July 29

Saw this amazing site today riding along in the bus from Tokyo to Karuizawa. Fortunately, I had my camera on the seat beside me and was able to grab a quick shot of this beautiful green valley.

I had been feeling really stressed for days before this trip. As soon as I saw this site and was able to get a photo, all of the tension and stress left my body. Amazing. It was such a simple thing that brought transformation. and it happened so quickly and effortlessly.

As I dig deeper into this "creative process" project, the more I find it's really the uncomplicated, effortless things that seem to create and/or bring me back to a state of "flow."

June 27

Started out today with a good work-out and a productive session on the trumpet.

Art/Photography
Went to the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography to see the "To the East - Travel and Photography in the 19th Century" exhibition. Saw some amazing photos.


Yebisu Beer Museum
An interesting way to finish off a trip to the Museum of Photography is with a little trip into the Yebisu Beer Museum. It's in the same complex as the Photography Museum. It's actually quite a good museum showing the history of beer-making in Japan. I noticed that most of the people didn't seem to want to look at the displays and video monitors showing the beer-making process. When I got to the end of the tour, I found out why. There is a nice size beer tasting room with "samples" for ¥300 and free munchies. Might have to stop in there a couple more times this summer.


Photography
Had my camera with me so while I relaxed in the big open spaces outside at Yebisu Garden Place, decided to try to get a few shots. There were tons of small children there and I realized how fun it can be to try and capture their unique moments.

June 4

Change Routes
Because I live in Tokyo and am always using the train system here, I've never felt a need for a car. Something that has been a simple and cheap thing to do to stimulate ideas is to walk different routes from my house to the train station. Improvisation in life. I've run into so many unexpected things. Sometimes I'll see a new shop that opened, a beautiful Japanese garden around someone's house, etc. Drive to work? Try some different routes and be awake. Amazing what you'll see.

Clearing
Clearing out my email account this morning. Such a good feeling to clear and make a space for something new to enter. Clearing is one of the very most powerful techniques I've used over the past 15 years to get "flow" happening. Sometimes when I feel stuck, I clear something out. It doesn't matter how small.

Photography
Working on a new photoshop technique that I learned in the new issue yesterday. It's going to take a little practice to get it together.

Lenswork Extended
I'm going through this bonus dvd that comes with each issue of the magazine. It's filled with tons of photos, folios, interviews, etc. The interviews are cool. They are discussing camera technique. It's all about the creative process.

Lenswork Podcast:
"Practice Until It's Second Nature"
May 4, 2009