What is a Da Vinci notebook?
The short answer is… the place where Da Vinci allowed his imagination to run free.
Leonardo Da Vinci, an artist and inventor during the Renaissance, was a brilliant thinker. Through the hundreds of pages of writings and sketches, it is obvious that his mind was always active, generating new ideas. He also recognized the importance of writing them down since the flashes of brilliance could be forgotten just as quickly as they came to mind. Some ideas were recorded just as quick, scribbled notes. Others were explored in careful detail and included drawings. If something piqued his interest, he wrote it down so he could follow-up with it later.
Why should I start a Da Vinci Notebook?
There are many answers to this. Perhaps the most important reason is because we all have moments of brilliance, great ideas that we should follow-up on, but when we don’t write them down, we tend to forget them. Maybe not immediately, but over time. Do you remember all the great ideas you had last year? Probably not. And that is the point. Maybe you have forgotten the million dollar deal maker.
Another reason is that you may have an idea that is just not feasible to act on at the time. If you write it down and keep it in a consistent place, then you can pick it up and run with it at a later date when you have the time, money, energy and resources to pursue it.
Another important reason to start your notebook is to get you through those times (and every artist has them) when you just can’t seem to come up with any interesting ideas at all. Jumping into your imagination stream will not just remind you of your older ideas, but it may just inspire some more new ones.
When should I start a Da Vinci Notebook?
Yesterday. (lol) Ok, maybe it is too late for yesterday but start one today. Here are a few suggestions:
Make your notebook functional and comfortable for you. That may be a 3-ring binder for some, or a small pocket notepad for others. It could be a combination of the two. The idea is that you will have this with you most of the time so you can always be adding to it, so make it work for you. I bought some 6x8 inch journals, spiral bound, with thick cardboard covers. They are small enough to carry around and they will expand to allow me to draw or write comfortably, or paste pictures and other flat items in it. Remember... this is your imaginarium.
1. Personalize your notebook to make it your very own. Draw on it,
paint it, laminate it, put peace stickers all over it, glue little eyeballs
all over it, whatever. Make it your imagination oasis.
2. Write down ideas for things you would like to photograph. It could
be certain places, or people, or even special lighting conditions.
3. Write down places where you would like to go to take photos...
and why. You could even paste in a photo or write a short story about what
inspired you to want to go there.
4. Tack in small items that you want to use later or that inspire ideas
in you. Maybe a "mascot" that you want to include in your travel
photos!
5. Paste in photos of techniques you would like to recreate. Draw
set-ups that you think would work well or set-ups that you want
to avoid.
6. Jot down notes for things you have done and/or would like to do
the same … or differently… next time.
7. Put in ideas for using the equipment that you have or projects
for equipment that you would like to have down the road.
8. Write down your business ideas, from stock photography to
county fair photo booths. Jot down business names, watermarking
ideas, legal keep-in-minds, logos, contacts, funding ideas, etc.
9. Write down websites, blogs, articles, books or other reference
materials that you find valuable.
10. Write down memories of photo experiences such as the first
time you were within arms reach of a cougar or how you fell
into the lake trying to get that award-winning shot (both
true stories...)
Just get started and, above all, have fun!
Do any of you have ideas of what all you could record in your notebooks? How about what type of notebook worked well for you? Other ways to set this up that works for you? Please share in the comments section. I welcome ideas that will help to inspire us all to be even more successful with our photography.
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