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Kurt William Kamka

The Art of Visual Storytelling
  • Home
  • Southwest Swag
  • Barrio Children
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  • Color My World
  • Marketplace India
  • Plain Manila
  • Street Portraits
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  • Finding Creative Vision
  • About / Contact

Manila, Philippines, May, 2014.

Harnessing All Of Your Creative Superpowers

May 26, 2014

In photography, the effort you make in defining your own creative vision can have a substantial impact on the end result of your images … 

Attaining a fresh approach is equal parts … observation … inspiration … and application.

A strong creative photographer works to continually fine-tune his senses, filling his utility belt with the strategies and techniques necessary to return to that place where inspiration resides and application is achieved.

No matter who you are or your experience with photography, creativity is your opportunity to share your unique vision. In a world inundated with photographs, images with a creative flair resonate. 

With that in mind, here’s a list of creative superpowers that you can continue to refine to keep yourself at the top of your game:

  • Focus – Find the right environment or situations that provide you with laser-like focus
  • Vision – Insight is gained by seeing through the eyes of others; spend time in the environment you are photographing and the people with which you wish to make a connection
  • Knowledge – The broader and deeper the vein of information you mine about a setting, situation or subject, the more potential insight you have to deliver to your audience
  • Fearlessness – Don’t be afraid to step out on a ledge, peak in a doorway or step into a dark alley. Get out early. Stay later. Shoot from a lower angle. The risks are higher. But so are the rewards
  • Tenacity – Be willing to push forward, past what is easiest and most obvious
  • Observation – You can’t comprehend the big picture until you are willing to grasp the details
  • Communication – Understand that communication is the key component in getting your idea, concept or photographic project off the ground and eventually conveying what you see to others in the form of photographs
  • Passion – We’re so much more committed to the things that we love to do; make all of your efforts something that you love to do
  • Faith – The leap of faith metaphor is a strong one. There’s a reason why it resonates
  • Implementation – Learn to love the execution as much as the ideation and your creative ideas and images will soar
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Kurt William Kamka Blog

Charting a creative life well lived. Creative observations and short, random photographic and documentary stories that I encounter on my walks through the streets. 


Latest Posts

Finding Creative Vision
Music and the Photographic Life
Music and the Photographic Life
about 6 years ago

Photography and music. One appeals to the visual sense, the other, an auditory response. Although they may be different mediums, each has the power to hold a permanent placeholder of time, location and emotion in our memory.

Since we’re always closing in on some photographic experience, project or job, it’s fun to put together a short list of some our favorite song titles that relate to the experience of being a part of the photography world. Here’s an abridged version of a photographer’s playlist:

  • Eight Days A Week. Have camera, will travel. Especially the closer you get to deadlines.

  • Learning To Fly. Las Vegas, Phoenix, Chicago, Los Angeles, Oslo, Manila, Singapore and Hong Kong … it’s safe to say it’s been fun getting to know you really well.

  • Just My Imagination. Or is it just my impression that the client is really interested in micro-managing every photo … or none at all? And why aren’t there more of the latter?

  • My Ever Changing Mood. Waiting for final approvals.

  • Signed, Sealed and Delivered. Phew! Another shoot is in the bag.

  • If You Don’t Know Me By Now. Have ‘Faith’, it’ll get finished. We’ve done this before.

  • All I Wanna Do. It’s an hour before the shoot and what can go wrong will go wrong.

  • Can’t You Hear Me Knocking. How long can a shoot last?

  • Give It Away. This one is self-explanatory. Give it away, give it away, give it away now. Everyone has a camera phone, so why isn’t everything free?

  • Fake Plastic Trees. Waterfalls, palm trees, clowns and magicians … the circus has nothing on what goes on in the make-believe land of photoshop and photoshopped photographs.

  • Wonderwall. The look on a client’s face when the photo truly hits the mark. Large prints … here’s looking at you.

  • Supermassive Black Hole. We did have a budget.

  • The Song Remains The Same. Hey you, the value of great photography non-believer, we’ve heard that one about generic stock photos too many times.

  • Late Registration. Even Kanye’s going to rant about the deadline on this one.

  • Get Up Stand Up. Glad we brought comfortable shoes.

  • Pump It. Publish those photos online, on social media, in print or in trade shows. You’re ready to rock.

Feel free to make your own list. ;)

Does your photography stand up to the courage of your convictions?
about 10 years ago
Harnessing All Of Your Creative Superpowers
about 11 years ago
Don't Be Afraid to Express Your Inner 'Creative' Vision
Don't Be Afraid to Express Your Inner 'Creative' Vision
about 11 years ago

Looking for your creative vision? Find your sponge-like inner child that simply reacts. That part of you that is a keen observer reaching out to the world as it unfolds in front of you.

Early Morning Shots
about 11 years ago

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