Dreaming in Third Person

What is the point of a second opinion?-Now I am not really asking that question or even assuming that anyone reading these words would be so unlearned as to ask it themselves. BUT I do know how to answer that question and tell you the origin of pop-tarts all in the same couple sentences:) Here it goes: You see, a processed foods company by the name of Post introduced a new product that would keep fresh in its packaging for quite some time while at the same time taste as good as any other sugary pastry. The only problem was that in some board room in whatever building that Post rented out as HQ, some man in a shiny suit decided that people would find it irresistible to put something in their mouth called a "Country Square." (no thank you) He obviously did not get a good second opinion because Kellogg borrowed (stole) Post's failing product and turned it into the ambrosial rectangle of love and sugar with which we stock our pantries today.

In a market where everyone is striving to be different, sometimes you go a little too far with your work and people just ignore it. That is why a second and third opinion are as handy as a manual polaroid camera in a EMP blast. (I do not expect anyone to understand that example.) I for one know that my ideas can be as ugly as a 127 y/o Norwegian body builder in a short purple kilt. I conclude from this that for business and sanity's sake, a second and third person's opinion is always best. Sometimes we all need a friend who will pat you on the back and tell you that your brainchild sucks. Then put that project on the top of your "to don't list." Do not lose hope creatives; Mr. Einstein says that "if at first the idea is not absurd, it is hopeless."

There are many other uses for a third person. You can have a more involved game of Go Fish, you can more easily finish off a extra large double stuffed pizza, or use said person as a temporary light stand. (I've done two of the three. Guess which one is out) When a second opinion just won't cut it, (whatever "it" is) "third person" is there for you. Lets take it a bit further then shall we; would it be too hard for the first person to be the third person?

Last week I was sitting/sleeping in 2nd hour English when I was handed back my essay and told to critique myself and honestly determine the grade I deserve. After weeks of not thinking about it, the paper might as well have been written by someone else. It is a lot easier to find mistakes in other people's work than in your own, but if you concentrate hard and eat your veggies, you can look at your own work as if it were someone else's. I had a third person perspective without even having a third person.

Perspective is one of my favorite literary devices because its good for more than just writing. Its a pretty neat trick to climb out of your face and see yourself in third person. Much easier to make plans and change plans on the go. (I always like third person view in racing games, otherwise I crash and burn far too often.) Its the same with dreams. If I view my dream in first person mode (thats non-turret-wielding-halo-spartan for you gamers) I only see whats in my crosshairs at that moment but when I kick it into Legend of Zelda mode, I have a battle plan and the perspective needed to critique myself and make changes.

Don't just shoot from a different angle, Live with a different angle.

-Josh Haygood, 2010

Re-Differentiate

As children, we all strive just to fit in; to become a cookie-cutter version of the coolest kid we see when we stepped into Mrs. Pickard's kindergarten classroom. But there comes a point in time, somewhere between jr. high and your driver license, that your creative side wants to set you apart. "Originality does not mean thinking something that was never thought before; it means putting old ideas together in new ways." In other words, it is not at all wrong to follow your heroes and copy what they have done, but at some point, you have to break the mold and design your own brand of creativity.

My approach to creative thinking is rather simple. I think like a child. Children are the most imaginative people that you know. Just think about it; I can stand and listen outside my two youngest sisters' rooms and hear the fantasy worlds of barbie and batman for hours. Their capacity to invent a story and colorfully provide detail during playtime transcends logic. I remember enough to write a book about the worlds I've created with just a few legos and a little imagination. If we had an ounce of the creativity that comes out of a kid's head, we would never have to sanction time for a brainstorming session or stress over deadlines that require new ideas or creative ingenuity. Sometimes, getting the shot is about replacing analytical thinking with elementary level ideas.

my inspiration for this shot for instance was a Toy Story 3

commercial which most people over the age of 12 would ignore

the mind of a child is truly remarkable (especially this child)

I was recently featured on Carbonmade for my photography porfolio and I could not be more appreciative. The story of carbonmade's startup is a showcase of success through the creative minds of Spencer Fry, David Gorum, and Jason Nelson. The business began as a solution for putting David's work on the web in a aesthetically pleasing, easy to use portfolio but they soon realized that it had the potential to be a marketable web app. (the best I have personally seen) "We set out to showcase your work in a beautiful and simplistic way and draw the viewer’s eye to what’s being displayed and not how it’s being displayed," says co-founder, Spencer Fry. You can read the whole story of Carbonmade's startup here. I am extremely honored to have been featured and would like to thank Spencer and the Carbonmade team once again for everything they've done for me.

my Carbonmade portfolio.

Josh Haygood, 2010

Cheers!