Wednesday, January 26, 2011


"Being surrounded by people who are creative makes you want to be creative."
-Michel Gondry

Inspiration. It’s something I think about a lot. The intangible force that drives us all, it’s the very basis of what we do, and the most vital part of being an artist.

It can be your best friend one day and your bitterest enemy the next. When you have it, the world is aglow, everything is right, you can feel it humming through your brain and out through your fingertips. The things you see and feel and think are preserved through your camera, and what could be more beautiful, more uplifting, than that? But when it has gone – you are empty. The world looks bleak. You are metaphorically blind. The worst feeling in the world is that you as an artist have nothing of worth to give. 

Still, there are so many things in this world that can be called “inspiring” that this fact is in itself, yes, inspiring.  It’s everywhere, really, so big and so small at the same time. A scene in a film, a lyric in a song, a look between strangers. The color of the sky after a storm. An expression on the face of someone you love. The way the light falls, always. I have spent hours contemplating on such things, and in a way, I think it might be my very favorite thing about being alive, these small moments that pass by quickly but resound within you for a much longer time. And we as photographers have the special privilege of sometimes, just sometimes, getting the chance to translate these moments into something that we can share and that will last forever.



But lately I’ve been thinking less about the way inspiration can happen to you, and more about the ways in which you can seek it out. Being inspired by other artists is a perpetual part of what we do, and almost impossible to avoid, even if (for some reason) you wanted to. 

Up to this point, photography has largely been for me something that I did “by myself”. I haven’t had many friends who were interested in it; I never interacted much with other photographers. I barely ever even talked about photography with anybody. For the most part, I was fine with this. Inspiration is a personal thing, I thought. I don’t need anyone else for this.



But since I started at PV, I am literally overwhelmed almost every day by how inspired I feel by all the people around me. Coming to school to study the one thing I am most passionate about was my dream for awhile before I actually had the chance to do it, and the thing I was most looking forward to was having the chance to just BE WITH other people who felt the same way. I haven’t been disappointed. It has been life-changing.

Being in an environment like this one is a constant inspiration. Just going to class and listening to the instructors tell their stories makes the world of being a photographer come alive. Learning from those who have experienced the industry themselves is priceless, and I’m so grateful to be able to spend time talking with and listening to so many talented people. In addition to all the practical knowledge, the support and encouragement that we receive here is invaluable.



It can be hard at times to keep your momentum going in any creative pursuit – contrary to what many people believe, creativity is hard work. It doesn’t always come easily, and sometimes, it doesn’t come at all. At times like these, coming to PV every day can be a lifesaver. Because even when you feel frustrated, lost, discouraged, burned out – all you have to do is show up here, and you’ll be reminded. Being surrounded by peers, all creative people, all of us together learning and growing and trying new things, balancing screwing up and succeeding spectacularly, builds an environment that I’ve never before had the chance to be part of. The truth is that here, we are all excited about the things that we’re doing, and excitement is contagious. There are so many ideas floating around you can practically feel yourself getting hit in the side of the head with them. I feel so lucky to be part of it now.



Going though this experience with the new friends I’ve made is one of the most rewarding and exhilarating things I can imagine. We are all so different, and everyone has something unique to share. And so here is the point of all this rambling: that in spite of all the amazing things I have gained so far this year, all the practice and projects and technical knowledge, my very favorite thing about school is, actually, all of YOU, my classmates and teachers. And to be more specific, especially my classmates (sorry teachers, you are wonderful as well!), who have taught me and challenged me and inspired me more than I could have asked for. We’ve built our own world here, where we can ask questions and push each other in the right direction and tell stupid jokes that have nothing to do with photography one moment while being complete geeks about all of our gear the next. We feed off of each other, offering gentle criticisms and exuberant praise. And yeah… most of all, I think, we inspire one another, to work harder, to keep trying, to be the best we can be. The truth is, I can never say "thank you" enough to all of you for the ways you have helped me and continue to help me grow as a photographer, and a person.



Being here is not always easy. Expressing yourself in a way you can be proud of and pushing yourself to create your finest work is a constant struggle. But the moments that remind you why you are here – seeing a photograph that was formed in another person’s brain and feeling an instant connection to it, learning something new that makes your mind feel like it’s cracking wide open until everything comes pouring in, creating an image that reminds you and the people who view it just how utterly overwhelming the beauty of the world can be - make it worth it. Sometimes it’s easy to forget, but just look around, and remember: it is important, what we do here. The things we teach each other. How we fail, and pick ourselves up again. The ways in which we surprise each other, and ourselves. The places we’ll go next. It’s worth it.