T is for Time

I’ve been thinking about how time has affected me from a creative point of view. How has time shaped me?

Looking backwards I remember being young and time going very slowly, as I painted in a deliberate way without a readily available space. Once I was given a film camera, I was able to begin my emotional and creative response to capturing light, darkness, shape, figure, texture, tone. This enthusiasm for photography led me to capturing images at National trust properties. The interest in art and creativity was slowly rekindled through visiting their historic houses and, later, museums and galleries.

Presently other people might perceive me as time rich, but I don’t feel that way! Like many, I am balancing family responsibilities with accessing creative moments. Duty and joy compete.

A track from Dark side of the Moon (Pink Floyd) called simply ‘Time’ sums up part of the feeling of being that young man painting slowly

“Waiting for someone or something to show me the way”

So photography was my impetus and gave me energy. I found as I grew up that the best results came out of time spent working with other photographers when we could show each other  ‘the way’. Solo photography has never been my favorite kind. A further lyric from the Pink Floyd song says

“Every year is getting shorter

Never seem to find the time”

A thought echoed in so many of our sayings:

‘tide and time wait for no man’ (Chaucer)

‘The time for action is now. It’s never too late to do something.’ (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)

So staying motivated and using time well has been important to me. But there are other ways of looking at time:

‘Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.’ (Marthe Troly-Curtin)

Years ago T for time was a camera setting. Now shutter speeds are very fast. Time for a photographer reflects how long my camera shutter is open, giving focused light onto my sensor which captures and stores the image. At a wider level, I need to plan some time for creative possibilities so my hopes and dreams come to fruition.

There is, however, a sort of overworking of my energy which can be a stumbling block. The photographer Ben Horne describes getting the first photo out of the way, and I too find my first image is rarely the best picture of the day. Relaxing with your energy and not feeling any time pressure is always the most productive for me. 

So, a balance between using time well and not ‘frittering it away’ and yet maintaining that calm, unhurried approach which is the source of the best creative moments. Rather than making life into a series of chores, I aim never to lose the joy of spending time with a camera.