A few nights ago I was working on “Last Call” while watching old episodes of the Twilight Zone. It’s been a great source of inspiration due its settings, themes, and unique approach to storytelling. It came to me that it was time to create a body of work that speaks to the Twilight Zone. A new theme to help me see beyond convention. This portfolio reflects past work, it's meant to inform the future, and it flows with my thoughts on creativity.

                                                                                                      "Last Call at Gallow's End" © 2015, Mike Busby

People say someone is creative, or that creativity is reflected in someone’s work. However, creativity is not a singular trait or skill — it’s the collection of our attitudes and approaches to life. When we look to creativity we find it consisting of our willingness to encounter new events; our temperaments while interpreting new experiences; the capacity to stretch the imagination; and our ability to question our beliefs. Improving creativity is picking one of these categories and start working on it.

 Creativity is more than the crafting of expression — it's how we make meaning of experiences, and it’s essential to navigating everyday life. Everybody has it, and everybody uses it. It manifests when a child uses a crayon, when someone builds something new, or whenever someone engages with their passion. Before expression there is discovery and the imagination, and this is where creativity thrives.

Exploration is my passion, and I use the camera to see beyond conventional horizons. My view of exploration is not necessarily one of new places, but one of new perspectives — the thrust of the Twilight Zone. Infrared is used to photograph an alternate light spectrum. One that exists in nature, but resides just beyond the visible realm. Places of reflection are used to view the grandeur of nature, and how it can be observed and shared through design elements. I’ve come to understand that greater themes are not necessarily great in and of themselves, but they become great when framed with the human condition. I’ve used place and space to reflect elements of the known and the unknown and their effect when placed together. Not all of these ideas are used in every shot, but every once in a while something presents itself, and these thoughts give direction to capturing it.

The Twilight Zone is the space where a pause is given to the imagination. It’s a place of reflection without concerning ourselves with others. It’s a place of personal freedom and enjoyment, and it’s the place where we become ourselves. Writing to it and giving it language makes it real. Articulating abstract notions into design elements shifts it from romantic ideals into physical representations. Creating a portfolio gives a target to creative direction that will inform future work.

Sterling’s introduction to the first season resonates with the creative thoughts of the great names like Hegel, Kant, Einstein, and Sagan. I consider myself a practical guy living in a practical world, but I’m also someone who wants to explore beyond conventional experience and understanding — and it seems there is some direction emanating from the Twilight Zone.

Thanks for reading,

Mike

Mike Busby's School of Photography