Why I always carry a notebook with me

Sunday 19 January 2025, 17:34 by Elvira Smit | 2,092 views | 4 comments

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Ideas are constantly leaking out of my head. So there’s always a notebook and a pen in my bag. That way, those ideas don’t float away, but I catch them on paper. Don’t buy a new camera or lens, buy a notebook instead. Good for your wallet and your mind.

Everything is already there, around you

For me, photography is mainly about selecting. Anyone can take a good photo, but choosing a subject and putting it on a stage, that takes endless fiddling and perseverance. And curiosity too, because a subject has to interest me enough for me to want to get stuck into it for a while.

But what actually interests me enough? The answer to that question is already there, all around me. Only the selection from all that material still needs to happen. And that’s what I need a notebook for.

And oh yes, a little gnome too.

My little gnome

Because throughout the day, a little gnome watches along with everything I read, hear and see, or so I imagine. That gnome has just one question that she keeps asking herself: is this something for the notebook?

At first, it took some practice, because the gnome took her task far too seriously: almost nothing was allowed in. The filter was set far too sharply. And everything had to be written neatly, with the right pen. And anything that went in had to be properly supported.

But gradually, we got used to each other.

And now the gnome knows that whenever she asks the question, the answer is always yes. So everything that sparks my interest and makes the gnome perk up goes into the notebook. The question of why is left out. Just like logic and chronology. As a result, the contents of my notebook increasingly resemble the way my brain works.

And now I can browse through my own brain. Which creates new associations too.

Find your own style

Of course, my way of working isn’t necessarily your way of working. You have to discover that for yourself, and the only way to do that is to simply start somewhere. And raise your own little gnome.

Have fun!

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About the author

Ik heb een eigen fotografieblog, Kronkeling. Daar schrijf ik om de week twee artikelen. Over hoe je je blik kunt scherpen, je creativiteit kunt aanwakkeren, en over fotografen die mij inspireren. Geen technische zaken, wél over hoe je leert kijken. En dat blijkt nog een hele klus. Een mooi startpunt zijn de Kronkeltips, die vind je hier.

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4 comments

peter borghs wrote on Tuesday 21 January 2025 at 10:52 | reply
I use Evernote on my smartphone for all my notes. (including quite a lot of photography facts). You always have that with you. By the way, all my manuals are on Google Drive.
Translated from Dutch.

guest wrote on Tuesday 21 January 2025 at 10:59 | reply
Good and interesting article. That's roughly how I did it too (sometimes I couldn't read my own handwriting), until I discovered the Evernote app. First typing on the phone, then continuing to type at home).
I usually work on multiple projects, and now I also have multiple WhatsApp groups on my phone (a separate group for each project) that I'm the only one in. There I can also type everything, post photos or record something. And once again continue at the computer by copying that info into Evernote and/or Word.
Translated from Dutch.

Elvira Smit wrote on Tuesday 21 January 2025 at 11:15 | reply
@Peter: Yes, of course that works too! Besides my notebook, I also use Notion (which is similar to Evernote). A very useful addition, especially for longer texts and ideas.

@guest: what a great idea to start different WhatsApp groups with yourself. I'm going to start doing that today too, one for each project I'm working on. Great!
Translated from Dutch.

Dezutter tjen wrote on Tuesday 21 January 2025 at 11:15 | reply
Elvira writes from a gut feeling,what am I saying, from a soul feeling...And that is very useful if you don't want to keep floating on the surface
Translated from Dutch.

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