Kat Eye Studio

Archives for March 2012

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A Sense of Place Registration is Open!

It’s time! Registration is open for my newest class offering, A Sense of Place.

This brand new, eight-week course will help you discover your own Sense of Place – a grounding in the way you explore and encounter the world around you with your camera.

Like all of my courses, it encompasses both the photography aspect which has you looking out at the world in new ways, as well as looking inside yourself to define the aesthetic you want to capture as you explore places.

You can find more details on the new course, including a week-by-week outline and course logistics information, on the course description page here.

Photography of places is one of my favorite things. I’m very excited for this new course, and I can’t wait to share it with you! I hope you’ll join me and discover A Sense of Place.

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Locked Up

What is my fascination with locked doors? I’ve been photographing them for a good long while. I especially love the ones with evidence of multiple locks over time, like this one from Jacksonville, Oregon. All locked up tight, keeping something inside safe. Or keeping something from getting out? It’s hard to know. The lock protects both sides.

I’m starting to wonder if these locked doors aren’t an analogy for something greater for me. Is there more locked up inside myself that needs to be opened up? This creative journey of mine has been one of layers. Layers drifting open, unfurled, blasted away… perhaps now unlocked. I’m trying to find the key.

Today’s post is a Photo-Heart Connection, touching me deeply with a message from my heart. Sometimes these messages come unbidden, you don’t have to go searching for them. You look at the photo and know there is something there. The more you practice with this concept, the easier it becomes to touch the connection. It doesn’t mean that it’s easy to feel though – today’s post leaves me a bit emotional, with the knowledge that there is more work to come around the idea of being unlocked.

The link up for February’s Photo-Heart Connection is still open, through the 7th. I hope that you will consider joining in, sharing your Photo-Heart Connection and journey with us. You will find a wonderful and supportive community here!

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I Will Not Take These Things for Granted

Continuing to work on A Sense of Place this weekend, this morning I’ve been exploring the big picture – landscapes and such. I love the expansiveness and peacefulness of this image, from Lake Como in Italy.

As I write this post, one of my favorite songs, I Will Not Take These Things for Granted by Toad the Wet Sprocket, is playing on iTunes. The image and the song are both a reminder to be grateful for the beauty that exists in this world around us, this day. I’ll leave you with the song today.

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Walking the Path

Life is a path we walk along. Sometimes straight and narrow, other times with twists and turns. Constant endings and beginnings line the path. Yesterday I announced an ending of sorts on Mortal Muses, I’ve decided to leave my position as a regular muse. I join the ranks of the Muse Alumni as of today.

It was a bittersweet ending. I am so grateful for my time as a muse. It helped me connect to the wider photographic community online while I was in Italy. It gave me confidence in myself as an artist, both photographer and writer. At the same time, with the move back to the US and the start of Kat Eye Studio I was finding it difficult to juggle it all. Something had to go, to free up space and time. I breathe a bit easier now.

I will continue to cheer the Muses on from the sidelines, supporting and participating. I believe in the mission of the Mortal Muses. I love the celebration of diverse photographic styles, the combination of photos and words, and the idea of community of photographers who do what we do for the love of it.

An ending of one thing. But beginnings of so many others… the Photo-Heart Connection in progress (March linky is open!), A Sense of Place starting in April, along with my exhibition at The Arts Center.

So I pause on the path to look behind me, give thanks and wave farewell, and turn to go on.

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Photo-Heart Connection: February

Life is sometimes messy and complicated. We may get a bit weathered as we go along. We may occasionally be battered by events and use. Everything is not always as it seems. The facades we build can crumble and fade over time.

And yet… We can create a beautiful composition out of that which is weathered and worn. The imperfections we hate to show the outside world create interesting character and depth that would not otherwise exist. We aren’t perfect. We can’t be perfect. Should we even try?

Imperfection and texture is more interesting in my photography, why shouldn’t it be in my life? Would I rather have my life perfect and glossy? No. I learn from the imperfections. I gain depth from the experiences that are uncomfortable, no matter how much I hate them in the moment. I am who I am, because of what I’ve experienced.

So it’s once again time for me to embrace the mess, the imperfections, and see what new compositions I can create.

Welcome to February’s Photo-Heart Connection! As in January, my choice for the month could not be anticipated. After last month, I didn’t even try to guess! Apparently, this lesson about accepting imperfection and mess as part of life is one I continually need to learn. It comes up for me again and again. Thankfully, the love of imperfection and texture in my photographs helps to show me the way to this life truth.

Do you have continual themes that arise in your photography? Consider what these recurring themes tell you about yourself. Finding these themes and exploring them is part of the power in the photo-heart connection.

It’s your turn to share your photo-heart connection. The link up below is open from March 1 through 7. If you have any questions about participating, read the guidelines in this post here. As a reminder, this project is open to everyone, regardless of whether or not you’ve participated in my courses in the past. I look forward to learning more about you in this month’s photo-heart connection.


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