Happy accidents

I was in Washington DC earlier this week and had some extra time so I decided to take the Metro into town. It happened to be the peak season for cherry blossoms and so 300,000 other people decided to join me. I enjoyed getting some photos of cherry trees and people taking photos of cherry trees. As I made my way back I happened to get on the wrong metro train and went in the opposite direction of my destination. I realized it after the first stop and got off on the next stop. I had been looking for an opportunity to get an inside shot of the subway station and as I waited I realized hardly anyone else was there. It was the perfect opportunity to get out my camera and shoot. While it took me more time to get back to the car, I was really glad for this delay that resulted in the photo I posted on 4/11/13.

Be sure and stay open to the “happy accidents” as you create. Always look for the unexpected.

PIC-OF-THE-WEEK

As I was "cooking" this photo the subject in the lower right kept emerging as some kind of animal with a water saddle on its back.

RAW

COOKED

Pic of the day

RAW

COOKED

PIC-OF-THE-DAY

RAW

COOKED

Start with what moves you

I don't make my livelyhood from graphic design. But if I did, I think it would be very hard to continually create someone else's ideas or vision. I have great respect for artists that can take a concept and develop it graphically, especially when it's not their own. I suppose in that case, the satisfaction comes more from being able to interpret ideas and then translate them graphically. That's an incredible talent to be proud of.

But for the times when we get to just free style our art, my advice is to start with what moves you. If you are writing a novel, make sure there are times when you have to look through tears to see your computer monitor. If you are composing a song, let the music express your most joyous thoughts or your most desparate fears. For everything you do creatively, try and capture the extreme emotions that are only yours, even if you never tell anyone what actually drove your creation.

PIC-OF-THE-WEEK

 I drove through Mill Creek Park last night and got some shots. This is Lanterman's Mill (with a few tweaks from Photoshop).