The mental stumbling block. The creative impasse.

Down By the Hudson, 2026 Sigma BF Monochrome Mode, Sigma 35 DG DN, edited

Under the Bridge, Kingston, NY 2026 Sigma Bf, Panasonic 85mm

Years ago, while in college and trying to design a high rise building (or was that the redevelopment project along the Monongahela?) I was given great advice by a professor: Stefanie Ledowitz. It was simple enough: when designing something, force yourself to move from working in small scales to large scales and vice-versa. I think, on some level, this can adapted to most creative endeavors and even photography.

Atop the Cliffs, 2026 Sigma BF, Panasonic 85mm

Through the Haze, 2026 Sigma Bf, Panasonic 85mm

Apparently the brain will function differently when forced to work at different scales. Imagine a building, a room, a small portion of a facade, an entire building site, a detail, a city block, and while doing these things, consider, environment, context, program/use, the pedestrian, the resident, the visitor, the car, mass transit, the landscape, etc….from one scale to another, from one perspective or another.

Underground, 2026 Sigma BF, Sigma 35 DG DN

Underground Elevator, 2026 Sigma Bf, Sigma 35 DG DN

Stefanie’s advice worked (we were told to address professors on a first name basis), it forced us to reconsider our focus on different aspects of the design or a different vantage point and in so doing, helped us to find a small seam in the veil of our confusion or a thread to unravel in our sewed up thoughts. Calling professors by their first name also forced us to address them as equals and broke down the formal mentor/student relationship, implying each can learn from the other; our ideas being the primary means of achieving respect from instructors. Make of it what you will, but it inspired us to work hard for that respect.

Untermyer Park Detail, 2026 Sigma Bf, Sigma 35mm DG DN

Convergence, Kingston, NY, 2026 Sigma Bf, Panasonic 85mm

I think photography can borrow from this “strategy” as Stefanie called it (the change of scale or perspective thing, not the first name thing). Think big or small, from above or below, of angles or curves, from leading edges to vanishing points, from color to black and white, from tension to repose, from static to dynamic, from reflection to absorption…imagine different vantage points, or search for them, experiment with concepts (verbal manifestations like thinness, elasticity, compactness, suspension)…drop our instincts or follow them; whatever it takes to try to give yourself up to one change, one small idea or one perspective you never thought of before.

Daffodil Hill, Untermyer Park, 2026 Sigma Bf, Sigma 35mm DG DN

Blossomed, 2026 Sigma Bf, Sigma 35mm DG DN