Overcoming Creative Inertia

As a photographer I am aware that photography is shaped by light. Some of the most magical light I’ve encountered happens at either just before sunrise or just after sunset. Yet the majority of my photo outings do not occur at those times of day.

When I manage to motivate myself to get up early or stay out late I am almost always glad I made the effort. There is magic in those moments that feeds my soul.

Being outdoors in nature with my camera brings me great joy every time I do it.

“One day’s exposure to mountains is better than a cartload of books.” – John Muir

Yet, I often put off the field trips or let silly excuses keep me from getting up early or staying out late.

I make up all kinds of excuses.

Why do I do this?

I’ve concluded that it’s a mix—fear and resistance, weather, my own physical limitations, and other commitments…

But most of all it’s Inertia.

It is so much easier to sleep in or take it easy or read a book. I have found that I need to create strategies that help me overcome inertia. Because when I overcome inertia I’m almost always glad I did. Here’s an example of what can happen, even when I am highly motivated:

Recently I made an effort to scout out a location to go to for the Super Moon-rise and full eclipse of the moon. When I first heard about the eclipse I thought, “This is an opportunity too good to miss.” After thinking about what I wanted in the foreground for my moon-rise shot, I decided the huge wind turbines in the countryside would be perfect. Four days before the eclipse Jon and I got in the car and started heading south from Minneapolis. We found the perfect wind turbine location in northern Iowa, a two and a half hour drive from our home.

Even after all the effort to find the perfect spot, perfectly wonderful weather, and great timing (the eclipse happened in the evening instead of in the wee hours of the morning), on the day of the eclipse I began feeling doubt and resistance. All sorts of excuses ran through my mind. Here is a short condensed list:

• It’s not going to be that great so I might as well stay closer to home.
• I’m not feeling 100% so maybe I should cancel.
• Do I really want to spend 3 hours out in the farm fields?
• It’s crazy to drive over 2 hours there and then back again for a few moon photos.

I managed to overcome the inertia and go (with Jon).

We had a wonderful time.

Sitting out on an access road to the wind turbines in between a corn field and a bean field, hearing the hum of the wind turbines, watching the moon-rise and the sky turn dark, seeing a full eclipse of the moon,  gazing at the milky way and the stars above me was worth all the effort, worth the drive, worth overcoming my resistance.

The wonder of nature, the moon and stars, the quiet night filled me with joy.

I’m starting to recognize inertia as a major impediment to doing what I love. Here are some strategies I’ve developed for overcoming creative inertia:

• Make a date with a friend who likes photography or likes nature. It’s always harder for me to disappoint a friend than it is to make excuses to myself.

• Commit to a 30-day practice. I called one practice I began recently 30 mornings outdoors, committing to get up and make photos each morning for 30 days. I left it open so that I could make the photos anywhere outdoors, even in my own back yard.

• Commit to a once-a-week artist date Á la Julia Cameron’s Artist’s Way

• Make it play. Don’t demand results from every effort. Follow the joy and what you love without adding expectations for a particular outcome. Last spring we went to see the migration of the sandhill cranes near Kearney, Nebraska. Before we went I knew that I just wanted to experience the wonder of so many magnificent birds in the same place. Photographing them, while fun, was not my main objective.

• Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Nothing is more discouraging than taking on more than you really can physically and emotionally handle. Treat yourself with kindness and compassion. While stretching out of your comfort zone can be good, make sure that you are tuning in to your body’s needs.

May you walk in beauty.