Have you ever needed some inspiration? Maybe the batteries were a little low and the doldrums of creative deadlock begin to swirl around your camera. Maybe you had to do something really creative and simply needed to see some stuff to “get the juices going.”

And then you head to the computer and hit your favorite image sites. Let’s check this forum and that one and the one I haven’t been to for a while.

And we look for inspiration. The work of others can trip all sorts of creative thoughts. Right now, we need them. It’s been one of those weeks. Or months…

So we grab a soda (or a Corona) and we begin to browse. Looking at work and hoping for a spark of an idea. Not a copy of someone’s work, but a catalyst for our own. We may sit for a few minutes or a few hours, and we will usually have some ideas of our own at the end. That’s cool.

That is called “immersion” – and it is a very powerful tool.

Immersion into one’s art and craft is such a glorious thing. It uplifts our spirits, and creates a need to know more and feel more and occasionally it leads to a greater understanding of our own work.

Yep, I think you can learn a lot about your work by looking at the work of others. Even if it is not your cup of tea. Even if you really really dislike it. Or love it… or, worse of all… have no attachment at all to it.

Looking at visual art can help trigger visuals within your mind.

Sure, I have heard of photographers who claim they never ever look at photography for fear of being made unclean or unpure. They feel that looking at work will have an undue influence on their work.

Meh… fine. Whatever.

I consider it a blessing to look at the work of Meisel, Demarchelier, Winters, Weston, Cunningham, Barnbaum, Shore, Sternbach and more… so many more.

My walls are full of photography books. From gravure printed editions by Adams to some quirky stuff by Gibson to some dramatic collections from museums. I love to look at images.

I “immerse” myself in them whenever I have the time to do it. I wish I had time to do more of it. I feel recharged and excited afterwards. And I do not feel I receive undue influence nor do I feel that my vision is unclean. (Well, there is that Terry Richardson book… but I digress.)

Visiting art museums or the wonderful photography galleries in NY and SF are also chances for immersion into simply looking and ‘seeing’ photography. And of course the photography floor at MOMA, Manhattan.

I visited a friend of mine in Tucson recently. Darren has been a guest author on this blog and he invited me down to see the show at the University of Arizona’s fabulous Center for Photography. The show was a collec tion of portraits from all eras. It was amazing. We walked the quiet rooms without speaking much, occasionally sharing an image and commenting on what we liked.

For over an hour and a half. Time flew by as it does when you are totally immersed in something that is meaningful to you.

Do not rush it… take your time and look – really look – at the work. And occasionally the looking turns into ‘seeing’. You will know that moment. It is almost physical. From the looker to the see’er.

Immersion also helps to block out the noise, and clarify the thoughts. All there is to think about and look at is the imagery. It is somewhat spiritual for some. For me.

I remember the first time I came face to face with great photography. We were on vacation and my mom and dad were fussing with my two younger brothers after lunch. We had stopped in Carmel, CA and had spent a few hours walking around and seeing the sights. I had my Brownie loaded with black and white film and was wanting to ‘take some pictures’ instead of listening to the kids squawk.

I was 13 or 14 and really felt so above that kid stuff.

The parents told me to go ahead and they would catch up. I told them I was going to the little art gallery across the street.

It was showing the work of Edward Weston. I was dumbstruck.

Never had such beauty crossed my vision. Never in my wildest dreams did I think photographs could look that way. I spent at least 2 hours in there… probably drove the lady crazy with all the questions, but she was wonderful.

My parents finally dragged me out of there and I couldn’t believe it had been two hours. I knew two things that day: One, I wanted to be a photographer.

Two: the Brownie wasn’t gonna cut it.

I know there are some of you who may chuckle and shake your head when I start to talk about “the day” but… here goes.

One of the things I miss with digital is the time spent immersed in the learning, taking, processing and printing of images. Long hours in the darkroom had ways of focusing your energy. My darkrooms all had music of course, but it was also a time for looking closely at something you created without distraction.

Our digital worlds lack that kind of single minded focus, I think. There are too many distractions. Too (damn) many things to compete with our focus. Offices at home, or even in coops where distractions are simply part of the environment take a toll on our ability to immerse ourselves in the work.

At least, that’s the way I see it. I will slip out to the studio on weekends because it is so quiet. Sitting at the box, with the music I love playing in the background gives me time to be totally focused on what I want.

And I usually feel refreshed and invigorated by the immersion.

Here are a few tips on ways to become “immersed” into photography.

1. Galleries. Art Museums. Artists shows.
   Go alone or with someone who will allow you to take the time to see the work. Don’t hesitate to spend a few minutes looking at one piece. It’s OK, the others will move by you.
2. Go to a wonderful workshop where you can spend a weekend or a long weekend or a week just hanging around with other photographers. Share ideas and images. Critique and argue. Fall in love with the act of making photographs again.
3. Spend some time at the local library. My satellite library has a pretty good selection of photography books, but the one downtown is rich with imagery. It is quiet there. Don’t plan on less than a couple of hours.
4. Take a road trip. Go somewhere by yourself or with one other photographer. Agree to stop the car and turn around if one wants to get an image. Process at dinner. Share and critique.
5. Grab a couple of your favorite magazines and find a quiet place to do some work on them. Get a sharpie and start to make notes on the images. What do you like? What is a problem? What would you do different? Mark the images and little lines and arrows and stuff. Spend at least an hour – uninterrupted.
6. Bookstores can be OK, but if you cannot sit and peruse in quiet, they are marginal. However, go ahead and make a purchase, take it home and love it. It’s a book. It is close to a miracle. Think about it.
7. Find out if there are any meet-ups or groups devoted to the discussion of photography. Get involved. (I am not talking about the ones where everyone pimps their gear or tries to get ‘models’ for shooting. I mean real groups where the imagery is discussed.
   7A… if there isn’t one, start one.
8. Visit a big city and immerse yourself in shooting the people, buildings, work, and art of that city. Go alone. Spend only dark hours in the room. Make a ton of images. Think about photography and remember #1 above.

Immersion is a luxury we don’t take enough. Whether in our art or our personal life, the ability to delve into something without interruption or distraction is simply a wonderful way to get something more out of our endeavors.

So tell us how you “immerse” yourself in the photography or art you love. Where are your favorite places and what are your favorite methods? Share in the comments.

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