A famous Composer was once asked what motivated him to write. He answered, “Money.” I don’t recall who that composer was; I thought one of the Gershwin brothers, but a friend believes it was overheard by Leonard Bernstein. No matter, here’s this week’s Blog about inspiration.
Atlantic Canada is a perfect place for Photography. It has just about everything one could ask for; Ocean coastlines, Rivers, Lakes, Forests, open fields and Meadows, Mountains, Valleys, and the most spectacular Sunrises and Sunsets.
Yes, Atlantic Canada is a perfect place for Photography; except when it’s not. Our summers are short, our winters are long, cold, windy and drab. A fresh snowfall can add life to a Landscape scene, but in recent years, the Picturesque winter scenes are short-lived and the snow either melts or is washed away by rain soon after it has fallen. Winter skies are either bright blue, (to the point of being washed out) or flat grey.
Fog, so Mystical in Woodlands, is often accompanied by rain or drizzle, making protecting one’s camera and accessories imperative.
Finding inspiration under such conditions is often a challenge, and even when finding inspiration isn’t necessarily a challenge, responding to it in a timely manner can be. Last year I was at home, enjoying a coffee with an eye to the picture window. I was getting excited to see a dense fog roll in from the ocean. There had been a fresh snowfall a few days before, and it hadn’t yet melted (although the fog was about to begin that process) I hurriedly poured the remainder of my coffee into my travel mug, donned my boots and jacket, grabbed my camera bag, and headed out the door. Ten minutes later I was on my way to the nearest Provincial Park where a tree I call “The Sentinel” stands. While I have photographed this tree several times, I have never been able to capture it in a mystical fog. I may have been guilty of a few speed limit infractions in my haste to get there that day, but to no avail; when I arrived at the park, there didn’t seem to be any fog there. Disappointed, I walked up to The Sentinel and paid my respect anyway. Standing at the edge of the small clearing where “he” stands, I could see fog all around me, several hundred meters (or yards if you aren’t Canadian) away. It was to be that sort of day, where the fog seemed to be everywhere except where I was standing. I walked down closer to the river, certain that the fog would be thicker there and I might be able to capture a stand of Spruce Trees or a solo Birch in a foggy embrace. Not… To… Be….
As the daylight faded toward the end of the afternoon, I made my way homeward, feeling great disappointment and a sense of urgency that was difficult to explain. I came to understand that the urgency I had felt was an inner compulsion to get images, as if I were under contract to produce Photos or be cast aside.
The same was true of my Vlogs; staying relevant meant producing content on a regular basis. My disappointment at not doing so led to despair that intensified both my perceived need to produce, and my crushing urge to just give up.
I’m the sort of person who gets pretty intense about the things about which I feel passionate. I’m either all in or all done. That has served me well in my Musical career, and I had hoped it would be the same for my Photography. And it can be yet, but I have to lighten up and take a different approach. I have to be okay with things not working out.
As we enter the third year of Covid-19 being a reality in Canada, we’re all tired… I recently learned that Covid Stress Disorder is an actual diagnosis now. I find it difficult to concentrate under stress, and my energy level drops to a point where I can barely function. Traipsing through the woods or along the shore is probably the very thing I need, but to find the motivation…. I’ll admit, that’s hard!
I have to be okay with that. I have to accept my losses as well as my wins, and I am under no obligation to make content either for my website or my Vlog channel. Should I ever reach that level, I will re-evaluate at that time. Meanwhile, I will continue to use this Blog as a means of keeping you up to date on my activities or lack thereof. I am also once again getting a few ideas for Vlogs, so expect something before Summer arrives.
So, how do YOU deal with stress? What motivates you when you just don’t have it in you to be productive? Click on the “contact” button and let me know. Let’s start a dialogue and encourage each other.
Until next week, keep your shutter finger warm and always remember to pack extra batteries. Thanks for dropping by!!