Monday, August 1, 2011

Finding One's North Star

is a process, it takes time, it takes purpose, it takes making choices, it perhaps means giving something up in order to gain something new.

 
Kat has suggested for us is to try and understand what inspires us; what makes us click our camera; what catches our eye; what holds our attention; which photos do we return to. 
 It sounds easy, but it is not. For it requires quiet introspection, analysis, pondering and choosing.

For one reason or another I shoot thousands of images. The question posed: is there a running THEME of what I choose to photograph. What captures my full attention, whether I have the mechanical/camera abilities or not?

I have slowly whittled away at the proverbial "Elephant in the  Room." And although my thoughts may change like the shifting of the sands, for today this is my North Star.


My North Star consists of CONNECTION to all living things...people, animals, the fruits of the earth. Somewhere there must be a spark of LIFE...LIVING.

Another aspect of what I want to express is the element of STORYTELLING.
From the seeds of a sunflower, to a ripening berry, a bird's nest,  a meal beautifully served, 
boxes of discarded clothing, faces-faces-faces
from all over the earth;
each must hold a story, something I can record in prose or photo, a permanent memory.


Culling through my photographs, it has cemented
the profound desire to
CELEBRATE LIFE !!
The messy, the sad, the gleeful, the colorful, the new and the old, the unexpected.
It is a VISUAL JOURNAL
of those things, places and life I do not want to forget.
I am grateful for this opportunity to really think through what I take for granted, not just hauling my Big Mama  around. 
Now I can focus on my real intent. 
Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

5 comments:

  1. Sharon, I love this post. You are an inspiration.

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  2. I love your post. You are so organized and direct. I have always loved your work. This sounds like a love letter. If I can every get my Pin interest to work, I am using the one with the sandals.

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  3. What great personal insight--connection to living things! I wish my vision was as clear, but I accept that it is a process.

    I really love your people shots. Very moving.

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  4. Love, love, love the way you distilled it down - CELEBRATE LIFE. What a wonderful phrase! I am so happy to share this journey with you.

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Thank you for taking your time to drop by and leave a note. Warmly, Sharon