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October 30, 2012 by Kat

The Thrill of Discovery

Do you remember when you discovered photography? Remember the feeling when you first captured something amazing with your camera? Something that expressed an idea or emotion or moment and took your breath away? The first inkling that there was a connection between your image and your heart and soul?

If you’re new to photography, it’s probably not that long ago that you first experienced this feeling of excitement and amazement. For some of us though, we have to reach a while back to remember that first thrill of discovery. Yes, excitement still comes after time, but maybe not with that rush of discovering something completely new. At least it’s been a while for me. As much as I love photography and get great joy from it, as you all who visit here regularly know, I hadn’t realized how long it had been since that “rush” of exploring something new had taken hold. Until recently, as I’ve been getting into mobile photography.

Oh. My. Goodness.

I had no idea what getting on to Instagram would open up for me. And it’s not Instagram per se, it’s using the mobile camera (iPod Touch 4th gen) and the apps. Freeing myself to have a camera in my pocket all the time, to look for interesting things, and then to process them with abandon.

Yes, processing with abandon. I feel positively giddy. Like I’m breaking all of the rules. I’m painting and layering and altering photos in ways I have never considered on the computer. And I absolutely LOVE the results. All of the images in this post were taken and processed on my iPod Touch. You can see more of the images I’ve been posting on Instagram here.

I love them so much, I was inspired to print and frame a little photo collage of a few images and put it on my wall this weekend. This is the first thing you now see when you enter my home:

This morning I realized these are the first photos I’ve put up on my walls that weren’t taken while living in Italy. Is that significant? Maybe not, as I’ve only recently purchased the printer and created the opportunity to do something like this as a quick weekend project. But maybe it is significant, because this is the first work I just want to gaze at for a long time. I want to say go around to everyone available and say, “See? Look what I did!”

At moments it seems silly, as if I’m acting like a little kid, but I’m going with it. I know inspiration when it hits me. I take joy where I find it. There is nothing like this early thrill of discovery, so I’m going to cherish it as long as I can.

PS – Have you entered my big celebration giveaway yet? If not, go here to enter.

Filed Under: The Kat Eye View of the World Tagged With: Corvallis, instagram, leaves, mobile photography, my prints, Oregon, rain, tree

October 9, 2012 by Kat

Home!

Yesterday was a lost day. For some reason air travel feels to me like there is more “lost” time involved, as amazingly quick as it really is. It must be because of the waiting around in between actual movement. I waited several hours before my flight in England, waited for my connecting flight to Portland, then waited for the shuttle to Corvallis. But, for all of the time waiting, I made it home on schedule with no mishaps. I was home less than an hour last night before I crashed into bed. Aaaah, there is nothing more wonderful than to stretch out in your own bed with your own pillow after a couple of weeks away. Heaven.

Waiting in Canada for my connecting flight.

This morning is a catch up morning. Downloading photos, doing laundry and sorting myself out. Slowly. I’m not in a huge hurry. So many experiences and connections and conversations have led to lots of thoughts and ideas are swirling around in my head. But I’m going to give things time to settle before I do anything with them. I’ll have lots of stories to tell here once I have a little time to sort through everything. Not today.

The only thing I want to mention today (besides the fact I am home!) is that I am now on Instagram. My lovely friend Kirstin would not let me leave her house last week without getting it set up on my iPod. I’ve resisted since I don’t have a smart phone, but she got me excited about it and I had fun with capturing and sharing my last few days in London. You can find me there as @kateyeview if you would like to connect. I’ve created a hashtag already too: #scootersighting. I was so happy to be back in the land of scooters while in London I captured a few on Instagram and will share more here. I’m going to go into scooter withdrawal now that I’m back in the US though. Can you help me get my daily scooter fix by using this hashtag? It will be a fun way to connect.

For now though, it’s off to the unpacking and sorting and catching up. Ahhhh, it’s good to be home!

Filed Under: The Kat Eye View of the World Tagged With: instagram, plane, travel

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