When your imagination is beyond your talent..what do you do?

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

I like to think of myself as a pretty upbeat sort of guy who doesn't let things get him down too much. A sort of glass half full and it'll always be ok in the end sort of bloke....however....of late I've been feeling sort of "blocked"

Since I did my portrait/flash thing in April I've been pretty much unable to bring myself to try to do more of the same. I have ideas in my head of the final images I want but I "know" that my abilities are not there to accomplish the task. Case in point is the portrait I did of Hollowlegs. I had discussed the image I wanted to achieve with him and I'd brought all the props, the lights and an assitant with me to do the shot. In the end I just discovered I couldn't do it due to technical ability and not the correct hardware. Luckily the one I ended up getting instead was very pleasing to me, if not the original vision.


Since even before the Hollowlegs one though I've had another idea for a Stragner shot and it's even more ambitious...and I'm just scared it's going to look crap or not work out. SO much so that I've been contemplating not even attempting it and falling in to another simpler idea.

Then a day or so ago something happened. I read blogs by some professional photographers every few days and one of them, Chase Jarvis has posted about what he calles the CREATIVE GAP. That is the gap between what you want to achieve and what you do. He has advice for those, like me, who struggle with this. It's simple really. I read Chase's advice and viewed the little youtube video he linked to from his site....it's

After reading and viewing I decided that I just had to get on with it and get out there and practice. So I headed over to the model forum where I sorted out my flash lighting course and started to post a bit in order to get some attention and hopefully organise a shoot or two. Within 24hrs I'd arranged to go to one of their group shoots with a model I'd wanted to photograph for a year or so..and then another, amazing model, contacted me out of the blue and offered to help build my portfolio. I feel kind of empowered all of a sudden...it's weird.....

Now all I have to do is P R A C T I C E , P R A C T I C E , P R A C T I C E

[Tobers]

Good work Gordon! It's amazing how a a small stimulus can completely change your direction or catalyse your activity. Looking forward to the model shots

[Astaroth]

See, i have the exact opposite problem.... my technical ability far exceeds my creativity. Given another image I can fairly quickly/ accurately recreate it but give me a blank sheet of paper and.... well people have seen my general photos.

Unfortunately the options/ advice for increasing your creativity seems a lot less than for ideas people without experience

[ryart]

I seem to have the opposite problem as well. Years of taking photographs to order, spec or the whims of an art director has subdued my imagination and I am struggling to get it back.

The most important thing is to have the ideas, the technique will follow with enough practice and enthusiam. Without imagination it all becomes a bit pointless. Seeing some of your pics on here, Gordon, I wouldn't think you're lacking in either department .

[Radiohead]

I'm constantly in the middle of creative deserts. It seems that only when the pressure is on can I deliver something I really like.

I'm also far too lazy.

Good to hear you're doing something about it Gordon.

[senu]

Good thread
What happens when you have little creativity or technical ability? ( or think you dont)
Seriously, sometimes one simply "loses the will " to carry on and its great to know it happens to us all and it only takes a little spark to find it!
Great stuff

[Holowlegs]

Hello there

After talking to you about some off the idea's you have, I think you have a very creative mind, and I wish you all the luck in getting them into some form off a picture.

Talking to other photographers, like the little chat we had about the apple sign ( don't want to let the cat out off the bag) might help you, bounce some ideas off each other.

Another thing I have learned in this game is don't be scared of making mistakes, and look back at them mistakes and learn from them.


If I can be of any help in the future, just give me a ring, even if its just to hold a torch or flash gun. By watching you I am also learning too


Cheers Holo

[shaolin101]

I am glad this has been brought up and it isn't just me! I have ideas in my mind that i have no clue where to start to achieve them - or i get inspiration from an article/someone else's pictures and want to try it but it never looks the same.

I do wonder sometimes if it is me being lazy and not putting the effort in but sometimes i know its because i do not have a studio/light/makeup artists/models etc or the skill on using and directing.

It is great to see the 'awsomeness' of other peoples work but disheartening slightly when i know i cant reproduce something similar - but its not like i have done much to remedy it.

I think i need to set aside time to take one creative idea and work through it until it looks good to me - just trying every camera mode possible!

as an example: for the self portrait comp way back i was going to have me seated, huddled into a tight ball in a blacked out room holding an umbrella over me and the only light would have come out of the unbrella shining on me.

It would have symbolised how i was feeling at the time - a bit down nad surrounded by darkness but there was light/hope and it was closer to me than i realised - it couldn't be kept out (even by an umbrella!).

Did not have a clue what to do though! Tried to tape a torch to the brolly but it looked crap!

Anyway - that turned out longer than i meant. Take comfort in the fact that skill can always be learned and the fact that you already have the creative ability is great - many people lack that vision.