The dreaded notebook. Just between us, I’ve always thought it a little pretentious when artists and creatives mentioned their notebooks especially when they took great pains to say they were Moleskines. They’d talk about how they wrote down their ideas and feelings, collected pictures, drew sketches, etc and somehow that fed their creative cycles and in the end, helped produce some of their work. I know what I’ve just said is a bit harsh but it’s okay. I now carry around a Moleskine so I have to eat my words.
The idea of a notebook is part of my mentoring with Ray. It all began with my lament that I didn’t have a mind’s eye and his efforts to help me recognize and develop my visualization skills. The point was to make creative thinking “an integral part of who and what (I am) so it doesn’t take any thought or effort“. Here’s how it works. Each day I am supposed to write down five ideas for photographs and each week, at least one of them has to be for a photographic series. I have to suspend my judgment on whether these are good ideas or not and just write them down. I then sort out what I think might be the best ideas for a series or a single photograph and I discuss them with Ray. He promised me that in three months I would be in a different place for seeing. That was about five months ago. I think it’s working and helping me be more creative with my photographs but maybe I’ll let you be the judge of that.
I made this image in Crescent City on the way home from San Francisco. I’ve been impressed with a series of images my friend Charlene has been doing on nightwalking and so I made Ray promise we’d spend some time photographing at night. If you’ve never done this kind of photography before, I’d highly recommend going out and trying it. Incidently Charlene was recently inspired by one of our favourite photographers, Daniel Milnor to create her own notebook featuring my other favourite series of hers on tugboats. As I pen this post, I’ve just found out that Ray has created a special notebook with images from a project this past summer. I’ve been bugging him to do this since I first saw the images and I’m so pleased he’s finally published Revival.
In the spirit of the season and of this post, I’m going to give away a copy of Charlene’s notebook To Be Closed At Sea, a copy of Daniel’s Sketches of Paris and of course Ray’s Revival. Just let me know in the comments below if you use a notebook and how it’s helped you with your photography and I’ll pick three names at random before Christmas Eve.
Well, we spoke about this so you know I keep one. Writing things down definitely not only helps me remember things or keep track of ideas whereas before I’d be struggling to do so by the time I got to home or work and had any means of jotting them down. Having them down in a place helps me coalesce them into more fully fledged projects or ideas as I put them into a more formal document. I think it’s extremely important in terms of visualization and realization to have a note book.
I actually got the idea form my wife who is a poet. Always having one on her meant that any time inspiration struck she could write it down. I have actually got her a new one as a gift, themed on our trip this Christmas. I love the notebooks you link to, I know someone in particular that Charlene’s would really be cool for.
P.S. Not sure why Moleskines have the exulted position they seem to. Mine is from Borders but I have no idea what brand.
I remember when you told me you kept a notebook, I was smiling inside, Ed. It made me feel like we had yet another thing in common. And doesn’t Charlene’s notebook just blow away any Moleskine?
I have two moleskins, a large one for my journaling and a pocket size for ideas. I think it’s working also!
Pssst, I think it’s working for you too, Monte
Many creatives preach the importance of keeping a notebook on hand at all times. When in art college I kept a sketch book with me most of the time. I was pretty good about it. It was filled with mostly bad sketches but a few good ones too. For instance, my fictional characters, “Leonard the Lazy Dragon” and heavy metal band, “Molten Steel” were among my favourites.
Recently, I have tried to carry a small notebook. It actually fits in my wallet so it is always with me. However, I never seem to have a pen ! lol. Maybe, I need a Murse.
LOL, I know exactly what you mean when it comes to a pen and m/purse. The last purse I bought I had to make sure it had a special compartment for the notebook AND a pencil that can stay there all the time.
This made me smile !
The book is good for logging ideas so I can focus on my work instead
An M of course….
I started using a notebook when I set out to write fiction again (which I still do, but not nearly as often as I would like to do). Moleskines pretty much fit exactly in the sturdiness / form factor range that I needed, so that’s what I went with. Collecting them is addictive, I’ve noticed
.
Once I realised that I could write down ideas about stories to tell in photographic form as well as in prose form, my notebook made me feel a lot better about my creative abilities. Now I don’t doubt my ability to come up with ideas; I just wish I had more time to dedicate to realising them.
Hi Graham and welcome!
I’ve read that quite a few creatives have several outlets for their creativity and having a notebook for both your writing and photography sounds like it’s working well for you. One thing Ray has said to me is that’s important to try out some of those ideas in the notebook. They don’t have to necessarily be shared with people but to grow in the creative process, I do need to do some work on realizing the ideas.
I have a lot of notebooks. . . I mean A LOT. Unfortunately most of them are empty. Writing without judgment seems to be my hangup. I like the process you described above and think I’ll give it a try. Now, to find someone to bounce the ideas off . . .
Welcome Sheryl. I think we must have been separated at birth because I have a ton of unused notebooks too
At long last I’ve found a really good way to fill them up.
Let me know how it goes for you and if you feel like sharing, I’m just an email away.
Thanks Sabrina, I just might take you up on that!
I’ve carried a notebook for a couple of years but it was used mostly for To-Do’s and book titles. Of late, my notebook is becoming more a part of my thought and work process in photography, but I am trying to integrate it even more. I find myself spreading ideas over various mediums rather than just the pocket notebook, be it Evernote (it’s just easier on the computer) or a larger notebook in my bag. This may get me in trouble at some point and consolidation would likely be more efficient, but I’m still sussing out what method/s work best.
I’m growing used to jotting things down immediately and I’ll never be rid of the notebook despite the technological options; the nostalgic in me loves the idea of paper.
Oh, yeah, full disclosure: I’ve never owned an actual Moleskin notebook, just off brands (*said in a mumbled whisper*)
I also use Evernote Matt but not in the same way as the notebook. I find it’s easier to pull out the notebook rather than my computer to jot an idea down while driving (did I just say that?)
And for the record, I’m not advocating for Moleskines but it made for a good story!
I didn’t mean to single out the Moleskin reference in your post. I just find it funny (and brilliant marketing) how elevated Moleskins have become in people’s mind when so many other covers have paper between them too.
My history with notebooks takes me back to when i wanted to be a novelist. As Matt’s they contained book titles and also characters’ names, quick stories, shreds of plot etc etc Now notebooks serve my photography, containing ideas that just go on like a bulb sometime & are, more often than, not so brilliant
. Still i’m trying to scribble everything that pops into my head, even if just for future laughs and “man, i was so dumb” moments 
i feel like my notebooks are integral part of my workflow now. Was trying Evernote app too but there’s no feel to it. For me there’s nothing like putting a pencil or preferably fountain pen to a paper!
Regarding brands, well… i guess i AM attached after all to Moleskines, especially when i think of people that were using them – that takes me for serious “imagination wandering” but if anyone’s interested i can recommend Leuchtturm 1917 notebooks – they are equally well made and for a half price of M!
Thanks for the Leuchtturm referral.
You sound like an “old soul” Radek. I’d love to see your notebooks one day or see a photograph that you made based on something(s) you wrote in there. Thanks for the recommendation too.
You’re welcome! i got Leuchtturms too, they’re easier to get here somehow.
Sabrina: i guess a part of me really is, at least it feels like it, but i DO believe there are some things & areas of life that technology can’t, or even shouldn’t replace. If we ever meet in person i promise to bring some (though i should warn you they’re all in polish so might look like one big doodles for Ya
)
I always have a notebook with me – mostly I have used it for to-do and other lists but sometimes I put down thoughts or ideas for photographs or projects. When I really sit down to think – I use mind maps – a good way for me to let one idea grow from another in a visual way.
I also confess to sometimes having a moleskin to use. I do like the method Ray suggested and will give it a try
Mind maps are a really great tool for a lot of things Maureen. The next time I visit, I’d love to see how you use them in a visual way.
Most of my blog posts start life in a notebook before being typed up and expanded. It’s not a Moleskin though – I use notebooks from Muji, a Japanese company that makes and sells cool products.
For to-do type notes though, I’ve moved to using Evernote, as most of my to-do stuff is related to ideas or research I need, so I can add a quick note in Evernote on my phone and sync it to my computer at home. I’m more likely to remember to follow up when I do it like that.
I just love your Daily Photo Tips, Craig and learning that most started out in your notebook is so interesting to me because I’ve often wondered how you come up with the tips. Thanks for dropping in!
Notebooks are really at the heart of all great ideas. I cut out pictures I like and stuff them in there. Fill them with drawings of lighting and ideas I want to shoot. Fill pages with how a place ‘feels’ or what colors and light I see. Ideas for shoots I’ll never do and some I plan on doing soon.
The best part is dragging it out to show (bore) someone and talk about the ideas. The record of ideas is also a great place to jump start something when you feel the well is a little dry.
As for what kind, well I have stacks of the cheap composition ones that are for school and some of the even cheaper ones for to-do lists. These are all stacked in with art sketchbooks and a few Moleskines.
It isn’t the paper that makes the idea but the idea that makes the paper valuable.
Great post Sabrina and I see a difference in how you approach ideas and shoots.
For some reason, all these good ideas you have result in more work for me
I suspect I should be more structured. I do carry a small notebook, though I rely on my memory probably too much . My mind is always firing off thoughts in random directions, and with so many projects on the go, a notebook would seem a logical way to capture and organize those thoughts.
Well here’s the shock. I find that writing things down STIFLES my creativity. I am at my most creative under pressure or when brianstorming with others. Stopping to write things down interrupts that creativity and I am happy for others to record and to share.
I am lucky that I have a semi-photographic memory so I retain most of those thoughts. This is why I find writing in a structured manner so difficult. I tend to write more engagingly when I am recording a stream of consciousness.
So now I use dragon dictate or audio note to record things as I think/say things.
But each to their own. For me the lesson is that most of us, especially photogrpahers, struggle to balance the eftand right brain. The creativity and the process/workflow. Each of thus will find a way therefore to use note taking to supplement and support the thinking process.
Marco, I think the notebook in your head is amazing! I don’t think there’s a notebook–Moleskine or otherwise–that would be big enough for all the ideas you have.
Thanks for dropping by; I know how busy you are!
I tried to reply to this yesterday but my net went down just as I pushed submit. I have to agree with Marco, I have tried notebooks but for me they just don’t seem to work. I think some of us are too oral or maybe just too ADD to stop and grab the idea. They come AND go too fast to jot down. Then when I do think of writing it down, I can’t find the silly notebook. I have used my iPhone to to jot ideas down. But usually it is just one or two word concepts rather than a string of thoughts. I use an app called “Things” and have a have a project call “Blog Ideas” that I enter them into. Organizationally, that’s pushing the limits of my success
I think this confession puts me into the remedial class… but I’ve used notebooks for years for exhibit design ideas and sketching out things I want to make, but it hadn’t yet occurred to me to have one for photography. I keep seeing places & scenes I’d like to check out at different times of day/different seasons, but haven’t been writing it down. I will now! Thanks
LOL Erin, I would NEVER think of you in remedial class! I’m glad this post was helpful to you. I can’t wait to see where it takes you in your photography. Ray said that making photographs isn’t always about pressing the shutter and I agree.
Okay, so I picked up a notebook today. And just for the record, it’s not a moleskin lol.
Bravo Erin! Maybe we can get you going on your own collection as that seems to be the theme here
As my notebook had yet to be christened… I just wrote my photographic intentions for the year on the first page. Felt good
I never ever go anywhere without my notebook although I actually do not use it much for photography, I used it for stories, notes (duh hehe), drawings, blog posts, all kinds of writing. Mostly writing, especially when travelling. I have roughly 8-10 Moleskines full of travel tales. Should write a book one day
I admit to also loving the design of the notebook itself, I have quite a few empty notebooks at home, leather wrapping, hand made paper etc, just gorgeous, almost too pretty to write in
It is a bit pretentious how Moleskines have become THE notebook to own as if the notebook itself was important. Cameras do not take pictures, notebooks do not create stories. I have many Moleskines though for the simple fact that they are great quality, they really last on the road. Lately though I have begun using Paperblanks, I love their design.
OUCH!
http://thebestcamera.com/yUo
LOL Chris…this picture is worth a thousand words…or at least a few dollars!
Flemming – I can hear it now, “You have such great ideas, you are soo creative! You must have a great Moleskin.” http://www.thedigitaltrekker.com/2008/08/tech-vs-talent/
I always have a notebook with me, but I don’t use it very efficiently. There is no organization. I just grab it when there is something I don’t want to forget — list of books, to-do lists, contact information for people, and — sometimes — creative ideas. Since it’s such a jumble, it’s not a very useful tool. I *love* the journals you highlight here, Sabrina. What a wonderful idea! And I also want to try Ray’s technique. I have never deliberately set out to do a series. I’m intrigued. (Beautiful image up there, too, by the way.
)
I think you’d have a million ideas for a series Dorothy–based on what I’ve seen of your work. Thanks for the compliment about my image. Our time there reminded me of our evening in San Francisco and I think you would have enjoyed photographing in the harbour that night.
I have a notebook (and confess to it being a Moleskin, although only because I wanted to see if was any more inspiring than any other notebook!). My favourite notebook is a beautiful one, blank pages (better for creativity I think – no lines to constrain my excitement when I think of something exciting) and covered in lovely Chinese fabric.
Right now it has ideas for photographic series in the back, poetry in the front and lovely leaves and bits and pieces of memories – ticket stubs, entry tickets, etc in it. All good for helping me create.
Brilliant idea! I never though to put ticket stubs in my notebook. I have two that MUST go in there…from the HCB exhibits of course. Thanks for sharing.
I started my notebook about half a year ago, almost by accident, by carrying a medium size notebook in my purse because I was moving around a lot and needed something to make notes on. It is still a mixture of photographic idea and work-related notes, and both serve the same purpose- get me out of the bottom of “I have no idea what to do next”. I am keenly observing the world around, and I would often see a great image when I don’t have my camera with me. I would note it down, to try it in studio or to look for it in nature next time around, depending on the subject. And it is not a mleskin
, although I might get one for the next volume, as I love the sound of the it.
I just got here, so, Ahhhhhhh!!!!!
I’m like Flemming, I own about 72 blank notebooks but i never use them because they’re too pretty to write in
Hence why I decided to make my own, although I’m pretty fussy about paper texture and JUST the right amount of friction between pen and paper etc…. I really enjoy the activity of writing, even if I’m writing crap, which I usually do, aside from random doodling.
Moleskines – i don’t get the hype about them, i really don’t. I’ve been given many of them as gifts and of all the notebooks I own and have owned, they’re probably the least pleasurable to use. I reckon I’m just a lost cause when it comes to brands (that are not Nikon)!
I need a notebook! It’s time for me begin one and a project. This year I will have a project and have two weeks to decide. My notebook needs to be better than a spiral notebook. lol. Those get tossed to the side. Christmas present to myself will be a 2011 calendar to get my sticky notes off of every door, cabinet, and computer and a beautiful notebook! Thanks for the nudge Sabrina! January and February are dead months for me, so a good time to get my arse in gear!
No time like the present to get going Sue and you KNOW I’ll keep your feet to the fire!
I started using a couple of notebooks years ago. I have one for interesting quotes or information I read, I have one for my photograph and photoshop ideas, and I keep a daily journal that usually spills into my blog posts. If I ever forget my small photograph book while out and about, I write on napkins, envelopes, or what ever I find handy. I once wrote notes on a bank deposit slip while waiting in line. For me, writing is a great mental exercise in preperation for the real deal… even if the ideas take a few weeks or years to come to light (yes, pun intended).
LOL Travis…do you then put the napkins, envelops and bank slips into your notebook?
My notebooks are full of to-do lists and random doodlings. I must start to use them more productively! I think they’re probably a good reflection of the jumbled state of my mind, unfortunately.
I think writing stuff down is the first step, Cathy so you are ahead of me before I started this practice. I don’t really keep my thoughts organized either but then going back and sorting them out helps.
Oh, I have a PILE of notebooks from my angsty early 20s. I daren’t open them and have a re-read, I would probably self-combust with embarrassment between then-me and now-me.
I was given a moleskin. I have even taken it on a 3 week trip without taking it out. Mostly it sits at home. And I often carry a bag/purse with me! I have a hard time taking the effort to write stuff down, and I have a crapy memory! I just need to bring it with me more and make myself pull it out when I think of something I guess. I should make that my new years resolution. Too bad I don’t have it with me, I could write that down.
I’ve had a notebook for over 10 years…..but only two notebooks. So either they are really big, or I don’t use them a lot. I started to carry one around 2000 when I saw how Joe McNally jotted things down in his. So, I had one for a long time, mostly used when I would travel. It’s a notebook/diary. I have notes jotted down from the first trip my wife (then girlfriend) every too together. After some particulary frustrating travel effort, she was patient and calm. I make a note saying “Great travel partner!”
I also use it to jot down music titles that I find in magazines that I read while traveling. For the past two years, when my travels have really amped up, I pull it out at dinner and breakfast to record where we’ve eaten and what I had, since food is such a big part of my travel experience. I do use it for photography inspiration, or to jot down camera and flash settings. My notebook had a leather cover on it. Inside the cover, I keep a photo of my family. I’ve recently found that that is very useful when I’m looking for souveniers for Olivia. When I was in Shanghai, I was was able to find a nice bracelet for her by showing her photo to the woman who did not speak English. My notebook holds many purposes for me.
There’s been so much said about notebooks before that I don’t think I have anything new to add.
I just recently started to use a notebook just the way I only recently started to change the way I approach photography as a whole.
Up to now I’m using a small blank Moleskin notebook, about the size of my palm (big hands) and a bit, it fits my current bag and allows for quick notes, but – also because notebooks just carry a certain “awesome!” aura about them – I’ll swap the tiny one for a book format one as soon as I get the fitting bag to go with
What I’m missing right now is the chance to throw down some bigger sketches, to slide in newspaper cutouts or to simply really put it in my lap and write in it.
Right now I use the notebook to write down ideas for interesting projects, adresses, names of people I meet, informations for captions, dates. Throughout my high school time I used to carry a notebook for weird sentences, random ideas about fantastic locations, fantasy character names and other geeky stuff around with me wherever I went – I guess that’s what I should translate into photography now.
That said, thanks for the nice blog post, Sabrina, I enjoyed reading it as well as the comments, and I loved the link to Charlene’s tugboat project – reinforcing my idea to do a small documentary about tugboats in Hamburg harbour.
Merry Christmas!
OK folks, it’s midnight here and I’m pulling numbers for winners of the notebooks…
24 Thomas Schmidt
2 Monte Stevens
7 Matt Connors
Please send me your mailing address and I’ll pop a notebook in the mail to you. You’ll have to wait to find out which one is yours
Thanks everyone for your comments. I learnt some new things that I’m going to apply to my own notebook.
Congrat!… Who will fill them first? We expect some great stuff to spawn out of your new notebooks. Now get writing.
OH wow. I guess that’ll mean I’ll do a blog post about the new notebook. Wooo!! Now, time to finally find a really nice pen…
Thaaank you so much, Sabrina!
Christmas is good this year
I’ve used a little notebook for years, long before I ever became a photographer. When I imagined myself a writer and studied of life I wrote down ideas, quotes, pithy statements etc. I just love it that I can use it effectively with photography as well. I haven’t used it much with purpose with photography yet, but after this post I think I will. Thanks for the reminder.
On the subject of night photography, I have been playing with it a bit, especially using a full moon to light the scene in black and white. I just love it!
Brian