I get overwhelmed when I’m not creating. It’s a weird anxious feeling that I struggle to shake and it only seems to go away when I do something creative.

And it manifests in weird ways. Sometimes, if I can’t think of something creative to do, (or if I just don’t wanna) I’d fire up Lightroom and spend hours reviewing images, organizing folders or cleaning up my library. Anything to kill the nagging feeling.

I hate it when I feel like that. It’s not a fun, filled with creativity kind of feeling. It’s more anxious than anything else. My chest feels heavy. My fingers feel twitchy.

I think the closest thing I can compare it to is the feeling of having way too much coffee on an empty stomach while I have a lot of work to do. It’s a wired, jittery feeling where I’m unable to focus. It’s all very confusing. And yucky. I’m not a fan.

That’s how I feel in this moment.

So this post is my latest attempt to scratch my creative itch. And I figure I’ll be vulnerable and share how I feel in this moment.

My Lightroom scrolling led me to an old project I started some time ago. The idea was to document my public transportation experience since moving from Guyana. Because I drove back home, it’s been years since I’ve had to take a bus and I figured I’d use the change in circumstance as an opportunity to make some art.But, of course, I never really loved the images I made. Plus, it always felt invasive to take photos of people on a bus or train – we’re way too close to each other for my comfort. Plus, street photography always makes me a little nervous. But, I persisted, and as I’m finishing this post, I find myself grateful that I did start this project after all.

This year, I’d like to give in to more creative urges. It’s so easy to only share the things that we think are glamorous or envy-inducing. But that’s not real life, you know? More often than not, real life is quite ordinary.

In any case, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one. Do you think this type of photography is too invasive? Is it art, or is it just ‘meh’? Share your thoughts in the comments below and, while you’re at it, I’d also love to hear how you scratch your creative itch when it presents itself.

Ok, that’s it for now. I hope you’re doing well and that 2024 will be your most creative year yet. Keep shooting and sharing my friends. We’ll talk soon.

Damion