Lessons in Creativity

Dewitt Jones stands out as one of America’s leading photographers. With two decades of experience at National Geographic capturing stories around the world, he has built a reputation as a premier photojournalist.

He gained recognition as a motion picture director, having two of his documentaries nominated for Academy Awards before reaching thirty. My introduction to him came several years ago during a corporate training session, where I was shown his film, Everyday Creativity.

In this brief yet impactful film, Jones illustrates that creativity emerges when we perceive the ordinary as extraordinary. It’s about cultivating a love for the world around us, which connects us to a powerful source of energy—passion. This passion can lead to remarkable solutions to our challenges.

Jones emphasizes the importance of perspective, likening it to the choice of lens on his camera. He prompts us to consider: from what angle are we viewing our problems? Should we zoom in for details or take a step back for a broader view? Embracing different perspectives reveals multiple solutions.

To demonstrate this, he uses two photographs of a vineyard, showing how a simple shift in approach can yield dramatically different results. He encourages us to position ourselves in ways that maximize our potential to notice opportunities as they arise.

His narrative of a salmon fishing expedition on Scotland's River Tweed encapsulates his message. Consulting with a local guide, a ghillie, Jones learns about the traditional practices of salmon fishing in Scotland. The ghillie mentions the unusual mist on the water that morning, prompting Jones to arrive two hours before dawn with a boat, fishermen, and a ghillie, ensuring he was in a position of maximum potential.

He captivates us with stunning photographs, culminating in an image of a fisherman casting his line in the mist. Accompanied by the tagline from a Dewar’s White Label whisky advertisement, it poses the question: "Why would a man rise before dawn to fish for salmon on Scotland’s River Tweed? Why indeed. The good things in life stay that way."

This film is filled with incredible visuals that Jones uses to convey these fundamental concepts, and I’ve watched it countless times. I highly recommend taking the time to view Everyday Creativity; it is truly extraordinary and inspiring.

Challenging the Norm

My curiosity led me to spend hours exploring The Albert Einstein Archives, delving into his life beyond just his scientific theories. I was particularly fascinated by his belief in the power of imagination and curiosity as hallmarks of intelligence and creativity.

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”

— Albert Einstein

Einstein is celebrated for his groundbreaking revelations in physics, challenging the established Newtonian paradigm and envisioning a universe where time and space are fluid. As a young man, he imagined what it would be like to travel alongside a beam of light. This thought experiment ignited his wonder: if one could move at the speed of light, what would the light appear like? This shift in perspective led him to profound realizations.

While conventional wisdom, based on Newtonian physics, would suggest that the light beam would appear stationary, it conflicted with Maxwell’s equations of electromagnetism, which indicated that the speed of light is constant and unaffected by the observer’s motion. This paradox troubled Einstein and prompted him to conclude that if the speed of light remains constant, then time and space must be adaptable. This insight laid the groundwork for the special theory of relativity, fundamentally altering our comprehension of the universe.

His ability to imagine the seemingly impossible and reconcile it with scientific principles showcases his remarkable talent for viewing problems from different angles. This narrative captures the essence of his genius: recognizing that breakthroughs often necessitate a radical alteration in perspective.

A Transformative Mindset Shift

So, what lessons can writers draw from the experiences of Albert Einstein and Dewitt Jones? There are invariably multiple correct answers, and adjusting your viewpoint can reveal new possibilities. In the pursuit of that extraordinary perspective, one must persist in seeking the next great idea.

My exploration of the minds of Albert Einstein and Dewitt Jones has imparted a valuable lesson: creativity is not a rare gift but rather a skill that anyone can cultivate through questioning, dreaming, and viewing the world through an alternative lens.

This shift in mindset has been nothing short of transformative. Stories and characters that once seemed elusive have begun to unfold before me, as vivid and compelling as the photographs and theories crafted by my inspirations. This lesson serves as a beacon of hope during times of uncertainty and ignites my imagination when it begins to fade.

Conclusion: Embracing Our Creative Potential

As fellow creators—be you writers, artists, chefs, scientists, or dreamers—we are united by a common aspiration: to stretch beyond the limits of our understanding and reshape the world in innovative and unexpected ways. The narratives of Einstein and Jones remind us that creativity is accessible to all, waiting to be unleashed through a simple shift in mindset.

Let us strive to perceive the world not merely as it is, but as it could be. Stay connected by subscribing for updates on my latest stories.