Creativity in the Twilight Zone - Mike Busby Photography

A few nights ago I was working on “Last Call” while watching old episodes of the Twilight Zone. It’s been a great source of inspiration due its settings, themes, and unique approach to storytelling. It came to me that it was time to create a body of work that speaks to the Twilight Zone. This portfolio comes from the past, it will inform the future, and it flows with many of my thoughts on creativity.

An abandoned back lit building on rt. 66 by Mike Busby Photography - School of Photography
Last Call - Mike Busby Photography
                                          "Last Call at Gallow's End" © 2015, Mike Busby

People say someone is creative, or that creativity is reflected in someone’s work. However, creativity is not a singular trait or skill — It’s the collection of our attitudes and approaches to life. When we look to creativity we find it consisting of our willingness to encounter new things; our temperaments while forming new  understanding; our imagination and the capacity to stretch it; and our ability to question our beliefs. Improving creativity is as easy as picking one of these categories and start working on it.

A view of space through an abandoned door. Spokane Photogrpher
"Out There" © 2013 Mike Busby
 Creativity is more than the crafting of expression — it is the forge of human understanding, and it’s essential to navigating everyday life. Creativity is how we interpret and make sense of the world. Everybody has it, and everybody uses it. It manifests when a child uses a crayon, when someone fixes something with bailing wire, or when someone excels at their passion. Before expression there is discovery, and it is within discovery that creativity thrives.

A view of space through abandoned windows - Mike Busby Spokane Photographer
"Distant View" © 2015 Mike Busby
Exploration is my passion, and I use the camera to see beyond conventional horizons. My view of exploration is not necessarily one of place, but one of new perspectives — the thrust of the Twilight Zone. Infrared is used to photograph an alternate light spectrum. One that exists in nature, but resides just beyond the visible realm. Places of reflection are used to view the grandeur of nature, and how it can be observed and shared through design elements. I’ve come to understand that greater themes are not necessarily great in and of themselves, but they become great when framed with the human condition. I’ve used place and space to reflect elements of the known and the unknown and their effect when placed together. Not all of these ideas are used in every shot, but every once in a while something presents itself, and these thoughts give direction to capturing it.

An abandoned farmstead under the Milky Way by Spokane Photographer Mike Busby
"To Dwell in Starlight" © 2016 Mike Busby
The Twilight Zone is the space where a pause is given to the imagination. It’s a place of reflection without concerning ourselves with others. It’s a place of personal freedom and enjoyment, and it’s the place where we become ourselves. Writing to it and giving it language makes it real. Articulating abstract notions into design elements shifts it from romantic ideals into physical representations. Creating a portfolio gives a target to creative direction that informs future work.

An infrared photograph of a back lit tree by Spokane Photographer Mike Busby
"Crossroads Tree" © 2016 Mike Busby
Sterling’s introduction to the first season resonates with the thoughts of many great names like Hegel, Kant, Einstein, and Sagan. I consider myself a practical guy living in a practical world, but I’m also someone who wants to explore beyond conventional experience and understanding — and it seems there is some direction emanating from the Twilight Zone.

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