The Golden Hour
in Poetry
photography
Combating Procrastination & Creative Block
Procrastinate [proh-kras-tuh-neyt]
Verb (used with object), to put off till another day or time; defer; delay
We’ve all struggled with procrastination. If you haven’t – please share your secrets! I struggle with procrastination quite a bit. There is probably something that I’m putting off and if there isn’t it’s probably because I’ve forgotten it.
There are quite a few ways that I procrastinate. My personal favorite is watching TV/Netflix. My “to watch” list is quite long and I even procrastinate watching those shows and movies by re-watching my favorites such as The Office. I’ll read, walk my dog, or scroll endlessly through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I’ll look for new music on YouTube, do laundry or clean up my room. At least some of these are semi-productive, right?!
Now, I should probably let you know some things that I do to try and eliminate or stay away from the distractions listed above. Some of them happen to also be listed as ways that I waste time. I walk my dog to sometimes put things off but on most occasions it helps me clear my head by getting a little fresh air. I will also listen to my favorite band, twenty one pilots, to get some inspiration for my writing and photography. I’ll turn on the TV to a show/channel that can mostly act as white noise so I can concentrate on my work. I’ll make myself a nice cup of hot tea and relax for a few minutes before I get back to work.
I can use all of the things listed below to get myself out of a creative rut/artist block. On top of those, I also like to walk trails in parks near me especially when it’s nice out. Spending time outside and in nature always helps get me out of a creative rut. Another thing I like to do is sit outside and observe my environment, nature and humanity, which can help inspire my writing as well as my photography. The thing I love to do the most is spend time with my dog, Sammy whether it’s cuddling, playing, petting him or of course taking pictures of and with him.
Below is one of my photographs that I took while walking my dog to clear my head.
Have I mentioned that I like taking pictures of trees?!
© Alyssa Barnett
I did a little more research on Creative Blocks and found an article by Connor Martin who talks about twenty one pilots and their struggles with creating and connecting it to his struggle to create. Check it out!
https://writingcooperative.com/when-creating-becomes-difficult-2e8ae4fbf7ac
I also found a great tutorial video by “Overall Adventures” that I have included below to help you all overcome your creative blocks.
How To: Create a Panorama with a Digital Camera
in Tutorials
How I Became An Artist
in Introduction
1. Have you always known that you are an artist?
No. When I was younger I was more interested in English and Literature. I didn’t think that think that photography or creative writing could be considered an art.
2. Have you always known that you wanted to be a photographer?
No, when I was little I wanted to be a veterinarian, a lawyer and then a doctor or more specifically, a neurosurgeon.
3. When did you know you wanted to become an artist/photographer?
Well, I have been interested in photography since I was little but never thought that I could make a career out of it - not until I was much older in high school. I also always loved reading, later on began writing, and never thought about turning that into a career for real until my sophomore year of college.
4. Nikon or Canon? Why?
Personally, I prefer Nikon but that is mostly because that is what I’ve been using since I started with DSLR Cameras. It’s the first one my brother let me borrow.
5. Do you have a favorite Lens?
I just recently purchased a 70mm to 300mm lens over the summer and I’m quite partial to that lens.
6. What is your favorite subject to photograph?
I really enjoy photographing landscapes and basically anything in nature. I also enjoy photographing my dog and my family.
7. What does photography mean to you?
Recently, I haven’t been taking as many pictures as I used to because I like to live in the moment rather than through a screen. I observe now more than I capture. This has really helped me capture more meaningful moments some that can be simple but still just as powerful. It could be a small thing like a sunset or something bigger. Photography means choosing to capture the moments that mean the most to you - ones that you can relive later.
8. Who and/or what inspires you? Not necessarily another photographer.
As an artist many things/people inspire me. I am inspired by a photography named Brad Heaton who is a concert photography mainly for a band called twenty one pilots, who inspire me as well. Brad Heaton inspires my photography. Twenty One Pilots inspire me to follow my dreams of writing and photography. I am also inspired by writer John Green and poet Ashley Dun.
Photo By: Brad Heaton
9. Where does your passion come from?
My passion for photography and creative writing come from God. He gave me the gift of writing and eye for photography. God gives me the motivation to keep improving my skills and nothing beats the joy of creating a beautiful photograph or finishing something you’ve been writing.
10. What interests you most about photography?
I’ve always loved the idea of freezing specific moments in time and how differently the world can look through a lens. I love that photography can convey so many things to thousands of people.
11. How has photography influenced you as a person?
Photography has allowed me to become closer to God. I love nature photography and I specifically love photographing trees. They are so much more than just a plant or source of oxygen. They are symbols of strength and wisdom. Nature and trees have a way of healing the human spirit.
© Alyssa Barnett
12. Some photographers say that they see the world differently and that they have a different perspective on life. What is your perspective on the world and on life?
Photography has helped me see things differently than the rest of the world. You can see beauty where others don’t. The beauty in the old, seemingly broken things: like an old building or dead roses.
Trends
in Trends
According to statistics it is estimated that in 2019 there will be close to 2.77 billion people using social media. Social media and networking have quickly taken the world by storm. Of course, the rise of social media means that more trends are likely to catch on even if it’s only for a short time. These trends can affect each of us whether that is in a good way or a bad way.
Trends can be anything from the currently rising selfie trend to something smaller like a meme which can last anywhere from a week to a year. In my creative field of photography there are a few things that are currently trending that I both agree and disagree with.
A trend that I would love to see more of is film photography. My mom and my grandma always say “history repeats itself.” I never thought that it could apply to trends like photography. Photographers are going back to or trying film. Film photographers are on the rise and social media is a big reason why. Social media platforms have become a place for film enthusiasts to connect. Perhaps, it’s because of the old Instagram filter that made any of your photographs look like it was taken with film. Or maybe it’s because of the nostalgia and level of emotion it brings to the photograph. There’s also a level of surprise when using film photography. Film takes away the option to check the results until the film is developed which can force photographers to work on improving their technical and creative skills. I have provided a link below to one photographer’s belief as to why film photography is on the rise.
https://www.wix.com/blog/photography/2018/04/26/reasons-why-film-photography/
A trend that I want to see less of is the idea that “anyone can be a photographer” with their fancy iPhone cameras. Yes, they can take great pictures but that is not what makes a photographer. I’m not saying that you need to have the newest Nikon or Canon camera to be a photographer but the fact that you own an iPhone does not make you a photographer. However, with the rise of technology and social media, smart phone cameras are being developed to be a mini DSLR camera.
Smartphones are more convenient because of how much smaller they are and that they weigh less than DSLRs. I understand why this makes them a more appealing option for beginner photographers and those who don’t want to carry all that weight or possibly can’t carry that weight. Technology is closing the gap between smartphone cameras and DSLRs but what makes DSLRs the better choice at the moment is the battery life. DSLRs give the option to have multiple batteries that you can switch out when one dies, and of course, you also have multiple lenses to choose from.
In the end, it really is up to the photographer to choose which they prefer. I do think you can be a photographer with a smartphone camera – I have seen many great pictures taken with smartphones. But it takes a lot more than owning a smartphone to be a photographer.