What drive’s you?

Nikon D600
1/125 sec. at f/16
ISO-320 and focal length 58 mm
Lightroom 5 and Photoshop CC

I am back in another rut, blame it on the weather, whatever. But I am sick of it and working on some exercises to be more proactive about coming to terms with my creative muse. I know that it isn’t her that is failing me. I am the one that is not caring for my muse. Brooke Shaden‘s wonderful book, “Inspiration in Photography“, which I was so excited to get when it came out, has been sitting on my nightstand for ages. Yesterday I started making time to read it. I am still early on, but there was a section about defining your passion, and it got me thinking. Rather than thinking about what I would do if I could do anything for a day, which I know, I would be shooting with models and wonderful wardrobe, props, perfect lighting, weather etc… I would most likely be in a forest, possibly near in, on a river. It was when I got to the specifics that I got lost.

Baby Steps

Nikon D600
1/40 sec. at f/11
ISO-2000 and 40 mm focal length
Lightroom 5.2, Photoshop CC, Define, Perfect Effects

This image is one that I have been thinking about capturing for some time. I have always been fascinated by stories. I guess that is what drew me to decide to major in English in college rather than art. There are so many stories that have touched me throughout my life, but I think as with many, it is the fairy tales of my youth that bring the most vivid memories. Especially the dark ones. I think that fairy tales are our first indication in life, that not everything in the world is warm and fuzzy.

For those at the other end

Nikon D600
Lightroom 5, Photoshop CC and Portrait Professional

Without those wonderful people that actually enjoy being in front of the lens many of us photogs would be lost! For that I thank you one and all! There are a few of us out there that have jumped into the self portrait world. I have done it myself once in a while, mostly for experimental purposes, but I just don’t have a form that suits the work I do. I rely on friends, family and models to tell my tales. Many of my stories that are screaming to get out would remain untold in my head without the assistance of these wonderful, confident folks! Thank you so much!

The Lingering Colors of Summer

Nikon D600
1/6 sec. at f/16
ISO-640 and 85 mm focal length
Lightroom 5.2, Photoshop CC, Perfect Effects, Define

I loved the way this field of wildflowers looked in the late sunset glow last week. I was very glad I had my tripod in hand and had not wandered home in the waning light, but stayed out to play in the post sunset afterglow. Luckily it was a windless evening which allowed for an aperture small enough so that the details in the background remained recognizable.

Keep Yourself Open

Nikon D600
1/200 sec. at f/10
ISO-320 and 35 mm focal length
Lightroom5.2, Photoshop CC, Perfect Effects, Define

Today’s post is about remaining flexible and staying open to inspiration throughout the creative process. I do believe that it is important to stick to your vision. That spark that sent you out in the field to capture a particular image. However, it is important to remember there is a difference between staying true and just plain being stubborn.

Leaving the Past Behind

Nikon D600
1/100 sec. at f/16
ISO-320 with a 34 mm focal length
exposure bias -1.3 step
Lightroom 5, Photoshop CC, Perfect Effects

So today I think I would like to touch upon inspiration and how I develop inspiration to make a conceptual image really tick. With a painter in the family I was always jealous that she was able to start with a clean slate while, with my camera, I had to work with what was already there. It used to make me feel less creative, like I wasn’t actually creating anything at all, just copying what was in front of me. Thus the draw to the type of photography I am doing now. I now feel comfortable in calling myself a creator because I now create not what I see with my eyes, but what I see with my mind’s eye.

Rising from the Ashes

Nikon D600
1/50 sec. at f/4.5
ISO 2000 and 26 mm focal length
Lightroom 5, Photoshop CC, Perfect Effects

Aahhh… Life is so much better when everything comes together and I am able to shoot. I needed last night! Being able to release the images I see in my head and share them with others is like a drug to me. As usual things did not go as smoothly as planned, my model was late, the job was rushed, and a last minute location change made me question if I should have bothered at all , but in the end it all worked out. Today I have a great image coming together and I am a little more bright eyed and bushy tailed than I have been in a while.

Make A Wish

Nikon D600
No access at the moment to the original file,
but I know that I used f/4.5 aperture priority and a long focal length.
Lightroom 5

My wish for all of us is that we never run out of things to shoot, and viola! it has come true! The world is a wonderland of colors, shapes, texture, shadow and light. Everything we need to keep our creativity gurgling away.  Here I am, definitely not a big flower person. It is one of those things that I have always felt needed no attention because so many other people have and will shoot flowers. But what I have discovered this summer is that I have my own flower vision.

The Ebb and Flow

Nikon D600
1/90 sec at f/11
58 mm focal length with ISO 100
edited with Lightroom 5 only

So after a crazy, prolific and inspirational week I find myself this morning feeling drained and uninspired. Take it while you can get it and fight to keep it. As artists that is really all we can do. I take comfort in knowing that even the greats had their creative ups and downs. And in retrospect, I know in my case, it is often in the times that we feel the least prolific and most insecure that everything melds and out of nowhere comes a piece of work we had no idea was inside of us. Hopefully I have one of those moments coming, because feeling pretty blah today.