Overcoming the Summer Slump
After a six week motivation slump, yesterday’s hike to a new section of creek proved reinvigorating and downright magical. It felt as though blinds had finally been raised to allow light to pour into the creative side of my brain. That sounds dramatic, but consecutive days of being down on myself for not feeling creative or motivated were starting to get to me.
Confluence, 7/2/23
Right now we’re in the thick of Summer heat and humidity. Hornets and wasps are thriving, and ticks are rampant. Thunderstorms, some fairly violent, pop up out of nowhere almost daily, and staying dry is impossible after even the shortest hike (rain or no rain). You sweat when you stay outside, and if you sit still long enough for it to evaporate (which is never if you’re me) you become a sticky mess.
So, I find that I have to dig deep to find the right mindset to get outside with my camera this time of year. “Inspiration exists but it has to find you working,” said Picasso. Of course it does, but very often getting to work is far easier said than done. Venturing out in the hot soup of a Southern Summer just isn’t easy when the heat index exceeds 95F.
But it all worked out yesterday, simply because I made myself get up and go. I ignored the negative shit-talker within, and took the leap despite knowing my creative side would resist. I packed a light kit with two lenses and a set of filters, a sandwich, a small first aid kit (my epi pen a mortal requirement), a towel to wipe my face and another to wipe my camera, and hit the trail to a new location. Surprisingly, I managed to avoid ticks all day and didn’t get buzzed by any flying stingers.
At the top of a hill, I found an interesting confluence where a small brook flowed into one of the larger veins of the main river, far upstream and uphill from the more popular swimming areas locals enjoy.
A severe thunderstorm swept through the gorge as soon as I arrived, but I found a large boulder to hide underneath. The storm did a few things: it got rid of all the people on the busiest portions of the creek; it cooled the temperature by about 15 degrees; and it produced some nice atmosphere and saturated color in the forest.
The storm also enriched my appreciation for the natural processes I enjoy learning about, and helped me to feel ever more part of the landscape instead of a mere observer.
It might go without saying that finding new bodies of water is key to my motivation this time of year. Creeks, waterfalls, and ponds all create a cooler setting in which to find creative flow and a bit of direction among the area’s otherwise chaotic, overgrown forests. Combined with rainy weather, these fountains are conducive to the kind of photography that I find hard to resist thanks to their cooling, atmospheric qualities.
A good example of a little “Water assist” in finding a composition. It’s not very creative - almost anyone with an iPhone or digital camera would intuitively make the same image - but that’s beside the point. In this heat, I could care less about a perception of originality if this is the kind of scene that keeps me engaged with nature.
Anyway, this just felt like a topic worth writing because the creativity struggle is real, and it helps to put down any tip or trick that can help. Creativity is linked to mental health so I believe intentionally carving time out for it any time of year is important for general well-being. However, during Summer it helps tremendously to seek out cooler conditions and locations, made possible by rainstorms and waterways. Going out with the camera just doesn’t occur to me as naturally as it does during the cooler seasons, so I’ve learned (after forgetting, again this year) this is pretty much a requirement.
Yesterday was a win. When I got home, completely sweaty and filthy, I felt light on my feet for having overcome another rut. I inhaled some celebratory junk food, wiped down my camera and lenses, and sat on the floor with my old stinky dogs. I felt recharged, having spent several hours alone in the woods. I felt physically exhausted but far more creatively satisfied than I had anticipated that I would.
