Here is a simple activity to do when you get stuck and don’t know what to do with your creativity. Go for a walk with your camera or camcorder. Before you head out, pick one of the Elements of Art as a theme for your photo shoot.
The Elements of Art are:
- value,
- space,
- shape,
- form,
- color,
- texture,
and - line
Focus on one element and take photographs that are related in some way with that element.
Today I did this activity. Lately, I have been very preoccupied with texture. So, that is what I focused on. I also decided to limit my subject a little more by focusing on “texture in nature”. With that in mind, I went on a one hour nature walk through the woods.
I had never walked through these woods and had no idea what I would see or find. I was amazed at how dense the undergrowth was. In just a few steps I was hidden from the rest of the world. I was not far from the road but could not see it. It felt like I was in the middle of no where.
Being a Texan, at first I was concerned about snakes, but then I remembered that my sister-in-law said that there were no poisonous snakes in this area. So, I stopped doing the “head down looking at every shadow walk”.
As I walked through the woods I could feel myself getting lost in the moment. It felt very good. I was looking for interesting texture to photograph, to touch, to enjoy. There were moss-covered trees of all sizes, giant ferns and smaller more delicate ferns, flowers, berries, stumps, snails and more. I had no concept of time.
I started looking closer and closer, taking shots and changing the settings, going macro in some shots. It was a refreshing walk that revitalized my urge to create. I have new subject matter now and a better understanding of the environment where I am living.
Hi Terry,
I have a business that encourages healing through creativity. I would love it if I could post some of your articles on my site. And also enlist you to do some articles for Create~ology Creations E- Magazine on Creativity & Health.
If you are interested please call 1-800-218-0154 and press ext. 4 during business hours 9am-5pm Monday-Friday, Saturday 9am- 2pm to speak with Krystal Brown. We’d love to hear from you.
Thanks,
Sylvia Johnson
Thanks Sylvia, I’ll give Krystal a call.