A new camera is nestled in the bottom of my maroon-with-turquoise trim shopping basket. So beautiful and heavy and technologically way ahead of me, I am almost embarrassed to take it out, like, I don't really know what to do with it! Oh. What a lie! I DO know what to do, and when I don't, I go ahead anyway. Gradually my confidence will return, and grow. My old D50 had little picture icons on the dials, this one has capital letters, which equates in my mind as Greek.
The camera came with a thick manual and an instructional CD. There are tutorials available, as well as classes. I am playing with it, delighted with what happens, regardless.
What I love the most about photographing my world is the meditative experience of quieting mind/body, being still, feeling molecules within myself and the object coming into alignment. And, when I press the button, the "click" is fantastic!
Many moons ago, as a college student, I took photography classes. My first camera was a Nikon, 35mm. Ya. That's it. I am sure there were different models, but I was unaware of them. My own "real" camera was a new aspect of creative expression for me, an extension of my eye, a record of what fascinated me. The darkroom was a chemistry lab, a dream land. Images appeared in vats of liquid on floating paper. The images literally floated on to the paper before my eyes. Sometimes it was disappointing, as I would be so attached to what I hoped would appear, and it wouldn't form. Once, there were scratches down the entire length of film, ruining my shots of a team of draft horses in harness. I cried over that loss.
Art is like that, no? Full of drama, hope, inspired ideas all of which call on our highest image of ourselves to bring them forward. The process includes purpose/inspiration, gathering of information, skills in manipulating materials, determination and motivation to carry the idea to fruition and completion. The process includes a dance of stepping aside, getting out of the way, embracing an unknown, allowing a divine expression to transpire, all the while maintaining the confidence required to choose medium, technique, tools, and to take the inherent risk of claiming expression.
Oh! Exhilarating, no?
xoxo
LPC
1 comment:
Funny, I just took some pictures of the Green Goddess calas that I brought in for the table thinking of you and the madonna painting you are working on. Sort of in sync, non?
Post a Comment