The Hidden Thing That Often Kills Creativity in Photography

When it comes to landscape photography (or really, any genre), there is a time when you grow more comfortable with the technique and creative process, but somehow, your output stagnates. This excellent video tutorial will show you why that often happens and what you can do to fix it.

Coming to you from Mark Denney, this great video tutorial discusses the danger of routines in landscape photography (though the lesson really applies to just about any genre). The truth is, routine is probably the most insidious killer of creativity. When we first learn photography, it can be a lot to try to grow competent in all the various technical aspects while simultaneously developing a creative voice. When you finally grow comfortable, it is natural to stop pushing a bit, and there is nothing wrong with taking a breather, of course, but don't stop too long. The beauty of photography is that you can always keep experimenting and growing, so don't be afraid to live outside your comfort zone. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Denney. 

And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out "Photographing The World 1: Landscape Photography and Post-Processing with Elia Locardi." 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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Mark, thanks for the reminder to think outside of the box... I have been fortunate over the years to be open to what the environment is telling me. Though sometimes I don't seem to listen. Here is an isolated image taken up at Mt. Saint Helens during a bright and beautiful day where the Grand Landscape was just too hard to capture but the small vignette scenes were abundant. Oh, and to your question at the beginning of the video, I have been actively doing photography for 8 to 10 years and still have so much to learn.