Finding Inspiration

As a creative...

I face challenges making things, even in putting together this post, finding the words to start elude me. But here I am, trying, pushing through.If you’re reading this, you most likely take photos, maybe with a phone, maybe with a fancy camera, but you take them. The real question is do you create them? If your answer to that is “sometimes", or "not lately", then maybe it’s time to step outside of what your day to day routine is and push through that.One of the things I’ve done to help get me inspired creatively have been 365 Projects. A 365 project is creating something everyday for a year. You could do this with any art for really, for me it’s photography.  In 2010, I completed my first 365 Project. I did another in 2011, 2012 and 2014, all captured on an iPhone. Through these projects I became a better photographer.Now that sounds silly, considering the device I captured the images on. However, using that device let me take a step back from all the technical crap and focus on story, light and composition.Were all of the images epic, Hell no!Did I accomplish something? Hell yes!If you want some fun, check out excerpts from the 2014 project over on flickr. Or for more fun, check out selections from 2010 - 2013!It’s been a few years since I did one of these but in 2018 I’m going to give it a go again. I’m looking forward to having this daily journal of creating images, even if it’s just a snapshot of my coffee that day. :-)  If you’re considering taking on a project like this, I’d love to connect with you, so message me here or via Instagram - @KateHailey. I'll be using hashtag #365project2018 on IG as well.I wanted to share some inspiration, one of my favourite photographers is Joel Robison, he’s an amazing person and artist, he’s done 365 projects over the years as well and his images, are epic.  If you’re not ready for a 365 project, but want to do something creative, you could consider one of these project ideas:52 Rolls: Shoot a roll of film a week, every week for a year52 Weeks: Create an image a week, every week for a year100 Days of Gratitude: Not a photo project, but could be, photograph something everyday, for 100 days, that you’re grateful for. List things you’re grateful for for 100 days. You get the idea.100 Days of Portraits - Create 100 Portraits of people you don’t know, doesn’t necessarily have to be 100 days in a row. Check out this 100 Strangers group on Flickr for inspiration or to join.100 Days of Self- Portraits - Create 100 portraits of yourself. As photographers we are often behind the camera, push out of your comfort zone and step in front of the camera and not just for a selfie. 😉The goal, is to create. Create something you might not in your day to day life. In that, hopefully you will find some inspiration and learn a thing or two while you're at it! ~ kate