Making My Own Tracks – Racetrack, Death Valley

There is one clear way of knowing that you’re approach to photography is wrong… when you realize you’re not having fun. I consider myself lucky, as soon as I look through the viewfinder of my camera everything else falls by the wayside. This ability to focus and free my mind of extraneous thoughts enables me to simultaneously focus on my subject, lighting, various conditions and most importantly gives me mental room to think creatively. Creative thought is by far the most liberating feeling I’ve experienced. Creative thought can be elusive, but if you’re lucky you’ll find a way to train yourself to constructively harness it. (continued below)

Making Tracks - Racetrack, Death Valley National Park

Years ago capturing creative ideas was random and about as easy as catching butterflies mid-flight with your bare hands. A few outings with friend and photographer Art Wolfe and I realized that having something as simple as a notebook to document your ideas as they come to mind can go a long way. These days I use my iPhone to make note of ideas as they happen if my notebook isn’t handy. Documenting ideas is a great way not to lose them and it’s a great way to think through & let your ideas mature.

Spontaneous creative thought is by far the most fun and rewarding. The moment the lightbulb goes off as a creative idea strikes me my adrenaline starts flowing.  A mixture of intense focus, an eye toward problem solving and kid like excitement  sums up my working disposition at that point. The feeling and process is the same whether I’ve created a photograph of something unique for a client or just for me.

[tags]photography, Racetrack, Death Valley, Death Valley National Park, landscape[/tags]