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I have been reading a brilliant book by Steven Pressfield called "The War of Art." It has had so many challenging and comforting insights into the creative process. One of the things I read this weekend that really stuck with me was this....
"Of any activity you do, ask yourself: If I were the last person on earth, would I still do it?"
I mean, if zombies came and attacked and I literally was the last person standing on the planet... would I still be taking pictures, showing up to the studio, wrapping my hands around the camera; or for a writer, would you still be writing that book or for a painter would you still be working on that art piece?
It is such a pointed and evocative question that points to our true purpose and motivation for doing the things that we do. If we had no one to show our work to, no one to praise us... would we still do it? If we are only doing it for fame/notoriety, I would argue that we haven't truly found that thing that makes us tick. I have a friend, Sarah Dawn, who absolutely LOVES shoes... I have no doubt that if she was the last woman standing she would be risking her life to break into abandoned shops to get her hands on a pair of Manolo Blanhiks for no one other than herself. Because she absolutley loves the way shoes make her feel, the way they look on her feet. They aren't for anyone else but her.
For me the answer to that question is an undeniable YES. I would be wrapping my hands around that camera if I were the last person standing. And I feel grateful to be able to say that, when so many are still searching to find that thing that makes them tick. I recognize I am merely a vessel for the things I create. But we must keep our motivation in check as artists, making sure that we are doing things not for the sake of others, but because we truly LOVE what we are doing.
So what about you, if you were the last person on the planet would you still be doing exactly what you are doing?
*The photo in this post was a collaboration with my good friend Tiffany Lowry who did the hair/makeup & styling :)
Thoughts
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I would go down with my camera in my hand. But that also brings up another question..."Should you ever take a break from your camera?"
Regards,
Carl from T.O.
@AnneMarie It's not about checking e mail, news, phone calls... those are tedious for all of us, not to mention, if it were the end of the world, who would be emailing you and who would be reporting the news? ;) The question is really pointed at the bigger picture...are you doing something that you really love.
Someone has to say no so it might as well be me. If I were the last person on earth, I would not worry about checking e-mails, reading the news or caring about much money is in my account. It's the little things that are soo time consuming and lead no where really.
The photo is really great!
I definitely wouldn't be spending my days the same way I currently do... I'm one of those still searching. I appreciate the food for thought, though, and the inspiring perspective that comes through in your photos and blog posts. I'll have to check out this book!
Hey Sarah, I absolutely love The War of Art (and most of the other books you read) and I try to make myself read that book at least once a quarter.
However... on this one, not so sure. Isn't a huge factor in the creation of art the giving of a gift to another person? Isn't art about sending a message of beauty to another person? Maybe even the biggest factor? The most motivating?
Of course maybe the zombies would love your photos but not as much as the humans that are around to see them now. : )
Those would be some pretty awesomely sick photographs if it were truly a zombie apocalypse. Great point, I truly would never leave without it. I'm sure it would become my safety net... a bit of comfort in an uncomfortable world.
Yes! I would take more photos because there would be no one around to tell me I was trespassing! :)
Love this!
Yes yes yes!
yeah! awesome question. We all need to save our polaroid film for the apocalypse! ya know, just in case we dont have power to run our computers or places to develop film:) haha. Thats what im doing
Just wow. Inspiring words, thanks so much for sharing.
I'm wearing that scarf today:) I also think I'd try to show the Zombies how to use lipgloss and style their hair ;)
T..xoxo
YES! I would still be shooting. But I still think I have a lot to discover in that truth, and I still need to check my motives at times. Good questions.
well put sarah. a great reminder to check the motivation behind what we are doing....and the answer to your question is a big yes!
I'd still be shooting, however I'd set the mode to "Shoot without Card" and I'd take the card out and shoot like nobody's business ;-)
There's a wonderful exhilaration during the capturing process that keeps me from even needing to ever see the final image. I think I'd just hang out in that space if there was no one to see the images.