It may not come as a surprise to many of you, but I have really been struggling with my photography. I think the biggest problem I’ve had is that I don’t want to go out and take photos. That probably isn’t completely true, but I don’t want to go anywhere where will be a lot of people. I don’t care what our government or others think COVID isn’t over.
Australia has gone from having one of the best records for it to having the worse. We have just allowed it to run rampant because people don’t want to live carefully. They don’t want to protect the elderly, the sick or the young. Who cares if so many people are still dying as long as they get to live their lives the way they want to.
Not me. I would be devastated if I went out and then caught it and passed it on to someone who then died from it. I couldn’t live with myself if that happened.
Dave and I are still living like we are in lockdown, mostly. We do go out, but only to certain places and never anywhere where it might be crowded.
So taking photos
The city has always been a great place for me to go, but I haven’t been there for about 2 years. If people followed mask rules and such it wouldn’t be so bad, but they don’t, so I am not getting on any trains, trams or buses.
I could go out and do some other stuff, which I have done, but I often don’t have a car. So I am at home and there aren’t many flowers in the garden.
Well, I saw something recently. Joel Grimes doing a Still Life Masterclass and I thought it was wonderful. So I am going to try and do more of that and see where it takes me.
Today I did my first set-up. I am still having a few issues to work through, but I’m sure I will get there.
Here is my first attempt.
Simplicity could be the key I think. I’ve tried doing still life before and I really haven’t enjoyed it, but I am starting to see what I did wrong, so now it is time to fix that and start enjoying this kind of photography.
What do you do when you need some inspiration.?
I’m totally with you re: covid and try to keep away from crowds, people I know don’t stick to the rules (not that there are many rules left here in Germany…), and if possible from the office.
Unfortunately that means there’s not much inspiration for photography, neither in my home nor in my surroundings.
The only true inspiration I get these days is when traveling; so I took the plunge (fully masked at all times) and boarded a flight. I came back with a lot of pictures I believe I would not have been able to take in my own area, and luckily I came home without getting covid (thanks to protecting myself as others on all of my flights didn’t seem to care at all and kept sneezing and coughing around me).
There are so many people know who just don’t care anymore. It is very sad.
Yes, I’ve been trying to find inspiration at home and I have found some ways, which I will be sharing soon.
I just did that trip to central Australia and neither my friend nor myself can believe that we didn’t get it. I think some of us are just immune to it, I hope that is the case anyway.
Thanks Kiki.
Your picture is stunning and I’m intrigued by your prompt. I am battling, somewhat, the same situation. Why can’t bring myself to work on projects that I enjoy? I have even found that my livelihood of teaching has been weighing me down, despite how incredibly rewarding it is… and I’ve come to one conclusion, I have chosen to politely say “No.”. It seems as though the intensity of everything going on around me (the news, financial crisis, collapse of education…), has suffocated the life out of everything I want to be surrounded by and I simply cannot resuscitate it. But as I begin to eliminate the noise and clutter, I am finding room, time and space for the things that fulfill me and bring me back to life. I must say, it is quite the adjustment to slow down and eliminate, but it’s been said that as hard as it may be to say “No.” or clear out things that have been a part of your life for sometime, you are making room for new possibilities and fresh ideas. xoxo 🙂 Annie
Thank you Annie. It is a perilous world we are living in at the moment. The future is uncertain, but I find escaping to my photography, or my garden, and the kitchen too bring me a lot of joy. It has been hard to work out exactly how I can do my photography here, but I think I have it worked out now and have lots of things planned. I am happy to hear you are doing the same.
Cuando necesito un poco de inspiración salgo a la calle… y me dejo llevar.
La fotografía callejera no es algo que me haya gustado mucho hacer. Esto es algo nuevo y pronto mi jardín estará lleno de flores. Gracias.
Lovely image.
Thank you Nora.
A great first set up Leanne. the subjects and lighting are just right 🙂
Thank you Bushboy, I’m excited to try new things.
It is, indeed, a sad circumstance when we have to begin to live our lives in fear. However, I believe we can corner that fear simply by not giving into it. Yes, Covid is not over; possibly it never will be, but only more controlled by vaccines and meds, whatever we can discover to help reduce it. Personally, I continue to take precautions, too, but not to the point where I can’t enjoy an outing with those precautions in place. People can’t stay the course these days when it comes to controlling themselves, in so many arenas, it seems. That’s sad, because in the case of Covid, mass precautions continued for a longer period of time and by many more people would have slowed Covid in the beginning. But, of course, we can’t mandate personal choices forever. Keep your personal choice precautions in place and go out and enjoy your life and your photography. As for inspiration, I find it everywhere — it’s life itself. The same thing is true in writing. It’s there, all around us. Flowers in your garden are just waiting there for your creativity to kick in. Leanne, I’ve enjoyed your photography; re-enjoy it to yourself because it’s part of who you are, personally and creatively. Best to you!
I’m doing much the same. I go out, but not like I used to. I’m cautious where I go and always have a mask with me. YOu are so right about other people. It is very sad. Makes you wonder how on earth we got to where we are with how selfish people are. It is all about them. Think if people had that attitude in WWII Hitler would have won. Why can’t we do that? If it is for the benefit of everyone why not. We do it in other way. YOu have to wear a seatbelt when you drive. YOu have to wear a helmet on a bicycle or motorbike. We are always being told what to do, so why should this be any different? I love my flowers in the garden, but it is winter here and I’m waiting for the blooms to start. I did notice the other day my irises are about to flower so that will be good. I can’t wait to have lots of flowers to photograph again. Thank you.
You’re welcome for the share, Leanne, and back at you! Best to you going forward !
Thank you Barb. 😀
Much sympathy with your feelings re Covid. I completely agree. People here too are mostly behaving like Covid is over. Like with the recent Jubilee, since when numbers have shot up again. It actually makes life more limiting for people who are being cautious (like me and you). Good luck with you exploration or different ways to approach photography. Always good to learn something new.
Thank you RJ. I know, how crazy is it. They are saying here that the numbers are starting to swell and that it will be the number 1 killer this year. I don’t get how people think that means it is over. I have to say I am so glad I love being home, that has really helped I think. Thank you, I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do with it all.
Travel is the thing that inspires me. Which, of course, is problematic now. Short of that, taking photos of people. The latter is very different from landscape, flowers, etc.and requires different skills, therefore more learning 😐.
I guess it comes down to what are you prepared to do and are you prepared to get covid? Photographing people is a whole other thing. I don’t like doing it, but that’s me. Learning is always good. I love learning new things, always have. Thank you Svetlana.
You are wise to still be vigilant, Leanne. Letting one’s guard down could be a turning point for your health. I live by myself and tend to be home a lot which reduces my chances of contracting the virus. I like your first try, Leanne, and it looks delicious too!
I think staying home is a very good idea and that is what we have been doing a lot. It is the best way. Thank you John, more to come I hope.
I’ve been experimenting with Still Life based on the ideas presented from the “Old Masters” and several contemporary photographers making fresh inroads into the area for over 5 years now, it’s quite satisfying if you have a taste for it. There’s just so much to use once you start to look with the ideas in mind.
I love still life, both paintings and photographic, but I’ve never felt I was very good at it, but perhaps I’ve been trying to make it more complicated than it needed to be. It is fun to experiment and good to hear you are doing the same. Thank you Craig and good luck.
I hear you on staying away from crowds, Leanne. Had someone lament the fact that their entire family had Covid. When asked how they thought they got it–“Probably that wedding we went to. The tables were so close together.” No kidding.
The pear photo is lovely. I do love the shape of pears and three is just perfect.
I’m glad I’m not the only one Lois. It seems to be a common story told by many. It is like they don’t want to get it, but don’t really want to avoid it either.
Thank you, hopefully it is the start of lots of new work.