0:00

How's it going everybody. Welcome back

0:03

to the travel and adventure photography school podcast

0:05

as always. I'm your host Robert Massey. Thank

0:08

you so much for taking some time out of your valuable

0:10

day to listen and to grow your photography

0:12

skills. I've got a great

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one for you today, as we are going to be talking about

0:16

how to hone your creative eye,

0:19

which is one of the most important yet difficult

0:21

things photographers can do. And

0:24

this is something you will do constantly

0:26

throughout your time as a photographer throughout your career.

0:29

I've had a camera in my hands now for over a decade.

0:32

And I am always doing anything I can to keep

0:34

honing my creativity. Is

0:36

this not something that you're ever going to stop

0:38

at you're ever going to master. It's something

0:40

you're just going to keep doing. So

0:43

today I'm going to go over my top six ways

0:46

of doing this. Some of these are really easy to implement.

0:48

Some will take a lot of work and honestly,

0:51

a lot of guts, but they are so

0:53

worthwhile to incorporate into

0:55

your creative work. Now,

0:58

the last tip in particular will make

1:00

a world of difference. For every

1:02

single photographer. If you

1:04

love this today, give me a shout out on Instagram at Robert

1:06

Massey photography, or just reach out to me and let me know

1:09

what you'd love to learn more about.

1:12

I really do this because I like the conversations

1:14

that it sparks with other people. I like the community

1:16

that's built up. And I like the people that I've gotten

1:18

to know from doing this.

1:21

All right. Let's get into this first

1:23

up is when you've likely heard a lot about before.

1:26

And it's something you're probably already doing consciously

1:28

or maybe unconsciously. And that's looking

1:30

at the work of great photographers and seeing

1:32

what they are doing to make

1:34

their arts, to capture their photographs.

1:37

Studying other photographers work is like taking

1:39

a leisurely stroll through a vibrant marketplace.

1:42

You get to soak up all the sights and sounds picking

1:44

out the things that catch your eye and make you go. Whoa. Oh,

1:47

that's so cool. How did they do that? What did they do?

1:49

It's not about comparing yourself for feeling like you

1:51

have to measure up to them or, oh, I'm not doing

1:53

enough or my art's not good enough for whatever. Terrible

1:56

things. Go through our heads that go through everybody's

1:58

heads out there. It's about soaking

2:00

in that inspiration and learning from those diverse

2:02

perspectives out there and the way that they

2:04

capture their art. And

2:06

honestly, we can't forget about the learning part. When you

2:09

dive into someone else's work, you're basically doing a

2:11

crash course in how they approach photography.

2:13

Maybe you notice how they play with shadows, utilized color

2:16

theory, or capture fleeting moments that make you stop

2:18

and think. These little insights could

2:20

be like tiny seeds planted in your brain rate

2:22

a sprout into your own unique style.

2:25

One of my favorite things to do is to look at

2:28

a photo that makes me stop and think about how they did

2:30

this. Was it all done in camera? What

2:32

post-processing did they do here? What lens

2:34

was this? How did. They utilize color

2:36

or shapes or composition. Just,

2:38

how did they bring this photo together? And what

2:40

made me stop? What

2:42

made me find this image

2:45

really interesting. Was it the subject

2:47

matter? Was it the composition? Was it the color? Was

2:49

it the lighting? Was it everything? What

2:51

made me stop in my tracks. And

2:54

then we'll keep track of these little things that

2:56

I like, and don't like about it and start

2:58

incorporating those elements into my work

3:01

to start building out a personal style that is.

3:03

Fully influenced by these people that

3:05

I look up to and this great art that I look up to.

3:08

And that's just like all great art. It's

3:10

all being influenced by those around

3:12

them who make it. And by other people who

3:14

are out creating. Now to do

3:16

this, I wouldn't suggest just sitting and

3:19

scrolling through Instagram. You're going to get lost

3:21

in a spiral hole of some

3:23

things that aren't super influential for you. Some things

3:25

that aren't great. That's, that's awesome for

3:27

really quick inspiration, just kind

3:29

of a five, 10 minute dive into something or

3:31

to find a new photographer, a new style that

3:33

you like. But what I find is much

3:36

more helpful to really dive into a photographer's

3:38

work. To really understand how

3:40

they make those images that you fall in love with.

3:43

Go to their website. This way

3:45

you can really delve into their work and their

3:47

style. You can compare images

3:49

side by side. You're not getting distracted and pegged

3:51

down in Instagram's platform. And if

3:53

you do this the way I do it, I find some people on

3:55

Instagram and then I'll actually go to my proper

3:58

big computer. And look

4:01

at them bigger and start really breaking down

4:03

the images in a much more thoughtful

4:05

and. Investigative

4:07

way. Being on a little screen, lots of things

4:09

look really good. But as soon as you get them

4:11

onto a bigger screen, you can start seeing the pieces

4:13

that you don't like, the pieces that you really do love,

4:16

and you can start really building out. How

4:19

they're going to influence your own creativity.

4:21

Now the other really great way to do this is to pick

4:24

up a book of their photographs. You

4:26

get it from behind a screen. You see what speaks to you

4:28

in print? Make notes

4:30

on those pages. If you own the book, obviously.

4:33

Dog ear them. Mark-up beside a photo.

4:35

What you like and what you don't like, find the parts

4:37

and images that inspire your work and things you

4:39

want to incorporate. And then flip back through

4:41

it again, when you're not feeling necessarily

4:44

hugely inspired and go like, oh yeah, that's what I loved about this.

4:46

And remember this isn't about comparing yourself.

4:48

This is about building and finding your inspiration

4:50

to get out there and make. Better

4:52

photographs. All right. Tip

4:54

number two. And this one is all

4:56

about building community and embracing

4:58

other art forms because art doesn't

5:01

happen in a vacuum and neither does

5:03

photography. We are fully influenced

5:05

by what is happening in the world around us. By

5:07

what other people are making by what other creators

5:10

are doing. So start collaborating

5:12

with those other creatives and you'll see whole

5:14

new perspectives open up in front of you. Collaborating

5:17

with other creatives is like, Throwing

5:19

a backyard, barbecue with all your favorite people.

5:22

It can be fun laid back and

5:24

it's kind of guaranteed to cook up some seriously

5:26

awesome ideas. See when

5:29

you team up with writers, artists, musicians,

5:31

fellow photographers, cinematographers.

5:34

It's like mixing all your favorite ingredients

5:36

together to create something totally new

5:38

and exciting. I love

5:40

those moments of being in those spaces

5:42

with other creatives who aren't in my same

5:45

medium as me and seeing the way that

5:47

they talk about things, seeing the way that they

5:49

loved a movie that I hated or

5:52

seeing a way that they look at a photograph that I've

5:54

taken and see it in a totally different light

5:56

than the way that I originally took it. That

5:58

is hugely inspiring.

6:01

Collaborating with other creatives, it's like

6:04

tapping into a whole new universe

6:06

of creative possibilities. When you combine

6:08

different art forms, perspectives and talents,

6:10

you end up with a recipe for. Magic

6:14

and fire to happen. Maybe

6:16

you're just a master behind the

6:18

lens, but you've always wondered what it would

6:20

it be like to pair your photos with some poetry

6:23

or a soundtrack, or there's a local photographer

6:25

here who has these beautiful photographs and has

6:27

worked with a visual artist who has added

6:30

in the constellations up above

6:32

them. And they're these beautiful combination

6:35

pieces. They're just such a. Wonderful

6:37

collaboration of a beautiful photographer's work and a beautiful

6:39

visual artists work working together.

6:43

And collaboration is the only way to make something

6:45

like that happen. And let's

6:47

be honest. Let's not forget about the joy of bouncing ideas

6:49

around like a game of hot potato. When you

6:51

collaborate with other creatives, it's like playing a never

6:53

ending game of brainstorming. Ping-pong. Except

6:56

instead of, you know, The tiny, tiny white little ball.

6:59

You're lobbing around ideas that could spark a wildfire

7:01

of inspiration. It's all about building

7:03

off each other's energy. Riffing

7:05

on each other's concepts and seeing where the creative

7:08

journey takes you. This is how some

7:10

of our favorite. Comedy

7:12

shows come to life. You get a bunch of creative

7:14

people in a room together. And they just started

7:16

ripping jokes at each other. They start ripping scenarios

7:19

at each other, and that's how these pieces

7:21

come to life. And that's what you're doing with

7:23

these other creatives. You're starting to rip

7:26

ideas off of one another and seeing

7:28

what gets built. And

7:31

the best part about all of this collaborating is just about

7:33

making cool stuff. It's about building connections

7:35

and community. When you team

7:37

up with other creatives, you're not just creating art.

7:39

You're forging friendships, swapping stories, and supporting

7:42

each other's dreams. It's like having

7:44

a built-in cheerleading squad

7:46

and they're ready to just high five. You, when

7:49

you need that. And they're ready to pick

7:51

you up when you stumble. And I

7:53

know this is what I struggle with the most. My

7:55

anxiety. Definitely

7:58

gets the better of me a lot in

8:00

these kinds of social situations. And I find it. Really

8:03

hard to reach out to other creatives to build

8:05

and grow those relationships. And

8:08

this can make it really hard to build deep

8:10

connections with people. But when I

8:12

do get the chance to be out with other creatives

8:14

growing and building ideas, when I can get

8:16

past my anxieties and when

8:18

I can fight through all those social anxieties.

8:22

And be in that. Bubbling

8:24

messy brainstorm of creativity.

8:27

I feel more alive than basically any

8:29

other time. There's just something

8:32

almost intoxicating about being in

8:34

that creative boiler. We're amazing

8:36

things are generated. So

8:39

the next time you're feeling stuck in a creative rudder, just.

8:42

Craving some good old fashioned collaboration.

8:44

Don't be afraid to reach out to your fellow creatives.

8:47

And not just your photographer, friends. Sometimes

8:50

fellow photographers can't really help us out of a

8:52

rut because they're seeing things the same way.

8:55

We see things, especially

8:57

if they're people we really like to shoot with. Try

9:00

going out and jamming with a musician friend, even

9:02

if you're a terrible musician or

9:04

brainstorming a story with

9:07

a friend of yours, who's a writer and working on their screenplay.

9:10

Just try to find a new

9:12

perspective from a fellow creative,

9:14

and you'll just be amazed at how

9:16

that expands. Your

9:19

photographic brain and hones your

9:21

creative eye for creating better imagery. All

9:24

right onto tip number three, which for me

9:26

is really in line with the previous

9:28

and that stepping outside of your comfort zone. This

9:31

is where you will see your photographic voice grow

9:33

and morph and help you use your images

9:36

to share something about yourself, your

9:38

ventures, the way you travel, or just

9:40

anything else. It will be about your

9:42

voice. So picture this.

9:44

You're not just grabbing your camera and venturing into

9:46

new photographic territory, but you're also embracing

9:49

new experiences and challenges that stretch you in

9:51

unexpected ways. So

9:53

why step out of your comfort zone in both your art

9:56

and your life? Well, because it's like fueling

9:58

a bonfire of inspiration that it can

10:00

night every aspect of your being. When

10:03

you push past the boundaries of what feels

10:05

safe and familiar, you're not just evolving

10:07

as an artist. You're also evolving as a person.

10:10

Which evolves your art. And then of all geo

10:12

is a person and then involves you as an art. It's a circle.

10:15

It turns into a massive, quick circle. Maybe

10:18

you've been curious about trying your hand at painting, or

10:20

perhaps you've always wanted to learn a musical instrument. Who

10:23

am I not give it a shot? Stepping into new

10:25

creative realms can spark fresh ideas and

10:27

perspectives that infuse your photography with newfound

10:29

depth and richness. Like we were just

10:31

talking about, about working with other creatives.

10:34

And here's the real best part about this stepping

10:37

out of your comfort zone. Isn't just about making cool art.

10:40

It's about living life to the fullest and embracing

10:42

that thrill of the unknown. Signing

10:45

up for dance class, embarking on a solo backpacking

10:47

trip. I'm volunteering for a cause you're passionate about

10:49

every new experience expands your horizons

10:51

and nourishes your soul. It's like adding

10:54

vibrant splashes of color to the canvas of your life.

10:56

Creating a masterpiece. That's

10:58

uniquely yours. And

11:00

then the lessons you learn and the courage you gained from stepping

11:03

out of your comfort zone in life, inevitably

11:05

seep into your art. Infusing

11:08

it with authenticity. Depth. And

11:10

vitality. And by embracing

11:13

these new things, by saying yes, to doing some

11:15

new and difficult things. You're

11:17

going to inevitably build

11:20

your creative. And hone your creative

11:22

eye because it's going to inspire you and give

11:24

you again, a new perspective on the world.

11:27

All right. Tip number four, and

11:29

this is where we really get into something specific

11:32

for us travel photographers. And that's delving

11:34

into the culture of an area we are visiting.

11:37

This is like unlocking a treasure trove of stories,

11:39

traditions, and experiences. That

11:42

typically aren't found in any guidebook

11:45

when you immerse yourself in the richness of local

11:47

cultures, you're not just capturing photographs.

11:50

You're capturing the essence of a place, its people

11:52

and its spirit. When you take the

11:54

time to connect with locals, learn about their customs

11:57

and participate in their rituals. You're granted

11:59

access to a world that's rimming

12:01

with authenticity and wonder. Maybe

12:04

sharing a meal with a family in a remote village, joining

12:06

in a traditional dance celebration or learning a few

12:08

phrases in the local language. Every

12:10

interaction becomes a brush stoke in the tapestry

12:13

of your travel story. And here's the

12:15

beauty of it. Exploring local

12:17

cultures. Isn't just about checking items off your travel

12:19

bucket list. It's about forging,

12:21

genuine connections and fostering mutual

12:24

respect. It's about approaching

12:26

each encounter with humility, curiosity. And

12:28

an open heart and mind. Recognizing

12:31

that you are a guest in someone else's

12:33

home. By listening, learning,

12:35

and showing appreciation for the richness, the local traditions.

12:38

You're not only honoring the people and the places you

12:40

visit. But you're also gaining a deeper understanding

12:42

of the world and your place in it. We're

12:44

building connections. These

12:47

stories and experiences you collect from your attractions

12:49

with local culture has become the heartbeat of your travel

12:51

photography. Your images

12:54

are no longer just snapshots of iconic

12:56

landmarks. They become windows

12:58

into the lives and souls of the people who call

13:00

these places home. Too

13:03

often I find in travel photography.

13:06

We break down places.

13:09

To just. They're icons.

13:53

Places just to become about.

13:56

Moraine lake, they just become about the Eiffel

13:58

tower. They just become about the pyramids.

14:00

We, we break these places down into

14:02

these. Yes. Beautiful and

14:04

mind blowing. Pieces

14:06

of scenery or things that humans have built.

14:09

But. That's not all these places

14:12

are, there are people who live

14:14

here. There are cultures.

14:17

And when we go out on these travel adventures

14:19

and we see those cultures and we invest

14:22

in them and we learn about them and we explore

14:25

the richness of them. That

14:27

is really what travel is all about. It's about

14:29

building. Not just ourselves,

14:32

but also our connections to other people. And

14:34

inevitably, if you get to know the

14:37

culture of an area, That

14:39

will seep into your photography.

14:42

You will be able to truly show a place.

14:45

From yes, your perspective as an outsider in it.

14:48

But with a nod towards that

14:50

culture, towards those people towards honoring

14:52

everything that you were learning from them. And when you

14:54

build these bridges and you dig into these cultures, you're going

14:56

to be given opportunities. That you

14:59

otherwise wouldn't be. You

15:01

will meet people and be like, Hey, do you want to come see this really

15:03

cool viewpoint? Or, Hey, do you want to come for

15:05

this amazing piece of food or all these

15:07

other sorts of things? And if you can connect

15:09

with people who are there and honor them and respect

15:12

them. It's amazing. What grows

15:14

out of that. So. The

15:17

next time that you're out, exploring the world with a camera

15:19

in your hand. Don't just

15:21

focus on those sites. Dive

15:23

into the heart of local cultures

15:25

and let their stories unfold.

15:28

Before, not just your lens, but before

15:30

your eyes as well. After

15:32

all the most unforgettable travel stories are the ones

15:35

that celebrate the beauty and diversity. Of

15:37

our shared humanity. And of us

15:40

as humans. Oh,

15:42

all right. Under my favorite tip

15:45

on this list. Number five. And that's starting

15:47

a creative diary. This

15:50

is your ultimate travel

15:52

companion for planning, shoots, capturing ideas, sparking

15:54

creativity. Planning out

15:56

everything in front of you just it's

15:58

your go-to guide. Think

16:01

of it as your personal roadmap, guiding you

16:03

through the twists and turns of your artistic

16:05

journey. This can be a mixture

16:07

of words, photos. Other visuals.

16:10

Poetry, whatever you need it to

16:13

be. Your creative diary becomes

16:15

a treasure trove of inspiration. That

16:18

is ready to accompany you on every

16:20

adventure and every wild thing that

16:22

you want to build. So a

16:24

creative diary is really simple. It's

16:27

a place where you put your

16:29

creative ideas. That's

16:32

it. If you have a moment

16:34

of inspiration, you're like, I want to shoot photo about this. Jot

16:37

it down. If you see something

16:39

that you find absolutely stunning and it inspires

16:41

the way that you want to shoot another image. Take

16:43

a photo of it and put it in the diary.

16:45

If the physical diary. Print it and put

16:48

it in the diary. If you

16:50

think of a composition that you want to try, put

16:52

it in there. If you have a list of places you want

16:54

to go and shoot, put it in there. If you see an ad

16:57

that inspires something you want put it in

16:59

there. That is the purpose of this. Start

17:02

your creative diary and put it in there

17:04

because then when you need some inspiration, when

17:06

you. Want to find a way to shoot

17:08

a photo. You can flip this back up and go like,

17:10

oh yeah, that, that was what I wanted to do. This

17:13

is where you can start planning, shoots as well. This

17:15

is where you want to write out dates and times

17:18

and locations and light setups. And

17:20

so when you get to a location, You're not

17:22

guessing and being like, oh, how do I do you

17:24

flip, open? Your creative diary

17:26

and you're like, yeah, this is what we're doing. Or

17:29

you're building this out beforehand when you're building your shot

17:31

list. And when you're building your set list out. You

17:34

start flipping through and you're like, this is what we're doing and you put

17:36

it in there so you can share it with the rest of your

17:38

team. So when you're sketching

17:40

out compositions, jotting down, location ideas, clicking

17:42

snippets of inspiration, where magazines and websites

17:45

here, creative diary is the place

17:47

to nurture your creative spark.

17:50

It's your. Your space where you can brainstorm,

17:52

experiment and dream up new projects

17:54

without any. The limitations. So,

17:57

how do you get started building

17:59

one of these. First off, choose

18:01

your medium. Decide how you want

18:04

to create your creative diary, whether you prefer

18:06

a physical journal, a digital platform. A

18:08

combination of these choose a medium

18:10

that feels comfortable and accessible to you.

18:12

And something that you will want to use and you feel.

18:15

Inspired by. I have tried

18:17

to create these in a variety of formats. And I find

18:20

a physical one is the way for me to

18:22

go. Digitally, it gets lost

18:24

in the clutter of my phone. I

18:26

tried to pull it up and I find it and I inevitably get

18:28

distracted using other apps and doing

18:31

other things. And phone calls happen. And

18:33

I like the tactileness of a physical

18:35

diary and yeah, that means that I will actually

18:37

print images and put it in there.

18:40

I will cut out clippings. I will take

18:42

screenshots and put them in there. And

18:45

I like being able to write things out by hand and draw

18:47

and sketch ideas that come to

18:49

me. But that might not be for you. And that's

18:51

totally fine. There is no right way or

18:54

wrong way to keep a creative diary. It

18:56

is just for you. All

18:58

right next, you need to actually set aside time.

19:00

You need to carve out that dedicated time of your schedule

19:03

to work on your creative diary. Whether

19:05

it's a few minutes, each day, a longer session,

19:07

once a week, consistency is key.

19:09

And keeping it with you is. Difficult

19:12

sometimes, but also kind of key in those situations

19:14

where you can, because you don't know when inspiration

19:17

is going to hit you. I have had.

19:20

Ideas for how I want to execute a shoot while

19:22

I've been showering while I've been

19:24

running. I've seen a photograph

19:27

of life being out for a walk and be like that is.

19:29

Awesome and broken it down and

19:31

analyzed and tried to figure out where they shot it. I've

19:34

had lots of little tiny inspiration

19:36

ideas hit me all over the place. So if you can keep

19:38

something with you. To be able

19:40

to add those ideas to that is amazing. And

19:43

one of the things that I've found has worked really well. It's

19:45

not keeping the bigger physical journal with

19:47

me all the time. Cause that would be a nightmare, but

19:50

making notes on my phone that I will set aside

19:52

time to add to the journal later.

19:55

Or I will take some time and

19:57

have an actual small physical notebook with me and

20:00

sketch out an idea while I'm sitting beside a river.

20:02

And then I will just take that page out, sticking

20:04

in the book a little bit later. So just make

20:06

sure you were setting aside that time. Now

20:09

if this idea of keeping a creative diary feels overwhelming

20:11

at the start. Totally understand. So

20:13

start small. Just begin by jotting

20:16

down a few thoughts or ideas each day. Or

20:19

maybe snap, a quick photo of something that catches your eye. And

20:21

as you get more comfortable with the process, you can gradually

20:23

expand and experiment with different techniques

20:26

and formats and things that you can add. And maybe

20:28

you want to add a color palette that catches your eye, and you want

20:30

to start playing with color theory within there and getting some.

20:32

Colored pens and really

20:35

going wild with adding some other pieces to it.

20:37

And that is awesome. But at the

20:39

beginning, Start small. If

20:41

that feels like how that's going to be accessible to you. If

20:43

you want to go hog in and just go for it. By

20:46

all rights, jump in there. Now

20:48

also, don't be afraid to experiment and play with different

20:50

medium styles and techniques in your creative diary,

20:52

whether that's sketching, writing, collaging.

20:56

Adding photos doing multimedia

20:58

pieces, whatever. Let your imagination

21:00

run wild. There are no rules or

21:02

limitations. The only limit is

21:05

what you place on this. It's

21:07

only your limit at this point. All

21:10

right. Now, this is really important. Periodically,

21:13

take a step back to reflect on. Your creative

21:15

diary and evaluate what's working. And what's

21:17

not, it takes that time to reflect and revise.

21:20

Are there any recurring themes or patterns emerging?

21:23

Are there areas where you'd like to delve deeper

21:25

or try something new? I use

21:28

these reflections to guide your further entries

21:30

and keep your creative journey. Evolving.

21:33

Are there pieces where you're like, I remember that I

21:35

want to learn more about this. Or

21:38

that color scheme was really cool. I need

21:40

to try and incorporate that into a shoot. It's

21:43

your chance to really see

21:45

what pieces of creativity flowing through

21:47

you. Okay. Now you can

21:49

also use this as a springboard, your creative

21:51

diary. Isn't just a place to record ideas.

21:54

It's a springboard for action. When

21:57

you. You come across a particularly inspiring idea

21:59

or concept, don't leave it languishing on

22:01

the page. Use it as a

22:03

jumping off point for your next creative project or

22:05

photo shoot, like your diary, be the catalyst that

22:07

propels your ideas from the realm of imagination into

22:10

this realm. Of reality and

22:12

it doesn't matter how crazy the idea is.

22:15

You can probably bring it to life. There are some spectacular

22:18

things that people are doing in front of us. One

22:21

photographer out here. Took an. Ariel

22:24

rope artist. And

22:27

had her hanging off the glacier

22:29

shooting from inside the

22:32

glacier cave with her hanging

22:34

out in front of it with mountains in behind her.

22:36

And this was all physically set up the swimming

22:39

really easy to do in post shoot her in a studio.

22:41

Take a photo inside the glacier gave done. But

22:43

no, they went out, they hung ropes. They set

22:46

people up. They did all these things to create this. Mind

22:48

blowing combination of this woman's

22:50

beautiful aerial artistry with

22:53

his spectacular imagery and

22:55

together, they created something. Really spectacular.

22:59

So don't just put creative things in

23:01

here and then flip along and keep going. Use

23:04

it. And while it's important

23:06

to use your creative diary regularly, don't be afraid

23:08

to adapt and evolve your approach as needed. If

23:11

you find that a particular format or technique.

23:14

Isn't working for you. Don't force it. Stay

23:16

open to experimentation, be willing to adjust your diary

23:18

to suit your changing needs and preferences. We grow,

23:20

we change, we evolve. This

23:23

should grow and change and evolve with

23:25

you to be something that you want to use.

23:28

And then the most important part of this, don't

23:30

forget to celebrate your progress and accomplishments

23:33

along the way. Whether it's completing a

23:35

project overcoming a creative block, or simply

23:37

just sticking to your diary routine

23:39

for a week straight. Take time

23:41

to acknowledge and celebrate your achievements. After

23:44

all. Every step forward, no matter how

23:46

small. It brings you closer to realizing

23:48

your creative visions. And

23:50

the best part. This is not just a record

23:53

of where you've been, but a roadmap to

23:55

where you could be going. Whether

23:57

you're embarking on a new project, planning your next adventure,

23:59

or simply daydreaming about future possibilities,

24:01

your creative diaries there to guide you

24:03

every step of the way. Remember.

24:06

Your creative dairy, personal space for exploration

24:08

and expression. There is no right

24:11

or wrong way to do it. The most important

24:13

thing is to have fun and let your creativity

24:16

flow. And here

24:18

we go onto our sixth and final

24:20

tip and probably the hardest. And

24:23

most impactful one on this list.

24:25

Seeking feedback and critique. Yup.

24:29

It might sound a tad daunting, but

24:31

trust me, it's like discovering a gold

24:33

mine of insights that can take your photography

24:35

to the next level. Seeking

24:38

feedback from peers, mentors, or online communities.

24:40

Isn't just about getting a pat on the back. When

24:42

we share our work with others, we're not just fishing

24:44

for compliments. We're casting our net wide together,

24:47

different perspectives and fresh ideas. It's

24:49

like exploring a vast ocean

24:51

of knowledge. So don't be shy, embrace

24:54

the feedback and let it guide you on your creative

24:56

journey. And you don't have to take

24:58

every piece of feedback. In

25:00

that you receive, you can pick

25:03

and choose that feedback and you can choose to listen

25:05

or not and add what helps you and throw away

25:07

what doesn't. That being said. How

25:10

do we actually go about asking

25:12

for feedback on our work? It's a valid

25:14

question and one that can feel a bit

25:16

intimidating at first. But

25:19

don't fear it. Approaching some of

25:21

her feedback doesn't have to be nerve-wracking. In

25:23

fact, it can be a great opportunity to connect with fellow

25:25

photographers and learn from their expertise. So.

25:29

First choose your audience wisely. Look

25:32

for people whose opinions you trust

25:34

and respect. Whether they're fellow

25:36

photographers who work, you admire mentors who have guided

25:39

you in the past are members of online communities known

25:41

for their constructive feedback. It

25:43

is important that you trust the people,

25:45

giving you this feedback. And

25:48

remember when you're reaching out for feedback, be clear

25:50

and specific about what you're looking for. Are

25:52

you seeking input on composition, lighting, editing,

25:54

storytelling. Providing some context

25:57

and guidance can help the person giving feedback, focus

25:59

their attention, and provide more targeted

26:01

insights. And remember feedback is a

26:04

bit of a two-way street. You need to be open-minded

26:06

and receptive to constructive criticism,

26:09

but also be willing to ask questions and

26:11

engage in dialogue. Sometimes

26:13

the most valuable insights come from discussing different

26:16

perspectives and exploring alternative approaches.

26:19

So if you disagree with what somebody has said

26:21

about your image and how it could be improved,

26:24

Think about why you disagree with them and

26:26

then think about maybe. Asking a little

26:28

bit more and asking if they can explain something more in detail

26:30

and maybe there's, there's something there

26:32

that can actually really help you improve.

26:35

And then honestly, don't forget to express gratitude for

26:37

the feedback you receive. It can be a simple thank you.

26:40

Or a more detailed response, just. Acknowledge

26:42

the time and effort someone has put into helping

26:45

you improve your work. And that just

26:47

goes a long way to honestly,

26:49

growing your connections in the photography community

26:51

and a little bit of universal

26:53

karmic. Goodness for you. And

26:56

it's not just about receiving feedback. It's about

26:58

giving it to, by offering constructive

27:00

critiques to our fellow photographers. We not only

27:02

help them improve, but also sharpen our own eye

27:04

for detail. Plus sharing our thoughts

27:07

and insights fosters a sense of camaraderie and

27:09

support within that photography community. And that's

27:11

really, truly special. And they're going to be more willing to give you

27:13

feedback as well. This is a two way street giving

27:15

and taking. So make seeking

27:18

and giving feedback a regular part of your creative

27:20

practice. It can be casual chats

27:22

with friends online forms, formal portfolio

27:24

reviews. Just actively seek

27:27

out opportunities to learn from others and share

27:29

our expertise. All right. And that's

27:31

it. Now as we wrap up today's

27:33

episode, I want to leave you with a bit of a spark of inspiration

27:36

to fuel your creative journey. Remember.

27:38

Developing your creative eye. Isn't just about

27:40

mastering technical skills. It's

27:43

about embracing curiosity, exploring

27:45

new perspectives. And nurturing your

27:48

passion for storytelling through photography.

27:51

So, whether you're stepping out of your comfort zone, collaborating

27:53

with fellow creatives or immersing yourself in the richness of local

27:55

cultures. No, that every step you take is

27:57

a step closer to unlocking

28:00

your full potential is photographer. Hey.

28:03

If you have any ideas or topics you'd like to hear about

28:05

on future episodes. I'd love to hear

28:07

them from you. Drop me a message. Share your thoughts

28:09

with me. This is the reason I do this.

28:11

I like the collaborations and the connections

28:14

we can have together. So on Instagram,

28:16

it's Robert Massey photography, or you can

28:18

go onto my website at. Robert Massey photography.ca.

28:21

And you'll be able to find my email there as well.

28:23

And lastly, if you've enjoyed today's episode and

28:25

found it helpful in your creative journey, I'd be

28:27

thrilled. If you could take some time to rate

28:29

and review the podcast and help some other

28:31

people find it. Your feedback

28:33

means the world to me. And. I don't do

28:35

this as a way to make money or anything. I do

28:37

this as a way, just to talk about photography

28:40

with some folks and bring some joy and inspiration

28:42

out there just to get some more wonderful

28:44

art out in the world. All

28:46

right. Get out there and go see

28:49

this big, beautiful world of ours.

28:51

Let's adventure. Bye for now.