Finding Creativity: Balancing Art and the Digital World

Last night, I was at the studio, recording a session. It’s pretty cool because that was my second time being in a music recording studio. Being in that environment has been an amazing experience because music has always been a huge part of my life.

Film and music kind of go hand in hand, so I was there helping out Don Fabio make some music and getting some behind-the-scenes footage of the session. It was fascinating to experience and see what the recording process looks like for an artist. I really enjoyed that. It gave me perspective on what I imagine some of the bigger musicians' recording sessions are like. It was a cool experience to be there, filming and just being in a creative space where that creative energy isn’t lost.

As of late, life has felt like the creative energy is constantly trying to leave me.

There are constant battles every day with myself—trying to be the best I can be, trying to be the best father, partner, and brother. All these different battles within myself of trying to be there for everyone I care about. Knowing that sometimes I fall short makes it harder to keep going and stay within that creative element.

So, being able to go into a space that is rejuvenating and inspiring was incredible. Seeing them make music inspired me. Allowing me to talk about whatever and be raw about life. There are these perceptions we always try to put out, but I realize there’s a lot I don’t share. Being in a space where ideas just flow has inspired me to take that approach into my work, giving you all perspective on where I am in life.

Filmmaking has been a big part of my life, and so much of it feels like it exists online. I’ve met most of you, and I don’t know if I mean as much to y’all as y’all mean to me. I think about you all more than one might think or care to admit. Creating and sharing as a photographer and filmmaker for many years has allowed me to share part of my life with you, and that’s a blessing.

I took a break from social media, uninstalling it because it felt like an insufferable void, constantly reminding me of what I don’t have or what I need to do. It was an overload of information, and it redirected my focus from creating. I was constantly questioning if I should do what I was seeing others do. My screen time was way too high; technology had become an extension of me. Older generations would talk about how younger kids are always on their phones, and we would rebut that they didn’t understand what it meant to be connected.

Social media has allowed me to create, connect, and meet wonderful people, but it’s also been taking up too much mental headspace.

I didn’t feel satisfied or content; the media I was consuming was too much. I uninstalled social media for about two months, and my screen time went down exponentially. It was a fresh breath of air, and I felt like I was able to tap back into my creative element. I started creating, filming content, and getting into a good workflow.

After two months, I reinstalled everything to share what I had created. I was hesitant because I had been in a good headspace without it. Installing social media again increased my screen time, and I found myself doomscrolling more than when I was off it. Committing to becoming a full-time YouTuber or filmmaker is difficult because everyone says to get a regular job, making it hard to have faith in my work. But it drives me because this is all I know—being and speaking with y’all and telling life stories.

Social media puts me in a headspace where it’s more difficult to create because I’m consuming. It’s like gardening; if I overwater the bush, it can’t produce flowers. Too much information makes me sick, literally. I want to do this long-term and understand that perfection isn’t always achievable, but I can’t let it rob me of my ability to create.

I want to uninstall social media again and go back to a space where I can free myself from the mental fog and create. Finding a balance between creating and sharing is important. I feel like an introvert on social media, which mirrors my introverted nature. It’s an ongoing experiment.

Social media has been a challenge to navigate, but it has tremendous value in reaching you all. It’s important to take a breather from it and experience life without constant scrolling. It was a switch in perspective for me, and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything. Social media should be a tool, but it can be unhealthy if not used properly.

Navigating the ebbs and flows of being connected is important. Our networks were once comprised of people immediately close to us, but now we’re globally connected. As an advocate for social media, I also advocate stepping away from it. It should serve us, not make us feel like we’re not in service to ourselves or our community.

I want to find balance, to create, be present with those I care about, and share with you all.

I hope you found inspiration or information you can build on and grow with. Thank you for tuning in. I’ve got more street photography videos, photography basics, filmmaking fundamentals, and documentaries coming up. I’m excited to share these projects with you and hope you can take something away from them.