Last week I mentioned that I want to find a new direction with this blog and now I am ready to share with you what my plans are. I want to get back to this blog being more about my art practice and how I go about it. As I said last week, I don’t want to compete with all the other photography blogs out there and in the end I think of myself as an artist who uses the medium of photography. I’ve always been an artist, I can recognise that, and there will be a blog post about that at some stage. Please note that Monochrome Madness will continue as it has.
So what can you expect from this new direction?
My plan is to make it a little more like a journal, that will follow my day to day, though it will be more structure and you aren’t really going to hear about my thoughts. I want to use it as a sounding board, bounce ideas around. Here are some of the things you can expect to see.
Work
I want to have more discussion on what my work is about. I want to be able to trial artist statements, or just to be able to do a post on what ideas I’m working on. Sometimes writing them down can give more clarity to the ideas. I’m looking forward to seeing how that works.
One of the things I’ve come to realise in the last 6 months is that I don’t think my work has had that clarification, but also I think I’ve come to understand that it is more personal that I had previously realised. I want to do a whole post on it in the coming week, so I won’t say anymore about it now. I will fill you in soon.
Taking photos
I used to leave them for the Weekend Wandering posts, but I’m finding that as I go out I want to do more specific things, so I often don’t have many photos. I am going to stop the Weekend Wanderings, but instead, when I go out there will be some round up of where I went, what I was hoping to get and what I missed, that kind of thing. So it will be more directed at the art practice. Of course, there will be trips that are just for pleasure and will be like a WW post.
Artists
I want to get back to looking at artists that I find influencial. It isn’t going to be the same as the Introductions I used to do, but will look at artists that I find inspirational, old and new. I want to talk about artists bodies of work, but also individual images. What makes them interesting to me.
I have shelves and shelves of books on artists whose work I love, and it would be nice to share them with you.
Galleries and Exhibitions
When I was doing my Fine Arts Degree one of the things we used to do was go and visit galleries. See what people were exhibiting. I want to get back to doing that. The idea being that once I go I can then do a post on what I saw, what I liked and what I didn’t like.
Then there are those occasional times when you walk into an exhibition and you are bowled over. It has happened to me a few times. You will hear about those as well.
Moving pictures that inspire
It is hoped that when I see movies or TV shows that really inspire me I will share them with you, not the shows, but why. Sometimes it can be a very small thing in the movie, other times something so amazing, that I just want to work.
Reviews of shows
We are seeing a lot more shows on the television now that are great to watch. Ones about photographers and artists especially and I would like to do small reviews of them. It is hoped that you will want to see them as well.
Gear
I want to continue doing reviews of gear, but it will be more real time. When I get the gear, what I think of it. When I use it report back with how it performed, that sort of thing. I have never really been interested in doing reviews in the same manner as others as I tend to think you are just repeating what they are doing. I have always wanted mine to be real ones, more real world using it. I’m not technical, so I don’t want to write about that either.
It is also intended that I will do some posts on gear I want. While it isn’t necessarily a long list, there are things that I would like to get. I thought it might be good to share that with you as well.
Critiquing my own work
I used to do it a bit, put up one of my images and talk about what I like and what I didn’t. I want to get back to doing that, but maybe do a lot more about why I took it, what I was hoping to do with it and other things. Thinking out loud.
Posting
I want to get back to posting everyday, and for the time being that is my plan. Some posts maybe long, though I expect most will not. You might also find many are videos rather than written posts. I want to do more videos so when we are discussing an artist, then I might do it with a video format.
I used to post as though this was a journal of some sort, instead of writing things in my visual diary I did it here, and really that is ultimately what I want to get back to. I miss writing down ideas and what I want to explore. I hope you are excited with me and will join me on this journey. It is a big new adventure, and I guess experiment as well.
The following photos represent what you might see in a exhibition if I were to have one now.
ai just found your blog and am very excited at the plan you have here. I take pictures and thats where my skill ends despite having taken photography classes in the distant past. I think it will be wonderful to follow your work and learn from your writing.
Welcome to my blog Linda, it is all a work in progress, but I do hope to do more on the art side of things. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you on future posts.
I am looking forward to your new direction for your blog, Leanne. From what I’ve read so far, it’s really interesting. I love that your sharing your artistic journey with us. Good luck!
That’s wonderful to hear, I’m looking forward to seeing how it all goes as well. I hope I don’t bore people with it, Thank you Reggie.
Looks like a great approach, Leanne. I am looking forward to your posts as you follow this new direction.
Thank you Robin, I am looking forward to seeing where it takes me as well, thank you.
I can’t come here every day, but when I come I spend time here reading (including other articles you have written) learning and admiring your work. The new direction promises interesting ‘stuff’ for the future. Focusing more on your artistry, inspiration and process is something I look forward to.
That’s okay Tiny, I understand that people can’t come everyday, maybe you can pop over when you see something that interests you. thank you, I am looking forward to seeing where it goes as well. That is great to hear, I hope you won’t be disappointed.
Wonderful concept, Leanne. I am looking forward to reading about your process and inspiration!!
Thank you Patti, I’m so happy to read that, I hope you will continue to enjoy it.
Very good groundwork for an exhibition.
That’s great to hear Tootlepedal, thank you.
One of my friends, she left her day job to become a full-time photographer. She’s done plenty of commercial photography, some weddings and some private commissions. When she’s not shooting those jobs, she always shoots at least one photograph per day for herself. Also, she’s returned to shooting more film. Her motto has become “when something grabs your attention, take its picture.”
Looking forward to your return to your roots. 🙂
Your friend is very lucky, I wish I had that kind of luck. I wanted to be a photography or artist and so far not much, but I have to keep going and keep trying different things. What your friend says is true, thank you so much David.
Sounds like my kind of site. Especially reviews. I tend to write reviews of real life use rather than the more technical stuff. I think most people are more interested in what you are able to do with the stuff than how many micro pixels fit on the dot over the “i.”
That’s great to hear Marilyn, I’m the same, I hate the technical ones, they are so boring. I agree, so I won’t to do more like that. Thank you.
Hello Leanne! The great Steve Jobs once said: “If you haven’t found what you want to do yet, keep looking. Don’t settle”. You have made your mark on me, so wherever you go, I go.
I know I have found what I want to do, the problem is that it doesn’t earn anything, so I have to stop doing it to make money, that is the biggest problem for me. Thank you Noel, I’m hoping this turn around in the blog will be a positive thing, time will tell.
So many ideas you have there, and sound very excited about it all. I’m excited for you and am looking forward to what’s to come on the blog. It is always hard to find what works for ourselves as artists, and what may work with you might not connect with others. It is usually a matter of trial and error in both scenarios – which can be time consuming and you really do hope it all works out.
Going back to your last comment to me, “I think I’ve been trying to fit into a world that doesn’t want me, so may be it is time to get back to where I want to be.” I hope you find somewhere where your art works out for you. I think you have to enjoy your art as an artist in the first instance to make it work for you, before you can reach out to others. It has been very lovely to see how committed you have been over the years 🙂
I am a bit excited, I don’t know if it will be a good thing for the blog, but I suppose time will tell. It is hard, but I guess we have to keep going with it, see what works and what doesn’t.
Thank you Mabel I hope so too, though I think I have always felt like a fish out of water, but maybe I can make that work for me. I agree, if you don’t like what you are doing then what is the point?
I think it’s during the challenging times, if we choose to stick with our art, we will find our purpose. I really do hope it works out for you. You have achieved so much over the last few years, from travel to book 🙂
That is a great way of thinking about it Mabel, I like that. Thank you, I guess I do have those, I wonder what will be next.
Wonderful to find some direction for your photography. Looking forward to your journey!
Thank you Chris, that’s great to hear, I’m hoping it will be a good journey.
I’m always impressed at your continuing enthusiasm and ability to follow new directions. I look forward to future posts, Leanne. Your montage of pieces you would use in an exhibition are very impressive, thank you for sharing them.
I guess I have to keep changing, seeing what works, I am excited about this though, I really want to get back into my art work. You’re welcome, and thank you, the encouragement is really spurring me on.
I’m excited to follow along. Your gallery has a real style to it.
Thank you Nicci, that is wonderful to hear.
Good that you are getting clarity on your directions. Looking forward to seeing some of the experiments we talked about. You will always be inspiring, Leanne.
Thank you Chris, it is going to be interesting, I’m looking forward to seeing where I go. That is so nice of you to say.
Wonderful Leanne. Can’t wait to follow your journey and be inspired by it. Warm wishes for your new exciting artistic endeavor.
Thank you Andrew, I’m really looking forward to the new direction and where it will lead me.
Good Luck with your new endeavors, Leanne!
Thank you so much.
I really like the sound of this new direction and am excited to read and see the results.
That’s fantastic Laura, I think I knew you would like it, and I hope you won’t be disappointed, thank you.
I am excited, Leanne! Looking forward to this very much.
Thank you so much Lois, that is wonderful, I hope you enjoy what lies ahead.
I am ready join you in your new direction with emphasis on the art, Leanne. All the best wishes are coming to you all the way from Canada.
That is wonderful Peter, so glad you want to join me. Thank you so much.
Sounds like an excellent plan.
That’s wonderful to hear Sherry, thank you.
Sounds wonderful!!
Thank you Nora, that’s great.
It sounds great, Leanne! You’ve obviously put a lot of thought into your new direction. Today’s photos are wonderful and I look forward to seeing what’s ahead.
That’s wonderful to hear Susan, It seems like the right direction for me. I have thought about it a lot and I realised there were a lot of things that I do want to do. thank you so much Susan.
“As I said last week, I don’t want to compete with all the other photography blogs out there and in the end I think of myself as an artist who uses the medium of photography.”
ahh yes.. this is the nail hit on the head Leanne! Exactly my feeling. I enjoy photography but i also enjoy more than that.. if you find it ok, i’d like to use this quote with full credit to you on a future blog post if i have one of my more creative photo-editing moments 🙂
And i like your ideas.. seems like you’re heading in your own direction which is always good. Which helps me to remember to pick up writin gagain too 😉
Good luck with the changes, let’s see what you have in store for us!
kind regards, Pieter
NO problem Pieter, of course you can use that. I think sometimes that people don’t think of photography as an artform, but I have to get back to that. I was so inspired recently and I realised that I was doing my photography for other people, not me, so it was time to get back to me.
Thank you Pieter, glad you like the direction I’m heading. I am hoping it will seem more organic, or right, not sure how to phrase it, but I want to post about what I’m doing now, and what is happening now. I am glad it has inspired you as well.
That’s exciting and very appealing Leanne. I think I will enjoy this new direction of yours.
That’s wonderful to hear Francesca, I’m really excited about it and can’t wait to start sharing.