CREATE

By /

CREATE

I’m currently walking down Market Street in Philadelphia, gazing at a memorial to Thomas Jefferson, the first Secretary of State of the United States of America. It quotes:

In tribute to the wisdom and patriotism of the author of the Declaration of Independence.

Below this tablet, it describes Thomas Jefferson as an astronomer, musician, philosopher, humanitarian, statesman, architect, litterateur, and horticulturalist. Not only was he the author of one of the most important documents of American history, but he was a multifaceted individual who left a legacy as a creator.

Why Create?

Becoming a creator has never been simpler. You can pick up your phone and dictate your thoughts, speaking directly into a microphone, without even needing pen, paper, or a keyboard. You can use an iPad to draw, practice photography with cameras, make videos, and share your thoughts instantaneously. The modern world provides more opportunities to become a creator than ever before. There are no gatekeepers or barriers to entry.

We should create to return to a childlike state. Children have fun through curiosity and the spirit of play. I think we become too serious in life, killing our inner child and our ability to create freely without constraints. The goal of creation is to increase your curiosity.

Becoming a creator gives life more meaning than consuming. While there are merits to consuming and being inspired by art and authors, the effort that creators make each day through production fills everyday life with more joy and deeper meaning.

Through photography, you have the power to shed light on stories and communities and gain a deeper insight into different ways of life. I’ve traveled all over the world and experienced a multifaceted and unconventional approach to life through the art of exploration.

Photography is my favorite way of creating because it helps me engage with society, people, cultures, and new places. My most significant journey was in Israel and Palestine, where I volunteered on a Kibbutz, working in horticulture and farming. I also lived with a Palestinian family in Jericho, where I gave tours to visitors, gardened, and even participated in the mosque. At one point in my journey, I went from mosque to mosque, sleeping on the floors, and I would knock on people’s doors, gathering strangers to come and pray. I was a Peace Corps volunteer, working as a fish farmer, promoting aquaculture as a sustainable source of food security in rural villages. I learned a new language, became a teacher, and lived completely off the grid for a period of time.

By becoming a creator, I’ve not only made artwork, photographs, and memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life, but I’ve also impacted the lives of other people all throughout the world.

My ultimate goal as a creator is to leave a legacy of love through engaging with the world on the frontlines of life.

Some Ideas

Let’s break through the glass ceiling and create endlessly. There’s so much potential within each one of us to create. As street photographers, let us not become pigeonholed to one way of working or creating things. Here are some fun ways I’ve been approaching my creativity:

Tools and Techniques:

  • Writing: Using iA Writer and voice dictation to make blog posts and PDFs.
  • Video and Audio: Filming videos and making audio podcasts using a GoPro Mini and Insta360 X3.
  • Photography: Making photographs using a Ricoh GRIII.
  • Calligraphy: Using Zen Brush 2 app on iPad for calligraphy.
  • Digital Art: Creating photo montages, collages, and remixing images using Procreate for iPad.

Practical Tips:

Maybe the ultimate goal of an artist is to share your perspective. By using a GoPro on a chest mount or a head mount, you can share your life candidly through morning routines, biking, behind-the-scenes of photography, gardening, working, or just walking around.

When I walk the streets with my camera, I simply treat the world like a canvas. If there are any objects on the streets that I believe I can use later in a photo montage, I can simply make a snapshot of it, import it to my iPad Pro, and use the artificial intelligence to drag and drop different bits and objects from pictures that I make to create an entirely new visual image. Anything that I find on the streets can become something that I can use later in a new creation.

Anybody can become a creator. There are so many tools and opportunities to make new things. As photographers, let’s think of new ways that we can innovate within the realm of street photography.

Camera Settings

If you have a Ricoh camera, I highly suggest trying out the following settings:

Camera Settings:

  • AV Mode
  • Aperture F8
  • Snap focus at 2 meters
  • Auto ISO
  • Minimum shutter speed of 1/500
  • Highlight weighted metering

Image Settings:

  • Small JPEG (3360×2240)
  • Image Control: High Contrast Black and White
  • High/Low Key Adjustments: -2
  • Contrast: +4
  • Contrast (Highlight): -4
  • Contrast (Shadow): 0
  • Sharpness: +4
  • Shading: +4
  • Clarity: +4
  • Grain Effect: 3

Embrace the grain, grit, and play more. I’ve never had so much fun with my creativity since adopting these new approaches and hope they empower one other person to give it a try!

Scroll to Top