What inspires your creativity?  Although my day job has really had me tied down as of late, this is something I’ve been thinking a lot about.  A couple of my other colleagues have also been writing on it too (here and here), but I wanted to share a couple of things that help to inspire my creativity.   Maybe its more appropriate to say they inspire my inspiration.

With the little free time I’ve had recently, I’ve been reading David duChemin’s excellent e-books, The Inspired Eye and The Inspired Eye II.  These books have many great qualities.  They’re written for pretty much any photographer–any artist–they can be picked up during your lunch break, they give you a lot to think about, and they only cost $5 USD each.  For the price, I don’t think you can get a better book on inspiring your creativity.

Ian Plant has recently begun a new series of blog posts he calls “Behind the Lens.”  I think this has been a fantastic series so far, where Ian shares his thoughts and some secrets behind the creation of some of his favorite images.  They aren’t step-by-step “create-an- image-just-like-this” tutorials, but rather starting points to see the world differently the next time you go out with your camera.  This is definitely a blog worth subscribing to, and being inspired by.

As for myself, I feel that my own style and vision has become more crystallized over the last few months.  Much of the credit goes to friends and photographers like those above who share what they’ve learned over the years.  My Facebook, Twitter and Blogroll are full of photographers who continue to challenge and inspire me every day.  Turning over rocks and keeping your eyes open all the time are an excellent way to inspire your own creativity.

So, I ask you, what inspires your creativity?  Feel free to share experiences and links in the comments.

I’m looking forward to sharing some of my recent inspiration with you in the next few weeks.  Stay tuned!

Ponderosa Pine and Navajo Sandstone, Zion National Park, Utah