Comments on: Projects and Explorations http://guytal.com/wordpress/2012/01/projects-and-explorations/ Photography and the Creative Life Mon, 21 May 2012 05:42:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Aspen on the Awapa Plateau http://guytal.com/wordpress/2012/01/projects-and-explorations/comment-page-1/#comment-14672 Aspen on the Awapa Plateau Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:57:37 +0000 http://guytal.com/wordpress/?p=2428#comment-14672 [...] day-long reprieve from interminable waiting by taking me out to the Awapa Plateau. (He’s been going there a lot.) He wandered off, as he is wont to do. I went that-away instead. It didn’t look like [...] [...] day-long reprieve from interminable waiting by taking me out to the Awapa Plateau. (He’s been going there a lot.) He wandered off, as he is wont to do. I went that-away instead. It didn’t look like [...]

]]> By: Guy Tal http://guytal.com/wordpress/2012/01/projects-and-explorations/comment-page-1/#comment-14645 Guy Tal Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:22:22 +0000 http://guytal.com/wordpress/?p=2428#comment-14645 Thank you, Michael! Thank you, Michael!

]]> By: Michael http://guytal.com/wordpress/2012/01/projects-and-explorations/comment-page-1/#comment-14636 Michael Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:45:51 +0000 http://guytal.com/wordpress/?p=2428#comment-14636 As a project manager for decades: bravo and thank you for your thoughts, pictures and inspiration. As a project manager for decades: bravo and thank you for your thoughts, pictures and inspiration.

]]> By: Brian Rueb http://guytal.com/wordpress/2012/01/projects-and-explorations/comment-page-1/#comment-14613 Brian Rueb Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:05:33 +0000 http://guytal.com/wordpress/?p=2428#comment-14613 "This exchange reminded me of a separate discussion, in which I explained some of my reasons for becoming a professional artist. Though I had an interesting and well-paying corporate career, and I could work on my art for a day or two each week, I realized I could no longer turn it on and off. I could not spend my week working in “project mode,” and switch to “exploration mode” for a weekend before going back. The more passionate I became about my creative work, the more I realized it was not something that I do, but something that I am, and that I could not temporarily suspend it any more than I could suspend my breathing for a few days each week." That paragraph sums up my life right now perfectly...good stuff as always. “This exchange reminded me of a separate discussion, in which I explained some of my reasons for becoming a professional artist. Though I had an interesting and well-paying corporate career, and I could work on my art for a day or two each week, I realized I could no longer turn it on and off. I could not spend my week working in “project mode,” and switch to “exploration mode” for a weekend before going back. The more passionate I became about my creative work, the more I realized it was not something that I do, but something that I am, and that I could not temporarily suspend it any more than I could suspend my breathing for a few days each week.”

That paragraph sums up my life right now perfectly…good stuff as always.

]]> By: Michael Frye http://guytal.com/wordpress/2012/01/projects-and-explorations/comment-page-1/#comment-14604 Michael Frye Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:39:54 +0000 http://guytal.com/wordpress/?p=2428#comment-14604 Very well said Guy. In photography you have to follow your heart and your instinct or you become lost. Very well said Guy. In photography you have to follow your heart and your instinct or you become lost.

]]> By: Steve Sieren http://guytal.com/wordpress/2012/01/projects-and-explorations/comment-page-1/#comment-14601 Steve Sieren Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:16:16 +0000 http://guytal.com/wordpress/?p=2428#comment-14601 For me a project is simply a plan, with out much planning. It is usually a focus on an area with out any time restraints or limits. "Project" is just a word probably taken too harshly if it has cause a person too much stress in their own lifetime. Anything with a deadline is closely compared to a job to me. I don't think I could work as an artist with any kind of pressure, limits or structure. For me a project is simply a plan, with out much planning. It is usually a focus on an area with out any time restraints or limits. “Project” is just a word probably taken too harshly if it has cause a person too much stress in their own lifetime. Anything with a deadline is closely compared to a job to me. I don’t think I could work as an artist with any kind of pressure, limits or structure.

]]> By: Russ Bishop http://guytal.com/wordpress/2012/01/projects-and-explorations/comment-page-1/#comment-14600 Russ Bishop Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:15:50 +0000 http://guytal.com/wordpress/?p=2428#comment-14600 Another very thoughtful post Guy. As for projects and creativity, I agree that as artists we won't be completely finished until we take our last breath. This theory is not nearly as quantifiable as with corporate projects, but much more rewarding. Kinda makes the left brain hurt, but the right brain is smiling. Another very thoughtful post Guy.

As for projects and creativity, I agree that as artists we won’t be completely finished until we take our last breath. This theory is not nearly as quantifiable as with corporate projects, but much more rewarding. Kinda makes the left brain hurt, but the right brain is smiling.

]]> By: Carl D http://guytal.com/wordpress/2012/01/projects-and-explorations/comment-page-1/#comment-14596 Carl D Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:42:31 +0000 http://guytal.com/wordpress/?p=2428#comment-14596 Hey Guy You've articulated (well) what's been bouncing around my head for a long time. I'm going through some similar processes with my own 'project', and I've never really been able to communicate how I feel about it as well as you have here. I do wish you hadn't referenced the corporate culture .... I get what you're saying, but I think, if I'm reading this correctly, that's merely one illustration of something; yet I kinda wonder if it steers a lot of readers to miss the point. That or maybe I've missed the point completely. :) Cheers Carl Hey Guy

You’ve articulated (well) what’s been bouncing around my head for a long time. I’m going through some similar processes with my own ‘project’, and I’ve never really been able to communicate how I feel about it as well as you have here.

I do wish you hadn’t referenced the corporate culture …. I get what you’re saying, but I think, if I’m reading this correctly, that’s merely one illustration of something; yet I kinda wonder if it steers a lot of readers to miss the point.

That or maybe I’ve missed the point completely. :)

Cheers

Carl

]]> By: Bill Chambers http://guytal.com/wordpress/2012/01/projects-and-explorations/comment-page-1/#comment-14595 Bill Chambers Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:55:26 +0000 http://guytal.com/wordpress/?p=2428#comment-14595 Another thought provoking article Guy, and one that is easy for me to agree with. For me, the desired outcome, whether it be called a project or exploration, is the actual journey, the realizations that come from tromping through the woods or beach, absorbing the beauty of the moment and trying to capture it on my CF card, the feeling of fulfillment that comes with a successful day out, and the occasional frustraion when the day isn't so successful. In short, it's all about the journey, for that what life is. Another thought provoking article Guy, and one that is easy for me to agree with. For me, the desired outcome, whether it be called a project or exploration, is the actual journey, the realizations that come from tromping through the woods or beach, absorbing the beauty of the moment and trying to capture it on my CF card, the feeling of fulfillment that comes with a successful day out, and the occasional frustraion when the day isn’t so successful. In short, it’s all about the journey, for that what life is.

]]> By: Tom Mangan http://guytal.com/wordpress/2012/01/projects-and-explorations/comment-page-1/#comment-14594 Tom Mangan Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:07:01 +0000 http://guytal.com/wordpress/?p=2428#comment-14594 Conviction for your art and passion is what it boils down to I believe. I can relate well to the situation you describe in your previous corporate life. It's become trendy for us to be told that we should be measuring our self worth based on how hard we work and how much personal time we sacrifice for the good of the team and company. All of us compartmentalize differently, and I'm sure there are some 'task masters' that can navigate between these two different worlds somewhat successfully. I find it difficult at best to turn the switch on and off and find the process of attempting to do so draining and shallow. Ironically, it was an intro to a team building 'True and Best Leadership' seminar that my teammates and I were read a quote from civil rights activist Howard Thurman. It read, 'Don’t do what the world needs you to do. Find out what keeps you alive and do that. For what the world needs is you, alive!. After this, I then had the privilege to sit through 3 more days of teambuilding and leadership ‘training’. Conviction for your art and passion is what it boils down to I believe. I can relate well to the situation you describe in your previous corporate life. It’s become trendy for us to be told that we should be measuring our self worth based on how hard we work and how much personal time we sacrifice for the good of the team and company. All of us compartmentalize differently, and I’m sure there are some ‘task masters’ that can navigate between these two different worlds somewhat successfully. I find it difficult at best to turn the switch on and off and find the process of attempting to do so draining and shallow. Ironically, it was an intro to a team building ‘True and Best Leadership’ seminar that my teammates and I were read a quote from civil rights activist Howard Thurman. It read, ‘Don’t do what the world needs you to do. Find out what keeps you alive and do that. For what the world needs is you, alive!. After this, I then had the privilege to sit through 3 more days of teambuilding and leadership ‘training’.

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