I'm back at it again, only this time I've decided the subjects of these weekly installments have to be non-photography related. That is, apart from the photo I posted related to the source of my inspiration.
Because while drawing upon the work of other photographers is inspiring, the breadth of what I know and love about art and creativity doesn't stop there. In fact, when I turn my focus from that, I find I am often more inspired in my own work than I am by a beautiful shot by a fellow photographer - be it portrait or non-portrait related. And goodness knows I need not be reminded of how fantastic my fellow photographers are, because I am pretty much conscious of that every waking hour of the day.
And so, we begin again, only this time, anew. And now, the skies the limit. Because so many things in life are truly, inspiring. People, activities, good food, color palettes, websites, authors, books. Too much, sometimes, for a girl to handle.
But it's a one-at-a-time sort of thing, more often. Like, I'm getting my fix of inspiration consistently from one source for a couple of days and then something else sparks an interest and adds a little something to my fire. And boy do I need that fire in these cold days.
Alright, alright, so enough intro. What's pushing my buttons (in a good way) this week?
That's right, a map.
No no, just kidding. Actually, this is part of my drive to and from work these days. Big whoop, right? Not for this gal. Because everyday, I look forward to this and had you asked me three weeks ago I would have told you the commute was getting old. Sure, when the days are longer and the sun sets after I walk out of the office, it's one thing. But in the winter? And in the season my heart is in right now?
Oh, but then the shining light came in a couple of days of adventuring on my way to and from work to find just the right mixture of: desolate back roads, beautiful clearings, twists and turns, old farm houses, rustic cabins, massive homes, grazing cows and the occasional deer sighting to get me out of a funk. One that I look forward to every morning because I see myself in every bit of that road.
I see winter in her morning and afternoon glory and I just breathe so deeply, enough that I get my tank filled up to make it through the day and see the day turn to night with the softest hues and brilliance that I feel like I'd miss were I not on the three other more common paths one might take to Nashville from where we live.
But it's not the common path. And every day I ponder where I am being led in these days and where I want to go and the sort of risks and dreams those things require of me. And I'm more willing, everyday, to make them happen.
The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Because while drawing upon the work of other photographers is inspiring, the breadth of what I know and love about art and creativity doesn't stop there. In fact, when I turn my focus from that, I find I am often more inspired in my own work than I am by a beautiful shot by a fellow photographer - be it portrait or non-portrait related. And goodness knows I need not be reminded of how fantastic my fellow photographers are, because I am pretty much conscious of that every waking hour of the day.
And so, we begin again, only this time, anew. And now, the skies the limit. Because so many things in life are truly, inspiring. People, activities, good food, color palettes, websites, authors, books. Too much, sometimes, for a girl to handle.
But it's a one-at-a-time sort of thing, more often. Like, I'm getting my fix of inspiration consistently from one source for a couple of days and then something else sparks an interest and adds a little something to my fire. And boy do I need that fire in these cold days.
Alright, alright, so enough intro. What's pushing my buttons (in a good way) this week?
That's right, a map.
No no, just kidding. Actually, this is part of my drive to and from work these days. Big whoop, right? Not for this gal. Because everyday, I look forward to this and had you asked me three weeks ago I would have told you the commute was getting old. Sure, when the days are longer and the sun sets after I walk out of the office, it's one thing. But in the winter? And in the season my heart is in right now?
Oh, but then the shining light came in a couple of days of adventuring on my way to and from work to find just the right mixture of: desolate back roads, beautiful clearings, twists and turns, old farm houses, rustic cabins, massive homes, grazing cows and the occasional deer sighting to get me out of a funk. One that I look forward to every morning because I see myself in every bit of that road.
I see winter in her morning and afternoon glory and I just breathe so deeply, enough that I get my tank filled up to make it through the day and see the day turn to night with the softest hues and brilliance that I feel like I'd miss were I not on the three other more common paths one might take to Nashville from where we live.
But it's not the common path. And every day I ponder where I am being led in these days and where I want to go and the sort of risks and dreams those things require of me. And I'm more willing, everyday, to make them happen.
The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
What is inspiring you this week?
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