Creative silence

“There is nothing more difficult to accomplish, nor more uncertain of outcome, nor more dangerous to manage, than starting a new order of things.”

Niccolò Machiavelli was not a photographer, but this statement seems to perfectly describe my relationship with photography at certain times. 

Palazzo Ducale (Mantova, Italy) - 2024-08-15

This is not the first time I have struggled with a creative block, that feeling where the urge to shoot is overwhelmed by lack of time or the struggle to get inspiration.

Photography is much more than a hobby or a simple art form for me: it is a way to express who I am, to tell what I see and feel. Yet, daily life with its rhythms makes it difficult to find the right moment to stop, observe and take photographs. Nor does it help that inner voice that often creeps in and says, “Maybe today is not the right day, maybe it's not worth it.”

As these difficulties mount up, I often end up going back in time and posting shots from years past. They are images I carry in my heart, representing fragments of time when inspiration seemed to flow naturally. Proposing them allows me to reconnect with my own path, but I also experience a strong desire to create something new.

Each time I overcome this resistance, I rediscover a simple but powerful truth: getting started is the hardest part, but also the most necessary. Each new shot represents a small act of rebellion against inertia, a gesture that reaffirms my connection to what I love.

There may not be a way to avoid blockage altogether, but there is always a way to overcome it. Whenever I succeed, I remind myself that photography is not just a creative act: it is an essential part of who I am.