I have been in a bit of a photography rut lately, and rather uninspired. Winter has a way of doing that. Everything is white and brown outside, as it has been for the last several months. In these subzero temperatures, you can’t really go out and shoot in the cold, regardless. That means we are sequestered in our warm little homes, with children bouncing off the walls. Some fresh air would do us all some good.
I started my self portrait project to try to get out of my rut. It is starting to evolve into a different kind of project, though. In looking at a few of the photos, they appeared as if there could be a story behind them. Knowing there wasn’t one, as I took them in my home, brought me to thinking about creating stories for these pictures.
I like short story writing. I used to do it a bit when I was younger, but since it was pen on paper they were really short. The hands do get to tired. 😉 This is just another way to be creative in my own design. I’m planning on working them into a Blurb book as I go along this year, and I hope to incorporate some of Brian’s poems into it as well. The really do deserve a good home and to be in print. I have some photography ideas for a few of them.
My point?
It seems many people are searching for projects to help them be creative in their photography or just in general in their life. Don’t be afraid to venture off into a different territory and create something that will give you some measure of fulfillment. It is important to remember that these projects should be FUN, too. For me, I’m looking forward to creating a piece of both myself and Brian that we can give our children. I want to be able to show them that we have more in us than an IT Director and a CPA. It may not end up being a masterful work, but it will be created by us and that is what makes it special.
Let me know if you are setting out on some projects this year, as well. I’d love to hear about them. 🙂
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And since I find it hard to leave a post pictureless…the above shot is from last weekend. We were at a friends house for dinner and the little ones were using Daddy as a jungle gym. I don’t think this one needs any words, personally. 🙂
Wow… I have felt uninspired for about a month or more. I took my camera out of my purse and left it at home.
I feel like I am looking for time to create, but exhaustion and gloomy weather has taken over. I need sunshine, I need warmth, I wish for more time…..
I really enjoyed looking at your self portraits on flickr – your project sounds like a great one! One that will be meaningful to all of you!
I have been thinking along these lines lately – I need to put my photography to some kind of . . . . . something. To learn, practice, inspire, just SHOOT. Just participating in themes on blogs could be a start but I’m going to start thinking about some kind of project. . . . Nice theme 🙂
Love the expressing of glee !!
Hey Stacy,
Found your blog thru Rachels and glad I did. Your photography is amazing!! I was just wondering what camera you use? Im in the market for buying one and love the quality you get. Feel free to stop in and check us out as well.
Tim
what a great idea, stacy. i’ve been in the photography doldrums, too, so hopefully this will create a spark :).
DARN, that sounds too much like a get-off-your-butt-and-get-the-craft-room-done assignment. I’m thanking you and cursing you at the same time.
Oh projects — I love projects; I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with!
And what a great shot of your very own living jungle gym — such huge smiles!
Projects? What projects?? (shhh…I prefer to pretend there aren’t any)
j/k…good idea and I have been a bit lazy actually. I was all geared up after the 1st of the year and got quite a bit done. Still have one more week in Jan…I’ll see what I can do 😉
Love the Joy that you captured in the shot, made me smile~
You don’t have enough room in the comments box for my unfinished projects description… heck, I don’t even have enough room in my house for them!
But I do really love that picture, and the book idea!
Do you know you can download your blog into the Blurb Book. How cool is that? I have so many projects I want to do. One is top take a picture a day, it’s been hard and I really don’t like some that I took. I fond it hardest to take the picture off the camera.
The other project I would love to finish is a Alphabet Photo book with pictures that I take.
What a fun project! I hope you will share the end result with us.
Projects, wow, makes me think about all the projects I’d like to complete that are waiting in the wings. Makes me think about the huge 4-H project that’s going to happen for Valentines Day that I’m still not organized enough for. Gee, I’m feeling like those 500 pieces of paper strewn across your place right now. 😉
I hope your portrait turns out good. It’s so hard to capture something besides the professional hat we all wear so often.
Cute picture.