CREATOR // CONSUMER

consumer - someone who collects creative energy via some arbitrary medium

creator - someone who expends creative energy via some arbitrary medium

From my observation, the consumer and the creator are two sides of the same coin. You can't have one without the other.

For those that get far enough into some kind of creative activity, it seems there becomes this need to remain in creator mode & continue to keep forcing out content for the sake of producing content (and to meet the expectations of others).

I think this is the greatest passion killer, especially in the long term. We cannot remain in one role forever. It's an everyday dynamic we are involved in and there are levels we need to balance in order to stay passionate and keep moving forward.

Don't forget to take care of yourself. Give yourself time to rest and recharge. Appreciate the work of others but don't compare. The ideas will come.

BEYOND MUNDANE

Maybe we're all seeking a sense of candidness as seemingly grand, synthetic things have become normalized in our everyday lives.
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As I have been capturing more & more photographs, I'm seeing my own mental trap of not going out to shoot because of a "boring" location.

There's no doubt an inspiring shot can be taken in a nice setting, but there's just something about capturing a special moment or an interesting perspective in a seemingly ordinary setting. Not necessarily having to shoot in uninteresting places, but rather maximizing the setting - wherever it may be. I believe the idea of maximizing one's environment has been a major driving force for photographers throughout history and is also why I find photography a fascinating and therapeutic activity.

This notion of seeing beyond the mundane has honestly been key for my own growth throughout this photo-taking journey. Street photographers in particular have my respect in this regard -- the uncertainty of what greets them outside is a constant and they must also fully immerse themselves in their present environment to produce their best work.

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Light & color are everywhere for your consumption (and your manipulation).
Mundane is only mundane if you let it be.

doit2doit

If the current season is teaching me anything, it's that I need to be more present in my environment.

Noticing this year that producing (music) has felt somewhat stagnant, while photography for me seems to have taken off. The time I've been spending in my DAW recently is insignificant compared to the time spent shooting, consuming photography videos/podcasts, analyzing photos, playing around in Lightroom, etc.
Still consuming a ton of music on the daily though.

Compared to music production, I think photography is a lot more reactive in nature, which is probably why I currently have an easier time enjoying that process. When it comes to making tracks, I feel like I'm too focused on results instead of just playing around and learning.

Ironically, the majority of the tracks I end up finishing have been mostly unintentional.
Perhaps I've forgotten the feeling of fascination when working in a DAW & perhaps I'm also afraid of failing in that medium.

Anyways, really to need start shifting my mentality & up my appreciation for the process.
Anything to put more time into the craft.
Here goes.

Do it to do it.