Creativity often feels elusive, especially as you grow older and life becomes more structured. This video explores the science and experience of staying creative later in life and questions whether breaking into a new field, like photography, is truly possible at any age.
Coming to you from Ari Jaaksi of Shoot on Film, this reflective video delves into the intersection of creativity, aging, and personal growth. Jaaksi, a lifelong software professional, began taking photography seriously only six years ago, prompting him to investigate whether it’s possible to foster creativity in a new discipline later in life. He cites studies suggesting that creativity peaks around age 30 and declines thereafter. Some researchers attribute this to physiological changes in the brain, while others argue that accumulated skills and knowledge can offset those declines, even enhancing creativity as we age. This idea offers hope to those exploring new creative outlets later in life.
Jaaksi proposes a compelling hypothesis: it’s not biology but social structures that suppress creativity as we age. In youth, you’re encouraged to experiment, try new things, and explore your identity. College, new relationships, and early career exploration foster an environment ripe for creativity. As you grow older, however, societal expectations shift. Responsibilities like paying bills, maintaining a career, and supporting a family can stifle the freedom to experiment and pursue new ideas. This shift, Jaaksi suggests, may be the main reason for a perceived decline in creativity.
The video also explores how to counteract these societal pressures. Jaaksi recommends explicitly rejecting structures that discourage creativity. Surrounding yourself with supportive networks and giving yourself permission to defy expectations can be transformative. He shares his own journey of navigating two vastly different fields—software and photography—and how his professional network in the former contrasts with the lack of one in the latter. Building a network in a new field, he explains, requires leveraging life experience but also embracing a sense of urgency. For Jaaksi, this effort is both a challenge and a creative act in itself.
Another approach Jaaksi considers is to embrace creativity for its own sake. He references Vivian Maier, a photographer who kept her work private, focusing solely on her creative process rather than public recognition. This perspective reframes creativity as a deeply personal journey, unbound by external validation or social expectations. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Jaaksi.
