Sean, thank you so much for doing what you do. I discovered you late last year when I was in a bad place. I lost friends to covid, my girlfriend left me, and my mother had passed from cancer. I had no drive at all to go out and do the thing I love. I started watching your videos, especially your philosophy playlist, and your videos really helped me through those dark times. Thank you again.
All your life experiences have led you to make videos like today's - nobody else I've found on UA-cam is doing this, at least not with a photographic concentration. This is where you shine when it comes to creative education and motivational speaking. Keep it up Sean.
At 53 I am still in my first year of photography, just, and still enjoying the "wonder" of seeing what happens when.... At the moment I am focusing, sorry :-), on product photography and enjoying the path and learning. I believe I have nailed my Astro photography (moon shots) which I enjoy capturing and sharing. Yesterday I started to enjoy small bird photography, visitors to my garden, and just running with that for now. I see many similarities to my attitude to drumming in the last 33 years and my new photography path. At my core I am a rock / blues drummer but venture into jazz, funk, hip hop & nearly all flavours of drumming where I learn something that adds to my core drumming and has made my style. So, in 32 years’ time I will come back and tell how my photography journey went :-) I wish you well Sean and thank you for the inspiration.
I know I'm a controlled and rigid photographer, years ago a couple of models in Italy told me to loosen up and allow the process to immerse into my soul and drop the guards. I found this information to have been the best bit of information I've received and and every so often I will remember this and drop my wall and go for something without such structure. Even my art teacher told me that I need to shoot more from the hip.
The days that I take pictures just because I fancy a walk and feel like hearing the sound of the shutter, those are the days I take images I am happy with. Because I am completely open. No expectation, no need to results.
The ‘Rembrandt’ lighting you’ve used on your face works exceptionally well with the portraits on your wall behind you, never really noticed until now. Your vlogs always inspire me to think differently, thx Sean.
In a sea of photographer / content creators which usually focuses on gear most of the time you will rarely come across a hidden gem. This channel is one of those gems. While perfecting the technique behind every shot is almost everybody's priority (and maybe for some it is gear), I find that the mentality / attitude towards the art is something that's first on my list. Once I have the right mindset ready, everything else just falls into place. I had said it a lot of times and I will say it again, Thank you Sean for everything that you do. All the best to you and your future endeavors.
My daughter recently purchased one of those $10 disposable cameras. When she got the images back after being developed, she loved them. It wasn’t because of the clarity, composition etc. in fact it was the imperfections she loved. The blur, the color, the raw genuine moments, nothing posed or perfect. So I decided to get my DSLR, put on my 50mm lens and change my settings to Auto. I too LOVED the images, at times being tempted to pose the scene but left it as is. It’s such a freeing experience. 😀
I'm an enthusiast that only shoots for myself. This pandemic has been a game changer for the creative people I watch online. Restrictions are really hard on creative people. Seeing how they come out of their "funk" and adapt to escape their frustrations is refreshing. My "regular job" (truck driver) is increasingly choking my creativity by adding rules, surveillance and tracking to maximize my productivity on my job, but eliminate "my time" in my own life... while on the job. Thank you for sharing your perseverance with us. There is always a way to succeed.
Took a chance and went out in the Wisconsin snowy weather downtown Milwaukee and to my surprised I stayed out there for almost 3 hours! It was crazy, the longer I stayed out there the more my eyes saw as potential photos. It was addicting. Getting out and just doing it is the sauce that I needed. I feel like I leveled up today. Thank you for your videos as they play a pivotal role to my photography’s evolution. Cheers!!
"If you're anything like me, i promise you, if you're feeling stuck the answer will be to make a good mess and see what it unlocks in you." Thank you for this sentence alone. That hit home pretty hard.
"Make a good mess and see what it unlocks in you." Wow, does that resonate with me. I'm turning 60 this year and recently decided to move to a new city. A more succinct and satisfying distillation of my deliberations I cannot imagine. Thank you for the thoughtful and well-crafted videos. The material had no conscious effect on my decision making, but that sub-conscious, who knows!
Make a mess? Oh yes, I'll certainly be doing that. Quite literally. There will be woidshavings and dust and paint and stuff all over the shop. Your videos are a wonderful combination of inspiration and helpful tips. You manage to package your message and your advice so succinctly, that I always feel the to e watching has flown by. Immersive indeed. Thank you Sean.
When I watch one of your videos, Sean, I know I will come out with some new information to think about, some food for thoughts, that makes me strongly reflect on what I do creatively and why I do it. I have to say though, this is probably the best video I have watched on your channel in terms of content. I feel like I have been doing my craft based on some "hints" given by my intuitions all along, but it would sound a bit stupid to me when I either say it to myself or to someone asking me how do I do what I do. You made me realise that, it is an actual part of the creating process, it is not something that mindlessly happens, but it is part of what we are as individual artists. I thank you for making me realise that, I feel like this has strengthen me in believing on myself and my creativity even more, without being too scared to try something different. Thank you Sean.
Amen to that Sean. I will continue to experiment, and challenge myself....Always love your work, and your wise words.... Looking forward to seeing this new chapter....
What an important and timely video. I suspect that I’m not the only image maker feeling ground down by the unrelenting pressure of the pandemic and related crises. Under those circumstances it’s very easy to end up in a creative rut. You suggest that we loosen up, dodge our rational selves, and lead with our gut. You are right. When I edit my films if I feel I’m in a rut I will review my footage with my eyes closed. Just about every time I will find something that I hadn’t thought about and find a new way to edit the footage. From where you stand determines what you see. If you don’t like what you’re seeing then stand in a different place. Once again you have created a process to get your viewers to higher creative ground. Well done and keep moving.
I’m only 7 minutes in, and I already know I will re-watch this many times over to remind myself! Hit to close to home! .. I heard someone say once before, that the way to get better/progress along your creative journey you need to cultivate a playful curiosity along with a willpower to show to up and try
Your perspective is always changing thts why it important to keep getting out there and surprising yourself , you never know what's round the corner . I got in my car last weekend fully intent on going to a specific destination and found myself in a dissused car park with some old rail junk and a concrete silo factory next door , im sure the universe took me there I had a ball
*Make a good mess.* I try so hard to have it all hang together, clean, clear, rational. Which tends to take the life out of what I'm doing. When I let the mess in, it wakes me up, wakes up my work, and is so much more alive. Then to have a light hand at editing into something of a whole. Thanks for all the big picture, from the gut, material that you create.
Yes, indeed. My fear of losing the approval of others. Especially prior to watching your videos for the past several months. But you've helped me think of the long game and continued growth. And I'm grateful for that. I'm a continuing work in progress. Good to see you Sean. Wishing you positive vibes with every Roger Deakins movie I've been watching. ;) Thank you!
Thanks Sean. I hit a pretty hard rut over the last year. Had ideas, scripts, and the space to get it all done, but struggled to pick up the camera. One day I got so frustrated I just packed all the gear up ,and put it in the closet... and it took me 6 months to take the gear out and do something with it. It happens, and I am not really all that bothered by it as what I am learning through these ruts is that the harder I am on myself for being in a rut, the deeper it gets.
What a wonderful sharing, Sean, born of your struggles with creativity and your willingness to risk! You've given me some ideas, and encouraged me to risk also. Thank you!
Thanks so much Sean...your work is extraordinary but you are a real gift to help the lives of so many. Peace, hope and strength on your journey as you continue to evolve and touch the world with your gifting. Be well.
Amazingly intuitive and precisely what I have been considering as my weakest characteristic. I am stunned at how often your videos come at exactly the right time. Thank you and take care.
This was EXACTLY what I needed! I've been struggling for so long and every day wondering what to do about it. I will be watching this a couple more times just so it sinks in more and pushes me on. Thank you.
Me: UA-cam: Me: Fantastic shots at the end, and great advice overall. And I agree about Meyerowitz's ability to reinvent himself whenever he felt the urge.
Sean, I really enjoy your extraordinary videos and talks. You're one the most authentic artists I've seen on the web. Keep doing these videos which are inspirational for beginners like me.
Don't know why I'm just now watching this Sean!! This was really good! I've been doing photography for 20 years now and I love the idea of just shooting full auto and then editing upside down. I feel like this will unlock something totally new to me! Thanks mate!!
Great advice as always. Similar to the examples you gave, I found that changing ‘format’ helped me out of a rut, I started shooting film about 12 months ago or so and now, if I could only shoot one format, it would be 4x5 large format. I’ve found that the slower process has made me think a lot more about the ‘why’ of an image rather than churning out the same old digital images that started to feel like filler....
Thanks for this Sean, have been doing seascapes for some time but planning to venture out to a sunflowers field for a change. Time to play with close up or vista. I will give myself permission to play.
I think that there is a lot of this going around right now. A few weeks ago I was very stuck and I watched a lot of your videos to get some inspiration. I ended up giving myself a challenge to just go out and take pictures, forgetting what I thought I should be doing and just trying to be more intuitive. I made a video about my experiment, and funnily enough, I shout you out because you were my inspiration for the challenge. You have said the sentiments that I was trying to say in a much more eloquent and concise way, which I love. Photography should be about fun before about creating in any particular way. I look forward to seeing your experimentation, without a doubt it is going to be amazing. Stay strong Sean and have fun! 😊
I find that the reckless, impulsive art you make is almost always better than the structured art. I always find myself more impressed my the impulse shots than the carefully planned ones. I am glad I have a second opinion on this. My profile picture for instance is one of those shots. I got home, grabbed my tripod and phone, put it on the street and shot a few images, but for some reason my hair was in the way and I tried to get it out of my eyes, and at that moment the shutter went off, creating a natural shot more than a composed one.
This was absolutely fantastic, engaging, and well-written. I was absolutely immersed from beginning to end in your message, and it's exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you Sean :)
Ditto for me also...once I ceased agonizing and started flowing with what I wanted and needed to do, I enjoyed it more and it all began coming together quicker and perhaps better.
Gut, subconscious, feeling, emotion. Important words when finding our voice. Nurturing instinct is a term I like to use. Many thanks for the shout-out buddy :) Fab video, as always!
Yep. That's me to an embarrassing extent (although I knew that): repeating over and over what I know is bound to yield sure-fire results. Thanks for another great video of yours, Sean, which has made me renew my resolve to allow myself to play more in my photography, to let myself be taken more easily wherever my creative whims may lead me.
This resonated a lot, will work on giving myself permission to explore more. Been coming to your channel for calming, sound advice, and to get away from the flashy/gimmicky side of Instagram/UA-cam, and I definitely did not leave disappointed. Thanks Sean!
You yes you are an inspiration for people like me. so thankful for your words... your every words has its own presence that I so look up to. Thank you Sean Thank you very much(:
I watch yours and Belinda's channel. As a relative newbie I have recently retired and took up photography. I am currently been watching some of the episodes and they have been brill. I tried your suggestion of just taking anything which interests.. and felt it works. Actually I have got my best photos...I have "tested" them out on a couple of sites and I have had good response. I also liked your advise about cataloguing each year and the info on the printer you suggested. Thank you!
Thank you for all the advice in this episode. I feel exactly like what you said. That's why I decided to shoot with whatever I'm inspired at that time and when I'm bored of this style I move to the next.
I very much like the retrospective element of this video: thinking about what we like and perhaps dislike. Speaking of likes: at the time i write this, your video has 8k views and almost 1k likes. The likes to dislikes ratio is 200:1. It may be meaningless to you, but let me tell you those stats mean that you are clearly doing something right 👍 Keep at it Sean.
I learned a great lesson about getting out of a rut just last week. I've committed myself to uploading 1 video per week, and I was feeling uninspired for my next video, which was about how to get better sleep. I put off making it until the last minute, when I just sat down and started scripting. At first nothing came to me, but I forced myself to keep writing. Eventually I started to have a lot of cool ideas, and it ended up being one of my favorite videos I've made thus far. I think people think of art as this constant flow of inspiration, but honestly, coming up with ideas is a skill just like anything else. You have to practice it.
Sean, thank you for putting this out!! :) I always appreciate your wise words. I can't agree more with you on giving yourself permission to "play" (key word). Often times we find ourselves doing what we know works and not looking outside of that (aka having tunnel vision). Sometimes it's not always about the results but rather allowing ourselves to make mistakes and trusting the process. Great video!
First of all, Sean, I hope you're doing alright. I saw your announcement on Instagram and wish you all the best. Going back to film has done wonders for my perfectionism. Manual focus, no internal light meter, and not being able to check things immediately and 'correct' any imperfections, makes for regular leaps of faith. I'm much more willing to play and take risks when there's already fewer guarantees of perfection.
This video talked so much to me. Not That I am in a creative rut, more that I am in a creative mess. I was a lot into landscapes, starting to feel it a bit empty shooting this, needed something else. Tried abstract minimal architecture shots, bought books from Cartier Bresson and other french naturalists, received my first rolls of analog film back with portraits of family and friends, tried to shoot while skateboarding at the park... Right now everything is a mess and I really don't know what will come out of it. But still, watching it gave me confidence to strive for that search and that something will eventually come that I will be proud to call my work.
Very interesting, I understand when people get bored when doing the same thing all the time. We are stuck on this idea of « you have to find your style and do it consistently », but we don’t always understand that it only applies to work, not for art (which is to me the reflection of our inner being). Because we evolve as people, it’s normal to evolve as well on the subjects and topics that we take pictures of.
I'm so happy you mentioned Joel Meyeowitz as he's one of my favourites atm and I don't know why I haven't looked to get his book, so I will now thank you and awesome advice as always. I will use some of it for my research for uni 😁👍🏻
The flipping of the image is a great idea. I first heard of it from Joe Cornish. Also it was suggested to edit and then leave it for a day then come back.
I was recently Mayor of the rut and it’s straight talking stuff like this that helped show me a way out. Thanks for the talking to 🙂 and I very much hope you’re doing ok 🙏
Sean, you're one of the inspiring people who got me back into photography. But your videos almost always speak to me in a much broader sense. I am a software developer by trade and what you're saying in this video hit me deep inside because I always challenge myself and "embracing the suck" will make you much much better in the long run; I can affirm that! I can only hope to get to a similar level in photography one day but it's very inspiring seeing artists like yourself documenting that for us and showing us what it looks like to walk the walk. Thank you!
Hi Sean, Andrew here in Ottawa Canada, a great video. My background is in Quality and I have always been described as a perfectionist even in my current profession that uses my skills. Fear is exactly how I feel, the fear of the unknown. Giving myself permission is great advice that I will use both in my profession and my photography. Thank you Sean
Almost like we have to go back to being children with there freedom of expression and pure joy of creating things, then we "Grow up" and become afraid to fail and disappoint.Excellent video Sean
As always, so well timed, it's almost like you're reading my state of mind! Simon Baxter's idea of flipping the image for the edit is inspiring. Thank you Sean, for another calming influence film on photographic life.
After almost a year of feeling pretty inspired, I have spent the past two months feeling rather stuck. This video came at just the right time. Thank you!
Sean, thank you so much for doing what you do. I discovered you late last year when I was in a bad place. I lost friends to covid, my girlfriend left me, and my mother had passed from cancer. I had no drive at all to go out and do the thing I love. I started watching your videos, especially your philosophy playlist, and your videos really helped me through those dark times. Thank you again.
All your life experiences have led you to make videos like today's - nobody else I've found on UA-cam is doing this, at least not with a photographic concentration. This is where you shine when it comes to creative education and motivational speaking. Keep it up Sean.
At 53 I am still in my first year of photography, just, and still enjoying the "wonder" of seeing what happens when....
At the moment I am focusing, sorry :-), on product photography and enjoying the path and learning.
I believe I have nailed my Astro photography (moon shots) which I enjoy capturing and sharing.
Yesterday I started to enjoy small bird photography, visitors to my garden, and just running with that for now.
I see many similarities to my attitude to drumming in the last 33 years and my new photography path.
At my core I am a rock / blues drummer but venture into jazz, funk, hip hop & nearly all flavours of drumming where I learn something that adds to my core drumming and has made my style.
So, in 32 years’ time I will come back and tell how my photography journey went :-)
I wish you well Sean and thank you for the inspiration.
This could not have come at a more perfect time. Such solid advice from one of the best. Thank you Sean
I, concur.
Brilliant! This has helped me more than you know! I'm very grateful... thank YOU!
I know I'm a controlled and rigid photographer, years ago a couple of models in Italy told me to loosen up and allow the process to immerse into my soul and drop the guards. I found this information to have been the best bit of information I've received and and every so often I will remember this and drop my wall and go for something without such structure. Even my art teacher told me that I need to shoot more from the hip.
The days that I take pictures just because I fancy a walk and feel like hearing the sound of the shutter, those are the days I take images I am happy with. Because I am completely open. No expectation, no need to results.
The ‘Rembrandt’ lighting you’ve used on your face works exceptionally well with the portraits on your wall behind you, never really noticed until now.
Your vlogs always inspire me to think differently, thx Sean.
In a sea of photographer / content creators which usually focuses on gear most of the time you will rarely come across a hidden gem. This channel is one of those gems. While perfecting the technique behind every shot is almost everybody's priority (and maybe for some it is gear), I find that the mentality / attitude towards the art is something that's first on my list. Once I have the right mindset ready, everything else just falls into place. I had said it a lot of times and I will say it again, Thank you Sean for everything that you do. All the best to you and your future endeavors.
Best part of your videos is how genuine they are. Really appreciate it.
My daughter recently purchased one of those $10 disposable cameras. When she got the images back after being developed, she loved them. It wasn’t because of the clarity, composition etc. in fact it was the imperfections she loved. The blur, the color, the raw genuine moments, nothing posed or perfect. So I decided to get my DSLR, put on my 50mm lens and change my settings to Auto. I too LOVED the images, at times being tempted to pose the scene but left it as is. It’s such a freeing experience. 😀
I'm an enthusiast that only shoots for myself. This pandemic has been a game changer for the creative people I watch online. Restrictions are really hard on creative people. Seeing how they come out of their "funk" and adapt to escape their frustrations is refreshing. My "regular job" (truck driver) is increasingly choking my creativity by adding rules, surveillance and tracking to maximize my productivity on my job, but eliminate "my time" in my own life... while on the job. Thank you for sharing your perseverance with us. There is always a way to succeed.
Took a chance and went out in the Wisconsin snowy weather downtown Milwaukee and to my surprised I stayed out there for almost 3 hours! It was crazy, the longer I stayed out there the more my eyes saw as potential photos. It was addicting. Getting out and just doing it is the sauce that I needed. I feel like I leveled up today. Thank you for your videos as they play a pivotal role to my photography’s evolution. Cheers!!
"If you're anything like me, i promise you, if you're feeling stuck the answer will be to make a good mess and see what it unlocks in you."
Thank you for this sentence alone. That hit home pretty hard.
"Make a good mess and see what it unlocks in you." Wow, does that resonate with me. I'm turning 60 this year and recently decided to move to a new city. A more succinct and satisfying distillation of my deliberations I cannot imagine. Thank you for the thoughtful and well-crafted videos. The material had no conscious effect on my decision making, but that sub-conscious, who knows!
I really needed to hear this this right now.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the expectations of your audience.
Thank you, Sean.
This is great! I’ve realised that perfectionism is a lie. Perfectionism is insecurity in disguise for me 💗
Wow, well said!
Make a mess?
Oh yes, I'll certainly be doing that. Quite literally. There will be woidshavings and dust and paint and stuff all over the shop.
Your videos are a wonderful combination of inspiration and helpful tips. You manage to package your message and your advice so succinctly, that I always feel the to e watching has flown by. Immersive indeed. Thank you Sean.
When I watch one of your videos, Sean, I know I will come out with some new information to think about, some food for thoughts, that makes me strongly reflect on what I do creatively and why I do it. I have to say though, this is probably the best video I have watched on your channel in terms of content. I feel like I have been doing my craft based on some "hints" given by my intuitions all along, but it would sound a bit stupid to me when I either say it to myself or to someone asking me how do I do what I do. You made me realise that, it is an actual part of the creating process, it is not something that mindlessly happens, but it is part of what we are as individual artists. I thank you for making me realise that, I feel like this has strengthen me in believing on myself and my creativity even more, without being too scared to try something different. Thank you Sean.
Amen to that Sean. I will continue to experiment, and challenge myself....Always love your work, and your wise words.... Looking forward to seeing this new chapter....
What an important and timely video. I suspect that I’m not the only image maker feeling ground down by the unrelenting pressure of the pandemic and related crises. Under those circumstances it’s very easy to end up in a creative rut. You suggest that we loosen up, dodge our rational selves, and lead with our gut. You are right. When I edit my films if I feel I’m in a rut I will review my footage with my eyes closed. Just about every time I will find something that I hadn’t thought about and find a new way to edit the footage. From where you stand determines what you see. If you don’t like what you’re seeing then stand in a different place. Once again you have created a process to get your viewers to higher creative ground. Well done and keep moving.
Really thankyou for your advice in every video. Every time I watch you, you just change my perspective. Thank you for being there !
I’m only 7 minutes in, and I already know I will re-watch this many times over to remind myself! Hit to close to home! .. I heard someone say once before, that the way to get better/progress along your creative journey you need to cultivate a playful curiosity along with a willpower to show to up and try
Excellent advice. Always appreciate your transparency and vulnerability. Thanks for sharing.
Nine years ago, my vocal coach told me that I had to 'give myself permission to make a noise'. That advice has stuck with me to this day.
That's great!
Your perspective is always changing thts why it important to keep getting out there and surprising yourself , you never know what's round the corner . I got in my car last weekend fully intent on going to a specific destination and found myself in a dissused car park with some old rail junk and a concrete silo factory next door , im sure the universe took me there I had a ball
*Make a good mess.* I try so hard to have it all hang together, clean, clear, rational. Which tends to take the life out of what I'm doing. When I let the mess in, it wakes me up, wakes up my work, and is so much more alive. Then to have a light hand at editing into something of a whole.
Thanks for all the big picture, from the gut, material that you create.
Sean you've literally pulled my camera bag from under my bed! Thank you!
For me from my camera closet 👍. Let’s get out there and create. 🤞
In every moment that i feel stuck or uncreative, i watch some of your videos and you help me to pass through that suck moment.
Thanks Sean.
Yes, indeed. My fear of losing the approval of others. Especially prior to watching your videos for the past several months. But you've helped me think of the long game and continued growth. And I'm grateful for that. I'm a continuing work in progress. Good to see you Sean. Wishing you positive vibes with every Roger Deakins movie I've been watching. ;) Thank you!
Thanks Sean.
I hit a pretty hard rut over the last year. Had ideas, scripts, and the space to get it all done, but struggled to pick up the camera. One day I got so frustrated I just packed all the gear up ,and put it in the closet... and it took me 6 months to take the gear out and do something with it.
It happens, and I am not really all that bothered by it as what I am learning through these ruts is that the harder I am on myself for being in a rut, the deeper it gets.
What a wonderful sharing, Sean, born of your struggles with creativity and your willingness to risk! You've given me some ideas, and encouraged me to risk also. Thank you!
Thanks so much Sean...your work is extraordinary but you are a real gift to help the lives of so many. Peace, hope and strength on your journey as you continue to evolve and touch the world with your gifting. Be well.
It's great to see you again Sean, just in time I needed to hear this message.
Amazingly intuitive and precisely what I have been considering as my weakest characteristic. I am stunned at how often your videos come at exactly the right time.
Thank you and take care.
This was EXACTLY what I needed! I've been struggling for so long and every day wondering what to do about it. I will be watching this a couple more times just so it sinks in more and pushes me on. Thank you.
Just received Collection IV. Thanks for the work & the wisdom!
Me:
UA-cam:
Me:
Fantastic shots at the end, and great advice overall. And I agree about Meyerowitz's ability to reinvent himself whenever he felt the urge.
Sean, I really enjoy your extraordinary videos and talks. You're one the most authentic artists I've seen on the web. Keep doing these videos which are inspirational for beginners like me.
Don't know why I'm just now watching this Sean!! This was really good! I've been doing photography for 20 years now and I love the idea of just shooting full auto and then editing upside down. I feel like this will unlock something totally new to me! Thanks mate!!
Absolutely love this! I so appreciate your sharing❣
It would be one of the coolest things of the world to spend an afternoon with you and a lot of coffee, Sean!
Your videos are just jewels!
Excellent video. I love the idea of shooting from the hip on auto then examining to see if you can find something fresh.
Great video. It's great that you understand and give help to the photography community. You both inspire and guide people. Kudos Sean. Thank you
This video and your voice is so necessary during the creative void of COVID - i really needed to hear this - Thank you!!
Having taken to shooting more film lately, I've completely embraced the "just make images without checking them" ideal.
Thanks, Sean.
Yet another great video Sean and great contents. Thank you.
Great advice as always. Similar to the examples you gave, I found that changing ‘format’ helped me out of a rut, I started shooting film about 12 months ago or so and now, if I could only shoot one format, it would be 4x5 large format. I’ve found that the slower process has made me think a lot more about the ‘why’ of an image rather than churning out the same old digital images that started to feel like filler....
This was super helpful. Thank you brother. Really loved it and got a lot out of it.
Thanks for this Sean, have been doing seascapes for some time but planning to venture out to a sunflowers field for a change. Time to play with close up or vista. I will give myself permission to play.
Brilliant Sean. Perfect timing for all of us during lockdown. Thank you.
I think that there is a lot of this going around right now. A few weeks ago I was very stuck and I watched a lot of your videos to get some inspiration. I ended up giving myself a challenge to just go out and take pictures, forgetting what I thought I should be doing and just trying to be more intuitive. I made a video about my experiment, and funnily enough, I shout you out because you were my inspiration for the challenge. You have said the sentiments that I was trying to say in a much more eloquent and concise way, which I love. Photography should be about fun before about creating in any particular way. I look forward to seeing your experimentation, without a doubt it is going to be amazing. Stay strong Sean and have fun! 😊
Wonderful insights and reminders , thanks Sean!
I find that the reckless, impulsive art you make is almost always better than the structured art. I always find myself more impressed my the impulse shots than the carefully planned ones. I am glad I have a second opinion on this. My profile picture for instance is one of those shots. I got home, grabbed my tripod and phone, put it on the street and shot a few images, but for some reason my hair was in the way and I tried to get it out of my eyes, and at that moment the shutter went off, creating a natural shot more than a composed one.
When you said put your camera on auto and trust your gut, shoot fast and loose my heart lifted. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
You are wise beyond your years, thank you for sharing your inspirational wisdom.
Always such great advice, a wonderful video Sean, thanks for sharing. Missing your work on Instagram.
This was absolutely fantastic, engaging, and well-written. I was absolutely immersed from beginning to end in your message, and it's exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you Sean :)
As a perfectionist, I never felt ready to start my channel. When I finally gave up keeping everything under control, I was ready to take the risk.
I know exactly how you feel! Definitely been there more than once.
Ditto for me also...once I ceased agonizing and started flowing with what I wanted and needed to do, I enjoyed it more and it all began coming together quicker and perhaps better.
Gut, subconscious, feeling, emotion. Important words when finding our voice. Nurturing instinct is a term I like to use. Many thanks for the shout-out buddy :) Fab video, as always!
Thanks for that yo
Yep. That's me to an embarrassing extent (although I knew that): repeating over and over what I know is bound to yield sure-fire results. Thanks for another great video of yours, Sean, which has made me renew my resolve to allow myself to play more in my photography, to let myself be taken more easily wherever my creative whims may lead me.
This resonated a lot, will work on giving myself permission to explore more. Been coming to your channel for calming, sound advice, and to get away from the flashy/gimmicky side of Instagram/UA-cam, and I definitely did not leave disappointed. Thanks Sean!
Honest, thoughtful and inspirational as always.
You yes you are an inspiration for people like me. so thankful for your words... your every words has its own presence that I so look up to.
Thank you Sean Thank you very much(:
Thanks- insightful and instructive as ever. Enjoying Collection IV too- the images and the book are worth spending time with
Another great video! I recently received my copy of your most recent collection. Your work is always inspiring. Thank you.
I watch yours and Belinda's channel. As a relative newbie I have recently retired and took up photography. I am currently been watching some of the episodes and they have been brill.
I tried your suggestion of just taking anything which interests.. and felt it works.
Actually I have got my best photos...I have "tested" them out on a couple of sites and I have had good response.
I also liked your advise about cataloguing each year and the info on the printer you suggested. Thank you!
Thank you for all the advice in this episode. I feel exactly like what you said. That's why I decided to shoot with whatever I'm inspired at that time and when I'm bored of this style I move to the next.
Just what the doctor ordered! Thanks Sean!
I very much like the retrospective element of this video: thinking about what we like and perhaps dislike. Speaking of likes: at the time i write this, your video has 8k views and almost 1k likes. The likes to dislikes ratio is 200:1. It may be meaningless to you, but let me tell you those stats mean that you are clearly doing something right 👍 Keep at it Sean.
I learned a great lesson about getting out of a rut just last week. I've committed myself to uploading 1 video per week, and I was feeling uninspired for my next video, which was about how to get better sleep. I put off making it until the last minute, when I just sat down and started scripting. At first nothing came to me, but I forced myself to keep writing. Eventually I started to have a lot of cool ideas, and it ended up being one of my favorite videos I've made thus far.
I think people think of art as this constant flow of inspiration, but honestly, coming up with ideas is a skill just like anything else. You have to practice it.
Sean, thank you for putting this out!! :) I always appreciate your wise words. I can't agree more with you on giving yourself permission to "play" (key word). Often times we find ourselves doing what we know works and not looking outside of that (aka having tunnel vision). Sometimes it's not always about the results but rather allowing ourselves to make mistakes and trusting the process. Great video!
First of all, Sean, I hope you're doing alright. I saw your announcement on Instagram and wish you all the best.
Going back to film has done wonders for my perfectionism. Manual focus, no internal light meter, and not being able to check things immediately and 'correct' any imperfections, makes for regular leaps of faith. I'm much more willing to play and take risks when there's already fewer guarantees of perfection.
This video talked so much to me. Not That I am in a creative rut, more that I am in a creative mess. I was a lot into landscapes, starting to feel it a bit empty shooting this, needed something else. Tried abstract minimal architecture shots, bought books from Cartier Bresson and other french naturalists, received my first rolls of analog film back with portraits of family and friends, tried to shoot while skateboarding at the park... Right now everything is a mess and I really don't know what will come out of it. But still, watching it gave me confidence to strive for that search and that something will eventually come that I will be proud to call my work.
Loved this video! Perfect timing as usual.
Very interesting, I understand when people get bored when doing the same thing all the time. We are stuck on this idea of « you have to find your style and do it consistently », but we don’t always understand that it only applies to work, not for art (which is to me the reflection of our inner being). Because we evolve as people, it’s normal to evolve as well on the subjects and topics that we take pictures of.
As always, excellent and thought-provoking content! Thank you for making all these videos, and for this one particularly.
I'm so happy you mentioned Joel Meyeowitz as he's one of my favourites atm and I don't know why I haven't looked to get his book, so I will now thank you and awesome advice as always. I will use some of it for my research for uni 😁👍🏻
Nice kick! ⚽ Can't score, if you don't take the shot. 🎯 Love Simon & Meg🐶 Carry on!
Sean, I felt as if you are talking to me. This is much more than therapy. Thanks a lot!
The flipping of the image is a great idea. I first heard of it from Joe Cornish. Also it was suggested to edit and then leave it for a day then come back.
I was recently Mayor of the rut and it’s straight talking stuff like this that helped show me a way out. Thanks for the talking to 🙂 and I very much hope you’re doing ok 🙏
Came to the right time. Thanks Sean.
Excellent advice Sean. Thank you. And greetings from icy Portland, OR
Sean, you're one of the inspiring people who got me back into photography. But your videos almost always speak to me in a much broader sense. I am a software developer by trade and what you're saying in this video hit me deep inside because I always challenge myself and "embracing the suck" will make you much much better in the long run; I can affirm that! I can only hope to get to a similar level in photography one day but it's very inspiring seeing artists like yourself documenting that for us and showing us what it looks like to walk the walk. Thank you!
Thank you so much! The best advice I've heard for my creativity 🙂
Hi Sean, Andrew here in Ottawa Canada, a great video. My background is in Quality and I have always been described as a perfectionist even in my current profession that uses my skills. Fear is exactly how I feel, the fear of the unknown. Giving myself permission is great advice that I will use both in my profession and my photography. Thank you Sean
You nailed the thinking of a perfectionist. It is so hard to break out of that mindset until you let go and allow yourself to experiment
Great information! Thanks again for your insight!
Almost like we have to go back to being children with there freedom of expression and pure joy of creating things, then we "Grow up" and become afraid to fail and disappoint.Excellent video Sean
Great to see you back on good form.
Be lucky stay safe.
Glad to see you back !! :)
Thank you Sean🙏🏻
Really needed to hear this right now. Thanks!
Always appreciate your insights, Sean. Thank you.
Thank you for this video Sean!
Thanks for the perspective Sean 🙏
As always, so well timed, it's almost like you're reading my state of mind! Simon Baxter's idea of flipping the image for the edit is inspiring. Thank you Sean, for another calming influence film on photographic life.
Great video as always. Really nice advise and wise words.
Great message. I find you videos very uplifting for life in general not just for photography. Hope you’re doing well.
After almost a year of feeling pretty inspired, I have spent the past two months feeling rather stuck. This video came at just the right time. Thank you!