Tiny Experiments, Creativity and Photography
Check your own Insta feed or your memory card. Try and identify a style or subject you frequently shoot. Now, simply try doing something totally different for the next week. This small shift might surprise you (as it did me)!
Recently, I stumbled upon a different approach, inspired by Anne-Laure concept of “Tiny Experiments.” And I understood, I was doing a few things which she talks about quite instinctively.
Anne, is a neuroscientist and former Googler, argues that curiosity-driven experiments unlock creativity better than rigid goals. The idea is simple:
Pick something small, manageable, and a bit uncertain, and commit to exploring it without judging the outcome.
I love Travel and Landscapes. That’s my genre, my love! But, I keep pushing myself to photograph my urban life…
Taking inspiration from her simple formula, I applied it to Photography:
“I will [action] every [frequency] for [duration].”
I created my own tiny photography experiments for my practice sessions:
“Single Lens, One Week”:
I just shot with a 50mm prime for one week. Less gear, fewer choices—surprisingly liberating.
“Color Week”:
I focused on one color—Yellow. It was quite fun and taught me to be more intentional when I look.
“Same Window, Different Times”:
I captured the same view from my home - a multistorey building at different hours each day.
“I will [take photos] every [day] for [5 mins].”
Most of these tiny experiments failed. These are quite mediocre photos, that I'd normally delete or just forget in the memory card. But this gives me a license to fail. What I understood - when stakes are low, it’s easier to unlock your creativity.
PS. Three Signs of a Good Experiment (Photographer’s Edition):
Curiosity first: Does the idea excite you?
Keep it small: Is it easy enough to complete?
Is the outcome uncertain: Does it challenge your usual approach?
@the.photoguy
Rajarshi Mitra
