Creative Vision Newsletter, April 22, 2024

Creative Flow

(Above: The Sahara Desert, Morocco. Canon EOS R5, Canon 100-500mm @ 363mm, 1/500 second @ f/10, ISO 320)

Creative flow - or sometimes simply referred to as flow - is a psychological state characterized by a complete absorption in an activity, where the person experiences a profound sense of focus and enjoyment. When someone is in a state of flow, they typically lose awareness of time and space while feeling a sense of effortlessness in their actions. Athletes often talk about being “in the zone” when they experience effortless focus and performance at peak moments. Photographers, artists, and writers can achieve this same level of focus and performance as well by accessing creative flow.

Flow can seem elusive, yet understanding how to access this state can transform your work, whether you’re behind the lens or engaging in any task that requires both concentration and creativity. Here are some tips I’ve learned over the years about how to access creative flow.

1. Create a Distraction-Free Zone: Eliminate distractions. For photographers and writers, this could mean silencing your phone, clearing your workspace of unnecessary clutter, or using mindfulness to train mental focus on the present moment.

For me personally, it means creating when I’m alone. I love people and having friends around in social situations, but to achieve that flow state when I’m doing photography, I need to be alone with no conversations or worrying about other people. But that’s just me.

2. Match Challenge with Skill: Flow is most readily achieved when there is a balance between the challenge and your personal skill level. For photographers, this might mean choosing projects that stretch and challenge your abilities while not being overwhelmed. Make sure the difficulty of the task aligns with your current capabilities to maintain engagement without getting frustrated.

3. Leverage Your Peak Times: Working in alignment with your natural rhythms enhances your ability to slip into flow, making your work both more productive and enjoyable.

For example, I have much more mental energy and clarity in the mornings - so I assign activities that require critical thinking and concentration for the hours before lunch. I have much less mental energy in the afternoons, so I assign routine tasks - like adding image metadata or returning emails for after lunch. In the evenings, I seem to have higher levels of creative energy, so image editing, creative writing, and brainstorming for future projects are best suited for after dinner and before bedtime.

During a photo trip, I can create different types of images to fit this cycle as well. Match the task to fit the project.

4. Process Over Outcome: Focus on the process, not the outcome. Focusing solely on the outcome can pull you out of the present moment, disrupting the flow. Instead, immerse yourself in the process only. The outcome will take care of itself, as they say. This mindfulness in action helps sustain your focus while deepening engagement with the task at hand.

5. Practice Regularly: Flow, like any other skill, can be honed through practice. The more you engage in photography or any other creative pursuit with the intention of entering this state, the more natural it will become. Regular practice not only improves your technical skills but also makes accessing flow more instinctive.

By incorporating these strategies into your routines, you can enhance not only your ability to achieve creative flow but also the overall quality and enjoyment of your work.

Why We Travel

We venture forth seeking connection, understanding, and the truth of our shared human existence. We travel to challenge our perspectives, to shatter our preconceptions, and to discover that beneath the surface differences that seem to divide us, there lies a shared heartbeat of human experience.

New Podcast: Matthieu Paley

Matthieu Paley is a French photographer who has traveled the world working for National Geographic magazine. Focusing his efforts on regions that are misrepresented and misunderstood, he is committed to issues relating to diminishing cultures and the environment.

Matthieu is the the recipient of numerous awards and has published several books of his work and his fine art images have been exhibited in galleries worldwide, including museums. He is regularly commissioned for commercial photography campaigns, photo workshops and speaking engagements around the world. He currently is living with his family in Portugal.

Topics Richard and Matthieu discuss:

• The Portugal fire
• Pakistan
• Cultural customs
• Languages
• “Hold you beliefs lightly”
• Cultural immersion
• A photography gear minimalist
• Breaking down stereotypes
• The Pamir Region of Afghanistan
• Donkey stories
• The concept of “home”

And much more…

Listen to the Episode Here or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Overcast

Antarctica Expedition!

I am one of the photography leaders on a Muench Workshops Antarctica Expedition in February of 2025. This will be my 8th visit to Antarctica and each trip is special and unique. I’ll be joined by six fellow Muench pros as well as special guest, Scott Kelby.

You don’t want to miss this one: the best instructors and guides, our own chartered ship for a first rate photography-centric expedition to the coolest photo location on the planet!

Dates: February 6 - 17, 2025

Find out more info here: Muench Workshops Antarctica Expedition

Kase Filters

People often ask what filter system I use. The answer is Kase Filters.

And you can get 10% off any product on the Kase Filters Amazon Page when you use coupon code BERNABE10 at check out.

*****

Here’s to Truth, Adventure, and Passion…