Creativity - A Transient State
I am fairly certain that everyone who is engaged in creative practices experiences times of high creativity and equally, periods of low creativity. Whether you are a painter, a sculptor, a photographer, or any other creative artist, you are likely to go through periods of time when you lose your mojo and your capability to produce work of a standard that meets your expectations. When we think rationally we know this is a transient state and that at some point it will pass and we will start creating good work again at some point. However, at the time it occurs it is easy to believe that your creative days are over and never again will you produce good work. Your confidence is affected, and ultimately it is easy to stop going out to take photographs or at best to limit your time for fear of disappointment.
I started to experience those feelings in the last quarter of 2023. I struggled to find anything that inspired me enough to want to create an image, and as time passed I started to question whether I would ever take a good image again. The feeling escalated and my confidence eroded to the point where I started to question everything involved in my photography. I couldn’t decide on which locations I wanted to visit, and on the odd occasion when I did, I started to question whether it was worth visiting because of the weather conditions. In essence I started to look for reasons to justify why it was not worth going out.
At the turn of the year I realised that I needed to be proactive to get myself out of my creative rut. I couldn’t carry on doing the same things and expect a different outcome. I needed a plan but before doing so I started by acknowledging to myself how much I enjoy spending time in nature, and equally how much I love my photography and creating images that appeal to me. That simple acknowledgement enabled me to recognise how fortunate I am to be able to pursue the practice of landscape and nature photography, and to adjust my expectations for the future.
The next step was to think about the things I could change in my own practice that would potentially stimulate my creativity and get me back on track. I sat down with a new notebook and a large dram and started to record my ideas and thoughts for 2024. I made a number of personal commitments to myself which I will review on a monthly basis throughout the year. There is nothing earth shattering about the commitments, however they are all actions that I can already see are producing positive results. I am now getting out at least once a week, I am regularly identifying and visiting new locations, I am working towards specific projects, and I am spending more time looking at the work of other photographers and artists in search of learning, inspiration and ideas.
My creative mojo has returned, and while I know I am highly likely to suffer a similar period in the future, I feel much better prepared for that day, and have identified positive steps that I can take to ensure it is only a transient state. So, if you experience a downturn in your creativity, don’t let it overwhelm you and affect your confidence. Be rationale and accept it as a transient state, and take a step back and reflect on your expectations and practices, and actions you can take to restore your creativity.
