Many of us photographers have found the last year particularly challenging when it comes to feeling creative, finding motivation, and seeking inspiration. This excellent video is a reminder that breaking out of a rut doesn’t come about by sitting at home waiting for it to happen.
Kyle McDougall’s latest video struck a chord with me as it tapped into something that I was discussing on my Instagram (second paragraph) not too long ago. My partner had mentioned to me that motivation tends to happen when you’ve already started something, not when you’re sitting at home waiting for inspiration to happen. It’s proven true for me that ideas and enthusiasm evolve as a result of playing with something that doesn’t necessarily seem like it’s of any real significance, or is just half an idea that isn’t fully formed and might never turn into anything else.
For this insight, McDougall cites Alec Soth’s career-defining project Sleeping by the Mississippi which took shape while Soth was halfway through another project that, by his own admission, wasn’t as interesting.
Have you ever started a project that felt a little pointless only for it to lead you to discover something else that was far more fulfilling and successful? Let us know in the comments below.
