Creativity on N. Becker Photography

Mud And Wood: Afterward

Sun, 30 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0600

I credit my pinhole camera for being a creative life vest on my recent trip to Badlands National Park. I have discussed its role in my process before, but few times has it been more apparent than on this trip. My pinhole camera focuses my creative eye and kindles my curiosity. It helps me to let go of my inhibitions and nurture my creativity.

Mud And Wood

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0600

In May of 2023, I had the opportunity to revisit one of my favorite places: Badlands National Park.

Unlike other recent trips, this wasn’t a family trip. Though I had originally planned on a solo adventure, my good friend (and talented author) Josiah agreed on short notice to meet me there.

The Experience is Everything

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 00:00:00 -0600

In July, I posed a question as a poll on my Instagram story:

Process or results?

I presented this question with a photo of my pinhole camera, which I was just learning how to use. The process of using a pinhole camera is different from using modern mirrorless or DSLR cameras: there is no viewfinder, and once film has been loaded, the only variable is shutter speed, which is controlled manually. The resulting images have a unique look that is a bit less representational than typical images produced using modern cameras.

Don't Fear the AI Overlords / Finding Your Creative Rhythm

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 00:00:00 -0600

The initial topic for this article was the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in photography. I had planned to lean on my background as a software engineer to dispel what I see as common misconceptions about AI and make the case that technology isn’t the enemy of art.

What Neuroscience Tells Us About Creativity

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0600

In my last article, A Higher Standard, I shared some thoughts on photographic plagiarism (“comp-stomping”) and among other conclusions, proposed that as artists we should focus on holding creativity to a higher standard, particularly with regard to composition.

But what is creativity? What mechanisms in our brains are responsible for creative thought? What happens when we find ourselves creatively stuck, and how can we break free? These are the questions that I will address in this article. My goal is to clarify the concept of creativity by consolidating perspectives from psychology and neuroscience, then apply these perspectives to some advice of my own on breaking out of creative ruts. At the end of this article, I’ve provided interested readers with plenty of links to further reading.

A Higher Standard

Mon, 03 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -0600

This article is the first in a series that I have planned about the role of creativity in photography. While this deep dive covers a few different topics broadly related to creativity, I am beginning with a reaction to two articles with similar messages: