I have a love/hate relationship with my tripod. I’m supposed to love it. I’ve been trained in its advantages. If I don’t love it I’m at least supposed to use it anyway. But I hate it. I’m not sure what that says about my personality, but I do try. I start out using it. I try. I decide I’ll just take the camera off to compose and then put it back on the tripod for the shot. Invariably, thirty minutes later I realize I’ve wandered away and abandoned the poor thing. Again. Last night I went shooting with some other photographer friends and I specifically scheduled a night shoot so I’d have to use it. Which I did. Sort of. I still wandered away. I still cranked the ISO up and handheld till I absolutely couldn’t any longer. Sigh. I came off the night (which was really fun, involved a big storm, a drowning cel phone, a deaf waiter, a piece of chocolate, rasberry heaven, and some good friends) with images I like–but feeling like I failed myself.
I have a lot of leadership training in my background and there’s a train of thought that says that by focusing on improving your strengths and not your weaknesses, you’ll have far greater success. So, maybe I should just ditch the tripod and go with what I do best? I don’t think so. I’m starting a group here in Nashville that shoots together on a regular basis with the goals of recharging our creative energy and getting outside our comfort zones. I just realized how hard it is to step outside that zone when I have my camera in hand. Next time I’ll do better. I already know what my personal assignment is. And it already makes me cringe. And the tripod gets to stay home.
Do you need a creative boost? What are you doing about it? Step outside a comfort zone in your life! It may not be easy, but the growth will be worth it! Let me know what you try!
