I often feel that art is most interesting when it is most inconvenient; when you have no money, no location, nothing to spruce it up. It really comes from inside then instead of relying on the objects around to fill the frame. When you create from nothing, you create from within. As so many of us do, my journey into photography began when I had little resources other than a camera. I had no money, no locations, no props except for what I brought home from dumpsters (seriously though). And looking back, it was like going through a golden age of creativity. My imagination was working overtime to find ideas that could come to life without any resources.

This is how I started a career, with white walls and dumpster props, and how I still try to operate today. There are times when I indulge in bigger budgets or interesting locations, but for the most part, at least 90% of the time, it’s just me and a $5 allowance. Oh, and bed sheets. Because they make the best costumes.

Have you ever created like this? I’m betting yes, either out of necessity or interest. If you have, you know how confronting it is. If you haven’t, you might find it to be an exercise in style.

Creating from nothing allows us to explore who we are, at our very core, without any outside influence. It is how I found my style so fast in my career, and how I learned the camera without pressure.

This video is from 2015, but it’s a good one. Here, I create an image inside a cardboard box, since I didn’t have access to a room suitable to my needs.

Create something with an everyday object in a way that isn’t expected!

The other day, something amazing happened. I broke my, what seems like, year long creative block. I’ve been creating and have created some images that I know will last in my portfolio, but I’ve felt a bit repetitive and have wanted to break out of it, but nothing “new” and fresh came to my mind…until the other day. I wanted very badly to create in a new way. I woke up thinking about a photo idea I had for a while, and so I started looking for locations. First where I live, then in my whole state, and then in my whole country. I just wasn’t having any luck. I needed a space with three blank walls and no windows that I could shoot in, but was coming up empty handed.

The image isn’t perfect, but I wanted to share it anyway because it is a symbol of what is possible. I’m going to continue shooting in boxes this week and really hope to create a small series of images by the week’s end. All in a box. All in my little office. All filled with inspiration.

Have you ever created with something unusual? Or used something in a way it isn’t necessarily intended? If you have, share the resulting image or story with me! If you have ideas of what could be used, share that, too! And if you create something this week with this theme, leave the image in the comments. Can’t wait!