The Art of Documenting the Beautifully Mundane

Recently, I shared with another photographer my hesitation to identify myself as an "artist."  I don't have any formal training in photography or fine art or even mediocre art.  I'm not the type of person to spend serious time in art museums, and I am more than a little bit embarrassed at my lack of knowledge of famous photographers.  You see, when I take photos, I consider my camera a documentary tool.  My first thought is not about making art but about capturing the humdrum moments that comprise our lives.

So when I read Jen's beautiful post this week about the courage to let it click, I realized that I don't need better credentials to embrace my inner artist; I need courage.  And by courage, I love how our lovely sister Brené Brown points to the original definition of courage as being "to speak one's mind by telling all one's heart."  If you've never heard this definition of courage before, let it sink in for a while.  It's something all of us in these fear mongering days need to soak into the core of our beings.

Well, I think that one way for me to "tell all my heart" or my own story is through my photos of the mundane and yet fleeting and often beautiful moments of my life as a mom, wife, daughter, sister, and friend.  These are the stories I have a compulsion to document, and this is my inner artist that I have the courage to finally recognize. 

"Hi.  My name is Sarah-Ji, and I am an artist of documenting the beautifully mundane."  There.  I said it.  Now to go about life embracing it...

How about you?  What is the story of your inner artist?  Feel free to share links to images that tell your story--ordinary, mundane, profound, beautiful or all of the above.

Comments

[Wanda]

Oh, wow. Thanks, Sarah-Ji, for your courageous statement.

How's this for mundane:

http://whatwouldwandado.blogspot.com/2008/10/view-from-my-office-window-today.html

[simply blogged / leaca's philosophy]

http://www.simplyblogged.com/2008/10/i-love-photography.html

[Marcie]

Altho I'm not sure I'd classify these leaves as ordinary pr mundane..but this particular autumn..they are everywhere:
http://bravo.unisonplatform.com/~marciesc/index.php?showimage=558

[Naomi]

The ordinary and the mundane bits of my home are the parts I really enjoy capturing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nomesthenome/2954374136/

[ELK]

thank you so much for your words and sweet image Sarah-Ji you speak for many.

this is every day ~ ordinary ~ best part ~ connection ~ Sam:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/2756285767

[Elizabeth]

There's is nothing mundane about that photograph...It's gorgeous!

All I can say is...more please. I'm off now to look for more of your artwork.

Here's a bit of mundane from my world.

http://www.giftsofthejourney.com/Elizabeth_Harper-Gifts_of_the_Journey/Blog/Entries/2008/7/11_Entry_1.html

[shelli]

Thank you for this post. I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I often think I shouldn't call myself an artist or writer because I haven't really accomplished anything in these mediums. And as I get older and become busier as a mother, I wonder if I ever will. But I continue to keep working at it.


http://www.mamaofletters.com/Mama_of_Letters/Camera_Happy/Pages/Nikon_D60.html#35

[Beth]

I'm with you Sarah-ji. I love the mundane stuff!
Here's one of a crossword puzzle.

http://bethsfavouritethings.blogspot.com/2008/10/mr-boy-halloween-crossword.html

Beth
www.bethsfavouritethings.blogspot.com

[Jess]

http://fifthlampdown.blogspot.com/2008/10/mmmm.html
Here is a snapshot of my day on Wednesday

[Kyla]

I think mundane is magical! I just love that photo!

Here are a few of my own:

http://thekreativelife.blogspot.com/2008/10/super-e-and-pony-princess.html

[renee @ FIMBY]

I am willing to call myself an artist, finally. An artist documenting... what?? I don't have a tight definition of that yet. For me it's mostly the beauty of my everyday life. My backyard and garden, hiking in Maine, our CSA farm, my neighborhood, my growing children. There's beauty in it all and I'm drawn (compelled really) each day to capture it.

http://fimby.tougas.net/magnificent_and_mundane

[emily]

I love Shutter Sisters. I've checked in every day for months. But I've never shared a photo. I am inspired today by your courage.

http://collectingraindrops.blogspot.com/2008/10/day-in-lifemorning-edition.html

[margie]

sarah-ji, you are right, there are many mundane activities in our lives that merit recording!


http://3yrplan.typepad.com/photo_du_jour/

[Sarah]

sarah-ji, I love this post. Nothing's more mundane than counting...

http://createeveryday.blogspot.com/2008/10/counting.html

[laura - dolcepics]

Mundane really is beautiful when it tells a story about life... whether it be yours or someone else's. I LOVE at-home shots where the subject is busy just doing their thing... trying on new clothes on top of the clothes she's wearing and making cute faces in front of a busy bookshelf.

http://www.dolcepics.com/dailypic/vaaaaaaah/

I embrace "real-life" captured in photographs. Lovely!

[Cheryl Doran-Girard]

I love the mundane--the small things of everyday and stories of lives

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheryldoran-girard/2690257737/

[littlepurplecow]

Sarah-Ji, you ARE an artist. I'm glad to hear you say it.

[Julie Alvarez]

I would have always noticed this(http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2953032005/in/photostream/) but I might not have taken a picture of it like my life goes on it...

[abbey]

I love this post!!!
Here is my 'beautifully mundane'!
http://www.photoblog.com/abbeyh13/

[m. heart]

this week i've decided to focus on the autumnal changes happening in my garden - on the surface a little mundane perhaps, but endlessly fascinating to me when i have a camera in my hands...

http://secretnotebookswildpages.blogspot.com/2008/10/tarnished-eden.html

[Christina]

Wow, I love it! It defines my approach to photography perfectly!

[Puna]

Here's my dog on my porch. Nothing more mundane than that.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lifesignatures/2896466631/in/set-72157607549648622/