Reef Read - Everyday Creativity by Dewitt Jones

This month’s Reef Read is not a book. It is a short video I first watched years ago and still come back to when my thinking feels narrow or stuck. Everyday Creativity is a 22 minute reflection by Dewitt Jones, a longtime National Geographic photographer, on seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary.

The video is not something you casually stumble across online. I originally purchased it on DVD, and that alone says something about its staying power. It is not flashy, but his use of photographs to demonstrate his message is captivating. It does not chase trends. It simply challenges us to look for the extraordinary in the ordinary.

A few ideas from the video that have stayed with me:

• Perspective is a choice. What you focus on determines what you find.
• The first answer is rarely the best answer. Keep looking for the next right answer.
• Constraints are not dead ends. They are starting points.
• Mistakes are part of the creative process, not evidence of failure.
• Creativity is not about talent. It is about attention and care.

 

Jones reminds us that creativity is not reserved for artists or designers. It belongs in leadership, decision making, and everyday problem solving. Especially when the pressure is high and the answers feel scarce.

If you feel boxed in by the damn dailies, this is a powerful reminder to slow down, adjust the lens, and look again.