on this site.
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09/09/2002 12:49:11 PM · #3 |
Here's what I try to do. When I learn what the new challenge is, I usually have several things instantly pop into my mind as possible subjects. Then I immediately eliminate those items (unless something really unique popped out of my mind that quickly, which doesn't normally happen!) because they're probably going to be the "cliche" items of the week.
For example, when the "Childhood without Children" challenge was announced, my first thought was swingset/playground equipment. But I figured that this was going to be everyone's first thought, so I didn't go that route... and it turned out that there were 20+ photos along that line (although there were some of those I liked a lot).
I think about the challenges while I'm driving, or while I'm going to sleep... and usually something jumps out at me (hopefully by Tuesday, as opposed to Saturday!)
Once I come up with an idea, I try to take it a step or two further than my original concept. Again thinking of the "Childhood without Children" challenge, I decided to get a shot of a toy on the roof -- originally I was thinking of a frisbee.
When I couldn't find a frisbee in our local stores, I found a badminton birdie in our basement, and chose that as the subject. Then I tried to take it a step further by adding a second birdie in the gutter to suggest that getting something stuck on the roof had happened before.
I think the key is to try to take the subject at least one step further than the original idea. Ask yourself, "how can this picture tell a story?" "What can I shoot that will make people think that my idea is unique?" "How can I bring about an emotion in this shot?"
I'm not claiming to be any sort of expert... this is the aspect of DP Challenge that is most interesting and fun to me. Coming up with an idea and then executing it as best I can is tremendously fun, I think.
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09/09/2002 01:13:49 PM · #4 |
| I am an artist, (watercolor, graphite, pen, etc.), and have always thought that I do have some small amount of creativity, but every single week, without exception, I see work at this site that just blows me away. The imagination and creativity that shows through on a lot of the work on this site humbles me, but also challenges me. You guys (and girls!!) teach me something every day. |
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09/09/2002 01:18:38 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by Karen Bryan:
The amount of creative minds that have come together at this site always astounds me, but intrigues me.
My question is: How did you come to be so creative? Are you graphic designers? Artists? In school where your mind is always being challenged? Born that way? (hehe).
I have always had a better time at expressing myself in words (well, for the most part), so, getting a visual idea and translating it well in a photo is a goal I have.
Any comments?
I have always loved to be creative - since i was little - 5 or 6 - i can remember helping my dad with the magazine that he started in our basement in NJ ... those in NY NJ CT PA MD PM me or drop me an email and you may know of the magazine ...
then in school I've always taken art classes - and even went to college and was an art major ... and i was mainly studying graphic design and desktop publishing -
My photography skills and passion i kinda just stumbled upon within the last year or so ... :o)
My other artsy talents would consist of crocheting (grandma taught me last summer and it keeps me busy at work when we are slow), photo manipulation, making collages, alittle bit of drawing, desktop publishing (going on 12 years), being a big kid and helping people plan vacations - yes - that is a skill or talent - maximizing your time!!! (i want to design a tip book for the parks one day!)
So i keep myself busy - kinda hard NOT to ... hehe
Have a good day everyone!
* This message has been edited by the author on 9/9/2002 2:52:15 PM.
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09/09/2002 01:59:14 PM · #6 |
I agree with alansfreed's comments... by and large thats the exact same methodology I use.
I try, but rarely succeed, in milking a given idea for all its worth. Though the results are often NOT what I originally had in mind--if that makes sense. Also, I dont usually wind up with a lot of outtakes cause their all different interpretations of the same subject. (I also have a great muse, and she helps from start to finish ' - ) |
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09/09/2002 02:11:30 PM · #7 |
My creativity has been limited to music. With photography, I just capture was is around me. Over the years, I have found certain types of light work the best for what I want to capture.
I have never been good at visualizing an image, and then bringing it to film.
I have one shot in particular that I have been wanting to capture since I was in college, and have never done it. I had a willing model, but I could not find the spot. I wanted to so a mulitexposure shot of a long haired girl in a gown dancing around a bon fire. I could never find a good place to build the fire.
I am very happy with many of my photographs, but anyone who has checked out my site has seen that the "creativity" is limited.
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09/09/2002 02:20:59 PM · #8 |
No idea where it started.. but I'm all into crafty things.. etc. Lets see.. I'll do photo edits, restoration, web design, and digi-photography. I also enjoy making collages, cross-stitch, handmaking things (gifts, etc), decorating, painting (acrylics, watercolor..)
My major is Advertising and i'm on the Creative track (as opposed to Management). My focus (kind of like a mini-minor) is Art. I've taken a painting (acrylics) class, a watercolor class, and right now I'm taking a 3D concepts class (making sculptures out of wire).
I might be helping out a friend and doing costume/prop design for her dance performance later this fall!
Some of my future goals include making a scrapbook or two (currently buying supplies.. anyone has anything "left over" and you wanna get rid of it let me know!), learning to quilt, learning to play guitar, taking a ceramics class, and taking a glass blowing class.
So yeup. Thats my creative-process. Learn learn learn. :)
That's why I participate at this site. I don't care if my photos don't rank high among everyone, I care what I learn from the comments and from what other people are doing.
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09/10/2002 12:06:15 AM · #9 |
I inherited both the talent and the need to be creative. I turn 56 in a couple of weeks so I have had time to know myself. I have been tested with nearly genius ability in visual manipulation but verbal/math skills bordering on the handicaped. tonedeaf too. Family cercumstances and undiagnosed mental conditions have left me with little self esteem and a need to be noticed and to bring order to chaos by creating --- So: art classes Art Major High School art teacher, avid needleworker, Caligrapher, back to needlework, then computer graphics and now photography. I have never been and never will be good enough to make aliving at this. But it is all I have ever had.
Sorry to expose the dark side.
I do hope someone else contributes to this thread, I hate having the last word. |
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09/10/2002 12:14:15 AM · #10 |
Well, I don't know if I'd be considered "creative" or just misguided :P (My name is actually an anagram of Naive Lass you know!).
I started drawing when I was a very young kid, and my parents encouraged me a lot with that. Also with writing. I ended up with a strong interest in all kinds of artistic things, but I was also good at school academically so I pushed art to one side for a long time. After I finished my Physics degree, I realised I just couldn't live that way and changed direction into 3d computer graphics and animation. I've had to catch up a bit, discover what my creative drive really is and where it pushes me, how to express the things that are important to me visually, etc. DPC is a great way to explore all that in a fun way with lots of other people to interact with from varying backgrounds :)
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09/10/2002 12:50:56 AM · #11 |
I've never thought of myself as creative.
I feel like Zeissman: "With photography, I just capture was is around me."
sjgleah
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09/10/2002 04:59:36 AM · #12 |
I've used my left brain most of my life, and now trying to exercise my right brain. I find it much less stressful, and really enjoying the new experience. Although I am a musician, I only played music created by other people, never created any of my own.
I think I have had a few creative moments, but they are really few and far between. Hopefully, the more I challenge my right brain the more creative I can become!
* This message has been edited by the author on 9/10/2002 4:58:48 AM.
* This message has been edited by the author on 9/10/2002 4:59:25 AM.
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09/10/2002 06:50:13 AM · #13 |
Originally posted by mci:
Originally posted by Karen Bryan:
[i]My question is: How did you come to be so creative? Are you graphic designers?
As a full time graphic designer for the last few years, I feel less and less creative as the seconds tick by. Not that I really ever felt that creative to being with. But I agree with you, there's a lot of good talent on this site.
[/i]
This is my situation as well. It seems everyone has some creative talent, and for some reason I need to take breaks to regenerate it now and then. As a pro typesetter and graphic designer I think there are some incredible ideas made into images every week here. (Things I certainly never would have thought about.) Keep up the good work!
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09/10/2002 07:05:21 AM · #14 |
Mine is more a cross of creativity and competitiveness. I am a former Chef who released most of my creativity through food but have always enjoyed that aspect of life. Most recently it has been through building web sites. I always have been involved in sports. I love the competition. I coach several successful teams.
I can't wait to see the challenge every week. I know that I am not a great photographer with great equipment so I am learning ways to overcome that. I love to learn, I always have. This site offers me a way to learn, express my creativity, and compete with others all at the same time. What else could I ask for?!? |
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09/10/2002 07:32:39 AM · #15 |
i've never thought of myself as creative, in fact, i always think i'm the black sheep in the family in that respect. the digital camera changed all that because i'm not wasting film, and, boy, do i take a lot of pictures of the same subject over and over and over to maximize my chances of liking one of them! ;) dpc just pushes my boundaries by making me look at photographing things i usually wouldn't, or at trying to express things in photography, which is something i haven't done before, i've always just photographed things i liked to look at.
nowadays the challenge topic seems to be consuming most of my waking and sleeping time just thinking about it! ;)
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09/10/2002 09:23:10 AM · #16 |
Originally posted by Karen Bryan:
How did you come to be so creative?
I'll let you know if I ever become it :) I'm in an uphill battle against an overly analytical, mathematical mind that seeks logic first. I currently have been shooting 'by the numbers' and am looking to take the leap into 'artistic'. This place has helped me at least see what I'm lacking, now comes the hard part. |
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09/10/2002 09:29:51 AM · #17 |
My mom worked at the local art center when I was growing up so I spent most of my time after school and summers at the center taking classes(art, theatre, music, etc), hanging out with the strange instructors or wandering through the dark passages all around the center.
My dad thought art was a bunch of crap and sent me to school to study engineering...A year of that I said screw it and switched to communication/marketing (advertising/graphic design) and here I is :-)
I must say one of the greatest influences of my college career was a professor of media studies who was a professional photographer. His candid and personable nature was so refreshing compared to the stuffy egos most professors projected and he encouraged me to go for my interests versus what other people thought I should do. |
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09/10/2002 11:23:39 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by mci:
Originally posted by Karen Bryan:
[i]My question is: How did you come to be so creative? Are you graphic designers?
As a full time graphic designer for the last few years, I feel less and less creative as the seconds tick by. Not that I really ever felt that creative to being with. But I agree with you, there's a lot of good talent on this site.
[/i]
Yes! I agree!
I'm astonished with the quality of a lot of talents...
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09/10/2002 11:54:40 AM · #19 |
Creativity... Hmmm... Don't tell anyone, but I may fall into the Zeissman category :)) My only real creativity is in music. I have been playing guitar for just over 25 years... (started when i was 9). I don't take it seriously anymore but music is my first real hobby.
My father has been into photography for most of his life. He never really developed an artistic talent with photography as we would see it though. He did photography for the local newspaper when he was young and then he moved into the graphic arts arena managing a few printing businesses and doing all the product photography himself. He knows the technical side of photography better than anyone I know and I use him as my own technical resource when I need help with something.
My mother owns her own typesetting business (a dying art, it seems). She is not an artist of any special sort, but one of the things I learn from her is that simplicity can be a very powerful thing. Maybe one of the concepts that I have learned from her is that, in a design, or in art for that matter, things that you see should have a reason. Art and photography, like business forms and logos, should be simple and effective.
Creativity is not something that comes easily for me. I have managed to make a few creative photos, but I am still learning. I am not to the point yet where I can always forumulate my own creative idea for a photograph... especially for a challenge photo. I don't mind surfing the net looking for ideas that inspire me. Sometimes, with a basic idea that I find, I can put my own twist on it to make a completely different image.
After all, creativity to me and creativity to you will not be the same thing. Even if I thought I was creative, I'm sure that others would not always agree. If you think you are creative, I may not agree :) If *I* think I am being creative, I am happy.
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09/10/2002 02:37:25 PM · #20 |
I thought I had something original to say until i read jmsetzler's msg. I too am first a musician (15 or so yrs of guitar). And my father is also big into cameras and photography. I won't lie to you all, I'm not the most creative person. I am however pretty good at developing someone else's creative genius. I have been taking photography real serious now for about 3 weeks. That's no joke. It might only last 3 more...who knows. I've taken thousands of pictures with my digital cameras. I don't think I have a real talent for taking pictures right now. Maybe I never will. I think what I have developed these last few weeks is an eye for seeing some things in the pictures I have taken that I didn't see before. Getting involved with you folks on this site has really opened my lenses to the world. For the candid challenge, I took a few hundred pictures, but most of them were crap. I think that was the major difference between candid and F&V is that you can visualize what you want with F&V, pose things if you want. It was much harder with the candid challenge...it just had to work out where I could get a good shot. It didn't, so I didn't submit anything.
I have seen a lot of really great shots. Some of them are very setup and if a person does it right, it looks great. I think there are some of the folks (like me) who sort of settled with something not as good as they liked but wanted to submit something. Some of the entries this week are kind of on that line where they have a good idea, but aren't capable of shooting it properly, which really is kind of a shame. And then the flip side is the very unimaginative subject shot very well, which personally I would vote higher (as this is more about photography, right?) Thanks for listening
Inspzil
* This message has been edited by the author on 9/10/2002 2:37:48 PM.
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09/10/2002 04:14:12 PM · #21 |
Creative thread....(pun intended)...My thanks to Karen Bryan for starting it. From reading this thread I feel I have the most in common with aelith and lisae. Like aelith I will be 56 on my next birthday, for all of you youngins out there "it gets better every year." (aging was something that terrified me in my 20's) Like lisae, I pushed all my creative ambitions to the background for something more monitarily rewarding. Now I have time to see the light.
I guess for me, being creative...if you can call it that...started at a very young age with designing and making my own doll clothes and sketching. I also took years of Piano and Accordion but that didn't kick in as well. I have an old Steinway upright piano, given to me by an Aunt and Uncle, and it never gets played. What a shame. With luck someone in my family may be born less musically challenged.
My life has taken me through several phases of interest in a creative sense. I do all sorts of crafts, mostly self taught. Like Alansfreed, I do my best creative thinking in my sleep. If I can't figure something out I take it to bed with me, and usually, the answer comes to me in the middle of the night. I taught myself knitting, crocheting, and, Pineneedle basket making, in my sleep, to name just a few. This "dream solving" was most beneficial in obtaining a degree in computer programming. I'd go to bed thinking "How the heck am I going to program that?" and wake up with the answer. I also enjoy Photo restoration, desktop publishing, and webdesign. My 3 favorite programs in the whole world are PhotoShop, Pagemaker, and Excel. (For web design I prefer to write the code from scratch.)
For most of my professional life I've managed the Materiels Management Department in a Hospital setting. And most recently, I worked in the County Government setting supervising a clerical assessment team for the Assessor's Office.
I now start each week with dpchallenge, and with each challenge I learn an abundance of new techniques and strategies. Yes, most of my ideas come to me in my sleep. For instance, for the F&V challenge my first inspiration was to photograph those prettily packaged bottles of fruit scented shampoos all lined up and artistically at attention, and then everything I looked at turned into a F&V photo op. Since it was my first idea I discarded it thinking everyone would have that similar theme. Now I wish I would have stayed with my first impressions because I don't see that idea anywhere in the submissions. The most difficult part of the F&V challenge was choosing which idea to submit. Usually I get one idea and use that in various ways to an end result. This time I was dreaming overtime I guess.
The thing I see on dpchallenge that most impresses me is the ability some of you have to take an ordinary object and turn it into and extra-ordinary photograph. To develop that talent is my major goal here.
Enough rambling.....Keep this thread going please.....It is very interesting.
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