Creative Fight, The: Create Your Best Work and Live the Life You Imagine

The Creative Fight“Soon I discovered that the camera is a magical device. When I held it up to my eye the world became quiet and it blocked out my pain. I looked through the lens and the darkness turned to light. No longer focusing on myself, I saw the world with fresh eyes. What was once dismal became divine. The camera changed the way I experienced the world and shifted how I understood time“Rather than feel burdened by time, the camera helped me appreciate it one small slice at a time. I discovered within these slices new worlds and hidden truths that previously went unseen”That is the most lyrical description of looking through a camera with intention that I have ever read.This book is about the complex emotional path we photographers face. It’s not about camera settings, lighting and posing. It’s about the hidden challenges nobody warns you about when you strive for greatness through photography.This author is a magnificent storyteller, interweaving intriguing stories about famous people like John Lennon, Harrison Ford and Doctor Sues and their ascent to fame, but withholding their whole name until the end of the story so it is a fun surprise.The author is obviously well educated and deep. He is introspective and shares the mental and emotional journeys that are relevant to the points he makes about photography and creativity. There are so many good points he makes in the book:• Creative breakthroughs come when you link thoughts not normally related• Making photographs isn’t so much about creating something as it is about being changed• Creating photographs that stand the test of time isn’t easy• Most of us won’t slow down and take the time to create an amazing image, we’re going to fast shooting too much and we settle for good• The challenge to maintain mindfulness so we don’t get carried away with speedChapter 8 is on finding a way to get critiques that actually help you perfect your art and how to ignore the idiots who just want to piss all over it. He called it ‘Critical Creativity.’ This chapter was a lift raft to me. He points out that• Too much criticism distracts, but just the right amount refines.• Getting critique from any old stray dog brings with it rabies and fleas.• Most of us have recruited the wrong critics• Writers (substitute photographers) are lampposts and critics are dogs• Too much criticism decreases morale• Unsolicited feedback (criticism) catches you off guard• Dealing with criticism alone is hard. Discuss it with a friend if necessary and decide whether it is helpful or not• Consider the source• Solicit criticism in a more thoughtful way• Save positive feedbackIf you have been carrying a camera a long time, and sometimes it feels like it’s a magic orb that allows you to see beauty in an otherwise mundane setting and sometimes it feels like an albatross, this is for you. On the other hand had I picked this book up 6 years ago, I wouldn’t have read more than a few pages.I love this book. It resonated for me; I needed to hear what he had to say. I have highlighted and dog-eared it. I will buy it on the Kindle so I always have easy access to it when I travel.So why did I give it only 4 stars? The title ‘The Creative Fight’ pushes me away and unfortunately the title of a book colors everything I read in it. If I had not just finished taking an amazing class by this author on Lynda.com, I would have never picked up this book. If someone had told me years ago that photography would be a constant fight, I would have never started. It has obviously been a fight for this author, and his stories are meaningful and helpful. I’m just not a fighter; it’s not the way I was made. So great book, for me another title would have been quite helpful.The 2nd reason I gave it 4 stars is because it is such a sophisticated photography book. Yes these are timeless messages; I just don’t think the average photographer will care. When I got to conferences people are most attentive when the speaker is being technical, camera settings details about post processing… I admit, all that technical stuff appeals to me too. But at the end of the day, his deeper messages about how to navigate the odyssey and labyrinth of rising to the level of greatness through photography is much more important and unusual.Thank you Chris for writing such a profound book that has truly touched my heart.

This book is about much more than creativity. It's more about wisdom and living a rich, meaningful life, and it's partly about creativity. In chapter one alone, you will find wisdom such as "The most important struggle of your life is discovering how to make the most of your time". And also in chapter one, a perfect illustration of the fact that creativity applies to every endeavor and not just artists: "Creativity is for accountants, dentists, and the widow who lost her true love". Eloquently said. There are gems about life and about creativity throughout which, more often than not, build upon stories of famous people who will be described only by their first name in the tradition of Paul Harvey, and then the punch line will be finding out their last name.The book is well worth the price although be forewarned that 108 of the 276 pages are taken up by photographs that, as a whole, are surprisingly superficial (considering that the author is a photographer). The best photos are self portraits of the author. Many of the rest seem like lame stock photos that were an afterthought, making me think the author found out at the last moment that the editor was demanding a 276 page book and so there were 108 pages to fill. With his background, I am sure Orwig could have produced some creative, artistic, thought provoking photographs although I suppose those might have been a distraction from the excellent text.For five years I have been a student of creativity and I teach the subject to photographers. While I will never feel that I've read everything on the subject, I was pleasantly surprised by some of the new observations and the, well, creative approaches that Chris Orwig has come up with to enlighten us.

I could hardly wait for Chris' next publication and am very glad that the waiting has finally come to an end!I have not gotten the book as of now, but I can already give five stars and would give even more, if the system allowed! Chris Orwig's books were always my favourite reads among the many photo books I ever read - and these come in a couple of hundreds...Chris's writing style is just so both informative and heart- or soulful (even more so in combination with the pictures) that you can really feel that he is first and foremost a human and not a photographer. Hence I am looking forward to getting the book very soon: Already knowing it will be a great addition to my all-time top-ten books.My favourite writers being the following: Chris Orwig, Roberto Valenzuela, Neil van Niekerk, Frank Doorhof and Ibarionex Perello - check them out and experience the Magic!

This is also a life book that can be applied to anyone. As a photographer, I applied the lessons there, but found myself applying many aspects to my corporate day job as well.

I strongly recommend this book, it became one of those books that I go back and read it again, a great source of inspiration to create and imagine, to build to persue creativity regardless what you do.As an artists photographer, this book is an eye opener to understand the complex world of creation. Somebody says that a good book is a good friend and this book is another friend that I carry with me. Thank you sharing your stories and knowledge.Salvador Leon

An excellent book! I've read many books on photography, inspiration, and creativity, and this may be the best of them all. Rather than devour the book, I intentionally read it slowly, so that I could absorb it all. It was worth the wait! I've read other books written by Orwig, and he is an excellent writer. This is his best work yet! Buy it; I can't see how you could be disappointed.

Awesome book and content.

Helping one to realize how to to fight and not take flight!

A nice little read. Put it down, pick it up, absorb a little wisdom and come back to it when you want a little optimism in your world. I leave it in my waiting room and my clients pick it up and it puts a smile on their dial.

Excellent!!! This book should be required reading for any creative person, not just photographers. It got me up and moving.

Learning never stops! Great read! :-)