posted by Ian Summers on September 11th, 2013
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This really touched me.
I received a link to Chris Crisman’s blog yesterday which featured an interview with photographer Jason Lindsey entitled “The Meaning of Life in 10 Questions.” I loved the concept that a photographer took the time and space and passion and… to get to know 21 luminaries a little better and to share his findings with his readers.
Chris asked Jason to describe a defining moment in his career that has led to where he is today?
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Copyright 2013 Jason Lindsey
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Many years ago when my career hit a bump I knew I needed to relight that fire within and I started working with a creative coach. My direction to him was I wanted to find that passion. We went through a process to identify my passions in life and what was important to me now. Notice I did not say what my photographic passions are but my life passions. In the process I realized my life passions had changed dramatically from when I started my career. When I started I was young and single and now I was married with a son. Those two things are now my biggest passions. I started new photography projects related to my life passions including portraits of my friends and family. That process was transformative and I plan to continually reevaluate what is important to me in life and let that be the guide to my evolving vision and style…
This brought an extra-wide smile to my face and tears to my eyes. I am the creative coach that Jason mentioned. Thanks Jason and Chris.
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posted by Ian Summers on August 20th, 2013
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It Ain’t Just the Yellow Glasses
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I am a Seth Godin fan. And it is not just because we both wear yellow glasses. Purely coincidental. BTW, after 14 years the frames snapped beyond repair. It was time for a change.
Seth is brilliant, courageous, brave, original, generous, creative, and prolific. He writes confidently and stirs my soup. He writes his own blogposts everyday. And everyone of his books is a best seller. Some of them are gifts to the tribe meaning they are free. Subscribe to Godin’s free daily newsletter here. And learn about his innovative publishing company The Domino Factor here.
So today, I offer photographers and other artists just a touch of Seth Godin. Get the whole post here. You will learn why:
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Photography is a cheat, the death of painting
Photoshop is a hack, the death of photography
Instagram filters are crap, the death of Photoshop
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Please read the Godin post. Comments are welcome here.
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posted by Ian Summers on August 6th, 2013
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Heartstorming Storytelling Cards
Copyright © 2013 by Ian Summers
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Some time ago, I shared this novel way to vacuum-clean the universe for stimuli. Here is an update.
Here is a way to come up with an infinite number of story ideas. It is the bombdiggity of Idea Stimulators. It is effective and fun to do this with at least one other person.
Here is how it works
Get a set of index cards – you will need a lot of them.
You will be making five decks of cards with a minimum of twenty cards per deck. While it is okay to use the lists provided below, I encourage you to add some entries of your own.
Characters
Emotions
Actions and Situations
Locations
Quotes or Trump Cards
This process is based upon the concept that creating is a synthesizing process. It is also about making the strange familiar and the familiar strange. It is a form of creative play and stretches the imagination. It is okay to be silly.
Identify a minimum of twenty characters. Place each character on a separate index card.
Make another deck with the emotions listed in the attachment. You probably do not need all of them. It would be more manageable to choose twenty at random for now.
Make another deck of locations.
Another deck of situations.
And finally make a deck of the quotes which function as trump cards.
Pick two character cards by shuffling the character deck and picking two cards or more at random. For example you may choose the Advertising Account Executive and Beyonce cards. You will develop a story of an interaction between these two characters.
Next flesh out the characters by randomly picking an emotion card for each. For example, the Account Executive may be arrogant and Beyonce may be secretive.
Next pick a location where this interaction will happen. Again do it randomly. Let us say you chose a cruise ship for this example.
Then pick a situation card. For this demo, you may have picked Marriage Proposal.
So what might happens when this Advertising Account Executive meets Beyonce on a Cruise Ship and one or the other Proposes Marriage? Remember that the account exec is arrogant and Beyonce has a secret.
Start creating the story. You may write it or tell it to someone.
You may get stuck or want to invent a twist to the story. Pick one of the quotes and apply it to the tale. Let’s say you picked this one:
There is a time for departure even when there’s no certain place to go.
Tennessee Williams
How does this quote add, alter, or effect the story?
Think about the numbers of possible combinations. I reckon the number is huge. Extensive lists follow. I suggest that you print them out. Please add to the lists and make them your own.
Or/And
You may select and name characters from the hundreds of Conjured Faces at my FB site.
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Characters
Notice that some of the characters are people from history or the arts. Others are more general occupations. Whatever or whomever you pick, expand the character by extrapolating. Make the character strong, weak, zealous, aggressive, beaten, or… by choosing an emotion at random for this exercise.
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For Example:
Insurance salesman
Shaman
Witch
Supermarket cashier
Juggler
Plumber
Aging Hippie
Art Director
Cabaret Singer
Lawyer
Dentist
Stand-up Comic
Baseball Umpire
Mom or Dad
Cheerleader
Fashion Photographer
Secretary
Heroin Addict
Fashion Designer
Day Trader
Taxicab Driver
Doctor
Emperor
President of the United States
Evangelist
Rabbi
Tennis Pro
Gladiator
College Professor
Pickpocket
Pilot
A Superhero
Auto mechanic
Artist
Actor
Policeman/woman
Warrior
General
An Elder
Algebra Teacher
Priest
Moses
Jesus
Julius Caesar
Moses
Jesus
Julius Caesar
Clint Eastwood
Katharine Hepburn
Susan Sarandon
Bette Davis
Charles Lindberg
Mark Twain
Norman Mailer
Meryl Streep
Woody Allen
Janis Joplin
Jerry Garcia
Sigmund Freud
Martha Stewart
Ray Charles
Bob Dylan
Elvis Presley
John Lennon
Emotions
(Here are many words that represent the full range of human emotions.)
Absorbed
Abusive
Accommodating
Admonished
Adoration
Adored
Adventurous
Adverse
Affected
Affectionate
Aggravated
Aggressive
Agitated
Agony
Agreeable
Airy
Awkward
Alienated
Alluring
Alone
Altruistic
Ambiguous
Ambitious
Amorous
Amused
Anger
Anguished
Anxiety
Apathy
Appeasing
Appreciation
Apprehensive
Argumentative
Armored
Aroused
Arrogant
Astounded
Attentive
Avoidance
Beaten down
Betrayed
Bewildered
Bewitched
Bitchy
Bitter
Blah
Blessed
Blissful
Blunt
Bored
Bothered
Brave
Breathless
Bright
Broken
Callous
Calm
Captivated
Careless
Caring
Celebrating
Chagrined
Charming
Cherishing
Clandestine
Clear
Cold-blooded
Comfortable
Compassion
Competitive
Complacent
Concerned
Confused
Content
Cool
Coping
Cornered
Creative
Crucified
Crushed
Cursed
Dainty
Defensive
Delicate
Demure
Depressed
Desirable
Desolate
Despair
Despondent
Devoted
Disgust
Disregard
Distracted
Distressed
Doldrums
Demure
Depressed
Desirable
Desolate
Despair
Despondent
Devoted
Disgust
Disregard
Distracted
Distressed
Eager
Earnest
Ecstatic
Electric
Enchanted
Endearing
Engaging
Enthused
Excited
Fanatical
Fascinated
Fear
Fiery
Flattering
Flustered
Fortitude
Frantic
Frisky
Frustration
Funny
Furious
Giggly
Glad
Glee
Gloomy
Glowing
Goodness
Grateful
Greed
Grief
Grim
Grounded
Gushing
Gusto
Heavy
Hectic
Hopeful
Horrified
Humorous
Hurt
Hysterical
Impetuous
Imposing
Impressed
Impulsive
Indulgent
Inept
Inflexible
Insatiable
Insensitive
Inspired
Interested
Intimidated
Intrigued
Introspective
Inviting
Irritated
Jealousy
Jittery
Languid
Lethargic
Loathe
Lonesome
Lost
Love
Mad
Manic
Martyr
Meddlesome
Melancholy
Melodramatic
Mindful/Mindless
Mopey
Mortified
Moved
Nervous
Nonchalant
Optimistic
Over the edge
Pain
Panic
Paralyzed
Passionate
Passive
Patient
Peace of mind
Perky
Perplexed
Perturbed
Petrified
Pitied
Pride
Provocative
Quarrelsome
Quiet
Radiant
Rage
Rash
Raving
Ravished
Ready to burst
Receptive
Reckless
Rejected
Rejoice
Repressed
Repugnant
Resentful
Resistant
Restrained
Ridiculous
Romantic
Sadness
Safe
Satiated
Satisfied
Scared
Secretive
Secure
Sedate
Seductive
Selfish
Sensual
Sentimental
Serious
Shame
Shielded
Shocked
Shy
Silly
Sincere
Smug
Sober
Soft
Solemn
Somber
Sore
Sorrowful
Spastic
Spicy
Spirited
Spry
Stoic
Stressed
Stunned
Suffering
Supportive
Surrender
Sweet
Sympathy
Tame
Tantalizing
Tender
The blues
Thick-skinned
Thin-skinned
Timidity
Threatened
Tight
Tolerant
Tormented
Tortured
Tranquil
Troubled
Twitchy
Unconscious
Uncontrollable
Unimpressed
Unruffled
Victimized
Vivacious
Vulnerable
Warm
Weary
Woe
Worried
Yearning
Zeal
Locations
Subway
Fancy Restaurant
Back Seat of a Taxicab
Movie Theater Line
Elevator
Public Bathroom
Cave
Airplane
Kitchen
Starbucks
Nursing Home
Locker Room
Art Gallery/Museum
Carnegie Hall
Easton PA
The Neighborhood You Grew Up In
Madison Square Garden
On the Beach
The Wilderness
Hospital
In Bed
The Prom
Corporate Boardroom
Artist’s Loft/Studio
Boxing Match
Back Seat
Roller Coaster
Actions and Situations
Reading
Uncontrollable laughter
Making Love
Exercising
Having Insight
Marriage Proposal
Wedding
Pumping Gas
Meeting with a Parole Officer
An Automobile Fender Bender
Blasting Music from a Car Radio
Witnessing a Murder
Playing Catch
A Family Gathering
Meeting Someone for lunch
Sitting in Traffic
Reading Personal Ads
Watching TV in a Sports Bar
Playing Bridge
A Fox Hunt
First Date
Buying a Used/New Car
Giving a Speech
Attending a Convention
Performing in an Acting Class
Writing a Sitcom
Painting a House
Strangers Bumping Into Each Other in the Street
Mistaking Another for Someone You Know
Quotes or Trump Cards
For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert.
Arthur C. Clarke
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.
Fredrich Nietzsche
There is a time for departure even when there’s no certain place to go.
Tennessee Williams
No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority.
Hans Reichenbach
I do not live to play, but I play in order that I may live,
and return with greater zest to the labors of life.
Plato
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others.
Marcus Cicero
Take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.
Erica Jong
Whenever man comes up with a better mousetrap, nature immediately comes up with a better mouse.
James Carswell
Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.
Confucius
The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it.
Oscar Wilde
I’ve had a wonderful time, but this wasn’t it.
Groucho Marx
Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another:
‘What! You, too? Thought I was the only one.’
C.S. Lewis
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting the results to change.
Albert Einstein
Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they are going to be dead by midnight.
Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster,
and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.
Og Mandino
My days of whining and complaining about others have come to an end.
Nothing is easier than fault finding. All it will do is discolor my personality so that none
will want to associate with me. That was my old life. No more.
Og Mandino
If not now, when?
Talmud
FEAR:
F = FALSE
E = EVIDENCE
A = APPEARING
R = REAL
Veer Sharma
Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart …
Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.
Carl Jung
Out beyond notions of right doing and wrong doing, there is a field. Will you meet me there?
Rumi
When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.
Wayne Dyer
For Many More Quotes Questions & Pondering on the Creative Process
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www.facebook.com/quotesonthecreativeprocess
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