Mundane tasks for the creative

One of the things that I get asked the most during my presentations is where I get my inspiration from and how I come up with concepts for my images.

Creativity is a muscle. We are all born with it. Every single kid is creative in one way or another, but as we grow up, we stop "exercising" that muscle. Creativity is just like working out. The first day at the gym is miserable, it's uncomfortable, you feel like you don't belong, your form is a little off, everything hurts, but the more you push yourself, the easier it gets and after a while, going to the gym becomes a habit you cannot live without. One great way to exercise your creative muscles is to try to see the world from a different perspective, transforming mundane objects into something cool.

I have never been a fan of going grocery shopping. I get distracted easily; the kids put way too many things they don't really need in the cart and I always forget half of the things I went to the store for (mostly because I forget the list at home or forget to look at it on my phone). I end up spending three times more than I was expecting.

This time shopping, I remembered I had my camera and Platypod Ultra with me, and I decided to have a little fun taking a few pictures. I strapped Ultra to the grocery cart, placed my camera on it, and started experimenting with shutter speeds until I got a really cool motion blur.

I may have looked like a crazy woman walking back and forth in the most colorful isles in the store, but it sure was a blast! I still managed to forget to get a few things I needed at the store, but I came back home with a few great pics.

(Nikon Z 7, Z 24-70mm f/4 at 24mm, 0.4 secs at f/ 4.5. ISO 64.)

Putting the groceries away is the second household chore I dislike the most, right after putting the laundry away. Side Note: I'm going to be honest, domestic work is not my thing!

But as I was putting the groceries away, I came up with the idea of taking a few pictures in different angles. First, I put my camera on top of my Platypod Ultra inside the fridge. I also placed a Spekular Light from Spiffy gear in the very back of the refrigerator, so the groceries and myself were lit evenly. I triggered the camera with my MIOPS trigger.

Lastly, I wanted to shoot for a very different angle. I put the camera on the floor, pointing upwards. I really love how my Platypod Ultra allows me to shoot in ways I would have never thought about it before. It has turned some of the most mundane activities into a creative exercise!

Gilmar Smith is an Orlando-based photographer, content creator, Photoshop addict & social media junkie! Visit her at gilmarphotography.com and be sure to follow her on Instagram!