Photography was my escape when my world fell apart. It started as a great way to re-focus my life. That was about 4 years ago. Most days I’m outside taking pictures they are good, bad, and who knows..It is such an important hobby for me. I’m now a free lance photographer for a couple of papers and do some writing too.
That was beautifully written, it takes some courage to share vulnerable moments; we all have them, yet society seems to demand "Repress them".
After a failed surgery to correct an injury that occcurred in the service, I became disabled and depressed. At one point I decided to take up photography again, to get me outside and participate in life. It became an important therapy for me, and remains so. I lose track of time and pain is more tolerable when I am out with my camera. I do have to take medications and am not as mobile as I would like, but certainly enough to capture a variety of subjects around me, on my terms.
So many of the words you wrote, I can identify with. Photography is more than a hobby or profession. The greatest thing is knowing that no matter what, something will reveal itself for me to capture. All I have to do is be there.
Paul, thank you for sharing this bit about yourself. It means a lot. I know how much photography has helped me in the past and I agree with you that photography is a form of therapy. I am glad you found photography and it’s healing power for yourself. It can’t take away your pain, but it can make you forget about for a while. ❤️
Beautiful letter that I think speaks for many of us. My journey began around 1974, maybe even earlier. Photography got me through high school and a turbulent home life. Photography has been life line through many difficult times.
Thank you for sharing this with me, Ron! I truly believe in the therapeutic power of photography. I am glad you found photography for yourself so early on and have been holding on to it for so long.
Try spicy Mexican food. It's always helped me with inspiration.
If you're not into Mexican food, watch an early David Lynch film backwards, or memorize the first chapter of Finnegan's Wake. You'll be back on your feet in no time.
Alex, you did it again - you made me smile! I love Mexican food. Next time I eat it, I will pay attention if I get any sparks of inspiration from it. David Lynch backwards? I guess watching one forward will do the trick too. Finnegan’s Wake? I think, I will start with the Mexican food first! ;-)
Photography was one arm of my career, along with writing, for more than 30 years. I think I got a little bit burned out with it, which is a shame because my love for it was the erason I tried to build a carerer around it in the first place.
Now, being focused on writing fiction, I only take photos when I really feel like it, whether with a phone or a real camera, and I can feel the love again.
Thank you, Jon! I know a lot of photographers (especially wedding photographers for some reason) with a business, who at some point fell out of love with photography or got burned out. Which is sad, but I get it. It is good to here you are slowly getting back into it. Photography can be so rewarding.
Dear Suzanne, You and I have so much in common! I worked as a LCSW when living in the US and started taking an interest in photography around 2008. I also moved abroad and concentrated on developing as an artist. Photography is what brought me to France. It's what had brought some of my favorite people into my world. It's a reason to get out and explore. Or to stay in and create something introspective. It's saved me again and again, and like you, I'm forever grateful. Thanks for sharing your wonderful story and thoughts and your photos!
I'm grateful that you've chosen to share this heartfelt tribute to your craft once more. As someone who doesn't often explore archives, this post enhances my reasons to subscribe and support your work. Great job...and thank you for the inspiration!
Susanne, I love this!! And I love cheesy! It put a smile on my face as I was reading it...and of course, I can relate. I'm trying to see those moments of lack of inspiration/motivation as a necessary reset. I bet you will find something interesting that happens next. Have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you, Juliette! I am glad you enjoyed it and could relate to it. I am taking baby steps right now, not forcing anything, but trying to steadily do something everyday.
Susanne, I love your letter to photography and want you to know you aren't the only person lacking creativity and inspiration right now. I am in the same place and know some other creatives felling the same thing. My father bought me my first film camera when I was in middle school in the late 60's but I don't remember what it was. I have always had a camera but it wasn't until 2008 when I moved back to the east coast that I started taking photography seriously.
Thank you, Pamela. Maybe it’s because the days are getting shorter and darker again? Nature is slowing down, preparing for the winter, saving its resources and energies for the coming months - maybe our body is doing the same? Who knows.
I enjoyed reading a bit about your journey to and with photography. We rediscovered it around the same time then! =)
My mom is a keen amateur photographer, which has shaped my interest in photography from very early on. As an observer, I'm always on the lookout for photography that helps me see the world in a new way and savor its beauty and variety. I take a lot of photos myself for the same reason (I similarly received a camera for Christmas as a kid, first a hand-me-down point and shoot film camera, followed by a couple of digital ones, and now rely on my phone camera). For some reason I still don't really consider myself a photographer--more like a collector of cool/beautiful stuff and interesting framing/patterns/textures/colors. I wonder if my perception of myself would change if I invested in a DSLR and the time to learn how to use it.
I get it. Since I never studied art or have a proper education as a photographer I struggle to call myself an artist or photographer. Having a “proper” camera doesn't help me to be more confident about it. You have a great idea for the little details around you, that is all that counts no matter what you call yourself or what camera you use. Just keep doing it!
Like @jonsparks photography has been part of my career for 25 years. It's taught me to observe but also tied me to the literal world. Now I'm starting to break free from that and have fun with art.
Photography was my escape when my world fell apart. It started as a great way to re-focus my life. That was about 4 years ago. Most days I’m outside taking pictures they are good, bad, and who knows..It is such an important hobby for me. I’m now a free lance photographer for a couple of papers and do some writing too.
This sounds like you found your passion as well as a way to heal! Thank you for sharing this with me.
That was beautifully written, it takes some courage to share vulnerable moments; we all have them, yet society seems to demand "Repress them".
After a failed surgery to correct an injury that occcurred in the service, I became disabled and depressed. At one point I decided to take up photography again, to get me outside and participate in life. It became an important therapy for me, and remains so. I lose track of time and pain is more tolerable when I am out with my camera. I do have to take medications and am not as mobile as I would like, but certainly enough to capture a variety of subjects around me, on my terms.
So many of the words you wrote, I can identify with. Photography is more than a hobby or profession. The greatest thing is knowing that no matter what, something will reveal itself for me to capture. All I have to do is be there.
Paul, thank you for sharing this bit about yourself. It means a lot. I know how much photography has helped me in the past and I agree with you that photography is a form of therapy. I am glad you found photography and it’s healing power for yourself. It can’t take away your pain, but it can make you forget about for a while. ❤️
Beautiful letter that I think speaks for many of us. My journey began around 1974, maybe even earlier. Photography got me through high school and a turbulent home life. Photography has been life line through many difficult times.
Thank you for sharing this with me, Ron! I truly believe in the therapeutic power of photography. I am glad you found photography for yourself so early on and have been holding on to it for so long.
Beautiful!
Try spicy Mexican food. It's always helped me with inspiration.
If you're not into Mexican food, watch an early David Lynch film backwards, or memorize the first chapter of Finnegan's Wake. You'll be back on your feet in no time.
Alex, you did it again - you made me smile! I love Mexican food. Next time I eat it, I will pay attention if I get any sparks of inspiration from it. David Lynch backwards? I guess watching one forward will do the trick too. Finnegan’s Wake? I think, I will start with the Mexican food first! ;-)
Not cheesy at all but thoroughly enjoyable. Thanks!
That is good to hear! Thank you for reading!
Susanne, I hope putting out this post helps in getting the inspiration back! It was good to read it and see your images from 2023!
Thank you, Shital! Slowly getting back out of the dark.
This is really lovely. Thank you for sharing - I will sit and do the same
Thank you, Andi! It was good to sit down and reflect on my relationship to photography.
A lovely, poignant, post.
Photography was one arm of my career, along with writing, for more than 30 years. I think I got a little bit burned out with it, which is a shame because my love for it was the erason I tried to build a carerer around it in the first place.
Now, being focused on writing fiction, I only take photos when I really feel like it, whether with a phone or a real camera, and I can feel the love again.
Thank you, Jon! I know a lot of photographers (especially wedding photographers for some reason) with a business, who at some point fell out of love with photography or got burned out. Which is sad, but I get it. It is good to here you are slowly getting back into it. Photography can be so rewarding.
Love this
Thank you, Wesley! Happy to hear you enjoyed this.
Dear Suzanne, You and I have so much in common! I worked as a LCSW when living in the US and started taking an interest in photography around 2008. I also moved abroad and concentrated on developing as an artist. Photography is what brought me to France. It's what had brought some of my favorite people into my world. It's a reason to get out and explore. Or to stay in and create something introspective. It's saved me again and again, and like you, I'm forever grateful. Thanks for sharing your wonderful story and thoughts and your photos!
Thank you for sharing your story, Anne! Photography truly is a life saver in many different ways.
I'm grateful that you've chosen to share this heartfelt tribute to your craft once more. As someone who doesn't often explore archives, this post enhances my reasons to subscribe and support your work. Great job...and thank you for the inspiration!
Thank you for your support and the kind words, Jack! I am glad it spoke to you and you found it inspirational.
Susanne, I love this!! And I love cheesy! It put a smile on my face as I was reading it...and of course, I can relate. I'm trying to see those moments of lack of inspiration/motivation as a necessary reset. I bet you will find something interesting that happens next. Have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you, Juliette! I am glad you enjoyed it and could relate to it. I am taking baby steps right now, not forcing anything, but trying to steadily do something everyday.
Susanne, I love your letter to photography and want you to know you aren't the only person lacking creativity and inspiration right now. I am in the same place and know some other creatives felling the same thing. My father bought me my first film camera when I was in middle school in the late 60's but I don't remember what it was. I have always had a camera but it wasn't until 2008 when I moved back to the east coast that I started taking photography seriously.
Thank you, Pamela. Maybe it’s because the days are getting shorter and darker again? Nature is slowing down, preparing for the winter, saving its resources and energies for the coming months - maybe our body is doing the same? Who knows.
I enjoyed reading a bit about your journey to and with photography. We rediscovered it around the same time then! =)
My mom is a keen amateur photographer, which has shaped my interest in photography from very early on. As an observer, I'm always on the lookout for photography that helps me see the world in a new way and savor its beauty and variety. I take a lot of photos myself for the same reason (I similarly received a camera for Christmas as a kid, first a hand-me-down point and shoot film camera, followed by a couple of digital ones, and now rely on my phone camera). For some reason I still don't really consider myself a photographer--more like a collector of cool/beautiful stuff and interesting framing/patterns/textures/colors. I wonder if my perception of myself would change if I invested in a DSLR and the time to learn how to use it.
I get it. Since I never studied art or have a proper education as a photographer I struggle to call myself an artist or photographer. Having a “proper” camera doesn't help me to be more confident about it. You have a great idea for the little details around you, that is all that counts no matter what you call yourself or what camera you use. Just keep doing it!
Thank you Susanne!
Like @jonsparks photography has been part of my career for 25 years. It's taught me to observe but also tied me to the literal world. Now I'm starting to break free from that and have fun with art.
I can imagine, Felicity! I am glad to hear to you are breaking free and renew your relationship with it. Totally worth it.
Lovely letter and images Susanne. Through photography I see things I would never otherwise have seen - for that I am forever grateful.
Thank you, James. It really opens ones eyes, doesn’t it!