Where Does Inspiration Come From?

Even though we recently took a wonderful trip to New Mexico and I loved photographing the scenery there, after finishing most of my edits on the photographs and reviewing my work from the trip, I am less than excited. Nothing stikes me as terribly new or interesting. Yes, the photographs are of new landscapes and scenery that was breathtakingly beautiful, but the work itself is OK but nothing stands out as really something I am proud of.

I find that this kind of discouragement happens when I reach a plateau in my work. I’ve stopped learning or I need new inspiration to get my creative juices flowing.

Here’s a story of how I found inspiration when I wasn’t really aware that I was looking for it.

Recently I had lunch with 4 photographer friends. As is often the case when photographers gather, we discussed our work. I mentioned my recent feelings of discouragement with my work and one of my friends immediately spoke up, “When you feel like that it’s time to take a workshop.”

I agreed that it was probably time to learn something new and search for new inspiration.

Then the discussion went on and she began to talk about some work she was doing with transparency. I expressed interest in the technique and a day later another friend who was at the gathering sent me a link to a YouTube video that discussed the technique.

As I watched the video I experienced the big aha, the big

Yes!

that all artists look for.

It was like fireworks in my brain — using flowers on a light table to achieve a look of transparency.

I love photographing flowers. In fact it was my love of flowers that first got me interested in pursuing photography. And the idea of using a light table as a base for photographing flowers is brilliant!

Light tables can be expensive so I went looking on Craigslist and found a big heavy metal table 22 x 27 x 30 inches for $15.  Jon helped me pick it up today (he did all the heavy lifting — have I mentioned lately how much I appreciate his willingness to help me when I come up these plans?).

And the photo above was one of my first play photos made with some flowers from my hummingbird flower garden to see how it would work. I am beyond happy with the results. And I expect that I will be playing and learning with plants and flowers on my light table for some time to come.

Where Does Inspiration Come From?

The point of this story is that you never know what will spark the next inspiration for your work or art. It can be a conversation. It can be taking a workshop or reading a book. The important thing is to keep exposing yourself to new ideas and talking to people. For me it helps to talk with other photographers. But it might be even more interesting to talk with painters, musicians, potters, or crafters.

“I never made one of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking”
― Albert Einstein

The more interesting things you expose yourself to the more interesting you become. Since your work is really an expression of who you are, get curious, explore, play. You never know when the next “Aha!” will appear.

May you walk in beauty.