In the zone?
by Mark ~ September 20th, 2008. Filed under: art, artistry, composition, creativity, nature photography, philosophy.
If you listen to a variety of photography podcasts like I do, you will hear some instructors talk about being “in the zone” when you are in the field. . The period of time where you feel very connected to your environment and the photographs just seem to flow one by one . You feel creative and completely at ease. It isn’t very easy to define, only that you know you are there when you feel it . There have been many times I have experienced this, but certainly not every time I go out.
I think there are an incredible amount of factors that can have a negative or positive affect on you getting to this place I sat down and thought about a few of mine.
- Relaxation: Being completely relaxed is one of the strongest factors for me I think there are various degrees of feeling relaxed, and this is one where you feel light as a cloud. . . One where you feel so comfortable in the space you are in that it almost acts as a shield to anything that may bother you. . To be this relaxed, I know I have to get to a spot early, long before the light that I want to shoot in takes place. . It may involve just sitting in my car in the dark near some spot in the woods. . But it gives me time to collect my thoughts about what I am after, perhaps scout around a little, or simply soak up a little fresh air. . Scouting an area beforehand is often a good tool because feelings of anxiety that might come with an unfamiliar place only decrease your chances of being in this state. . Time constraints play a HUGE part on my state of relaxation, and feeling rushed is a bigtime zone killer.
Preparation for the elements:. . Bugs or temperature extremes have a pretty serious affect on me because they increase anxiety if I am not prepared for them. Irritation from swarming mosquitoes or biting flies is a big mood killer, man I also find I don’t do so well when it gets very hot I’ll notice this when going out early in the morning. If it is going to be a very hot summer day, by the time it starts heating up mid-morning, I notice a change in my comfort level and mood ranging from slight to extreme. . Regardless, it affects that state of being completely relaxed and could change your approach to your subjects. Perhaps you rush something because you are now tired and hot and just yearn for the AC. . Cold is another situation. I can dress pretty warm to be comfortable on a frozen lake and sub-zero wind chills. Usually the issue that crops up is cold fingers Even with dual layered mittens / gloves – I like to have some small chemical hand warmers just in case.- Check your expectations:. I get as excited as anyone on a dedicated photo trip , visit to some exotic spot. or being presented a great situation I think you have to be careful and balance your excitement for being there with the possibility that you may not be ‘in the zone.’. . Perhaps you have experienced this – a situation arises and you are ready – photographing with glee You get home later, and in reviewing the images, they aren’t quite as wonderful as you felt they would be, or the images simply don’t measure up to the experience. . Photographers put a tremendous amount of pressure on themselves to succeed, to be productive in any given situation Not that this is a bad thing, but we have to be willing to accept failure sometimes happens Once we embrace it, acknowledge it and move on – we can clear our minds to work on what we really want.
- An aesthetics checklist?. . Brooks Jensen mentioned this in one of his recent podcasts It isn’t uncommon for us to create gear checklists to make sure we don’t forget some crucial piece of equipment I try to keep all of my equipment in a single backpack so I know I can just grab it and go. . But what about the things we don’t physically carry, but are just as important, if not more so? Are there certain types of images we are after, certain elements of composition or style we want to work on, certain images we have shot before but want to improve? Writing such things down isn’t a bad idea. Perhaps you have run across some images in a book, magazine, or the internet where you may want to try something similar?. At the very least, consciously run through these types of items in your head and it will provide some guidance.
These are some items I could think of – I am sure there are others. . . What are some of the factors that affect you?. . Do you have a formula or ritual that helps you get ‘in the zone?’
September 21st, 2008 at
Cool topic. I find to get in the zone, with anything, is all about being in the present moment. Ignore all schemes, past experiences, expectations, that guy that cut you off in traffic, your last shot, yadda yadda. Just grab an overall mind’s eye of what your thoughts and emotions are up to, and let it go.
And then just look around and quietly wait for something great. Nothing in particular, just something. And quietly pay attention to what’s going on around you. Just your basic zen. It works for me when I actually take the time to do it. But who has time to be ever vigilant and happy in the zone? ha ha.
September 21st, 2008 at
Great commonsense advice, well written! Defining “an aesthetics checklist” is a novel idea, worth thinking about. Viewpoints, styles, contrasts etc.
I wonder what kind of things would be most useful, perhaps at least one item about a photography style which gives a learning experience.
September 21st, 2008 at
Mark, for me, going without expectation helps me to slip into the zone. I find that to get into the zone, I have to shoot, shoot, shoot, and then, sometimes, it suddenly happens. This after I’ve left all of my cares behind and my mind has begun to lessen it’s ‘chatter’. If I’ve got something troubling on my mind, usually, it won’t happen and I’ll come away empty-handed.
On a practical matter, I’d have to agree with being ready for the elements. If I’m going to the beach, plenty of mosquito repellent. If it’s going to be cold, I need to dress warmly, etc. Also, I strongly agree with getting there early and having lots of time to settle and enjoy the place before actual shooting begins.
Pretty much though, it’s going and waiting for it to happen. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn’t.
September 22nd, 2008 at
Personally I’ve found that not stressing about anything helps me vastly, whether with my art or my photography. When I go out to shoot, I’m really going out for a nice, relaxing nature hike. Whatever I shoot then is just gravy.
September 23rd, 2008 at
Great entry Mark.
The idea of ‘being in the zone’ has fascinated me for long as we have all been there, but not every time. The idea of consciously trying to stimuate the subconscious that puts us in the zone is very interesting. I have always found it hard to write about and put into words as a lot of it is so intangible, but you touch on some important things. The idea of time constraint is huge for me too, if I know I need to be somewhere and have limited time I just cannot be creative. Bugs, yes, too although I have twice experienced to distract my mind from serious bug irritation and still produce an image I was happy with, but not every time for sure. The ‘aesthetics list’ is another good idea leaning up against pre-visualisation.
I know Tony Sweet has talked about coming to a situation with ‘an empty mind’ too though and that is also a way to try to just let the scene call out to you. And Freeman Patterson, I believe, has talked about the idea of experimenting and trying (easy and inexpensive to do with digital). Let the inner child out and see what happens, and we might just discover some new way of shooting or seeing. This also leans up against the idea of embracing failure which is something I need to work more on. It’s just not really possible to get ’stunners’ every time.
Thanks for sharing these thoughts. Very interesting topic.
-Thomas
September 23rd, 2008 at
Thank you all for your contributions to this.
Thomas – great points all around – especially with the ‘empty mind’ concept. I think of the whole ‘free your mind’ quote from Morpheus in “The Matrix.” I only caution not too empty! After all, our growth often depends on experiences and carrying some of them around with us – good or bad. Perhaps we want to grow in certain areas of our work – and with an empty mind – well – we would forget!
OK, I am going too literal here – but I think you get the point.
September 26th, 2008 at
Great topic Mark. The most obvious item I’d list is knowing your equipment. Nothing is worse than being in the zone and being stymied by your camera. If you don’t know how to work a function or find a button in the dark you’re going to quickly be taken out of the moment where you’re at your creative best. You then get into “tech support” mode and that is far from where you want to be when out taking photos.
I listened to Brook’s podcast episode you’ve referenced earlier in the week and it was a great listen. Looking beyond the gear checklist I have a mental if not written checklist of photographic concepts I look to capture. Seldom do I arrive at a location with a blank slate. At a minimum I have some concepts or techniques that I want to capture or use. I look at these as foundational items to build off of or fall back on if I hit a creative lull. This type of creative playbook or back up plan can spark new levels of creativity.
September 26th, 2008 at
Great thoughts Mark. As for myself, I disagree with the relaxation part. I find that I came away with my best work when I am pushing myself to the limits. The other points you make though are definitely on my list too particularly the elemental preparation aspect. If you are physically unable to perform then photography becomes very difficult.
I like Tony Sweet’s philosophy of comparing photography to jazz improv. That speaks to me because I used to play as well. This is why I’ve always gravitated toward nature and travel subjects. More commercial-oriented styles are just too contrived to ever be interesting enough for me to look at or want to shoot myself.
September 26th, 2008 at
That’s interesting Richard. I would put forth for some thought that you could be relaxed and still challenge yourself at the same time.
But if you are talking you prefer to be under a constraint like “you only have 1 hour to shoot so you can get back and build a brick patio” – then you da’ man. 
October 1st, 2008 at
Very interesting and thought provoking entry Mark.
This is my first comment to your blog, I seemed to have really connected with the words you had written.
I can relate very well to the whole “in the zone” phenomenon. I’ve noticed at times I can go through a morning or evening photo outing and experience I guess what would be called mini-zones. Times when I discover a subject or special qualities of light is just right that strikes me and gets the excitement built up in my presence of the moment.
In the last 6 months I know of 2 occasions, once for about 3 hours in the morning and once 2-3 hours in the evening that I was completely immersed in the my photography zone. Very cool.
October 4th, 2008 at
With me it’s all luck !!!
October 12th, 2008 at
Hey Mark,
I love your blog, man. It’s always a great read.
‘the zone’ is, I think, not an accurate term, though a common one. It sort of raises this state to something it’s not. It’s really a simpler state of being without the chatter of the mind; ‘too many mind’, from The Last Samurai.
– the irony is we seem to find it so difficult to slide into. The key is to not follow the chatter of the mind – a friend described it like the mind being akin to the surface of water, like a pond, and thoughts and ideas rise to the surface like bubbles. We can’t stop those bubbles from arising, so we shouldn’t try – that becomes self-defeating. Simply let them float to the top and disappear – don’t follow the bubbles.
That’s how I view it, anyway; don’t follow the bubbles.
Cheers
Carl (drowning in bubbles)
October 13th, 2008 at
Mark,
I’m always looking for good podcasts, what are some of the ones you listen to?
Will
October 14th, 2008 at
Will, mostly Lenswork, Radiant Vista, and EXIF and Beyond podcasts. I don’t get too much into the gear focused ones.
October 14th, 2008 at
Carl, thanks. Good comments as usual. Whether the zone, or calm state of mind, I think we are referring to the same thing that is really somewhat hard to put into words. I like the bubbles analogy.
October 23rd, 2008 at
“The zone” is actually quite a natural and EASY state of mind to find – with practise. You will find the zone during the times of day you are most alert. Two other requirements : you need to be relaxed, you need to ENJOY the task you want to be in the zone with. Put it another way – the three things between you and the zone are tiredness, boredom and anxiety. All are distractions. Dealing with these 3 issues can sometimes make you realise that you don’t want to do this task (the one you want to be “in the zone” with).
A good example for me is writing music. I can only do it if I’m “in the zone”. BUT, often I am blocked – like a writer’s block. I sit by the keyboard, but nothing is happening. I get distracted. I’m either bored, tired or anxious about something. So it’s not worth pursuing that line of activity til all 3 blocks can be removed. I need motivation, energy and undistracted mind (clear of anxiety) to write music.
One thing is for sure: you make the best of your abilities when “in the zone” – if you can get “in the zone” at will, you will achieve a lot more in life.
October 23rd, 2008 at
Iran, great to have your comments here. The three blocks you mention are ones I have recognized myself many, many times.