Starting can be the hardest and the easiest thing to do.

What stops us starting something? Fear usually. What will people think? Will I waste time? Will I waste film? What if it doesn’t work? Where will it end up? What if it doesn’t take me to where I want to go? What if I fail?

Why are you even contemplating starting something?

You have a vague notion of a project you want to do. You’re uncertain if it has merit?

The answer is inevitable, just start.

We waste so much time in this stage of indecision and inactivity. Why? Because the act of doing informs where you are going.

We figure stuff out as we do.

Artists figured this out a long time ago. The best artists are incredibly prolific. Practice. Trying. Experimenting relentlessly. They never give up. They are always starting something.

We are going into a period of time that is going to be horrific. I can’t recommend highly enough the importance of using your creative expression to help manage yourself. Getting lost in personal creative projects is one incredibly effective way of looking after yourself.

Actually you may need many personal projects.

I don’t think I need to convince you why you need them? But I will mention the most important one, and that personal projects have the ability to put you into a state of mindfulness. Meditation if you like. Of deep concentration on something that allows your emotional and often overwhelming thoughts time out. It is a break from the realities of life. It is such an incredibly healthy thing to do. For you and your well-being.

You all have a project or ten in the back of your mind that now is the time to just start. Whether it’s writing that book, photographing your family, your pet, your favourite walk. Starting to learn new techniques. Creating a portfolio. Creating your first book of photographs. Printing your first photograph.

Perhaps it’s as simple as learning to use manual mode. Or looking through your work to find fifty favourites. Or revisiting photographs that need better post processing skills. Making some greeting cards and posting something personal to those you love.

Procrastination doesn’t help.

Starting does.

Just start.

Because starting is the most important step.

Doing will inform you of where it’s going.

Let the act of doing Inform you of where to go.

Now… just go and start that creative project, just for you and your own well-being.

This is the last free weekly exercise. From now on the weekly exercises will only be available to members of Len’s Club. Len’s Club is now open for Founding Membership. You can watch me talk about it here.

http://lensschool.com/lensclub

You can read more and subscribe here

http://lensschool.com/subscribe

Len’s Cub is essentially a distance education school, that acts as a hub and a community. An e-learning Center.

Please consider joining. I will teach, facilitate, support and encourage you. I will teach what members are asking for. I will be creating new unseen material continually just for members.

I will run live webinars, so we can talk about what your doing creatively.

I will show you through my book collection and introduce you to some amazing photography. I will continue to inspire you to create.

The most important reason for joining is the sense of community and support. We will all need this as we spend the next period of our lives isolated waiting for the danger to pass.

I have been working on Len’s Club for years. Sorting out the how. Studying. I am so pleased to have started.

Please join us.

It is important to thank you for participating in these weekly photography exercises. I originally started them because I thought they might make a good book. I usually gave out exercises in class. Learning to do them though writing has been amazing. Do you know, I couldn’t have done it without an audience. In particular the ones that talked to me about it, wrote to me and most importantly the ones that posted their photographs and thoughts in the comments bellow each exercise.

Seeing your work each week kept me going. I am eternally grateful for your contributions. Your support has been truely amazing. Thank you.

Ink

This is a little series, well a third or forth start. Intense black and whites, shot in camera in jpgs. With the camera set to one of the high contrast monochrome settings. This what I will continue with over the coming months on my walks. This is what I am going to start.

What will you start.