Inspiration

Kat's Finding Your Eye Journey of Recognition course has really provided a wonderful opportunity to grow and reflect.  Our assignment this week was to venture to a gallery, notice which artworks appeal to us and think about the influence other artists have on our own creativity.  I noticed that she didn't say go to an "art museum".  I've been to the major art museums in my area, but the wording she used caused me to investigate  - to see if there are any smaller galleries close by.  Wow!  What a list I came up with!  So many treasures to be explored right in my own backyard!  Who knew?  That was a lesson in itself!

I had recently been to the Philadelphia Museum of Art with my oldest daughter, so I decided to go to the Brandywine River Museum.  The works of N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth and others are on display there.

I noticed that some of my photos reminded me of Andrew Wyeth's work.  I guess it isn't too surprising, considering he painted the same Chadds Ford area that I was photographing.

It's interesting how influences sneak in without you even knowing it!

Rules

In our Journey of Recognition with Kat, we were asked to think about rules.  What "rules" do I follow in photography that hold me back in my creativity?  When does the little voice inside my head whisper - "You shouldn't"?  Well, sometimes the voice isn't inside my head.  Recently my daughter and I went on a photo walk around town.  We ate at a cute restaurant and when we were leaving I wanted to take a picture of the door.  It had cool ironwork.  She was like  - "Mom - you can't do that.  People are right inside, they'll wonder what you're doing and they won't like it and you can't take pictures of businesses.  She had all kinds of rules in her head about what's considered appropriate. (And she's my risk taker!) Well - I didn't take the photo.  She was just saying out loud the kinds of the things I tell myself all of the time.  I feel like there are unwritten rules about shooting in public and I don't really know what they are, so I'm uncomfortable whipping my camera out when I want to.  I also feel like an imposter - like I'm trying to pretend to be a real photographer when I don't really know what I'm doing.

I'm okay if I'm at a tourist spot - I don't feel like I stand out with my camera then, so it's okay.

 

It's something that I have to get over - otherwise I'll just have to travel all the time!