The Adobe MAX 2020 Conference | Andrea Ojeda
The Adobe MAX 2020 Conference started with its keynote speakers informing the audience of the overall theme: collaboration. A word that’s constant in the art world, but never taken advantage of. As creatives in an oversaturated world, where ideas are done by multiple mediums on multiple platforms, it can be hard to create connections between other creatives. It seems we are always fighting for the next big idea that will propel us toward the most memorable project. Even though we use the same tools and think in similar ways, we tend to disregard each other as people. We need to remember that,
“creativity is the world’s greatest recycling collaboration.”
We need to look at each other as we do Adobe Suite. We are a large,
According to world-renown portrait photographer, Mark Seliger (LinkedIn attached),
As Seliger discussed his many accomplishments, he also hammered down the need for all photographers, all types of creatives, to maintain a high level of curiosity. This simple desire is what pushed Seliger to create portraits that will always be contemporary works of art. He has the ability to take a simple portrait and instill an emotion that resonates with the audience. While his main subjects are celebrities, he reminds them of what it is like to be human again. He reminds us of what it is like to be human again. Like him, it could one day push any member of the Adobe MAX Conference audience to pursue a project, create a story, and show the world a new perspective. For Seliger, curiosity is shown in what he chooses to focus on outside of photography. He calls photography his wife, and music his mistress. Seliger, while being the go to man for celebrity portraits, is also a musician. He is the lead singer of his own group named Rusty Truck and he works in music with the same mindset as he works within photography. By keeping an open, simple thought process, just feel it out, then the work will come to you. A man of many practices, who looks for curiosity in all areas of creativity is one of many examples of a creative expressing themselves through multiple mediums.
When we allow our mind to wander it can lead us over many boundaries, and create worldly connections. Terry White (LinkedIn attached), an Adobe Evangelist and second presenter for this session, is working alongside the company to provide us a larger community to connect with. He believes in art that transcends boundaries: language, geographic, economic. By evolving Adobe tools, the creatives can efficiently push out work in a quicker time frame, which allows creatives to explore their projects in-depth. Take the Seliger method of curiosity and White’s philosophy of transcending boundaries and anyone can create a story that resonates past the superficial. This especially hits home for me, as I find my largest issues within diving past the surface of any project and I am sure this rings true for most creatives. Our biggest challenge is caring for a project, but also knowing when to take a step back and ask ourselves, what comes next? What can I improve? What can stay and what needs to be changed? Perhaps this is where curiosity is so important. If we aren’t curious, if we don’t ask questions, if we don’t look at our work from an objective perspective then how can we proceed into the future?
Still imagery is certainly not the only visual medium that creates an ocean-like resonance. From the mouths of directors, Romaine Reid and Ava Duvernay, we dive into the world of filmmaking, and the amazing power of perspective.
For Ava Duvernay, director of the feature film Selma and Netflix hit 13th and When They See Us, the camera is a tool she uses to create her own space; space where her own success allows her to grow and advocate for other creatives to do the same. When we have this confidence to move forward with our own projects we add to the ultimate goal of Adobe, collaboration. According to Duvernay, one of the greatest responsibilities of a filmmaker is the necessity to facilitate positive, progressive collaboration. In the words of Duvernay, a film is like a piece of molding clay, waiting to be made into a sculpture, and all those that work on a film leave their “fingerprints on the sculpture.”
She sees her job as a privilege, to be able to work with different minds and share ideas with the crew because she has made her own success in her own space. However, a great question now presents itself. Should Duvernay share her ideas with others? Should WE share our ideas with others? Why aren’t we afraid of people taking our ideas? According to Duvernay, there is no such thing as someone stealing your idea because we all have different perspectives.
It makes me think of the amount of energy I wasted trying to protect my ideas, becoming jealous of seeing similar ideas already done, and how this mindset plays into my constant inquisitive insecurities. Why does my work matter? How will it stand out? Is it worth it to even do this project? All the time I spent asking these questions, I could have been perusing the very work I envied, learned something, and moved forward. It’s like Duvernay says,
This idea of different perspectives rings especially true in the work and ethics of visual storyteller Romaine Reid.
“creative system that brings all teams together and enables a seamless system.”
According to world-renown portrait photographer, Mark Seliger (LinkedIn attached),
“Once you figure out what that destination is, once you figure out what that first subject is, then all the possibilities start to come about.”
As Seliger discussed his many accomplishments, he also hammered down the need for all photographers, all types of creatives, to maintain a high level of curiosity. This simple desire is what pushed Seliger to create portraits that will always be contemporary works of art. He has the ability to take a simple portrait and instill an emotion that resonates with the audience. While his main subjects are celebrities, he reminds them of what it is like to be human again. He reminds us of what it is like to be human again. Like him, it could one day push any member of the Adobe MAX Conference audience to pursue a project, create a story, and show the world a new perspective. For Seliger, curiosity is shown in what he chooses to focus on outside of photography. He calls photography his wife, and music his mistress. Seliger, while being the go to man for celebrity portraits, is also a musician. He is the lead singer of his own group named Rusty Truck and he works in music with the same mindset as he works within photography. By keeping an open, simple thought process, just feel it out, then the work will come to you. A man of many practices, who looks for curiosity in all areas of creativity is one of many examples of a creative expressing themselves through multiple mediums.
When we allow our mind to wander it can lead us over many boundaries, and create worldly connections. Terry White (LinkedIn attached), an Adobe Evangelist and second presenter for this session, is working alongside the company to provide us a larger community to connect with. He believes in art that transcends boundaries: language, geographic, economic. By evolving Adobe tools, the creatives can efficiently push out work in a quicker time frame, which allows creatives to explore their projects in-depth. Take the Seliger method of curiosity and White’s philosophy of transcending boundaries and anyone can create a story that resonates past the superficial. This especially hits home for me, as I find my largest issues within diving past the surface of any project and I am sure this rings true for most creatives. Our biggest challenge is caring for a project, but also knowing when to take a step back and ask ourselves, what comes next? What can I improve? What can stay and what needs to be changed? Perhaps this is where curiosity is so important. If we aren’t curious, if we don’t ask questions, if we don’t look at our work from an objective perspective then how can we proceed into the future?
Still imagery is certainly not the only visual medium that creates an ocean-like resonance. From the mouths of directors, Romaine Reid and Ava Duvernay, we dive into the world of filmmaking, and the amazing power of perspective.
For Ava Duvernay, director of the feature film Selma and Netflix hit 13th and When They See Us, the camera is a tool she uses to create her own space; space where her own success allows her to grow and advocate for other creatives to do the same. When we have this confidence to move forward with our own projects we add to the ultimate goal of Adobe, collaboration. According to Duvernay, one of the greatest responsibilities of a filmmaker is the necessity to facilitate positive, progressive collaboration. In the words of Duvernay, a film is like a piece of molding clay, waiting to be made into a sculpture, and all those that work on a film leave their “fingerprints on the sculpture.”
She sees her job as a privilege, to be able to work with different minds and share ideas with the crew because she has made her own success in her own space. However, a great question now presents itself. Should Duvernay share her ideas with others? Should WE share our ideas with others? Why aren’t we afraid of people taking our ideas? According to Duvernay, there is no such thing as someone stealing your idea because we all have different perspectives.
“If I tell you a story, we both hear a story. We would go interpret that story in two different ways. No one can be like you. That’s the power of creativity, it’s singular, it's personal, it’s to you. So don’t be afraid and try to protect an idea. Make your best work.”
It makes me think of the amount of energy I wasted trying to protect my ideas, becoming jealous of seeing similar ideas already done, and how this mindset plays into my constant inquisitive insecurities. Why does my work matter? How will it stand out? Is it worth it to even do this project? All the time I spent asking these questions, I could have been perusing the very work I envied, learned something, and moved forward. It’s like Duvernay says,
“that’s the power of creativity, it’s singular, it's personal, it’s to you.”
This idea of different perspectives rings especially true in the work and ethics of visual storyteller Romaine Reid.
Romaine Reid believes visual storytelling is so powerful because of
“the fact that five people could be trying to tell the same story, but because of their perspectives, because of the mediums they use, and because of their artistic approach it could come out completely different.”
Reid uses whatever medium best fits his vision and works hard to make sure his perspective is deliberate, strong, and creates a journey for the audience. Whether it be public speaking, photography, videography, or design, his vision comes with a clear message for any audience to understand. Reid’s work does more than present a clear message, it leads the audience to ponder their perspectives. Reid’s work challenges the world. I admire his mindset because he approaches life with a conscious, and calculated stride that covers a lot of ground. He, like Duvernay, has also created a space for his own success and by doing so gives other creatives the motivation to do the same. Personally, my goal as a creative is to be empathetic toward my subjects, and help tell their story. To hear the experience of Reid reminds me of the responsibilities I have toward my subjects. It’s one thing to make my subject feel heard, but it’s an entirely different thing to make my subjects feel heard by the world. They don’t only need your ear, but they need your shoulders and back to be strong, your words to be strong and pithy, your heart to be compassionate, and your mind to be open. Reid’s confidence as a creative is something I aspire to have every day with every project. Even the ones that just pay the bills.
Click here for Romaine Reid’s take on visual storytelling.
Click here for Adobe MAX Keynote: Creativity for All.
