Creativity vs Art
Posted on 30. Jul, 2010 by admin in blog
Over the last few days, I had the chance to talk with a photographer friend of mine about creativity, art and many of the truisms that are tossed around in today’s culture regarding those two topics. It seems that some folks have the word ‘creative’ in a stranglehold – creativity is not a brand. You can’t trademark the affect art has on you, it’s too personal and subjective.
A high level of creativity does not equate someone as an artist, creativity only grants people the mental tools to turn an original idea into something – a product – which is usually not art. Art, as my friend so elegantly spoke – ‘grabs you by the balls’ – so in other words, art has an affect on you in a blunter and sometimes more painful way.
During this road trip conversation, which shifted between backpacking trips and truck parts, we had pretty much reached the conclusion that truisms sucked – such as fishing in the rain, sucks. Just in time too, because by then we had reached our shoot destination had taken off our philosopher fedoras and extinguished our ridiculously long filtered cigarettes.
No more time for thinking, there was work to be done.
Studying art does not make you any more creative than say, wearing a fedora. But what studying art can do is make you aware of what affects you and the techniques used to make this impression deep in your conscience.
For example, I’ve always been affected by van Gogh’s ‘The Sower’ since I first saw it reprinted on a greeting card given to me by my girlfriend’s sister, which still hangs in my office after many years.
Something about ‘The Sower’s’ clean composition, the straight lines that make up the form of unplowed wheat and the story that I place in the furrowed field has always appealed to me – or affected me in a more painful way.
Clean composition has always appealed to me. I’m not sure why really, maybe because I’m so scattered brained and the clean form of lines focus my eyes and thoughts. Yes, layering your work – especially in photography – makes your work more visually appealing but I’m not talking about being appealed by a visual. I’m talking about focusing my thoughts and emotions – the true value I see in the art that affects me.
Art is personal, man.
Shifting gears. I leave you not with a painting of dogs playing poker but an iPhone photo of my dog, Sophie.
Is this photo, art? The short answer points to no, but let’s not get personal here, do that in the comment section.
Cheers,
Nathan
Twittering
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by admin in blog
Twitter. Twittering. Tweets.
Just a few years ago, while chatting up a client at a cocktail party or meeting over lunch, if you would have said any form of these three words they might have thought you a bit unbalanced.
“Check please.”
Honestly, it took me a bit to fully grasp the idea of social media as more than a place to re-up with old friends or college roommates. Social media to me means more than just sharing links, which I’m very good at, but to engage people that I would not normally have contact with. Social media as a whole has been pretty good to me. I get my message and photos out.
Freshwater Images was founded in March 2009. My first tweet through @freshwatertweet follows:
launching a new brand, company and creative direction all in the same day, might need some more coffee.
2:21 PM Mar 8th from web
While I still share lots of random links and self promote I also try to provide value to anyone and everyone. I try not to simply climb to top of a tall building and scream, “Here I am. Now pay attention to me.”
That example is like a car alarm. Why do people even use such an annoying device. No one listens anyway. I have never gotten up and said, “Wow, some dude’s car is getting stolen around the block. We should check it out.” Be honest, have you ever checked it out? I love my neighbors, but my neighbors also don’t have car alarms. I value my neighbors not having car alarms.
>Social media, in a way, works in the same function. A wise man, @tonyfelice, gave me the tip to provide value. It totally makes sense and he’s right.
What is the point if you don’t give something of value? You have such a small space to focus your words but an unlimited amount of ideas and thoughts that someone or many someone’s may build from or improve. The hope is that someone or those many someone’s will do the same with their limited amount of space and provide you with something of value.
Below is a word cloud of just a few days of Tweets. I’ve been experimenting with hashtags (shift+3) – small markers that include more information or metadata into your otherwise awesome Tweet. Say you work on an organic farm and Tweet between chores. A good example of using a hashtag would be:
Bright Ridge Farms is looking for some good ideas regarding #organic-farms and #organic-food for our next round table discussion.
There is no formula for being a genius social networker. Some may disagree with that statement, but what can be agreed on is that there are many known unknowns – as someone once said.
Your job is to figure out the known unknowns, for your company or brand, and Tweet with the Twitter you are given.
Cheers,
Nathan
(Author’s Note: This was previously posted on a former blog of mine. You can berate me in the comment section for recycling a post, if you feel the need.)