I didn’t actually intend to blog today, I was kinda thinking of taking the weekend off, pondering how to bridge the gap. Then I took this cute picture to celebrate my first time going for a bike ride in a skirt, and I had to share. I’ve wanted to ride in skirt for quite a while, since seeing all of those European women riding around in their skirts so casually. No spandex there! The feet point of view is inspired by this week’s Picture Inspiration prompt and fellow Mortal Muse Holly (aka Soupatraveler), who takes these cute “where I stand” pictures every day. You can join in too, visit the Flickr group from where i stand or tweet with hashtag #fromwhereistand.
Where do you stand today?
A few months ago I realized there is a gap in photography. A gender gap. What started this realization was reading this article on the top 20 most influential photography blogs. I noticed that they were, 19 out 20, men. The one woman was a wedding photographer, a type of photography I did not have much interest in. I was shocked. Where were all the women?
I mean, here in my corner of the internet, I see mostly women. Most of my blog followers and online friends are women. Most of the blogs I read and photographers I look up to are women. I learned most of my photography skills from women teachers. I came to photography from scrapbooking, an overwhelmingly female-dominated craft. In my world-view, photography is dominated by women.
I looked around a little bit after reading that article and realized for the first time, that yes, in fact, photography is dominated by men. I was surprised at first, until I realized that so much of what is written out there about photography doesn’t appeal to me, and isn’t about what I value. If I visited those blogs before, they didn’t capture my interest enough to come back, no matter how well-known they were. Either I don’t connect with their writing or their topics. I’m happy that many of these blogs exist, because when I go looking for information on a subject, I can find it. As far as ongoing reading goes, I’m interested in the art of photography. The expression of heart and soul. The connection to other creative people.
I bring this up because I met a new photographer friend for coffee today, and he suggested I look into proposing an article to a magazine he reads. Since I love photography and writing, it’s a perfect combination, don’t you think? Funnily enough, I found myself quickly rejecting the idea. I immediately thought I would not have something to share with a wider photography audience. I joked with him about how the average guy photographer would react to my Find Your Eye classes. “You mean you want me to journal about photography? You’re looking for a connection to my heart? You’ve got to be kidding.” We both chuckled.
Now, there may be some truth to that statement, when speaking about the stereotype. The gender gap, to me, appears real. But I was already rejecting myself before giving the idea serious thought. Why? I have gotten comfortable in this little corner of the internet, and with people who have a similar approach to photography. I’m realizing my view encompasses a very small space in a much, much bigger place.
It seems like a wide chasm out there. I’m wondering how to bridge the gap.
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| The Garden 16×20″, Acrylic on Canvas |
Finished! Two months in the making, this is my first finished painting, since returning home from Italy. It is my first finished painting since Flora Bowley’s workshop in May too, and really my first painting completely “on my own.” No teacher, no photo to guide me. Just me, paints and paintbrush. It feels good to get to this point, but I’m stretching out of my comfort zone here to actually lead with the painting as the main image of the post. Have you noticed how I usually lead with a photo, even when I share a painting? Photography is where I’m confident and secure, painting is not. I have so much to learn.
The recognition I have much to learn was brought home this week by my attendance of the Corvallis Art Guild meeting on Monday night. This art guild is for 2D, non-photography artists. (There is also a local Photo Arts Guild, which I’ve joined too.) I decided to join because I want to continue to learn about painting, and be part of the local artistic community. At the beginning of the meeting, some of the artists shared their work. It was amazing, the talent in that one row of people blew me away. It made me feel like a complete and total fraud to be there! I have so far to go. The meeting was inspiring and intimidating all at once. I don’t think I’ll be sharing in that front row for a quite a while. (Why is it I’m ok with sharing here and not there? Thought to ponder…)
Here’s the progression of the painting, from start to finish. I know I posted most of this before, but I’m posting it here to have it in one place.
As I mentioned yesterday, one of my latest fascinations is mail boxes! (“Letter boxes” for those of you in the UK.) These are disappearing around the US too, just like parking meters. Replaced by safer and more efficient shared post boxes, these are a bit of life that is going away. I remember the excitement as a child, of putting up that flag when the box had mail and seeing it down later in the day after the postman had come. I would run to see what had arrived in the mail. It’s sad, I don’t even have one in front of my house now. We walk up the street with a key to see what arrived, and it’s usually junk. Bills don’t even come anymore, they are sent via email.
Mail boxes are a symbol of so much else disappearing too, personal mail and the written letter. We all love to get mail but how often do we send it? Not so often. That’s why the Liberate Your Art postcard swap was so much fun for many of us. For a little while, we got fun mail!
In honor of little-used mail boxes everywhere, let’s all send a postcard or a letter or a note to someone we care about today. I’ve got my pen out now! Won’t you join me?