I love finding story ideas. I believe finding stories is a skill that requires practice and focus, just like anything else. Because I’ve had a website for twenty-four years, a YouTube channel, and a Discord server, I routinely get asked about how I come up with my ideas. My response is always the same: “What do you know?” Whatever you know deeply is a great place to start for finding the story that will lead to your book.
I also believe curiosity is the underlying foundation of finding story ideas.
Research suggests people with a creative mindset can increase their lifespan up to seven years. Most of the things we know deeply are also things we are curious about. Several years ago, I accidentally backed into birding after becoming curious about birds nesting on my patio. Now, I can’t go anywhere without my floppy hat and binoculars. I’m also working on two bird-related documentary projects that will end in book form. And imagine if I wanted to sell my bird books. Ninety-seven million Americans identify as birders, so my audience is right there waiting for me.
Sometimes we take our knowledge for granted. Do I know how to use straight bleach to dodge a silver gelatin print? Yep, but never knew it mattered until a young photographer asked me if I knew how to do it. What you know deeply tends to come with a higher level of understanding, which is valuable, even sellable if you so choose to do so. In some way, knowledge becomes the product. Print gives it a tangible reality.
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I still can’t translate my day to day work (something I know deeply)into an image I think will mean anything to anyone. Familiarity has bred a deep contempt which leads me to not even trying. Could I make portraits of my co-workers and colleagues? Sure, but do they want to be subjects and what do the portraits say about them doing a labor intensive job? Why are we doing this work that at face value gets us a decent wage? Weigh that “decent” wage against an average home price that has nudged right up against 1 million, and that decent wage is no longer decent.
I went out yesterday and tried to get a few city scenes that had been rattling around in my head. I forgot to stop down after focusing, and I only made like 10 digital frames when I should have rattled off fifty.
As you have said many times, one needs to photograph often to simply iron out silly missteps on the way to improvement.
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Don’t beat yourself up. The people you photograph can feel those feelings. Relax, enjoy, experiment.
Funny … I too
Have thought of photographing my co/workers, but what would management make of it? I’ll
Let you know😁