Creative Creativity: Inspiration and Tools for Creativity

Historical Photographic Reference

Here's a great resource if you are writing or drawing anything from the beginning of photography through the 1940s. Shorpy's is donated copyright free images from the dawn of photography. Not only is an amazingly inspirational thing to add to your RSS feed, but there is also lively discussion of the images. If you have some to add to the pool, they're always looking for new stuff.

Recently, they have added a blog for old comics. It's brand new, so there isn't as much content, but I had a really good time poking around. Nothing like finding out what was funny in 1910. Apparently, according to this comic, it was racial stereotypes and doting, over-concerned parents who spoil their babies.

Also, I've blogged this site before, but their content, scans of copyright free beautiful books, is amazing - Bibliodyssey. They just posted a group of pre-printed envelopes from the Civil War that are worth a look.

Creativity Tip: Borrow a Child's Perspective

Picasso supposedly once said that all children are artists, but the trick is to remain an artist after you grow up.

Many visual artists have drawn on children's art for inspiration. An interesting example is the art of Yeondoo Jung , who recreates children's drawings as photographs, with dreamlike and whimsical results.
(link via defective yeti)

Unphotographable - A Catalog Of Missed Opportunities

Have you ever seen the perfect picture? You know, the light is just right and the colors are beautiful. You reach for your camera, but you forgot it. Or the camera malfunctions. Or there are security guards and big signs that say, "No pictures!"

Well, Michael David Murphy decided to make a website where he describes all the perfect photographs that he didn't get.

Here's one:

This is a picture I did not take of a woman in a green sweatshirt, exiting a public bathroom, eating a hotdog

Read all the beautiful pictures that don't exist at Unphotographable

Abeldardo and Camera Obscura

Abelardo Morell is known for taking beautiful, eerie photographs using camera obscura. Lensculture has an audio interview with Morell, as well as a color slideshow of Morell's work.

On a related note, someone has written instructions for turning your bedroom into a camera obscura.