INSPIRATION NOT IMITATION - HOW TO CREATE ORIGINAL IMAGES
Creating original images can seem like an elusive goal in a world saturated with visual content. To that end, I’ve read several articles recently discussing whether or not photographers should look at the work of other photographers. More specifically whether photographers heading to a shoot location should look at images made by others of that place before they travel there themselves.
The concern is that doing so may influence you to make the same images, even though your intention might be to do the exact opposite. The worry is that the images of others will remain in your subconscious, hindering you from seeing the place with fresh eyes and preventing you from making images from your own point of view.
Try to go out empty and let your images fill you up.
Jay Maisel
AWAKENING ©Elle Bruce
My own experiments with creating abstract landscape images have certainly been inspired by my love of the sparkling waterscape paintings by Canadian artist Lisa Free.
While I applaud the goal of originality, I prefer to take a different approach to reach it.
BE INSPIRED
My opinion is life is too short to cut yourself off from the beauty that others have created. As long as you are out there with the intention of making YOUR art… I’m not too fussed about what inspires you. In fact my thought would be to let MORE things inspire you. The paintings of great masters, the graffiti on the side of the freight train, your neighbour’s garden, jazz music, the colours in a maki roll, the photos of others in your field that you admire… take it all in, absorb it and let it fuel you to create something wonderful of your own. Open yourself up to ALL the beauty and art in the world as opposed to closing yourself off from it. Inspiration not imitation.
inspire |inˈspī(ə)r|
verb [with object]
fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative: [with object and infinitive] : his passion for romantic literature inspired him to begin writing.
Apple Dictionary Version 2.2.1 (194)
WARM MORNING GLOW ©Elle Bruce
Abstract images made using the Intentional Camera Movement technique are hardly my invention. If I had not seen and been inspired by the works of photographic artists such as Josh Adamanski I may never have explored creating images such as the one above.
CREATE DON'T IMITATE
The goal of the artist is to create not copy. Creating is a process that starts with observation and inspiration but ends with the forging of something new and original. The intention is to be creative.
creative |krēˈādiv|
adjective
relating to or involving the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work: change unleashes people's creative energy | creative writing.
Apple Dictionary Version 2.2.1 (194)
NORTHERN DAWN ©Elle Bruce
The soft and gentle nature of this image I created of the North Channel in Ontario reminds me of images I have seen made by Christopher Armstrong (known as christofink on Instagram).
So I implore you, don’t rob yourself. Enjoy and appreciate the beautiful work of others. Let their work inspire you to create not imitate. To do anything less is to rob the world of your own original creations.
UNDULATE ©Elle Bruce
Though Ursula Abresch uses a different technique to create her images of colourful undulating waves, no doubt her work could be compared this detail pulled from one of my much larger images created using ICM (Intentional Camera Movement)