Mocking Bird » Creativity

2011, A Year Of Focus

Amanda — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:00:38 +0000

A lot of bloggers, creatives and philosophers like to choose a word to look to for a year. One word that can launch their aspirations and drive their success for the year. I’ve never done this myself but am drawn to this idea of giving yourself a target for the year. If I were to choose a word that would buoy my hopes for 2011, my word would be “focus”.

In 2011, I want to focus on focus. I want not to do a little bit of this and little bit of that, to not start one thing and then start another, but to concentrate my efforts in one area until I have something substantial and something that I am proud of. I hope to direct my photography down this path and to really look at why I’m shooting. At the end of 2011, I would much rather have 10 photographs that tell a story than 200 that are bits and pieces of a bowerbird’s nest. This is not to say that 200 bowerbird pictures aren’t suitable and honest, but for me right now, I need some focus and a little direction.

Have you chosen one little word in the past? How did you find it helped you throughout the year? I’m interested to see how this plays out and would love to hear your opinions on whether it worked for you or not. I’d also love to hear about your words for the year, if you’re playing along.

This Writing Life

Amanda — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 09:53:10 +0000

For as long as I can remember, I have been writing in some shape or form. I am the first to admit that I am no Hemingway, but it’s always been something I’ve just done. I can’t tell you why or what it even is that makes me do it. Sometimes I hate it. Sometimes I hate it so much that I want to scratch out my own eyeballs with a spoon. But then I do it anyway.

It all started with a poem I wrote in 4th class. At the time I thought it was the best thing I’d ever crafted. It may well have been the first time I felt like I was truly creative. Exercise books were filled with words on family vacations and summer holidays. Like all other dreamy girls, I penned poetry in university and thought I was pretty good because my mum told me so. I will spare you my Sylvia Plath worshipping poetry for now but I will profess this…

While I was spending afternoons scribbling away by the pool while I should have been writing essays, I never imagined that I would actually be writing a real book some day. I never imagined that the kid who wrote the poem simply titled “Pink” would be given the opportunity to write real words in a published book. It really compels me to wonder about all those other dreams I have…perhaps they aren’t as out of reach as I have convinced myself they are.

And as I sit here pondering my next sentences, I really just want to sleep. But of course, my mind won’t let me and I question why I even write these things here. I write them to remember. I write them to remember this moment in time when I was unsure of myself, was totally terrified of screwing up, and was unaware of what was to come next. Because if I remember the uncertainty and terror, it will get me through to the next part. And the next part is where I learn to smile with courage.

Photography Projects To Inspire

Amanda — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:16:59 +0000

In a photography rut? Need a little push to get you motivated and shooting? A photography project is a great way to get some inspiration going. There are many different projects and memes happening on Flickr which you can start at any time. I have completed the 52 Weeks Self Portrait project in the past and I also used to do daily photographs for my old photoblog.

Giving yourself a project to work with is a great way to stay focused and to keep yourself on track. Another benefit is that it gets you shooting regularly and shooting regularly is the best way to improve your photography.

Luckily, there are 2 fabulous projects running this month. Fabulous photographer and good friend of mine, Tracey is running 31 Photos in 31 Days at Sh1ft. Tracey has posted a great list of ideas for things to shoot on the site. She has been involved in the photoblogging community for about 10 years now and she has always been a big inspiration to me. Check out her photographic project page for lots of other ideas. She always has something fabulous going on!

Another wonderful photographer and friend is Susannah Conway who is running August Break. Susannah is asking you to take it easy over August and share one photo a day for the month. August Break is about taking a more relaxed attitude towards the often time consuming blogging schedule. I like it!

One photo project that I personally take part in is Words To Shoot By. Curated by the fabulous Steph Parke, WTSB is a themed project shot by a group of photographers with varying styles and equipment. Each fortnight we are given a theme and submit our shots to Steph. We never see the other photographers’ pictures until they are on the blog. I love checking out everyone else’s interpretation of the theme.

This week our theme was ‘yellow’. I had a lot of fun with mine shooting yellow on Polaroid. It’s such a summery week! Check out everyone’s triptychs here.

Are you taking part in any of these projects this month?

How My Creativity Vexes Me

Amanda — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:00:51 +0000

I have this pounding beating in my chest 24/7 that wants me to stand up and find my thing. At the same time, I have a voice inside my head continually beating on me for not standing up and finding my thing quick enough. I’ve already rewritten these opening sentences three times. Is that the pounding heart or wicked voice in my head? That was a rhetorical but just in case you didn’t quite grasp my wired mutterings, it’s the voice.

I think about photography, about being better, about finding my perfect moments to shoot, for a good proportion of my day. Some may say this is great, how artist like! For me it’s a burdening mind trap that can spiral my emotions into a puddle of mush with no direction and no way out.

This is not a whinge and whine about failure or success. It’s more a noting of the cycles of the toing and froing of my mind that races at 3am thinking about what I should be shooting and how I can accomplish these goals. It’s about pushing myself to be better, to see the value in allowing my creativity to grow and knowing that while it may torture my mind, in the end it can only make me stronger.

Do you ever have these creative voices following you around? How do you deal with them?

Finding Time For Creativity

Ways to be Creative and Work Nine to Five

Amanda — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:03:08 +0000

Those of us that are lucky enough to work in a creative environment are the envy of many office bunnies and often make us 9 to 5ers question our career choices. I think if you are lucky enough to have turned your love/passion/hobby into a reality that you are someone who can teach us all a thing or two about life and taking risks.

I thought I would ask a few clever people who have made the move to share some of their stories with us, but also I want to share with you ways in which you can find creativity in your everyday.

Ways to beat the 9 to 5 blues:

Make time before you head out the door to do what you love if only for 10 minutes:

sketch what your morning hair looks like.
take a photo of your breakfast and morning coffee.
sit and stare at your favourite piece of art hanging on your wall.
sing along to your favourite song as a morning pick me up.
write your love or child a little love letter to cheer them up throughout the day.
catch up on some of your favourite inspirational blogs and sites.

On your way to work you could:

walk through the park instead of catching the bus.
ride your bicycle and feel the wind in your hair.
stop in at your favourite cafe for breakfast and read a novel.
pick some flowers to sketch/photograph in your lunch hour..or give them to a co-worker and watch them smile.
sing along to every song on the radio whilst stuck in traffic and when someone notices you, smile and keep on singing.

At work:

Take a journal and write down your thoughts throughout the day.
Throw your creative ideas on the table during meetings. You never know what may come of it.
Start a book/music/writing club with co workers.
Add a bit of your personal style to your work outfit whether it be through a splash of colour or some gorgeous shoes.
Seek out other like minded people and discuss things you have in common other than work.
Have themed morning teas.
Change around your office space. My office is a class room and I make sure it is colourful, inspirational and pretty for the kids as well as myself. I’d go nuts sitting in a grey office all day!

Now depending on your job, there are some ways in which you could bring your love/hobby into your career. I teach Year 1 students and the way in which I have brought my other love into my career is by being the school photographer. I shoot all our school events and often shoot the kids whilst they work for the school newsletter and photo slides that I make up. Through this I’ve actually had a few of my photographs printed in the local papers.

I work with the student media team and teach them how to use the school cameras for their student newsletter. It’s all very rewarding. I’ve also brought photography into my classroom by using it to teach writing. The kids love it!

Perhaps you could use your talents to help with office newsletters and presentations. People have so many more talents than just the job they do from 9 to 5. Get the courage to ask your boss if you could share some of your other talents at the office!

How have you shared your talents with your workplace or co-workers?

Read Keri Smith’s Ways to Infuse Your Work with Your Personality

p.s. The cupcake, vintage and whispy Polas are now available in my print store.

CREATIVE EVERY DAY

Finding Time For Creativity

Amanda — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:24:00 +0000

Do you get frustrated with your 9 to 5, practical self and wish he or she could help your creative, wanting to sip tea at the local cafe at 11am self? Creativity versus real life commitment is going to be the death of me.

All week long I dream about having that time on the weekend to get out there and take photographs and make something special. As a creative person, I get so miserably frustrated with myself that I cannot manage my time better.

I have been doing some poking around online to see if I can find anyone who has any clever ideas about how to manage this problem. One clever blogger suggested making that time that you make for doctor’s appointments and grocery shopping should also include making time either daily or weekly for your creativity. I have never thought about it this way before. If I get time to shoot, then hooray, but never have I actually thought about penciling it into my calendar and giving myself the time to do it.

Nina from Naturally Nina recently blogged about Artist Dates. An artist date is time you put aside for yourself to go out and do something creative. I think I need to pencil in my own artist date at least once a week.

Today I really wanted to shoot. The weather was gorgeous and due to time wasting in the morning and not getting myself organised the way I should have, it just never happened. I do this all the time and once I am home, I feel this regret and frustration of time wasted. Do you ever feel that?

I think I really need to take a step back with my job. I spend a lot of time after work doing extra things that could be time spent shooting. The weather is so beautiful right now, it’s too good to waste!

Some good ideas on ways to spend an ‘artist date’ and Keri Smith’s article on how to make a living doing what you love is full of great ideas on this topic, whether it be for a career or creativity’s sake.

How do you best use your time or make time for creativity?

CREATIVE EVERY DAY

Amanda — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:06:12 +0000

SO I’VE DECIDED I AM GOING TO WORK 4 DAYS A WEEK and spend that last perfect day shooting photographs interspersed with stops at village cafes.

OK so that may well be a dream and is in fact, not happening any time soon, but I would at least feel that my creative juices that do not get to spread their wings through my working week would be free for at least one day. The weekend is for spending time with family and friends and often times does not lend itself to the totally self centred pass time that photography can sometimes be.

I don’t know about you, but for me, photography is a very personal thing and I shoot better when I don’t have an audience, or a loved one storming out 10 paces ahead of me as I lag behind shooting long grass noticed along the way.

I guess the real problem here is that often when working a 9 to 5, the creativity one would like to express every day, is often stifled. I struggled with this last week during Roid Week. I wanted so badly to shoot one Polaroid every day but work got in the way and made it very difficult.

I really envy creative people who can live their artistry and I only hope that one day I can work towards making my life more creative. In the meantime, I will teach my class how to use cameras, use photography to teach writing and inject as much life and influence I can into how I teach writing.

How do you inject creativity into your every day life? I would love to know. This lady is always inspiring.