Creativity

Exercises | Writing | Reviewing Work | Tips

You can learn to be more creative. Watch your process. Watch other people’s process. And, become more versatile. Here are some of the tried and true techniques I use. I help other people use them to further their unique vision in my workshops.

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Recommended Reading | Read/Buy

These are some of the books on the creative process I appreciate most. They’re drawn from all disciplines: photography, drawing, writing, music, dance, martial arts, psychology and business.

Reading List (9/11/05) | Free

My recommended reading list in PDF format.

Exercises

1. Defocus (9/07) | Free

Here's a quick tip for making sure the foundations of your composition are strong.

2. Eyes Wide Shut (9/07) | Free

Expand your intelligence by tapping into your other senses.

3. Gesture (9/07) | Free

Gesture can enliven any composition, making it seem more expressive and lifelike, here are some techniques to add gesture to your work.

4. Sketch (9/07) | Free

The use of sketching to help explore essential elements of a composition.

Writing

1. Portfolio Reviews (3/14/05) | Free

There are a number of basic visual elements and characteristics involved in any set of images. It can be very helpful to identify these things in your work. Doing this can clarify where you have been, where you are, and where you are going.

2. Artist's Palette (6/07/07) | Free

One of the most distinctive things about an artist’s work is his or her use of color. Using a consistent palette is one of the keys to developing a signature style.

3. Artist's Statements (9/11/05) | Free

It’s important to learn how to make the visual verbal, by crafting artists’ statements.

4. Breaking the Rules (3/25/05) | Free

The creative process of making and breaking rules.

Reviewing Work

1. A Dominant Impression (12/12/06) | Free

How to find the "Dominant Impression" in your work.

2. A Train of Thought (1/4/07) | Free

How to look for the ways you tend to approach making photographs and the ways you think visually.

3. Finding Your Best Work (3/18/08) | Free

4. A Singular Image (3/18/08) | Free

5. A Body of Work (5/15/08) | Free

6. Sequencing | Coming Soon

Tips

1. Learning to Be More Creative (7/06) | Listen

2. 180 Degrees (8/06) | Listen

3. Thinking Outside the Box (9/06) | Listen

4. Rut or Groove? (10/06) | Listen

5. Put Yourself in Someone Else's Shoes (11/06) | Listen

6. Seek Feedback (12/06) | Listen

7. Identify Your Habits (2/07) | Listen

8. Spend Time With Other Creative People (3/07) | Listen

9. Continuing Education (4/07) | Listen

10. Identify And Isolate The Variables (5/07) | Listen

11. Look At Things From Many Perspectives (6/07) | Listen

12. Put It In Writing (8/07) | Listen

13. Identify the Core (9/07) | Listen