Very early in my creative trek in the service of comerce, it became very clear that technology was changing so rapidly that keeping abreast of it interfered with my development of a signature vision. In short, I was providing the perspiration for someone else's inspiration. So, I strove to become the mind behind the doing.
The consequence of this was an almost meteoric rise in my chosen creative field ... but more importantly an immunity to obsolescence. Forming ideas does not require deep emersion into the techniques needed to execute them ... just a working familiarity with what can be done.
This put me in touch with some incredibly creative people who innovated ways to help express and expand on my ideas. Eventually this rubbed off on me and I began shooting my own ideas. In short, my issue was the opposite of most photographers ... my ideas were greater than my ability to execute them ... which is something I am still working on.
However, since today's technology has made it easier, ideas have become even more important in the mix if one is to realize creative potential. Think about it ... Michelangelo didn't accidentally find "David" in a random block of marble, he had something in mind first
What is often not touched upon in discussions like this is the precursor to all creativity ... Human Sensitivity.
Sensitivity is an inner trait that I believe can be enhanced if deliberately cultivated. If there is a "born with" attribute of those deemed talented, it is this. As my old boss of Young & Rubicam Alex Kroll once said, "Send the creative people, not the suits ... they have more finely tuned antenna."
So whether one pre-plans a photo, or steps out to find one ... the determining attribute is their level of sensitivity to the world around them.
-Marc