{"id":31152,"date":"2016-10-10T06:00:22","date_gmt":"2016-10-10T13:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=31152"},"modified":"2016-09-12T06:34:02","modified_gmt":"2016-09-12T13:34:02","slug":"why-you-should-create-parallel-interests-in-your-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/10\/10\/why-you-should-create-parallel-interests-in-your-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Should Create \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Parallel Interests\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in Your Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Downtown
Downtown LA, 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m currently reading \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Essential Drucker<\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d by the management educator Peter Drucker. His insights into companies, communities, society have been quite inspirational to me.<\/p>\n

The most interesting interesting concept that I got from Drucker was the idea of creating a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153parallel career\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u201d a career that goes in tandem with whatever you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re doing right now. This way you can \u00e2\u20ac\u0153cross-pollinate\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the two interests or passions you have, which also help build upon one another. And you can do this by creating \u00e2\u20ac\u0153parallel interests\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Why \u00e2\u20ac\u0153parallel interests\u00e2\u20ac\u009d?<\/h2>\n
\"Hollywood,
Hollywood, 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We all need a challenge in our lives. Not only that, but we all want to stay creative for our entire lives.<\/p>\n

Drucker talks about how many middle-aged executives lose passion for they work, because they have mastered their field, and there is no more room for growth.<\/p>\n

Therefore he has recommended for a lot of people to build second careers in their lives, just in-case they outgrow the first.<\/p>\n

I also feel that as photographers, it is hard for us to constantly find inspiration. I know I do \u00e2\u20ac\u201d and if you have ever hit \u00e2\u20ac\u0153photographers block<\/strong><\/em><\/a>\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, or wanted to take your photography to the next level \u00e2\u20ac\u201d you can probably relate.<\/p>\n

Sociology x Photography<\/h2>\n
\"Downtown
Downtown LA, 2011<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I feel that I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been understanding this concept of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153parallel interests\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for a while, but haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t been able to define or put it into words.<\/p>\n

For example, my two parallel interests have been sociology and photography.<\/p>\n

I studied sociology in university, and have always been interested in human interaction, human communities, and society as a whole.<\/p>\n

Photography is my passion \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I love image-making, art, and creativity.<\/p>\n

Combining both sociology and photography, I discovered \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photography.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d I consider street photography as applied sociology. Instead of using a pen and pad to do research (typical sociologists), I use a camera as my research tool.<\/p>\n

The benefit of having \u00e2\u20ac\u0153parallel interests\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/h2>\n
\"Downtown
Downtown LA, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The great thing about having these two parallel interests is that they help me be creative, and build upon different ideas.<\/p>\n

For example, a lot of concepts from sociology \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I add that to my photography. And concepts I learn from photography \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I add that to my interest in sociology.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, within sociology and photography, I have branched out my interests.<\/p>\n

Sociology has lead me to studying psychology, neuroscience, business, psychology, marketing, and human motivation.<\/p>\n

Photography has lead me to studying portrait photography, street photography, landscape photography, and fashion photography.<\/p>\n

This allows for more \u00e2\u20ac\u0153cross-pollination\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to happen\u00e2\u20ac\u201d and for more creative ideas to come forth.<\/p>\n

How I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve applied \u00e2\u20ac\u0153parallel interests\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in my photography<\/h2>\n
\"Downtown
Downtown LA, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In terms of my photography, my \u00e2\u20ac\u0153parallel interests\u00e2\u20ac\u009d include \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photography\u00e2\u20ac\u009d as well as fashion photography. I tend to be drawn to shooting \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street portraits\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of people with interesting fashion.<\/p>\n

I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think that I practice a pure form of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153street photography” \u00e2\u20ac\u201d mine is a mix of portraiture, interest in fashion, and human psychology.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, when I tried shooting fashion photography for the first time \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I realized I wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t shooting fashion photography how it was traditionally shot. I realized that I was actually less interested in shooting the fashion, and more interested in photographing portraits of the model (who happened to be wearing interesting clothes).<\/p>\n

How to mesh your \u00e2\u20ac\u0153parallel interests\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/h2>\n
\"Downtown
Downtown LA, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

So friend, a suggestion for you to stay inspired and creative in your photography is to discover your own \u00e2\u20ac\u0153parallel interests\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in your photography.<\/p>\n

For example, you can mesh up the following:<\/p>\n