My creative lesson of week 43 — Making it work

25 October, 2020

Grapes is a sign that summer is ending

This week I had a real “make it work” experience with my weekly 52Frames photo.

The theme was reflections, and as it is often the case with weekly challenges, I was not feeling it. Not feeling a theme is lazy-speak for knowing what the theme is but not being immediately inspired to conjure up a 1001 brilliant ideas.

I was going to have to work for it.

Luckily we have something called the internet, especially Instagram, that is filled with amazing photo ideas. I spent only a few minutes there until I realized that I am going to the beach to take my reflection photo.

We have just exited our second lockdown here in Israel and our family was definitely in need for a day at the beach. They are used to it that spending time at the beach means that mommy takes photos too.

The beach plans were quickly canceled early Saturday morning.

We woke up with a strong sharaf wind blowing. Sharaf means burn and this is a very apt name for this wind. It is a hot wind filled with dust that makes everyone irritable. The only way to survive a sharaf is by cranking up the aircon and sealing all the shutters. NOBODY goes outside during a strong sharaf.

Okaaaaay then, the reflection photo will now have to be an indoors shot.

But what reflective surface will I use?

The toaster? No, not shiny enough.
Spoons? No, too difficult.
A mirror? Been there, done that.

Then I remembered that the stand in my daughters’ bathroom has a removable glass plate. I experimented a bit, then placed a black T-shirt under the glass and viola!

I had my reflective surface.

One cool photo idea usually turns into several experiments

One of my favourite TV-shows of all times is Project Runway, a reality show where the contestants have to whip up artsy clothes in a day or two. They are often clueless about what to make, or encounter hurdles such as not having enough material or a zip that breaks minutes before the runway begins.

The host, Tim Gun, will then tell the contestants to “Make it work”. Most of the time they do find a solution. Sometimes it is something brilliant, other times the clothes come out flimsy-made and oddly shaped.

But they have something to send down the runway.

And of course, I got to play with garlic too

I love it when you have an idea for a photo, go out and shoot it and it is an amazing photo. This however does not usually happen.

One often struggles with an idea for a photo or the lighting or the editing, or bad weather or a 1001 other things. Then you just have to flex your creative muscle and try something else.

We often look for creative challenges on our own terms. We want to make something but don’t want to work too hard or pay any creative price. We shy away from challenges that seem too difficult.

Isn’t it better though to take on a little bit too much? We know that any shit that can hit the fan, will eventually hit the fan. 😁

Somewhere, somehow you are going to have to get as creative as you can. So maybe it is a good idea to exercise that creativity muscle and learn that “making it work” is just another step when you make anything.

Ginger! The new kid on the block (or produce in my kitchen)

I belong to this photo group called 52Frames where we have to take a photo and upload it every week. (It is 100% free to join but take note that the deadlines are strict.) Plodding along every week getting my weekly photo has taught me a lot about creativity.

My other creative endeavors are writing words, writing code and messing around with drawings and fiber art.

Here are a few of my other creative lessons I learnt this year:

My creative lesson 40 — Walking with the moon

My creative lesson 41 — It is good to be ignored

Creative lesson 42 — When you have too much on your plate