Sometimes inspiration is hidden.

Inspiration – the catalyst of creativity and the birth mother of new creations with the same key DNA structure. Creative works in art, music photography and writing are all influenced in some form by previous works. Many creators will even disclose that their sources of inspiration gave them the desire and drive to build on their work and create something new in their “style.” Don’t mistake honoring a successful creative with an original work with literally copying the work with little regard to permission and individuality. Capitalizing on another’s successful work is theft and it is an unfortunate occurrence in a world reliant upon popularity. To attempt to be creative and individual while avoiding becoming a stereotypical “starving artist” can result in desperation leading to copyright theft and potential imprisonment. What do you do to avoid such a dreadful occurrence? 

When your inspiration is gone, in any creative field, sometimes a break is a prudent course of action. Allowing time for a “mental” vacation can result in a new appreciation and inspire a lust for new creations. Some completely avoid their craft during this time, while others merely alter their usual course of action. An example for photographers would be to experiment with the simplicity of popular Instagram or even a vintage or toy camera. The burden of editing large DSLR files for hours due to an unorganized workflow can result in a burn-out. Simple photography such as Instagram doesn’t require a deep workflow and the freedom to create can be quite inspiring. Even if you don’t have the technology needed to use Instagram, just browsing some of the incredible work created with a portable phone is inspiring. Granted, there are many who steal work offline or upload images from their DSLR, but most do disclose which camera was used for each image.

Another idea is to discover your own personal style with no input from anyone except yourself. Let your creative soul soar with the possibilities locked inside you. Release your inhibitions and feel the freedom of just doing what you want to do with no apprehensions regarding what’s right or wrong.

A lot of photographers rely solely on natural light. While I love the softness of natural light, I also love the ability to fill areas with flash to create what I see in my mind. In my opinion to use or not use flash is a matter of taste and preference. NEVER hesitate to do something just because it’s a “faux pas.” Sometimes originality is what breeds popularity and a new trend. Provide yourself opportunities to experiment and see what happens. Sometimes freedom can be the biggest inspiration.

Popular inspirational tools among photographers are photo of the day projects. They go by many names, but the most popular is called Project 365. The goal is to create at least one piece of art per day for 365 days. There is a wide variety of websites online providing inspiration for these projects. Many sites even include weekly projects or separate side-projects with the intention to inspire you. Another take on this concept would be to ask friends and family to tell you some key words, phrases or subjects to inspire your own mini-project. An example is the clover and sun-flare photo included with this article. It was requested by a former classmate to capture wallpaper images of a four-leave clover. Using this small inspiration, I captured the subject, but was inspired to add my own twist and creativity to the images.

Let’s consider those photographers who have software burn-out. Lightroom and Photoshop in particular have some amazing free and purchasable presets, adjustment brushes, filters, textures and more to enhance your creativity. Tutorials online can provide the instruction to get started and from there you can create your own masterpieces. Just don’t become so engrossed in the process that you over-edit your images past the point of recognition. In truth, the subject is more important than the edits, but the edits can enhance your image from boring to amazing. Additional online inspiration from popular sites such as Pinterest can quickly inspire even the most bored photographers. Browsing other photographers’ portfolios can also inspire you, but never allow yourself to duplicate their work. Being inspired is different than being a copycat.

Lastly, a great way to inspire yourself is to gather your inspiration in one location. Create a “photographer’s collage” of inspiration either online or at home. These collages can be as simple or intricate as you imagine. Clips of favorite colors, objects such as seashells from a beach vacation, moss from your recent hike in a forest all inspire designers when creating custom designs for a homeowner. The same concept is very useful to photographers too. If there is a style of work you love, but don’t know how to accomplish, then gather examples and practice. Learn how to create your own version. The purpose is to create such a menagerie of inspiration that when you look at it again in the future it will still just as effectively inspire you as when you created it. When creating your inspirational collage, remember to follow copyright laws and never use any of the sources for your own work.

With modern technology, inspiration isn’t hard to find. It’s discovering the possibilities in the search that can be the key to finding inspiration.

About the author: Amber Flowers, Owner of Soul Gaze Photography, is a photographer, digital artist and writer most known for her infrared photography and the ‘fine art’ feel to her work. She is Founder of Southern Kentucky Photographerís Club and a member of The League of Creative Infrared Photographers. Amber resides in Glasgow KY with her Husband, two children and several pets. Learn more, ask questions or purchase fine art photography: www.soulgazephotography.com