It’s been one of those weeks. It’s Wednesday and I’m already tired. Lots of meetings in the evenings, lots of meetings in the mornings. Quite unusual for me. I like to keep my time free, so I’m not rushing around from place to place.
I’m discovering an interesting thing of late though: Even with my busy schedule, I find myself creating every day. More consistently than ever before. Almost every morning these days, you will find me stopping to take a photo or two. I’ve had to start leaving earlier to work, because who knows what I will find between my front door and the door of my workplace? A rainbow! A reflection in a puddle! A bare tree! Everything I see has so much possibility.
Almost every evening, you will find me sitting down and playing with the new photos I’ve taken, even if only for a few minutes. I’m learning this new medium, exploring the possibilities. I have lots of experiments that no one will ever see. They are hideous. But that’s ok, because I’m also creating quite a few nice images that I love, too.
What’s changed for me? I’ve never been one for 365s or other time-based art projects, since I get too obsessive about meeting the goal and lose sight of the purpose. I know this about myself. Most of my creativity with photography has been in burst mode. All at once, capture a bunch of images, like when I travel. All at once, edit and play when I’m ready. It’s worked and I’ve loved that method of creating.
Somehow, with mobile photography, it’s becoming a daily practice, like my journaling and writing have been for a long time. Nothing I track obsessively to meet a goal, just something I do because I love to do it. Because I’m a happier, more grounded person when I do it.
With mobile photography, it’s always there, always available. It doesn’t take the forethought of bringing the “big” camera or hauling it out of the bag. It doesn’t take the time sitting at the computer to upload, edit, and share. I can do this all from a coffee shop or my comfy chair (even this blog post – from my iPad!). It feels like a daily practice should feel. Accessible. Natural.
I’m excited for this shift. Not only a new medium, but a new approach. A reminder that I can always change my methods as new possibilities come along. It doesn’t have to be painful or dramatic; it can be a natural, comfortable evolution.
It can be as simple as following my joy, and finding the time to create even when my calendar tells me I have none. It’s surprising what I can find when I want to.
Off to get ready for my morning meetings now… Have a great day!
I am the same way!! You said what I’ve been feeling for a couple months now! Thank you!
Awesome! I love it when that happens.
Yes, all these electronic apparatus we are attracted to possess to ‘make our lives easier’! Do they actually do that or do they possess us?
You sound really busy and yet to find time to create! I think that somehow we always find time for the things that we really love and which are important to us – of course, something gets left by the wayside – and it usually means the level of tidiness in my own home!
I like your two almost bare branches photos above. What have you done to the backgrounds? Are you into layers?!
Who needs tidiness when there is creating to be done? 🙂 I’m calling this type of work I’ve been playing with “digital art” or “digital painting” since it doesn’t seem like photography in the traditional sense. I’m blending multiple processed images to achieve a more abstract or painterly effect. I don’t think there were any “layers” in the traditional Photoshop sense in this one, but I have been using them a lot lately. Look at my Thursday posts, the ones I link in to Paint Party Friday, for more details on what I’m doing.
So fantastic, I’ve found exactly the same. Suddenly previously ‘dead’ time can be used creatively. I love what you’re doing with these images – I need to check out out your Thursday posts. Always good to try something new.
It is so much fun! It’s amazing how great it is to be able to use the “waiting” time throughout the day for something creative.
Grinning from ear to ear Kat…. : )
I was so excited when I got a new phone this summer (although I’m a droid user) because my old phone no longer had a working camera on it. And I was equally as excited when there was an instagram app for droid. I know that you will understand when I say it was life changing. And not that I wasn’t already taking photos ALL the time, even daily, but because it’s just so freeing. I know there are still many who don’t “get” instagram which is sad. Because it’s not about aperture, and iso and speed, it’s truly about seeing, and beauty and art. And frankly, if you can’t take a creative photo with with your phone . . . . ?
And yes, companions on the same path…I’m sure of it too! 🙂
I love it for that very reason Kim – it’s not about aperture, ISO and shutter speed. It’s not about lenses. It’s ALL about composition and processing. Hmmmm, two of my most FAVORITE parts of photography. It couldn’t get any better.
Well, I could use a night lens… 🙂
Kat, I echo your thoughts and experience with mobile photography. My creative life exploded when I bought my iPhone and is traveling deeper yet with my iPad (easier on the eyes for editing!) I couldn’t imagine a day without making/creating images. I feel that I am more in the present moment/aware…always open for the possible! What a gift!!
What you say is so, so true about being in the present moment. And finding beauty EVERYWHERE!! There is so much available to us, everyday. I love how my eyes have opened with this new approach to photography.
I completely relate – I absolutely love my iPhone and all of the wonderful camera apps. At night, I now sit while I watch TV and process my phone images from that day…it’s very relaxing. I don’t have an iPad but sure would love one someday. Your image is lovely!
Thank you for your nice words! I got tired of the tiny screen and invested in the iPad. I was debating on a new dSLR camera body. Guess what I got instead!
Oh this is such a perfect post and photo for my ‘Cool Clicks’ meme if you are interested. It’s all about trying new things.