The other night I met one of my good friends Geoffrey for dinner, and he’s been having a tough time with his photography. He’s busy with work, traveling, and barely has any time to make photographs.
One of the difficult things for us to do is to stay inspired and to keep shooting.
One of the things I’m interested in (but haven’t really pursued in earnest) is meditation. One of my new favorite books is: “Zen Mind, Beginner Mind” in which Shunryu Suzuki encourages the importance of repetition.
For example, a lot of people who meditate (so I’m told) need to do it everyday. If they skip even one day, their whole practice is pretty much f*cked up. Like Jerry Seinfeld, you need to put the daily “X”’s on your calendar, and to “not break the chain.”
Discover the truth for yourself
The more I study philosophy, books, and live life— the more I get confused.
I grew up Asian-American which encourages these stiff Confucian values. As an American, I’ve been indoctrinated into this cult of productivity, efficiency, and work. Studying Taoist philosophy has helped me chill out a bit, and studying Stoicism helps me look death in the face everyday. But all this shit confuses me more than helps me at times.
As an aside, I feel one of the most important things to do with your thinking is to create a hybrid of all the things you learn. Pick and choose from the different schools of philosophy, and find out what works for you.
Do what works for you
I don’t think you need to shoot everyday. But if you’re the type of photographer that needs to photograph everyday to feel alive— figure out ways how you can shoot more.
Enter the concept of the “visual diary.” With a diary (or journal), you log in entries and reflect on your days. Apparently even Snapchat gives you the ability to “replay” your moments from your day.
The wonderful thing about a diary is that it helps you appreciate the small and mundane things in your daily life.
Most of us live pretty ordinary lives; but I find most of the beauty of life is from these ordinary moments. So if you make it a goal to make “artistic snapshots” of your daily life, you will stay inspired in your photography, and also stay appreciative and enthusiastic in life.
You don’t need a public diary
For most people I know who keep a diary or a journal (the paper-kind), they keep it to themselves. They put in their most intimate moments, and do it for the sake of it. They don’t write in their diary hoping one day to publish it to the internet, and getting tons of “likes” or comments on it.
Similarly, if you keep a “visual diary”, just photograph what you find interesting or meaningful in your daily life. You don’t need to upload all of your photos to the internet or social media. You can keep them for yourself, in your camera, in your hard drive, you can print it yourself, or make a book that only you and a few of your close friends will see.
One of the good things about keeping a visual diary is that it keeps your eyes sharp. Similarly, I find that writing daily keeps my mind and creative juices slowly. In addition, I find that daily physical exercise keeps me “pumped” and in-shape.
Keep an attitude of gratitude
Think about other things you can do on a daily basis. Say grace before you eat a meal and think about how grateful you are for the food. Give a loved one a hug or a call (or even a meaningful text message). Give a smile to a stranger. Give some honest feedback to another photographer on social media— and do it with love.
Don’t feel like you always need to be on the streets
Most of us consider ourselves “street photographers,” but I consider you to just think of yourself as a loving human being that happens to like to take photographs.
If you don’t pigeon-hole yourself into a certain genre of photography; this will liberate you. You will be able to take any type of photograph.
If you live in the suburbs, are always stuck at work, or on a bus— think of other ways you can photograph in your life.
Photograph on the bus, on the metro, photos of your co-workers at lunch, your hotel room, the ruffled sheets of your bed in the morning, strangers on the streets, photos out of the window you are riding in an Uber, or portraits of your loved ones over dinner at a restaurant.
Every small moment is precious. Don’t let it slip from you.
Always,
Eric
April 27, 2016
If you want to make your photos more personal, download the on-going progress of my book: “The Personal Photography Manifesto.”