Absolutely beautiful reflections on the creative process. I can relate in so many ways.
This makes me think of something related to my own process. One thing I think that photography does for me is direct my attention to the outside world. I’m the sort of person who walks around staring at the ground or my phone, trying to keep my eyes averted from other people, and trying to keep myself in a shell. I realize this stems from growing up non-binary and gay and feeling attacked by society. As part of my coping mechanism, I learned to shut down my senses when out in public. The less I noticed other people, the less I would hear the cruel things they whisper behind my back or see the sneers. Of course, there was probably only 1 whisper for every 1,000 imagined ones so this wasn’t exactly a helpful coping mechanism, but it felt comfortable for me.
Nowadays I still dissociate from the world when I’m outside, generally by looking at my phone. However, when I have a camera in my hand, that wall comes down and I actually pay attention to my surroundings. It forces me to focus my attention outside of myself. And somehow, as long as I have a camera, that doesn’t seem so scary.
Thank you for sharing this with me. This sounds especially difficult, but it is amazing that photography gives us such comfort to actually go out into the world. It is like a superpower or magic shield. It makes us stronger and gives an needed escape at the same time.
I was smiling throughout the entire, well-written post of yours, Susanne. When you see my upcoming post this Sunday, you'll understand why! This is great and it taps into something that I don't think most think about. That level of connection with our work and our inner world is basically why I started writing on my blog back in the day and now here on Substack. It's utterly important to allow ourselves to see that connection. Thank you for sharing it.
Posts like these, always make me nervous. I reread them to the last minute, arguing with my self if I should share these things. I don‘t know how you do it every week! 🤣 But on the other hand, your are a much better writer than I am.
But now reading how much it resonates gives me confidence and it makes me happy to see it resonates.
I found it to be excellent and you’d never know any hesitation on your part. I understand and it takes a lot of effort but I guess I have never not done this so I’m just used to it! On the other hand, I have zero confidence in making zines so there you go 😏. 👏👍
As with other folks who have commented here, you have articulated so well what so many folks also feel, myself included, almost like an emotional/psychological 'reset' if that makes sense. Thank you for sharing this.
Beautiful photography. And insights I have pondered myself, but not quite yet arrived at definitive conclusions. I took away much from this post in that direction, I will definitely be returning to it again. Thank you!
Thank you, Paul! It is definitely a journey which needs time. To hear my thoughts found resonance fills me with gratitude. I was a bit nervous about sharing my thoughts here.
Don’t be nervous, it’s genuine, original, and I think that is a big part of what we all like to see and read. After all, we are human and that is what we have that AI can never replace! As opposed to too many relying on ChatGTP to write their stories. Lots of that going on it seems. I like the phrase “you be you” 😊.
Thank you, Paul! Although, I am sharing what I feel like sharing - in the end I hope it will make sense to and resonate with others. And maybe even help a little. It is good to know these words do. It is truly encouraging. And yes, You be You is a perfect saying. ♥️
"I still see photography as my great escape - though now, I see it more as an escape from the world and less as a way to escape my own feelings. After all, for me - I realize -, it was never really about that." Thank you for this beautiful, introspective piece, Susanne! I too have realized that within my own practice, photography is the ultimate tool for me to escape certain parts of the world around me and hyper-focus on whatever surroundings I'm roaming through with my camera in hand. It's an escape to another world in a sense..
So powerfull and relatable Susanne, thanks for sharing. I've saved it to be able to come back to this notion. Also that first photo is just mesmerizing, I can't stop looking at it.
Thank you, Sandra. It is good to hear that it resonates. It never ceases to amaze me how photography helps me to discover the world and myself! Powerful!
All so interesting. I love LOVE bare branch patterns and take a slew of them. These are delightful treasures. And so is your writing! You have a pleasing pace and gentle flow, and the words sound like talking (that’s a good thing!). I loved reading your thoughts on the interview. A lot of healthcare workers and caregivers I know (myself included) need creative outlets and transition space. It’s good to talk about!
Part of me wonders how Bury’s darker, complicated feelings would’ve influenced his work if he allowed them in. Or maybe the feelings were too much to do anything with them other than what he did: let them out in measured moments each day while journaling. So interesting. Thanks, Susanne, for sharing <3
Thank you for this thoughtful feedback, Daphne! You are always so supportive, which gives me a lot of confidence to keep going. I really appreciate it.
Your questions about Bury are similar to mine. I even looked up his work to see if they give me any clues about his decision. (He makes large sculptures that can sometimes be used f.e. sit on by people) I am sure he had his reasons and in the end it is great to see he acknowledged his feelings and wrote them down and tried to cope with them this way.
Ahhh Susanne! Once again your newsletter has hit me right in the feels! I felt myself nodding in agreement which each heart written statement, having to stop and breathe through this statement “I still see photography as my great escape - though now, I see it more as an escape from the world and less as a way to escape my own feelings. After all, for me - I realize -, it was never really about that."
Absolutely powerful!! Thank you for being openly vulnerable. It somehow has given me permission to do the same. *squishy hugs*
Awe, thank you for the hug and the kind words. It is good to here this resonates with you. We all are at different stages in our creative journey and experience it differently, but I guess it is not so different after all.
I think we all evolve through any creative pursuit. We start off thinking that our photography is about place, subject, season… only at some point to realise that we are intrinsically part of it in what we respond to, and what we choose to share. And motivation changes too: for me it began with curiosity and for a long time looking and recording was enough to keep me happy. When a design based career became less so (think drawing board to computer), photography became my creative outlet, freeing me up to experiment. And through writing I began to consider the why of it, and understand that I was intrinsically part of what I responded to. Both visual and words reveal more of us than we anticipate, and I agree with Matt that through these we find ourselves, and with time it builds and individual practice. Now I view any making as a place of ease, somewhere to temporarily free myself from the worries and rebalance a little.
Yes! You described it so well. It definitely changed over time for me as well. Maybe it is a question of age too. Introspection is something I value more and more as I age.
Well done! I would echo many of the commentators in this thread in saying that I also share many of these feelings. The person lost in the labyrinth and the minotaur hunting them are one and the same. Also - I enjoyed your photos. A lovely, haunting quality to them. Thank you for sharing all this.
I am also in love with the image of the grasses, second to last.
I also love the quote by Matt Haig that you shared. I am an avid reader. I know reading has always been a way for me to escape, relax and just get out of my own way. I never thought of it as a way to find myself, but now I see that it's true.
I take photos because I love the constraint of a frame and deciding how to compose the image. I am drawn to the light and enjoy capturing moments of light and shadow.
Absolutely beautiful reflections on the creative process. I can relate in so many ways.
This makes me think of something related to my own process. One thing I think that photography does for me is direct my attention to the outside world. I’m the sort of person who walks around staring at the ground or my phone, trying to keep my eyes averted from other people, and trying to keep myself in a shell. I realize this stems from growing up non-binary and gay and feeling attacked by society. As part of my coping mechanism, I learned to shut down my senses when out in public. The less I noticed other people, the less I would hear the cruel things they whisper behind my back or see the sneers. Of course, there was probably only 1 whisper for every 1,000 imagined ones so this wasn’t exactly a helpful coping mechanism, but it felt comfortable for me.
Nowadays I still dissociate from the world when I’m outside, generally by looking at my phone. However, when I have a camera in my hand, that wall comes down and I actually pay attention to my surroundings. It forces me to focus my attention outside of myself. And somehow, as long as I have a camera, that doesn’t seem so scary.
Thank you for sharing this with me. This sounds especially difficult, but it is amazing that photography gives us such comfort to actually go out into the world. It is like a superpower or magic shield. It makes us stronger and gives an needed escape at the same time.
I was smiling throughout the entire, well-written post of yours, Susanne. When you see my upcoming post this Sunday, you'll understand why! This is great and it taps into something that I don't think most think about. That level of connection with our work and our inner world is basically why I started writing on my blog back in the day and now here on Substack. It's utterly important to allow ourselves to see that connection. Thank you for sharing it.
Posts like these, always make me nervous. I reread them to the last minute, arguing with my self if I should share these things. I don‘t know how you do it every week! 🤣 But on the other hand, your are a much better writer than I am.
But now reading how much it resonates gives me confidence and it makes me happy to see it resonates.
I am looking forward to your perspective on this.
I found it to be excellent and you’d never know any hesitation on your part. I understand and it takes a lot of effort but I guess I have never not done this so I’m just used to it! On the other hand, I have zero confidence in making zines so there you go 😏. 👏👍
Love this so much and it resonates with me on so many levels. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much, Parker! I am so glad to hear that, because I felt really unsure about posting it.
Good choice. Unless I’m squashing the urge to anoint someone with a frying pan, I let instinct guide me…
Pretty smart! 😎
As with other folks who have commented here, you have articulated so well what so many folks also feel, myself included, almost like an emotional/psychological 'reset' if that makes sense. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you for reading, Ralph! And yes, reset makes perfect sense.
A wonderful read,Susanne. It really resonated with me. Thank you.
I am so glad to hear this, Mark! Thank you for your feedback!
Beautiful photography. And insights I have pondered myself, but not quite yet arrived at definitive conclusions. I took away much from this post in that direction, I will definitely be returning to it again. Thank you!
Thank you, Paul! It is definitely a journey which needs time. To hear my thoughts found resonance fills me with gratitude. I was a bit nervous about sharing my thoughts here.
Don’t be nervous, it’s genuine, original, and I think that is a big part of what we all like to see and read. After all, we are human and that is what we have that AI can never replace! As opposed to too many relying on ChatGTP to write their stories. Lots of that going on it seems. I like the phrase “you be you” 😊.
Thank you, Paul! Although, I am sharing what I feel like sharing - in the end I hope it will make sense to and resonate with others. And maybe even help a little. It is good to know these words do. It is truly encouraging. And yes, You be You is a perfect saying. ♥️
"I still see photography as my great escape - though now, I see it more as an escape from the world and less as a way to escape my own feelings. After all, for me - I realize -, it was never really about that." Thank you for this beautiful, introspective piece, Susanne! I too have realized that within my own practice, photography is the ultimate tool for me to escape certain parts of the world around me and hyper-focus on whatever surroundings I'm roaming through with my camera in hand. It's an escape to another world in a sense..
It definitely is. And coming back from this world -even if it just for a short visit- makes me somewhat stronger to cope in the real world.
Thank you for your feedback, Phoenix! It means a lot!
So powerfull and relatable Susanne, thanks for sharing. I've saved it to be able to come back to this notion. Also that first photo is just mesmerizing, I can't stop looking at it.
Thank you, Sandra. It is good to hear that it resonates. It never ceases to amaze me how photography helps me to discover the world and myself! Powerful!
All so interesting. I love LOVE bare branch patterns and take a slew of them. These are delightful treasures. And so is your writing! You have a pleasing pace and gentle flow, and the words sound like talking (that’s a good thing!). I loved reading your thoughts on the interview. A lot of healthcare workers and caregivers I know (myself included) need creative outlets and transition space. It’s good to talk about!
Part of me wonders how Bury’s darker, complicated feelings would’ve influenced his work if he allowed them in. Or maybe the feelings were too much to do anything with them other than what he did: let them out in measured moments each day while journaling. So interesting. Thanks, Susanne, for sharing <3
Thank you for this thoughtful feedback, Daphne! You are always so supportive, which gives me a lot of confidence to keep going. I really appreciate it.
Your questions about Bury are similar to mine. I even looked up his work to see if they give me any clues about his decision. (He makes large sculptures that can sometimes be used f.e. sit on by people) I am sure he had his reasons and in the end it is great to see he acknowledged his feelings and wrote them down and tried to cope with them this way.
So great, as always. Love your photography and writing, always inspiring. Thank you!
Thank you very much, Kelly!
Ahhh Susanne! Once again your newsletter has hit me right in the feels! I felt myself nodding in agreement which each heart written statement, having to stop and breathe through this statement “I still see photography as my great escape - though now, I see it more as an escape from the world and less as a way to escape my own feelings. After all, for me - I realize -, it was never really about that."
Absolutely powerful!! Thank you for being openly vulnerable. It somehow has given me permission to do the same. *squishy hugs*
Awe, thank you for the hug and the kind words. It is good to here this resonates with you. We all are at different stages in our creative journey and experience it differently, but I guess it is not so different after all.
I think we all evolve through any creative pursuit. We start off thinking that our photography is about place, subject, season… only at some point to realise that we are intrinsically part of it in what we respond to, and what we choose to share. And motivation changes too: for me it began with curiosity and for a long time looking and recording was enough to keep me happy. When a design based career became less so (think drawing board to computer), photography became my creative outlet, freeing me up to experiment. And through writing I began to consider the why of it, and understand that I was intrinsically part of what I responded to. Both visual and words reveal more of us than we anticipate, and I agree with Matt that through these we find ourselves, and with time it builds and individual practice. Now I view any making as a place of ease, somewhere to temporarily free myself from the worries and rebalance a little.
Yes! You described it so well. It definitely changed over time for me as well. Maybe it is a question of age too. Introspection is something I value more and more as I age.
Possibly guilty as charged 🤭
Well done! I would echo many of the commentators in this thread in saying that I also share many of these feelings. The person lost in the labyrinth and the minotaur hunting them are one and the same. Also - I enjoyed your photos. A lovely, haunting quality to them. Thank you for sharing all this.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Aaron! I appreciate your feedback!
I am also in love with the image of the grasses, second to last.
I also love the quote by Matt Haig that you shared. I am an avid reader. I know reading has always been a way for me to escape, relax and just get out of my own way. I never thought of it as a way to find myself, but now I see that it's true.
I take photos because I love the constraint of a frame and deciding how to compose the image. I am drawn to the light and enjoy capturing moments of light and shadow.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Marley! I think books do that to a certain extent for me as well.
Photography is a wonderful thing. It helps to recognize the beauty of the world around!
Photography is a escape into reality:)
Mmmh, depending on which reality! 😉
…lets leave the answer undefined :)
Fabulous images. And very interesting food for thought…
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!