Marc Silber is a five time return guest and photography author of the new book Create: Overcoming Fear to Unleash Your Creativity. Today Marc shares with us how fear can stop us from being our most creative self as a photographer and how to overcome it. Mark also talks about journaling and how he practices visualization when taking photos and how mornings are the best time for him to be creative.

The Big Ideas

Visualize quickly and act.
Visualize your creative ideas.
Go out and shoot.
Try different things and learn.
Visualize and experiment.
Learn your tool better.
Practice falling to succeed.
Photography is a numbers game.
Grow through critique and community.

Timestamps

00:00:05 Visualize before taking photo.
00:13:07 Visualize, then create.
00:17:05 Be patient and persistent.
00:21:04 Find your creative purpose.
00:28:00 Visualize and create impactfully.
00:37:30 Learn your tool well.
00:47:57 Practice falling to succeed.
00:49:11 Ignore the haters, keep going.
00:56:05 Grow through community critique.

Resources:

Visualize quickly and act.

In photography, visualization is an essential part of the creative process. Ansel Adams once said, "The whole key to a photograph is that you visualize it before you press the shutter." This statement can be misinterpreted to mean that one needs to take a long time to think about a photograph before taking it. However, this is not the case. Visualization can happen in a split second.

Take for example a dog running on the beach. If the photographer stands 10 feet away, the dog will run right in the path of the sun and create a beautiful photograph. This visualization can happen quickly and easily.

The same can be said for other creative endeavors. Mark Silber, a five-time return guest on the Beginner Photography podcast, is an expert in this area. He believes that mornings are the best time for creativity and recommends that people get up and have a coffee before doing anything else. He then suggests studying for an hour or two and journaling to set goals for the day. This routine helps him to get into a creative state of mind and leads to epiphanies and ideas.

The key to creativity is to visualize quickly and act. Visualization does not need to be a long and drawn out process. It can happen in an instant, and it is important to act on it quickly. If an idea strikes, take the time to explore it and bring it to life. This is the best way to unleash one's creativity.

Visualize your creative ideas.

This is something I learned from my own experience and from reading the book, "The Creative Habits of Successful Photographers" by Raymond Gehman. In his book, Gehman outlines the five stages of creativity: visualization, exploration, experimentation, execution, and refinement.

Visualization is the first and most important step. It is the process of forming a mental image of the idea or concept you want to create. It is important to take the time to explore the idea and consider how it could be brought to life. Think about the colors, the textures, the shapes and the overall feel of the project. Once you have a clear idea of what you want to create, it is time to move on to the next stage.

Exploration is the next step. During this step, you need to start researching and gathering the materials you need to bring your idea to life. Look for inspiration and ideas from other sources, such as books, magazines, and websites. Take the time to really explore the possibilities and find the materials that will help you create the project.

Experimentation is the next step. This is the time to start playing around with the materials and ideas you have gathered. Try out different combinations and see what works best for your project. This is a great time to experiment with different techniques and find the ones that work best for you.

Execution is the next step. This is the time to start putting your idea into action. Gather all the materials you need and start creating. This is the most important step and it is important to stay focused and work hard to bring your idea to life.

Refinement is the final step. This is the time to refine your project and make sure it is the best it can be. Take the time to evaluate your project and make any changes or improvements that are necessary.

Visualization is the key to creativity. It is important to take the time to visualize your ideas and bring them to life. Once you have a clear idea of what you want to create, take the time to explore, experiment, execute, and refine. With a little practice, anyone can become a creative master.

Go out and shoot.

Photography is a great way to express your creativity and explore the world around you. To become a great photographer, there are three key steps: visualization, knowing your tools, and capturing.

Visualization is the first step. Before pressing the shutter, take the time to visualize the final image. This can happen in a split second or take a few hours, depending on the complexity of the image. Think about the lighting, composition, and other elements that will make the image come alive.

The next step is knowing your tools. Get to know your camera and other equipment. Don't let the camera get in the way of your photography. Take the time to learn the settings and experiment with different techniques.

The last step is capturing. This is where the rubber meets the road. Get out there and start shooting. Don't be afraid to take risks and experiment. Don't be afraid to fail. Sometimes the best images come from unexpected moments.

Ansel Adams once waited nine hours for the perfect shot. While this may seem extreme, it is important to remember that great images often take time and patience. Don't be afraid to take the time to get the perfect shot.

Take the time to explore, experiment, and create. Go out and shoot.

Try different things and learn.

As a photographer, it can be difficult to know what to shoot and how to capture the perfect image. It can be even harder to know what your purpose is with photography. It can be easy to try and be great at everything, but in the end, it will lead to being great at nothing.

The best thing to do is to try different things and learn. It is a trial and error process. Don't be afraid to try something out and then realize it isn't for you. It's a part of life and a part of the creative process.

Separating the capture and editing process is also important. Don't get in your head about it and don't be too hard on yourself. It's easy to get caught up in the editing process, but it's important to let the flow go and let the creativity take over.

Sharing your work with the world is also important. It can be rewarding to have someone buy your work or give you compliments. It shows that you have created something that someone else finds pleasing and that you have achieved something.

In the end, it's important to try different things and learn. It's a part of the creative process and it's important to explore and experiment. Don't be afraid to try something out and then realize it isn't for you. It's a part of life and it's a part of the creative process. So take the time to explore, experiment, and create. Go out and shoot.

Visualize and experiment.

Visualization is a key part of the creative process. It's important to visualize the end result and then to experiment until you get the desired outcome. Visualizing your goal helps you to stay on track and to focus on the details. It's also important to experiment and to try different things. You never know what you might discover. Through experimentation, you can learn more about yourself and your creative process.

When it comes to photography, it's important to visualize the scene and to experiment with different lenses and camera settings. It's also important to experiment with different editing techniques and to think outside the box. With each step, you should be visualizing what you want to achieve and how you want to achieve it.

It's also important to experiment with different ways of sharing your work. You can print your photos and frame them, or you can create digital prints and share them online. You can also experiment with different mediums, such as acrylics or canvas.

In conclusion, it's important to visualize and experiment in order to create something unique and meaningful. Visualizing helps you to stay focused and to stay on track. Experimenting helps you to learn more about yourself and to explore different possibilities. Don't be afraid to try something out and to learn from it. Visualize and experiment and you'll be able to create something beautiful.

Learn your tool better.

When it comes to photography, it's important to learn your tool better. Whether you're a beginner or a professional, it's important to take the time to understand the fundamentals of photography and to explore the possibilities of your equipment. As the Zen master in the podcast said, it's important to leave room in your cup, to be open to learning and to be willing to try something new.

In the podcast, the speaker talks about the importance of planned obsolescence in modern photography. He explains that in the past, cameras did not have an expiration date, and people could use a camera from 1920 or 1950 without any problems. But now, with the rapid advancement of technology, cameras are constantly being updated and changed, and photographers have to learn how to use them all over again. This can be a drain on the creative process, so it's important to take the time to get to know your equipment and to understand how it works.

The speaker also shares a story about a Zen master and an arrogant professor. The Zen master fills the professor's cup with tea until it's overflowing, and he tells him that his mind is like this cup, full and unable to take in anything more. This is a great reminder to leave room in your cup and to be open to learning new things. Don't think you know it all already, because there's always something new to learn.

Finally, the speaker talks about the importance of renting gear to get a feel for it before committing to it. It can be expensive to buy new gear all the time, so renting is a great way to try something out and see if you like it. This is a great way to learn your tool better and to explore different possibilities without breaking the bank.

Overall, it's important to learn your tool better in order to create something meaningful and unique. Take the time to understand the fundamentals of photography, to explore the possibilities of your equipment, and to be open to learning new things. Don't be afraid to try something out and to experiment with different techniques. Visualize and experiment and you'll be able to create something beautiful.

Practice falling to succeed.

However, it's also important to remember that failure is a part of the process of creating something beautiful. We all experience fear and doubt when we are creating something. We are scared of not being good enough, of letting people down, and of making an investment into something that might not work out. It's normal to feel this way. We all have to battle our own insecurities and doubts.

But, just like in sports, it's important to practice falling. We don't want to avoid trying something new just because we are afraid of failing. We need to be willing to take risks and to try new things. We need to learn how to fall so that we don't hurt ourselves in the process.

The best way to do this is to take the time to practice and to become more familiar with our tools. We need to experiment and to explore the possibilities of our equipment. We need to be open to learning new things and to trying out different techniques. We need to be willing to make mistakes and to learn from them.

It's important to remember that failure is a part of the process of creating something beautiful. We all experience fear and doubt when we are creating something, but it's important to push through these fears and to take risks. We need to practice falling in order to succeed.

Photography is a numbers game.

Photography is a perfect example of this. It's a numbers game, and the more shots you take, the more likely you are to get that perfect shot. This is something that Ansel Adams understood, and he said that if you took one good photograph a month, after 12 years you would have a portfolio of 150 photographs worthy of showing.

It's also important to get feedback from trusted sources. This could be a friend or a mentor, or even a professional photographer. They can offer critiques and suggestions on how to improve your work. It's important to remember that criticism isn't always bad. Constructive criticism can help you to grow as an artist and to improve your work.

Finally, it's important to remember to put your work out there, despite the fear of criticism. We all experience fear of failure and fear of criticism, but it's important to take the risk and put your work out there. It's also important to remember that there will always be critics, but you just have to grit your teeth and ignore them.

Photography is a numbers game, and it's important to remember that failure is part of the process. You need to take risks and put your work out there, despite the fear of criticism. It's also important to get feedback from trusted sources and to remember that criticism isn't always bad. With practice and dedication, you can create something beautiful.

Grow through critique and community.

One of the best ways to grow as a photographer is to take advantage of the community around you. This can be done through critique and feedback from other photographers. By getting feedback from others, you can learn what works and what doesn't work in your photos. This can help you refine your skills and become a better photographer.

Mark, the guest on the Beginner Photography Podcast, shared his advice on how to critique photos. He suggested that you should look at the photo as a whole and ask yourself questions such as, “What do I like about this photo? What don’t I like? What could be improved?” This can help you gain a more critical eye and understand what makes a good photo.

Another way to grow as a photographer is to join a community. This can be done through online forums, Facebook groups, or even in-person meetups. By joining a community, you can get feedback from others, learn from their experiences, and get inspired by their work. It can also help to connect with other photographers and learn from each other.

Growth as a photographer is often a long and difficult process. But with the right tools and resources, and by taking advantage of critique and community, you can become a better photographer. By joining a community and getting feedback from others, you can refine your skills and create something beautiful.