Where Has Summer Gone? Staying Creative As Seasons Change
It’s around this time of year that I hear folks bemoaning how it’s been yet another disappointing summer for them down here in Australia. Regardless of the accuracy of such comments, I’ve found really straightforward ways by which I’m able to stay active and creative, regardless of the season.
Regardless of the season, it’s critical to stay active and creative. Good for mind and body, doing so encourages a purpose driven and meaning rich life. Likewise, travel excites the senses and opens us up to inspirational experiences, while volunteering focuses our attention on the needs of others.
The above photo features a golden warrior statue on a summer’s day in Peterhof Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia.
It’s a powerful image, celebrating the victorious warrior holding the decapitated head of a vanquished foe.
Actually it was a very simple image to make. By getting down low to the ground, and photographing upwards, I was able to add even more power and presence to the primary character depicted and visually separate the statue from the lawns and trees surrounding it.
Doing so also allowed me to juxtapose the warmth of the golden statue against the cool blue summer sky.
Reducing the scene to two colors made for a simpler, more dramatic image.
As for those folks who always seem to complain about yet another disappointing mild summer, so many of them seem to want to swan around wearing next to nothing, while doing their utmost to avoid exertion.
Needless to say, they have air-conditioning running in the background. If they didn’t, and if they got out and about more, their opinion might be different.
Of course Australia’s a huge country with a diverse and varied climate. There can be tropical cyclones on the same day as horrendous bushfires, depending upon which part of the country you’re in.
““Was I deceived or did a sable cloud turn forth her silver lining on the night?””
Over the last few months large parts of Australia have been drenched with very heavy rainfall. Loss to stock and property always occurs at such times, and it can be a terribly difficult time for home owners, businesses and farming communities.
Nonetheless, much of the water flooding the landscape during such deluges often finds it’s way, through our inland river system, into southern and central parts of the country where it’s much needed.
What’s more, Australia has reported another very hot summer with record breaking temperatures.
About To Travel?
The Importance of Staying Positive
Fear is a powerful emotion and the news cycle is constructed to amplify negative emotions like fear, worry and anxiety.
The need to look for the positive, within otherwise challenging situations is so important for us all.
Creative folk, in particular, need to find a way to deal with negativity. They can do so by confronting the issue in question directly in the art they create.
Alternatively, allowing the news to inform and expand your worldview, while continually seeking out beauty in the world around you, can be an important approach to help you navigate such difficult times.
At the end of the day, we all experience significant hardship and suffering throughout our lives. Such experiences are undeniably part of the human condition
Without denying the difficulties in our own lives, it’s important to continually strive to find peace and contentment for ourselves.
And the best way to do so is by living a meaning rich and purpose driven life.
Volunteering is incredibly helpful in this regard. Not only does it allow us to help those less fortunate than ourselves, but it encourages us to focus on the needs of others. By doing so, we’re better able to avoid falling into negativity and self pity.
It can be quite a revelation to open yourself up to the suffering of others, and to the good work done by charities across the face of our world.
My visit to Mother House in Kolkata was a powerful experience. Visiting the former base for Mother Teresa, also known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta, enable me to view her the conditions under which she lived and to pay respect at her tomb.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta dedicating her long life to the needs of the poorest of the poor.
Through the charitable works undertaken by the Missionaries of Charity, the order of Catholic nuns she created, together with her own, massive profile Mother Teresa became one of the most important people of the last 100 years.
“Your camera is not a barrier to experience. It’s a passport into the lives of those you would not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet.”
Travel has helped reinforce the power of positive action in my own mind, and my heart has been touched by so many interactions I’ve experienced while meeting and photographing the less fortunate.
I’ve also found that by taking an authentic, non-combative approach to my photography I’ve been granted open access into the lives of good people I might otherwise never had the opportunity to meet.
What Weather Do You Prefer?
Are you, like most folks, partial to summer? Or do you, perhaps, prefer milder autumn days and the changing colors in the landscape?
Maybe you love how the world around you comes to life in spring.
If you’re a winter person I can only assume it’s because you are a serious winter sports participant or, alternatively, you prefer spending your time by the fire with a good book or movie.
I made this photo of a beautiful, young Chinese woman in the grounds of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China.
The photo was made on a cold winter’s day. Yet, because it’s such a colorful scene, you might find it suggest the crispness of late autumn.
Actually, the photo was a lot of fun to make. I’d just passed by the very colorful and highly textured wall, wondering if it resembled Elvis Presley’s bathroom, when I met the young woman in question.
While we had no common language, I was able to gesture with my camera that I was eager to make her photo.
She kindly agreed, so I escorted her the short distance to this colorful background in the knowledge that the soft, winter’s light would provide beautiful illumination for her skin and clothing.
As to my own preferences, while I really love the longer, warmer days of summer, I’m happiest during autumn.
The day’s are still long enough to fit a lot into, particularly when it comes to outdoor activities, yet the sun’s kick is dramatically reduced and the milder autumn temperatures give me an extra spurt of energy.
So, now you know my preference for weather.
Given that, you won’t be surprised to learn, after a pretty hot summer in my own neck of the woods, that I’ve welcomed the more moderate temperatures and long overdue rain we’re experienced in South Eastern Australia over recent days.
And we need lots more of that rain where I live.
Frankly, I really love the autumn. But, as the days get progressively shorter, I begrudge the oncoming of winter with its short, grey days.
Now isn’t that just human nature. We always find something to worry about, even on the most wondrous days.
But this year I plan to escape those cold, dreary winter days for more exotic locales and fantastic photography adventures.
While most of my photography is undertaken while I'm travelling, the longer daylight hours at this time of year do make it easier to get out and about, into the air and into the light, even if it’s just for a little light exercise.
And that’s as good for the mind as it is for the body.
But to be making photos under great autumn conditions is really special and something I’m eagerly anticipating.
Two Great Things About Winter: Work and Exercise
There's little better in life then being almost completely immersed in a creative project. Travel and photography are the pinnacles of experience for me.
This photo, of a fast flowing creek in spring near Milford Sound on the South Island of New Zealand, showcases the fun and adventure landscape photography has provided me.
However, when I’m not traveling and making photos I need to stay active and, where possible, creative.
Personally I’ve found winter to be a great time to put my head down and tackle what seems like huge and prolonged projects.
Over the years I’ve invested an enormous amount of time into this website, partly on design and building a better user experience, but mostly writing the huge collection of blog posts that underpin this site.
Unfortunately, due to other commitments, the quantity and regularity of new blog posts has dropped off over the last few years.
That’s really bothered me, so I’ve decided to emerge myself back into blogging, on an almost full time basis, for the foreseeable future.
I really enjoy blogging, but it’s an enormous amount of work and investing that much time, month after month, is problematic.
Burn out surely follows so, to stay fresh and enthusiastic it’s important to find ways to break up each day with activities that are beneficial for the soul and the mind.
The trick is to ensure you get out and about, into the light and the fresh air, each and every day.
I love walking and, over the last year, I’ve manage to squeeze in an hour’s walk most days of the week. What’s more, I’ve recently picked up a second hand bike to add extra variety to my gentle, daily fitness regime.
The other advantage of daily exercise is that it helps prepare my body for upcoming travel adventures which, ironically, is the best solution I’ve found to reducing those long days spent at the desktop blogging.
Don’t Be Complacent, Winter Is Coming
This photo of a family, making their way into a subway on a cold winter’s day in the city of Harbin, is a good example of life in the far northeast of China.
Situated close to the borders of Russia and North Korean, Harbin is a really interesting city. With a population of over 8 million people, Harbin is famous for its amazing Ice and Snow Festival, which I had the good fortune to visit and photograph.
While an amazing place to visit, Harbin’s long, deep winters and short, hot summers would be too much for me. I think you need to be born into that kind of environment to manage such extreme ranges of temperature.
Nonetheless, Harbin is a pretty amazing place and spending a few days at the Harbin Ice and Snow Festival is an incredible experience.
I do feel that summer seems to pass quicker with each passing year. We all work long hours, and many of us work seven days a week.
But that’s all the more reason to make the most of it by getting out into the air and into the light whenever we can.
Now autumn has officially begun in this part of the world I’m reminded that, with each passing day, winter is coming.
This reality focuses my attention to get out and about and look for new photo opportunities before those cold winter days arrive.
If I lived in an area close to snow capped mountains it would be different. But I don’t, so the best options for me during winter is to travel or to undertake major projects that will advance my photography and enhance my creativity.
Creating Even Better Blog Posts
I've been blogging intensively since January 1, 2009. You’d think I’d have it down by now.
I understand the importance of actually finishing projects, which is why I’m not a perfectionist. However, I am the kind of person who tries to do what they do as well as they can.
That requires me to take a step back, every now and again, to reassess what I’m doing and how I’m going about it.
It's important to break the mould, and move away from your usual daily rhythm, every now and again.
Why we all crave certainty in our lives, we can also revel in the opportunities that variety brings.
After all, how else would you know whether you're using your time well and making the most of your opportunities.
But how do you make changes when your life is built around the routines associated with content production?
For me it’s about taking action to break the cycle. To do so, here’s some of the things I’ll do:
Take a trip out of town for a private teaching gig
Undertake a personal photography project
Accept a commercial photography assignment
Attend an exhibition or music festival
It’s ironic but, by getting away for just a day or two, I’m often able to find the space I need to assess how I’m going and to set a new direction going forward.
By deliberating breaking your own routines you might also find that extra energy, creativity and insights will follow.
At the very least, returning to your regular routines might bring a greater sense of certainty and, with it, a more relaxed and content state of mind.
Walking Is Great For Mind And Body
By varying the times of day during which I blog I’ve been able to find an hour or so for walking, without having to worry too much about the season or the weather.
These near daily walks have been great for both mind and body. As a result, I’ve been able to bring an extra level of clarity to blogging and other creative endeavours.
It’s yet another example of how a planned disruption has enabled me to sufficiently separate myself from the day to day routine of running this site.
Regular daily exercise has enable me to create spaces in my life that I consider to be like fresh air to a drowning man.
Abstract detail, under evening light, at the bottom of a waterfall, Iceland.
Life, Like The Weather, Is Always Changing
The search for continual improvement is at the heart of creative endeavor. Is it not?
What I’ve learned along my own creative journey is just how important it is to make changes that are in line with your core beliefs, values and desired outcomes.
That can only help you stay true to yourself and your greater purpose in life. Wouldn’t you agree?
I’m now able to take a look around, appreciate what’s great about this website and blog, and continue to work towards improving it with renewed vigor.
“Change is constant and it’s great when you’re the one implementing changes that serve you needs.”
Let’s be clear, this project remains a solo endeavor with me as the author and content producer. Nonetheless, the separation that I’m referring to has allowed me to look at this site, and in particular, the blog from a distance.
The result is objective observations about how it looks and works and what I can start implementing to make it an even better blog into the future.
Moving Beyond A Website And Blog
I think it's time Travel Photography Guru began to transition from a travel photography blog/website into a brand.
The trick will be for me to remain flexible and responsive. That's bound to keep it fresh and fun.
Going forward, the blog will remain the centre piece of my online identity, but it's time to branch out into other areas.
The reality is some folks prefer to connect and consume content outside of a traditional blog.
Having said that, I’II continue to blog regularly, particularly when it comes to the following:
Making observations about the creative side of photography, from the viewpoint of an artist
More expansive information on the places I visit to help you plan and better understand your own travel photography adventures
My long touted podcast is, finally, about to be launched. I’II be sure to share all the information about it with you soon.
After a rocky start, 2026 is shaping up to be another busy year, one that will allow me to build a new and improved platform through which I can refocus the mission of this site to spread the beauty of our world and its people to an ever-wider audience.
In addition to regular and extensive blog posts, I’m very much looking forward to increasing engagement and interaction through my new podcast and YouTube channel.
Please stay tuned for all the details.
