I had great intentions for this blog! But it's just not realistic to post EVERY day. Or week! Or month as it turns out. We have been busy bees in life. We have been working, working, working, working. And digging ourselves out of about 16 snow storms this winter in the Philly area. I used to think I could live in an extreme winter climate. But I am wiser now. I can take that off my list of aspirations. That is actually today's theme that is overwhelming me -- my list of aspirations. Yes, there are small things on there -- like go grocery shopping, clean the office, get a hair cut, put my clothes away, blah blah blah, but what is really getting me today is how to push ahead with a few projects I want to work on. I love being a documentary photographer. And I want to marry that with creating a series of images around the idea of 'home.' I have launched this idea on my website some time ago, but I am anxious for it to take on a real life. To be a real collection of images, to create the gallery connection, to have a show, to create a book with photos and small excerpts of stories around this idea of telling stories from our place of 'home.' Everyone experiences home differently, and it can be a physical place, or it can be just a feeling you get when you are exactly with the right people. I have some images collected for the series, but I am not really able to concentrate on the project and it's bugging me. I work for myself, and most of my time is spent in 'business' mode - from making sales to marketing, staying on top of social media marketing and making new networking connections, designing my website, researching new gear and techniques, etc..... But today, as I sit down to make my new to do list, here in front of the computer I decided to sort and edit some images for my project. Then, I thought to myself -- why not procrastinate with a personal blog post! Ok, it's not really procrastination; it's part of the thinking process. Writing helps me think. And thinking helps me decide on my course of action. There is a great paradox with the kind of work I do. I am a photographer. I work with people in creating tangible frozen memories. But the rest of the time, I work alone. And I spend a huge amount of time in my head. Which is why I recently started to get a routine yoga practice at a studio. Not only does it help me connect with my inner voice, but also to others and to take that yoga off the mat into the rest of my life. It gives me the presence of "now." It helps me as a photographer as well - not only with the flexibility that allows me to follow my eye, to frame shots underneath a tiny stone arch for example, but it reminds me to always stay present and to witness and to be open to the world around me. And, of course, I am way less overwhelmed and anxious. I think I get most anxious because life is short and there is so much that I want to be part of, and to do. Like I need to hurry up and do it. Like this project, Home. I want to see it full of life and resonating with the images I can see in my heart that have yet to take shape...
So I have to take a step back and chill for a second. So here I am. This is my step back and chill. Also, my allergies have kicked in, so that's fun today too. Yesterday I went to New York with a fellow photographer to get ourselves inspired for the upcoming wedding season. One of the presenters emphasized some advice that I give other people but I find hard to do myself -- make your goals achievable. For me today, that means don't expect to complete your project in one day. But set a goal to select 10 possible images today for your project, and to research a possible venue to show your work. Sometimes, I feel like there are so many things I want to do, that I can't possibly get them done in one lifetime. I guess it's a blessing to have so much desire to live and be and do, but it's also a curse at times. Like how can I carry this in my heart without bursting? Each day has only so many finite hours in it. And if you don't sleep well (like me last night), your productivity the next day is not so good. And your mind is not so clear. And you just want to take a nap and have your dog snuggle in next to you, but she would rather rip the shoelaces out of your sneakers and dangle them over your head while you squeeze your eyes shut. But then I remembered this blog, and thought, hey why not reach out and connect in a different way and maybe this day will start to fall into place in a new way. So, yeah, that's my break today. It's been a really long time since I posted here, and I guess today's post was about getting back into the moment with a clear head. Looks like I need to get to yoga tomorrow too. It's important to carve that time. Today's to do list: make a few calls, cull some images and make the list for tomorrow. Today might just be about setting up tomorrow for success. On that note, I wanted to leave you with a quote from one of my yoga teachers but I can't remember it word for word -- it went something like -- Truth, Presence, and Love -- if what is in our minds is not one of these, it's just in the way. So I am going to walk forward into the rest of my day with truth and love present in my decisions, and know that I am working hard everyday with a heart filled with vision and love and the ideas that are meant to take shape will do so, and the ones that are not as important, maybe aren't meant to be. And here are a few images for ya. It's been a LONG winter. I am ready for the real spring to get here. But here are a few images taken this weekend at our nephew Desmond's Christening lunch. Just a few to share while I get my act together.
So I have to take a step back and chill for a second. So here I am. This is my step back and chill. Also, my allergies have kicked in, so that's fun today too. Yesterday I went to New York with a fellow photographer to get ourselves inspired for the upcoming wedding season. One of the presenters emphasized some advice that I give other people but I find hard to do myself -- make your goals achievable. For me today, that means don't expect to complete your project in one day. But set a goal to select 10 possible images today for your project, and to research a possible venue to show your work. Sometimes, I feel like there are so many things I want to do, that I can't possibly get them done in one lifetime. I guess it's a blessing to have so much desire to live and be and do, but it's also a curse at times. Like how can I carry this in my heart without bursting? Each day has only so many finite hours in it. And if you don't sleep well (like me last night), your productivity the next day is not so good. And your mind is not so clear. And you just want to take a nap and have your dog snuggle in next to you, but she would rather rip the shoelaces out of your sneakers and dangle them over your head while you squeeze your eyes shut. But then I remembered this blog, and thought, hey why not reach out and connect in a different way and maybe this day will start to fall into place in a new way. So, yeah, that's my break today. It's been a really long time since I posted here, and I guess today's post was about getting back into the moment with a clear head. Looks like I need to get to yoga tomorrow too. It's important to carve that time. Today's to do list: make a few calls, cull some images and make the list for tomorrow. Today might just be about setting up tomorrow for success. On that note, I wanted to leave you with a quote from one of my yoga teachers but I can't remember it word for word -- it went something like -- Truth, Presence, and Love -- if what is in our minds is not one of these, it's just in the way. So I am going to walk forward into the rest of my day with truth and love present in my decisions, and know that I am working hard everyday with a heart filled with vision and love and the ideas that are meant to take shape will do so, and the ones that are not as important, maybe aren't meant to be. And here are a few images for ya. It's been a LONG winter. I am ready for the real spring to get here. But here are a few images taken this weekend at our nephew Desmond's Christening lunch. Just a few to share while I get my act together.
