Creative Thriving in Monotony
Monotony gets a bad reputation, but maybe it’s misunderstood. Experiencing the same thing over and over—walking the same streets, seeing the same sights—might just be an avenue to creatively thrive. The mundane life we live can spark ideas, if only we embrace it.
“Make a photograph of the same vantage point every single day for 365 days.”
This practice is more than repetition; it’s about finding the moment when everything aligns. Crossing the same bridge daily, how many ways can you frame the river? The skyline? One day, the light, the weather, and your perspective will combine to create something remarkable.
The Beauty of Creative Constraints
Creative constraints are not limits; they are opportunities. By choosing to photograph only in black and white, or sticking to a single 35mm lens, you force yourself to dig deeper. This narrowing of focus fosters creativity.
- Limit yourself to black and white.
- Shoot with one lens.
- Explore one location repeatedly.
Today, while riding the bus along the Schuylkill River, I experimented with framing the landscape through a small slit in the bus window. Inspired by Larry Towell’s photograph through a fence, I began to think: what if I take this idea further? By using this tiny frame, I’m not just capturing the river—I’m reimagining it. Constraints like these push me to see more deeply.
Seeing the World Anew
The mundane details of life are often overlooked, but they hold the key to avoiding creative burnout. “When you wake up eager to catch the sunrise, to see the world anew, that’s where success lies.”
Through photography, I ignore reality and create my own version of the world. That’s the power of the medium. It’s not about capturing what is but imagining what could be. This is how I approach my creative process every day—by transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
The Tragedy of Losing Curiosity
The greatest tragedy for a photographer is losing curiosity. Can you walk the same mundane lane and still find something to photograph? That’s the challenge we face. The streets, the park, or even a bus ride—each moment holds potential. It’s up to us to see it.
“Photography makes life more interesting.”
When creating a photograph, the goal isn’t to capture reality but to reimagine it. Photography lets us ask, what could this be? Through this question, we fuel our curiosity, the driving force behind every image.
Why I Photograph
Why do I photograph? It’s simple: I’m curious. Photography is my way of exploring, of discovering new worlds within the everyday. It’s not about perfection or routine—it’s about seeing life differently, every single day. That’s why I pick up my camera. That’s why I create.