Doing The Work

“The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying.”
Steven Pressfield

For the past few months I’ve been feeling progressively flat and uninspired. It was probably to be expected, given the shape of this year so far and the natural struggles of trying to settle in a new country.

Not that being “inspired” is essential to creative work. I firmly believe the most important part of being a musician, photographer or writer is simply turning up. Inspiration comes from working, not the other way around.

But, there’s a kind of existential funk that befalls us when we wonder if we are on the wrong path, or when we question our talent in deep ways. I’ve had a number of experiences, stretching back to last year, that have made me question my photographic direction, some of the people who had inspired me and some the popular ideas and approaches to technique in today’s photographic community.

In time, my confidence will come back and I will have some things to say, maybe not about photography per se, but certainly about how I approach photography, about my craft and practice.

Until then, I’m taking every day as it comes and going out with my camera to create images. Thankfully Adelaide, where I’m based for a few weeks, offers plenty of opportunities to see and capture amazing vistas. And, in the cold evenings I have time and space to play with processing and my notions of how photos can be developed using the technology we have at our disposal.

If there’s one thing I am certain of, it’s that waiting to feel inspired is a fool’s game. Just get out there and do it, then do it again. Inspiration comes while you are giving your art a chance by working, every day, with the tools at your disposal.