“And this too shall pass.” My mother quoted these words often throughout my life.
Since I had been on the road the entire year (since Jan. 2nd) in remote locations with a limited network, I was sheltered from the saturated coverage of COVID -19 by the media—until I reached the US. The first week I immersed myself in the crisis, watching daily government briefings, Al Jazeera news, BBC news, WHO updates, and the online tracking of the spread. My heart rate went up with the anxiety; I had sleepless nights and unproductive days. However, I soon tired of this routine, as it served no positive purpose, and I know, “This too shall pass.”
Most of the world is in a holding pattern for several months. We have been given the precious gift of time, which is not offered often. This is a perfect time to focus on your passion, strengthen your skills, reorganize, and cross things off an ancient list; it is a time for productivity with purpose.
Below is a list of ideas and resources to help you schedule your day, stay inspired, and be productive.
STAY INSPIRED
Watch, learn, and be inspired by top professional photographers. Throughout the year, Nikon streams their events and presentations of their ambassadors and educators. These presentations are available to view for free on the Nikon site. It is a great way to start your day!
NIKON LIVE – scroll down on the page
LEARN YOUR CAMERA/GEAR
Tony and Chelsea Northrup are a great video tutorial resource. Tony has made an indexed video of every major pro camera manual! He shows you step by step what every button does, where every menu item is, and how to set it. Since it is indexed, you can just click and skip to the sections that you need. This guide was hugely helpful when I switched from Canon to Nikon. If you are considering switching systems or moving to a mirrorless system, watching these is a great way to start your research. Tony and Chelsea also have a full, free YouTube channel filled with educational videos.
TONY AND CHELSEA NORTHRUP – YouTube Channel
POST PRODUCTION SKILLS
I can’t think of a better time to learn or improve your postproduction skills. Yes, you can Google and weed through a massive amount of free videos, but it’s more productive to use an established, quality tutorial sight where known professional photographers teach not just the basics, but how they use the tools.
KELBYONE -is offering free weekly webinars, free access to some of their top, most watched classes, and discounts on their Plus and Pro memberships
NIK software is back by DXO -they have a great website filled with free webinars
ORGANIZE YOUR IMAGE LIBRARY
This daunting task is one that most of us usually push to the side, and it is generally found on the ancient list. This is the perfect time to tackle this task. Since many of us may be staying at home for at least another month, we do not have to make this a grueling, days-on-end project. Schedule this as part of your day, 1-2 hours a day, Monday through Friday, over the next month.
EDIT YOUR IMAGES
If you are like me, you have a library bursting at the seams with photos you have not even looked at. This is a perfect time to not only edit images, but to revisit all the incredible moments experienced while capturing them.
REMEMBERING CHEETAHS
Each year the top wildlife photographers from around the globe, come together to donate a image to the remembering wildlife book series. This year the book is “Remembering Cheetahs” This year, you may also be part of the amazing project and there are 10 spots open.
Enter the Remembering Cheetahs contest – deadline is April 26,2020
CREATE A NEW WEBSITE
This task always seems to remain on the top of my list. Many easy platforms and tools are now available to create websites.
WIX – Website builder
SQUARE SPACE-website builder
WORDPRESS -website builder and advance coding
DESIGN A COFFEE TABLE BOOK
Once your library is organized and your images are edited, this is easy. Create a coffee table book of your best trip. The first one is always more of a challenge, but when it arrives and you turn the pages, the magic happens and you reap the rewards of the hours spent creating it.
BLURB – remains a popular source for self-publishing.
DESIGN YOUR CHRISTMAS CARDS
Once we are past all of this, life is going to get busy again. Therefore, rather than wait until the season is busy, design and prepare your Christmas cards now.
Break your current routine! Schedule your days, Monday through Friday, and be ready to charge into a fresh start once this passes. It is almost a religion with me to start my day with a delicious cup of coffee in bed, even on safari! While I am thoroughly enjoying this first cup, I watch, listen, or read something that inspires me. This starts my day in a positive and productive direction. I enjoy the second cup at my desk, as I begin working on my scheduled tasks. I hold off on viewing any updates on the crisis until the sun has almost vanished. I view only a few sources that provide information that maybe useful in my community, and then I turn to something else more enjoyable.
As this too shall pass, I want to be ready for a new start filled with inspiration.
Thanks Piper, I needed this more than you know. I lost my eldest son last week, cannot have a funeral, cannot get together with my large family for comfort and hugs. I am still working to get my mind off stuff, but I do not know for how long. We are front line for pets…so we wont be getting the gloves and masks and sanitizer supples until we are long out. I am hoping and praying that your trips go thru for you, your clients and of course …for me. Love you girl…stay strong and proud
I am so sorry for your loss. I know how important your family is to you and I can’t begin to image how much harder this was on you with all of them around you. When this is over you can hold the best celebration of life party ever!! I recently read a letter from a vet. It broke my heart and I instantly thought of you!! It looks like the worst of the crisis is about two months long and then if controlled, we slowly start finding a new normal. My love and passion for Africa and traveling with all of you is now stronger than ever!!! Everyday I dream of the day we will step foot back on African soil and go on an adventure full excitement and smiles.. This too shall pass. – Thanks for your warm comment!
Piper, thanks so much for this list. I am so grateful for the free webinars/training that companies are offering during this time. Going through years’ worth of photos can seem overwhelming, but you’re right to say that we should feel fortunate to have this downtime to do things we always put off.
I was going mock two as usual and although I am sadden by the circumstance, it is actually nice to have the world on hold for a bit!!! We are blessed with some time to get caught up on projects that we usually do not make the time for!
Piper, your words reflect my exact feelings from week one. I have complete a photoshop course, watched and listened to many presentations on editing, been through my 10,000 Kenya images and now in the beginning of my blurb book on the Mara. I am also putting out a weekly post for a group of people who only have email for media. Your comment on Monday thru Friday was great. I was beating myself up on weekends for doing a little less, but you are right. Thanks for putting this into words of encouragement.
Great! This is the perfect time to work on some creative projects! For most people this isolation is difficult and for me it is actually normal when I am in the US. When I am in the US I try to keep admin work Monday – Friday, as a regular job and save the weekend for fun and working on my own personal photography projects. Putting this kind of balance back in your life during this time can be very helpful. Creative projects will keep you inspired until we start seeing the new normal through 2020.
Thank you for writing such an organized and inspirational piece. Several I’ve already started several, but I’ll be checking out other links and suggestions that you made in the upcoming days. I hope to join you on one of your Safaris one day, but that’s a bit off the grid for now. Be safe and stay healthy!
You are very welcome!! Safaris will be up a running sooner than you think. When going on safari for the first time (even the second time) it is good to plan a year out. I have no doubt that travel will be in full swing by the 2021 migration season. I hope to see you in Africa in the near future!
Thanks you for your inspiring comments.
God bless. 2 Timothy 1:7
Thanks Piper, Great resources! Anybody with your schedule had better be organized!
Appreciate the tips.
Agree it was pretty rude coming back from India to this!
Hope everyone is well. Paula and I are doing fine.
Aloha, Tony
You are so very welcome!!! Yes, coming back from India early was a bummer, but we still had more days in the field on our safari than most – who had none………
Everything is going ok. It will all be well when I know I can go to Africa…LOL!
Piper I love this post. Thanks for all the suggestions and links. Stay safe
You are so welcome!!
Thank you so much for your upbeat message. It is a blessing to have connected with so many wonderful photographers over the past few years. I will always remember the great time at your workshop in California and I was saddened by the death of beautiful Audrey. I had just visited her display in the Cowgirl Hall of Fame! Thank you for all you do for photographers. Best wishes, Phyllis
You are so welcome. Yes it is a huge blessing to be connected with many talented photographers. They keep me inspired!!! Yes, we all miss Audrey very much and at the moment many of us also missing the V6Ranch!! Take care and stay healthy!
Do you have a course in editing?
Judy
No, I do not currently have a course in editing, but there are a lot of great editing courses online already!
Thank you very much. Living through the pandemic hitting NYC has truly been a challenge. The potential impact on my friends in Africa has just added to my anxiety. Your suggestions have helped me to focus on the positive. Thank you, take care, enjoy the sunshine, stay safe and well.
Glenda
Wonderful to hear from you Glenda. I can’t imagine what it must be like living through the pandemic in NYC.
It is on a level that most of us won’t understand. I have many friends there and I hope the best for all of you everyday. It is why I express my gratitude for living in southern CA. Having sunny days and being able to walk in a beautiful place helps. I am thrilled to know that many of my clients have made books of their trips, if you have not done so, may be work on a book of the omo. It will fill your day with wonderful memories! Stay safe and healthy! Piper