"By being slower and having to follow a very strict set of rules to make an image, you find a way to work around the limitations of the process and the process pays you back, tenfold."
This effect comes up all the time when I'm learning about great projects or people in history - creativity that arises in the face of limitation.
For example, the rock climber Pamela Shanti Pack developed a condition that made it painful for her to grip, which eventually pushed her toward crack climbing, and offwidth climbing in particular. She has since made a name for herself with first ascents of some of the hardest offwidths ever climbed.
I don't often see limitations self-imposed like this, though.
On the contrary, I see artists choosing self-imposed limitations constantly. I do it myself, in whatever form I'm working in. As an example, a band I'm in sometimes plays "White Christmas", one of my favorite melodies. When I play the guitar solo, I have a simple rule for myself - I have to play the melody. Everything else can change. So instead of improvising melody, I'm improvising tone and expression. It gets great results. Other times, I might set a little rule for myself like "I have to play this solo using only these four notes".
Narrowing the range of choices through self-imposed limitations makes creative decision-making easier and more focused.
I get it as a photographer, too. Sometimes, I'll restrict myself to a single lens. Or I'll deliberately shoot film rather than digital, and limit myself to one or two rolls. It forces me to be more considered in my approach. I totally understand the wet plate thing.
This effect comes up all the time when I'm learning about great projects or people in history - creativity that arises in the face of limitation.
For example, the rock climber Pamela Shanti Pack developed a condition that made it painful for her to grip, which eventually pushed her toward crack climbing, and offwidth climbing in particular. She has since made a name for herself with first ascents of some of the hardest offwidths ever climbed.
I don't often see limitations self-imposed like this, though.