The title is a quote made famous by Timothy Leary who spoke openly about taking LSD and like experiences. Timothy was almost completely shunned by his colleagues, family and friends for his taboo research on the aforementioned drug and it’s effects on the human body. Though he was made up by the media to sound like a madman, he lead his life speaking freely of his findings with drugs in regards to religion, life, sex and humanity. He put no end to his learning about LSD and what he could experience from it. He died while tripping on acid.
Stagnation can be such a creative linchpin. It isn’t as simple as boredom or as complex as desire. Having that creative rut is something every person experiences, a dam in the flow of ideas. Spinning wheels to get out of a mud puddle just gets you more stuck. Sometimes if you lift your chin and tilt your head ever so slightly, you can see a whole new perspective.
Since the busy month of August came to a close, Dean and I have been re-tooling. Taking a break from the constant task-oriented ‘Fest mode’ to a more mindful approach to the photography business. This was something we decided early in the summer. We knew just how exhausted we would be after the long weekend events and looked forward to having time to approach things with a fresh angle. So we took a trip to the city; where there is always artistic expression and inspiration. It really doesn’t matter what corner you turn or how long you stay, there is always something to do and see. It was a much needed creative break for Dean, it was leisurely with culture to take away. Since living there, I rarely ever plan anything when we do make the trip because I know that within a 10 minute walk there is something to pique our interests!
If anything to take away from this writing it is this. Self-exploration and internal reflection are integral to connecting with other humans. Art is one way we can connect.
Food for thought: ‘I don’t believe in photography as art or a job or anything. I think of photography as a language and I think a language should be used to speak, to say what you have to say. So the only things I have to say about my life and what I know about the world, is the way I see it. So, it’s not about photography… I think people should just use photography to say things and not just photography for the sake of photography… The world is full of talented photographers. The problem is just so many of them just don’t know what to say, they think life is one thing and photography is another but they don’t realise that photography is just a way to reflect what you are.’ ~Antoine d’ Agata 
