Thanks for this, Marcel. Good timing for me. My one long-term projects has me questioning myself sometimes... ups and downs... and I've had some doubts lately. I appreciate your perspective. One thing for me that has been helpful has been to remove as much friction as possible from creating when inspiration strikes. Seems obvious, but it took me a long time to figure that out. I'm going to go back through the other posts in your series.
So rewarding, but, yes, it’s hard work, And I agree with @Mark White, the excitement comes down rather quickly. That’s when we realize the art making is hard work.
Keeping momentum is the toughest, I think. My brain is on fire when I start a project, and by week 6, I wake up wondering what motivated me in the first place. The vision is so clear at the start, but it gradually fades away as other "on fire" ideas take hold. Maybe it's my faulty wiring, I don't know. But it's been a problem for me since forever, in writing as well as photography. (Fortunately, I've maintained focus with my two longest-term projects -- my wife and my kids!)
Thanks for sharing, Marcel! I agree 100% with all that you’ve written here. Here’s maybe something to write about to add to your series. I first heard this question from a workshop I took with Alex Webb about long-term projects: When do you know when a project is finished? Sometimes, it can go on for years, possibly lifelong, but isn’t that a good inquiry?
Hi Stella, that is exactly the question I ask in the interview series 'The Dark Rooms Of...' as it might be hard to determine when that moment arises. See all interviews via https://marcelborgstijn.substack.com/p/interviews
Thanks for this, Marcel. Good timing for me. My one long-term projects has me questioning myself sometimes... ups and downs... and I've had some doubts lately. I appreciate your perspective. One thing for me that has been helpful has been to remove as much friction as possible from creating when inspiration strikes. Seems obvious, but it took me a long time to figure that out. I'm going to go back through the other posts in your series.
So rewarding, but, yes, it’s hard work, And I agree with @Mark White, the excitement comes down rather quickly. That’s when we realize the art making is hard work.
Keeping momentum is the toughest, I think. My brain is on fire when I start a project, and by week 6, I wake up wondering what motivated me in the first place. The vision is so clear at the start, but it gradually fades away as other "on fire" ideas take hold. Maybe it's my faulty wiring, I don't know. But it's been a problem for me since forever, in writing as well as photography. (Fortunately, I've maintained focus with my two longest-term projects -- my wife and my kids!)
Thanks for sharing, Marcel! I agree 100% with all that you’ve written here. Here’s maybe something to write about to add to your series. I first heard this question from a workshop I took with Alex Webb about long-term projects: When do you know when a project is finished? Sometimes, it can go on for years, possibly lifelong, but isn’t that a good inquiry?
Hi Stella, that is exactly the question I ask in the interview series 'The Dark Rooms Of...' as it might be hard to determine when that moment arises. See all interviews via https://marcelborgstijn.substack.com/p/interviews