And Then There Was This....

"Solitary Elements"

First there was the lost sunglasses for the third time that day. Then I got chatting with a neighbour and missed the first bus. The driver was heavy on the brakes in short spurts and the man sitting beside me reeked of pot. When I finally arrived at my destination to photograph the sunset in one of my favorite locations, the park was closed off for a water festival (in the middle of the week people?) and I had to hoof it all the way around to the other side, taking up nearly another half hour of my time while the light began to wane....

And then there was this.

My first action in the midst of all my frustration was to launch myself at a bench and have a gripe-fest in my head or out loud to the many Canada Geese lounging nearby. I hadn't decided which yet, when I realized the soothing scene before me. All my frustration leaked away and I got the camera out as I marveled at the serenity and colors the Creator had waiting for anyone who chose to see it. This is why I love what I do.

The first in nearly two hours worth of sunset photographs gleefully taken last night (which I will post in the coming days), I gave it some basic tweaking and posted it for today. A reminder that past the daily obstacles, there's so much waiting for us.

With that in mind, have a fabulous day and thanks for the Ramble...

Take A Little Time

"Have A Little Tea"

Today's image is from a Mother Daughter formal Tea Party I helped host last week for a terrific group of teens I help mentor through the year... and it was so much fun. Everyone went home with the gift you see here, a tiny bag with herbal teas and chocolates. Of course, I had to get a photograph.

I've been off the blog all week. I needed a rest and a chance to regroup. Sometimes we just put too much on our plates. And sometimes we don't put the right things on our plates. Either way, we end up needing to take a little time out. To regroup, recharge, or redirect our efforts. I'll be honest. I'm struggling with staying with finding an outlet for what I love, and branching into the more obvious photography channels for making a living with my skills behind the camera...  so I've taken a little "me" time to help me refocus on what's ultimately important to me and my photography. And make some decisions. And I'm not even certain yet... but I've decided what will be important. And that's important. Ha.

So have a fabulous weekend, and we'll be back to more punctual blogging next week. While you're at it, have a nice cup of tea on me. 

How To Enjoy The Process! ~Wide Angle Wednesday

"Rafaga At Sunset"

So yesterday's post received some great feedback. The emails came in all day and it would appear we've all gone through the feelings I described. Which makes today's post a no-brainer. It's easy to say to keep photographing, and intentionally enjoy the process it provides, but how?

Decide What's Ultimately Important To You. Then Eliminate the Rest.

This means you may need to rediscover what you absolutely love about photography in general and your photography in particular. Actively using your camera will do that for you. Use this time to photograph what you love that's accessible right now. Start using what images you do get to hone your true style. Make the point of the photograph to express what you feel or know or love about it. Not how many hours work went into it, how many new programs you used or could have used, or if the location is popular to anyone else. Go back through your files and round up the past images that really got responses and interest from viewers or fans and make sure you know WHY they worked or evoked those responses over others.

Eliminate the Rest

Thought I skipped this part didn't you? This is a hard topic for photographers desperate to start working or to find their niche in the business world. While you are establishing for yourself who you are behind the lens, don't try to be everything to everybody just to make a buck or get some exposure somewhere just for the sake of exposure. Eliminate the distracting offers. Take something on only if it's where you belong and have the established skills for. In the meantime, start using your strengths while you shoot. And in the genre you love. With subjects that speak to you. Anything that doesn't fall into those perimeters, ask yourself if it's important to your growth as an artist to keep aiming your camera at it, at least for now.

Know Who's In Your Corner

I did a post last month that really resonated with a few of you about the four types of people you need in your life as a photographer. The Critical Eye, The Beacon, The Cheerleader, and The Partner In Crime. They each have something valuable to offer so don't lose that connection. Take one of them out for coffee, get chatting online and on the phone regularly. Do a photo day with them. Get them talking about how they dealt with being overwhelmed, striking out on their own, and how when mistakes happened they got back up or changed direction. If these relationships are solid you can ask them for their perspective and advice and they'll happily give it. Usually because at some point someone invested in them the same way. Photography in this day and age is more about community than ever before. Don't forget that.

So get out there. Circumstances or what-ifs can't stop you. Enjoy the process of photography your way. You never know what you might discover. Just remember discovery is the point. Throw some fun into the mix and you're on your way to emerging from yesterday's "fog of despair"

Keep shooting. Enjoy the process.

Thanks for allowing me to ramble once again.

Don't Despair. Keep Shooting. ~ Telephoto Tues.

"Steel & Steam"

You feel like packing it in. You feel like your passion is growing stale. Everyone seems to be doing it better, with better gear, in better locations, for better money. The dreamer in you feels suffocated. The enthusiast within is limp with worry. The practical personality in your head says, "lets just switch to scrapbooking and be done with it."

Scrapbooking? What? (No disrespect to scrappers everywhere. It's a very serious calling I know.)

If you're anything like me, you've been there. It's not easy finding your particular vein of photography, your style, what you'll bring to the table that hasn't already been done, and most importantly, why and when it'll come together for you. And you want it so badly too. But some days it's like fighting your way through a thick fog. On a roller coaster. After having too many chili dogs. Okay, forget that last part. If you can.

My point... all this really means is that it's time to make the process, or your journey on the roller coaster in the fog, count. Make "now" count for something. Something that will feed into your final destination when you finally decide on where you want to end up. Sounds simple. Sounds cliche. But I've seen it transform my own attitude towards my photography. Even just recently. So don't despair. Keep shooting.

The image above was the result of a desperate jaunt at the north end of the city. If it seems that I've been in an industrial type photo groove lately, you'd be right. I forgot how much I love it. Grit. Smokestacks filtering light on the street below. Odd colors. Rampant decay. Layers of steel. The incessant puffs of steam no matter where you look. I had been bemoaning the fact that I haven't had to work on a location recently. That I wasn't breaking any new ground with any new skills. I was doing a good job of talking myself right into the first seat on the roller coaster in the middle of a hail storm, never mind the fog. What brought the sun back out? What kept me from trading the Nikon for some scrapbooking lessons? I kept shooting. Enjoyed the process only. And this was one of the shots from what I thought would be an exercise in futility. It won't be every body's cup of tea, but that's not the point of the image. The point is realizing photography equals discovery. Now I have a little bit better idea of where I'm headed. And you will too.

I'm not sure who this post is for. I just felt like this was a good time for this benign ramble. That there might be others like me who need to know this happens to everyone. So don't despair. Until you know where you want to go with all of this, keep shooting. The act of taking photographs will propel you towards the right destination for you, whether it feels like it or not. Leave the scrapbooking to the pros.

Tomorrow, join me for Part II... "How To Enjoy the Process". I'm off to find me a decent chili dog.

Thanks, and have a good one gang!