To Walk In The Path Of Flowers.

One of the aspects of creativity that I really believe in is that of observation. Personally, I find creative thoughts really come alive after a period of observation. It might be walking down the street listening to music, it might be sitting quietly watching something, but once I allow my brain time to see what’s in front of me and for it to formulate its own thoughts, I know the creative process is well underway. 

This is a photo I took at Dunedin’s Botanical Garden’s. I sat and watched the flowers for at least 10 minutes, just letting my thoughts and eyes go wherever it may. Occasionally the flowers would move in a breeze, occasional a bee would stop by. After a while I started to see textures and patterns within the flowers. I let my brain continue on that line of thought before setting out to create what my mind had seen.

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A Walk In My Own Backyard.

Boat Shed on Otago Harbour in Summer.

What a wonderful place New Zealand is during summer. The country comes alive with boats, surfboards, bikes, slushies and ice creams that drip onto the footpath. The days are long, the weather is deliciously warm and the summer evenings perfect for drinking a glass or two of your favourite drop while the air is filled with the smell of the classically Kiwi bbq sizzling away as the sun slips from sight. 

Yes, it’s these idealistic and wistful perspective’s of summer I hold on to as I patiently wait for 9 months to pass and summer to roll around once more on December the 1st.

And did those winds just blow.

The best thing I’ve read about creativity is Twyla Tharp’s book “The Creative Habit, Learn it and use it for life.” I’d read a lot of books on creativity but this was the first book I read that made a real connection with me. There are many passages in the book that spark my brain into gear. It’s hard to read it for long periods. If there’s one underlying view of creativity that I keep going back to it’s this: 
‘Creativity is the product of preparation, effort and hard work’

Here’s an example, this is a boat I found on Otago Harbour and after looking at in silence for a while my brain clicked into gear I saw how I wanted the finished image to look.

Mā te wā (Bye for now, see you later)

John

Hangin’ With The Locals

Hale T-Pole has a close encounter with a local sealion.  

It was early January, I was sitting watching the rain pour down across a city I couldn’t see, on a summer’s morning that felt more like winter. I was already beginning to regret my decision. 

The problem was I’d recently decided to focus my blogging efforts for 2021 on travel photography. But, with heavy rain falling, I instantly noticed a few problems with my less than carefully thought out plan. It occurred to me that I couldn’t travel overseas due to the borders being shut and the time I had to travel around New Zealand was limited. The fact was dawning on me that I had effectively made myself a travel photographer and writer with nowhere to go. Did this mean I was now a tourist within my own home? As the rain fell I dwelled on this thought for a while. The one idea that I did particularly like was I would be able to tell people ‘I’m a tourist here myself’.

Alleyway on Moray Place and Street Art by Phlegm (UK).

Happy New Year everyone, 2021 begins right here, right now!
This is my promise to you and hopefully the many more people who decided to follow my journey through 2021. I’m going to bring to you a unique blog post three times a week from my creative and curious mind. In 100 words or less (however I suspect I will view this word limit as more of a guideline than an actual rule), I’ll provide you with a unique, curious and creative view of Aotearoa and Ōtepoti as I explore the themes of culture, regional and social identity. After one visit, you’ll definitely be curiously motivated  to return, as I photograph and write about life on a small island, in a small city, located at 45.52° S, 170.46°E in the South Pacific Ocean. These are the couristies of my island home. 

See you every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Mā te wā (Bye for now, see you later)

John