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Creative Fight, The: Create Your Best Work and Live the Life You Imagine
Creativity is not a gift for a select few, but an ongoing process of growth and self-realization available to anyone who puts in the effort to pursue the spark. In this book, Chris Orwig offers a unique perspective on the creative process, showing you how to find meaning in your work, be inspired, and discover the life for which you were designed.
With thoughtful and engaging chapters such as “Keep the Edges Wild,” “Einstein’s Game of Connect the Dots,” and “Grit and Glory,” Chris presents each concept through personal examples―his own and others’―showing how to live a more creative and meaningful life.
Drawn from his 12 years as a faculty member at the prestigious Brooks Institute as well as his experience leading creative inspiration and photography workshops and speaking on global stages, Chris’s stories are designed to teach you how to discover your own creative voice. Each chapter includes exercises to help you incorporate what you’ve learned and connect the topics directly to your own experience. For resources and inspiration, check out the book's companion site, thecreativefight.com.
With thoughtful and engaging chapters such as “Keep the Edges Wild,” “Einstein’s Game of Connect the Dots,” and “Grit and Glory,” Chris presents each concept through personal examples―his own and others’―showing how to live a more creative and meaningful life.
Drawn from his 12 years as a faculty member at the prestigious Brooks Institute as well as his experience leading creative inspiration and photography workshops and speaking on global stages, Chris’s stories are designed to teach you how to discover your own creative voice. Each chapter includes exercises to help you incorporate what you’ve learned and connect the topics directly to your own experience. For resources and inspiration, check out the book's companion site, thecreativefight.com.
- GenresPhotographyArtNonfiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2015
41 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Chris Orwig
28 books10 followersChris Orwig is a best-selling author, photographer and teacher who blends a down-to-earth approach with technical expertise. Having authored 7 books and over 5000 hours of online tutorials, Chris knows his stuff. But more importantly, he knows what matters most. After having survived a near death experience at an early age, Chris realized that life is a gift, and that the camera is the perfect tool for savoring and celebrating the time that we have. He regularly speaks on creativity and photography at conferences and workshops, and has been invited to speak for companies like Google, Facebook, Adobe and on the TEDx stage. Whether capturing photographs, teaching or writing books, Chris strives to inspire others to become more creative and lead more meaningful lives. Find out more at www.chrisorwig.com and on Instagram @chrisorwig
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 24, 2015
I think this is the first book I've ever sent back to Amazon kindle store for a refund. I really like Chris Orwig and enjoy his lynda.com videos. I've started reading his book on creative portraiture and that seems pretty good, but this one just stank and I feel so bad saying it but it has to be said. Self-indulgent and more about him than the reader. Maybe if you're into self-help books this may resonate more with you and challenge you.
It's not listed on his website with his other books so I can't help but wonder whether this is the ugly step-child hidden away in the amazon attic!
It's not listed on his website with his other books so I can't help but wonder whether this is the ugly step-child hidden away in the amazon attic!
October 10, 2020
More than an art book!
This is also a life book that can be applied to anyone. As a photographer, I applied the lessons there, but found myself applying many aspects to my corporate day job as well.
This is also a life book that can be applied to anyone. As a photographer, I applied the lessons there, but found myself applying many aspects to my corporate day job as well.
May 28, 2024
If you are a creative person that sometimes get stuck in a rut, this book will help you. The author writes from personal experience, and adds that of other creatives too. At the end of each chapter are exercises to help you create your best work and live the life you imagine.
September 30, 2017
A great book.
January 9, 2018
Really good book about creativity and the need for practice and hard work. Not particular to photography only but to any creative pursuit, well written and practical.
November 17, 2019
Just reading this fuels my creativity. When I’m in a creative slump I will re-read parts of it.
August 27, 2016
I’ve been a fan of Chris Orwig for years. Ever since I witnessed his passion for photography and how he handled his craft in Photoshop CS3 for Photographers by Lynda.com, I have rarely seen found someone to match him. I love his photograps as well, and have enjoyed his earlier books, Visual Poetry and Poeple Pictures.
While it sounds a bit “hippie”, coming from me, some weeks back I felt a need to read The Creative Fight. I’d known about it since it came out, but for whatever reason it popped up on the “need-to-list” this summer, and I got the book this month, and over the next 10-12 days had a great time reading through it.
The Creative fight consists of 40 short chapters, filled with wisdom, insights, and not least, Chris Orwig’s fantastic photographs. Every chapter ends with a few exercises based on that chapter, that are designed to make you think, reflect and act.
I mark up my own index in the beginning of the books I read, and in The Creative Fight I found so many good insights, quotes and what I mark down under the category “mindset”. To be honest, I could easily (and it might have been more appropriate) used the categories inspiration and wisdom, as well as insight.
I never started The Creative Fight thinking this would be the end result, but it turned out to beone the best, if not the best, book I have ever read. The combination of beautiful photographs, great writing and exercises that make you reflect made this into an experience, rather than just another book. Knowing what Chris sounds like, it was also a book that I couldn’t really speed read through (and I didn’t want to), because it always felt as if I was having a deep conversation with a friend. This is a rare experience to have with a book, and I am grateful for it.
I would recommend the The Creative Fight to everyone. I think anyone can find something of value here. Not only is it honest, candid and well written, but you also get acquainted with Chris’s photographs, which is a gift in itself. You can see some of his work here @chrisorwig and at www.chrisorwig.com and www.carpediemsupplyco.com
Hope you pick it up, and that you have the same reading experience that I had.
While it sounds a bit “hippie”, coming from me, some weeks back I felt a need to read The Creative Fight. I’d known about it since it came out, but for whatever reason it popped up on the “need-to-list” this summer, and I got the book this month, and over the next 10-12 days had a great time reading through it.
The Creative fight consists of 40 short chapters, filled with wisdom, insights, and not least, Chris Orwig’s fantastic photographs. Every chapter ends with a few exercises based on that chapter, that are designed to make you think, reflect and act.
I mark up my own index in the beginning of the books I read, and in The Creative Fight I found so many good insights, quotes and what I mark down under the category “mindset”. To be honest, I could easily (and it might have been more appropriate) used the categories inspiration and wisdom, as well as insight.
I never started The Creative Fight thinking this would be the end result, but it turned out to beone the best, if not the best, book I have ever read. The combination of beautiful photographs, great writing and exercises that make you reflect made this into an experience, rather than just another book. Knowing what Chris sounds like, it was also a book that I couldn’t really speed read through (and I didn’t want to), because it always felt as if I was having a deep conversation with a friend. This is a rare experience to have with a book, and I am grateful for it.
I would recommend the The Creative Fight to everyone. I think anyone can find something of value here. Not only is it honest, candid and well written, but you also get acquainted with Chris’s photographs, which is a gift in itself. You can see some of his work here @chrisorwig and at www.chrisorwig.com and www.carpediemsupplyco.com
Hope you pick it up, and that you have the same reading experience that I had.
October 10, 2016
I would give this book 3 ½ stars. It was well written, contained some beautiful images and had some great thoughts and ideas in it. It wasn't as true to being a photography book per se as well I would have liked, it was a bit (OK, a lot) redundant. Going forward, some of the lessons I will take with me in my photography I think are mindfulness (something I have been trying to practice anyway and specifically with photography), limiting my gear to push myself creatively, taking less images (composing in my head first, taking my time, etc.. this goes back to mindfulness , vision and intention), balance in all things and recognizing that none of us own tomorrow and we need to seize the day now. Are these things I knew before starting this book? Quite possibly, but it's good to have the reminder of these important life lessons.
I do think this book, while perhaps not an ideal book for photography purposes (how many images really were inspired directly from the reading??), came into my photography journey at the right time, at a time when I wanted to push myself a bit and at a time when I am reading about mindfulness in general. It had its faults, to be sure, but I don't regret reading it. I also think that while it dragged a bit here and there, it was a good book to discuss with others, and I am grateful I had that opportunity.
I do think this book, while perhaps not an ideal book for photography purposes (how many images really were inspired directly from the reading??), came into my photography journey at the right time, at a time when I wanted to push myself a bit and at a time when I am reading about mindfulness in general. It had its faults, to be sure, but I don't regret reading it. I also think that while it dragged a bit here and there, it was a good book to discuss with others, and I am grateful I had that opportunity.
December 20, 2016
Chris Orwig creates great portraits with that honest and yet creative flair. The kind of photos you wish you had taken.
This book is a mix of his beautiful work and a creative kick in the pants.
A great book to sit and browse with a cup of coffee in one hand and a camera ready to go in the other.
This book is a mix of his beautiful work and a creative kick in the pants.
A great book to sit and browse with a cup of coffee in one hand and a camera ready to go in the other.
January 7, 2016
Inspiring and encouraging book to live the life you dream to live. Do the work and start right now. Creativity helps to not only exist, but live.
March 3, 2016
Great book to make us see that we are all creators, whatever our work. We should apply creativity everywhere, not only in "classical art" but even in engineering, computer science, physics...
December 23, 2015
I found this book extremely inspirational. The exercises are great creativity boosters!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews