Shutter Sisters

When There is No Plan B

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Even as an Art major in college I knew I would never make it as a fine artist. It was never the Plan. I always knew in my true little artist heart that I would do something creative in my career but I also knew that creating fine art and trying to get it into galleries or even more, sell it was not that something for me. Plan A was graphics. But when I found out the graphic department was impacted and highly competitive, I bowed out of even trying to get in. I didn’t have a Plan B so I just went with the knowing that I would do something creative in my career part and decide that was enough as I set out to get a BA in Art, of course.

I guess from there the steps aren’t really important because now I am doing a million creative things in my career(s) and my experience has been better than I could have ever planned. The best part to having a no real Plan is that you can wander anywhere your path leads you without fear of not following the Plan. It’s pretty great and can really work to your advantage (she’s says speaking from experience).

As far as not wanting to get my work into galleries, I’ll admit, I have had my moments of giving that a whirl with hit and miss results. For the few times I have been accepted into a show (and they have been tiny shows mind you) what grand experiences they were! There is nothing like having something you created on display in a sacred space along with work from fellow creatives, wine in hand, celebrating each other and sharing something magical. I’m just relieved that I didn’t have that kind of thing in my Plan because now, these kinds of events have been moments to savor, like a extra icing on the cake of my creative life.

How about you? Have you ever put yourself out there and tried to submit something to an exhibition? It can be unnerving I know, but as inspired women looking to share our unique perspectives from behind our lenses, we have nothing to lose but an entry fee. And if you did enter a show and a photograph that you shot was chosen to hang on a gallery wall, wouldn’t that just be the sweetest thing? If you are nodding your head yes, then I challenge you, on this leap day to take your own leap and waiver from your Plan; even if it’s only long enough to enter one of your beloved works of photographic art into The Art of Photography Show. You only have until Monday so leap to it. Thanks jpg mag for the head up on this one.

So, I’ll see you at the opening! That’s called positive thinking. *wink*

The photo above is what I would probably consider my very first successful photo projects (a polaroid transfer of one of my sculptures)—my signature is even in my maiden name. It hung in a gallery for six weeks a long time ago and today it hangs in my entry way.

When Art Imitates Life

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Yesterday I posted a photo on my other blog with a few lines describing my recent quandary with a certain four-year-old. Nothing terrible, just terribly trying. I thought it was interesting that many of the comments over there mentioned that my struggle was somewhat evident in my photo, no explanation necessary. It was so nice to feel understood in that way. A picture is sometimes really worth a thousand words–none of them spoken–all just translated intuitively through visual communication. I take great comfort in that—in the power of the capture.

Over the weekend, during a low moment, I stepped outside for a little fresh air therapy when right near my front door these tender leaves caught my eye. Tiny droplets from the previous night’s rain were catching the only glimmer of light offered by the morning diffused with weather. The leaves looked so delicate and sweet. It wasn’t until I pulled the images up on my monitor that I noticed a sadness, as the frail foliage seemed to be weighed down with each drop, weary of the burden. I felt through the image what I felt myself.

So, does all this mean we do truly create photographs that mirror the state we’re in? Do we shoot saddled with our sorrow, or jubilant with joy allowing our intimate vulnerabilities to be exposed through our work? Or, do we instead shoot through our exhaustion and despite our weariness in order to seek some kind of clarity, powerful enough to lift us from our fog? Perhaps it’s all dependent on the very moment we click and what we needed more; to express ourselves or to save ourselves.

If you’ve got a shot that speaks volumes for you, you know we’d love for you to share it.

the gathering

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Whether I am arranging the shelves in my living room or the pictures on my wall, I find that the casual grouping of items together is what makes my little vignettes aesthetically pleasing to me. As I move things around, I let my instincts guide me.

Oh, this color looks lovely against this color and this shape is wonderful next to this one.

A little higher… a little lower…wait, higher—there! That’s it!

I can’t always explain why I am doing what I’m doing, but I know what I like when I see it. I know this about myself– that I enjoy pairing things up, gathering them just so and tenderly composing each arrangement. I guess it’s no wonder then that when it comes to my photographs I have these same kinds of tendencies. I’m not sure I’ve ever really thought about it until I really looked at this shot of our tulip tree buds and I was struck by how much it looks like a little family, affectionately gathered together.

It got me thinking about a number of other images I have captured that seem to have similar, almost human qualities; a loving gesture, a coupling, a birth, a family. As I race through one after the next, almost in disbelief, I see it again and again. I am delighted by my discovery.

I encourage you to look again at your photographs; really look. Set out to rediscover them. See them in a new light. Do you find any elements working together that speak to you of tenderness, nurturing, and love? Do they convey what is important to you in some abstract way that you may not have noticed before? Something tells me if you look close enough, they just might.

Eat Pray Love and Take Pictures

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As I join Elizabeth Gilbert on her journey to India, the epiphanies come fast and furious. That may seem a little un-Yogic of me but I think I’m just wired that way. The first few pages have my mind racing as I read the lines that seem to speak to me directly (not to mention everyone else who has read and revered this best seller). It only takes a few paragraphs for me to acknowledge that I LOVE Yoga more than any other practice I have attempted, for one. And secondly, that my passion for photography equals, if not supersedes my love of Yoga. Here comes the Light Bulb Moment. Could it be that my zeal for both of these disciplines stem from the same inner desire? I think it’s quite possible. Hear me out.

I have read and reread the early part of the 38th Chapter (or Tale as Mr. Gilbert considers it) and have nodded that indeed, what she writes about Yoga is all very true in my experience and is precisely why I love it as much as I do. Of course I don’t practice like I could but this isn’t the time to rehash that old story. What I find fascinating is that there is more to here that perhaps I realize. I was astounded to discover that when I replace the word Yoga with Photography, the text still makes perfect sense to me.

Disclaimer—A note to Ms. Gilbert—I do not wish to offend you or anyone else here and only take these liberties to illustrate my point.

I read these lines out loud to myself, “[Photography] is about…the dedicated effort to haul your attention away from your endless brooding over the past and your nonstop worrying about the future so that you can seek, instead, a place of eternal presence from which you may regard yourself and your surroundings with poise.” Exhale.

Here’s what I am longing to hear—do any of you find yourself on a similar quest? Are you seeking “a place of eternal presence from which you may regard yourself and your surroundings with poise?” and if so can you find that place using photography as your Guru? Too far fetched?  Well, more simply, do you have any images you’ve captured that as that shutter clicked, helped you to “haul your attention away” from all distraction so that you could focus on something divine in yourself or the world around you?  I would really love to see some of those photographs. Are you willing to enlighten us?

Om.

The Absence of Color

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I’m a big fan of black and white photography. Perhaps it’s the poignancy that captivates me. Or maybe the nostalgia factor. Whatever the reason, there is something about the absence of color that draws me in.

My tendency towards the monochromatic runs deeper than just photography and is often visible in my wardrobe choices as well as my dinner plate. I have a habit of wearing tan and tan and this uncanny way of cooking up (literally) an entire meal of one solitary hue. Despite what my husband might say, it’s totally unplanned. But, there’s got to be something to it, right? I only ask because I often find myself shooting photographs in much of the same way. There’s something compelling about capturing a color image that is washed so completely in a single shade, that you might question whether it is a color shot at all.

Is it just me or you ever find yourself curiously looking at a monochromatic palette through your viewfinder?  Care to share?

One Sweet Shot – February 2008

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Hooray, it’s our very first One Sweet Shot post! I’ve been so looking forward to this. To kick it off, I am featuring my nomination as the main photo today. I find this shot by Amy McMullen (dear friend and sister of the shutter) to be irresistible. Hi Amy!  I won’t go on and on because there are a lot of other incredible shots that you all nominated so I will leave you to your clicking. Enjoy!

Sarah Ji nominated this shot by quixoticpixels

Krystyn nominated this shot by thrivestyle

Irene nominated this shot by tae**co

Kate nominated this shot by sweet juniper *

Paige nominated this shot by cherieyost

Andrea nominated this shot by Officially a Mom

Nicky Thomas nominated this series by Schneiderlotte

Give it a Try nominated this shot at Lisas Chaos

Danielle nominated this shot at all things DB

Michelle nominated this shot by Carissa

Princess Granola nominated this shot by Emily S .

Meg nominated this shot by PutYourFlareOn

She Saw Things nominated this shot by pumpkinlittle

gemkathleen nominated this shot at centricphotography (fourth from the top)

socalmom nominated this shot by drumsnwhistles

saramoon nominated this shot by sheyerosemeyer

sheri reed nominated this shot by camerashymomma

camerashymomma nominated this shot by costalgirlimage

beebee mod nominated this shot by ashleymcnamaraphotography

jennifer hunter nominated this shot by raquita

leslie nominated this shot by soul sparkle spirit  

lemony webbles nominated this pair by liza-bean  &

maile nominated this shot at Put Your Flare On.

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*congrats to Jim – a.k.a. Dutch of Sweet Juniper – for being the very first male to be

featured here on the Sisters site. Kate has dubbed you our first

official ‘Shudder Brudder’ (that’s toddlerese). We hope you’re cool with that Dutch.

 

THANK YOU ALL FOR PARTICIPATING!

The Dance

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For quite some time I had been admiring the rich dimension of photographs bejeweled with texture. Not knowing at all how the technique was achieved, I sat in wonder, content that the question ‘how on earth do they do that?’ was just adding to their mysterious charm. Plus, I know how these things go with me and another all-consuming obsession was nothing I needed. But then, alas, the invitation came to join this lovely Flickr group and the rest is slowly becoming history. I am hopelessly hooked and although my inexperience and genuine don’t-know-how could have continued to keep me at arms length, this texture thing is far too alluring for me to resist.

Diving in blindly with one of Melissa’s free textures, I experiment and test and I enjoy the process of discovering what I can do. I begin to figure it out, make sense of it (layers and opacities, contrast and fill light) and as I start a slow and steady waltz I find myself tripping over my own feet, getting tangled in the steps I haven’t learned yet. I am reminded then of what I can’t do–the frustration sets in, I get distracted and I stumble.

My entire journey with photography has been as such. I walk and explore and discover. I get caught up in the music; add a shuffle, a twist, a spin. But it never fails, no matter how fluid the dance may seem, eventually I collide with a wall of my limitations. Although I continue to pick myself up and forge ahead, my technical confines continue to trip me up. Learning new moves takes…well…learning. But like Sarah, I don’t do well with manuals or dry how-tos. I need to get involved, feel the rhythm for myself, and test things out on my own in order to be willingly pushed into the fancy foot work of technical accomplishment.

I know I am not alone. I can hear the collective feminine voice agreeing, “yes, yes, me too”. So, I would like to hear from all of you on the subject. What is it that helps you learn and grow in your photographic endeavors? What inspires you to bust through the technical walls? What approach do you take? And how can we do more of it here at Shutter Sisters?

Come on, let’s dance.

Get Dirty and Get Clean

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Big news! Our very first photo contest starts today. I know I promised details so let me get down to the nitty gritty- literally.

We’re hosting a CleanWell Moments Photo Contest here at Shutter Sisters in honor of women who aren’t afraid to get dirty. Something tell me that includes many of you! Am I right?

From today until Feb. 29th we will be accepting your contest submissions at the CleanWell Moments Flickr Pool. You are invited to add them to our Shutter Sisters pool as well but we will be judging the photos from the CleanWell pool so you must join that group to officially enter over there. Just be sure that YOU shot the photo (and therefore the copyright belongs to you). It’s as simple as that.

The object is to creatively capture your life at it’s messiest!

Here are the categories-

1. outdoor adventures

2. in the kitchen

3. arts and crafts

4. family life

**You may enter up to THREE photos for the contest.

We will be awarding one winner per category and will be naming honorable mentions too.

Our four big winners will be showered with a plethora of the all natural products in the CleanWell motherload pack. OK, it’s really called the Hand Hygiene Pack but it’s got it ALL in there. And take it from me, the stuff rocks. The winners will be announced on March 4th and will be featured here at Shutter Sisters AND later in the CleanWell Moments slideshow. Yay!

It’s a dirty world. Go out and enjoy it. Oh, and don’t forget your camera!

Season Speak

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Winters in Southern California are mild to say the least. The weather we experience is but a breeze in the howling wind of what true seasonal weather should be. Mind you, it’s totally fine by me and one of the reasons I can’t imagine leaving my native California. This season, although still fairly temperate, we have had some weather. Storm systems have been flying through here like they’re in a hurry to get somewhere. Like another state perhaps where they can really wreak havoc. But as they race past they leave a lingering trail of the visual delights that So Cal photographers like myself rarely witness.

This morning as I set out on my daily rounds, the landscape here was luminous. With the air washed clean of the normal daily haze, the earth glowed a saturated green and the clouds looked like something from a dream. A tumultuous storm brewed over the mountains and a rainbow playfully danced in and out of my rearview mirror. I couldn’t help but feel like I was being romanced by my surroundings. Winter here can do that for you. It can tenderly remind you that everyday isn’t just like the one that came before it. Receiving a gift of perspective like that is invigorating. Each day is indeed a new day that begins fresh and clean and the possibilities are endless. Sometimes you can see it in the sky. It’s no wonder I’ve been carrying my camera with me everywhere I go.

I love to see how you translate the season with your cameras. I’ve been intoxicated by the images in our Flickr pool like those from  joannerim, strawberrygoldie, monsoonaz3 , carol brown and tonyapool.  Wow. Just plain wow. Keep them coming ladies. I feel a deep cleansing breath coming on and I like it.

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Now onto some Shutter Sisters business—

First, our apologies to everyone for the inability to subscribe to our feed. We are thrilled that you are so eager to get us into your readers! Just so you know, we are aware of the problem and promise that you all will be the first to know when we’ve got it worked out so hold tight!

And on a more fun note, we are pleased to announce that we will be kicking off our very first photo contest next week. Are you are ready to get down and dirty for this one? We thought we’d give you a week to get a jump start on shooting some pix to submit for the CleanWell Moments Photo Contest so get clickin’! Get the nitty gritty at ‘click with us‘.