I've been taking a bit of a break from blogging, to give myself a chance to recharge and regroup. (And also because I hate the new blogger format and am dreading having to switch platforms soon). One of the things I love about photography is that it doesn't feel like a job... except that when I'm in the rut of editing, blogging, backing up, etc. it does start to sometimes feel like a bit of a drag. I've found that taking a small break allows me to keep fresh creatively and continue to learn. During this time, I've been really inspired by quite a few things that I thought I would share here. Hopefully it will help others get their creative juice flowing!
If you have a creative job or hobby and have any tips for how you stay fresh and inspired, please share in the comments section! I'd love to hear how others keep from burning out.
Stay Inspired,
What's Inspiring Me Right Now:
1. The Great Gatsby. Man, I love this book. It really is my favorite book and if you know me, I'm a pretty voracious reader. One of my college professors once asked me what my favorite book was and I was embarrassed to say this one, mainly because it's forced reading for most high school kids and a lot of people pick on it, but I think it's beautifully written. So here's my declaration and I'm not ashamed to claim it now. And I'm incredibly excited about Baz Luhrman's adaptation with Leonardo DiCaprio (who I've met, ask me for the story sometime!). See the trailer here. I also love all the 20s fashion, architecture, etc.
2. Downtown Abbey. Yes, I'm obsessed with this time period right around WWI (see above). And I'm newly obsessed with this show. Maggie Smith has the BEST lines in it and that withering stare. Must see!
3. Pinterest. By now, nearly everyone is on this. If you aren't, you should be! Pinterest is like an online scrapbook or pin board, and as someone who has been keeping stacks of magazine clippings for years, it will surely save my husband from having to pack up said stacks of clippings every time we move. It also simultaneously feeds my addiction to finding impossibly cute photos of puppies and paper goods that I like, while helping me to organize and keep all my lovelies in one place. If you're on it, please find me and we can pin together!
4. Film photography. I originally trained as a film photographer, and although I've "converted" to digital, I absolutely still love the look of film. There is a softness I can't quite capture in digital and there are also some insanely talented photographers who are creating art out there who do so. Check out Jose Villa and Tec Petaja if you are interested in fine art film photography.
5. The American West. We just spent 9 days traveling through Minnesota, Wyoming and the Dakotas. It was some of the most beautiful parts of the U.S. I've ever visited. Photos to come soon!
6. Wes Moore. I heard him speak at the annual National Partnership for Educational Access conference this past April and had the privilege of photographing this conference. Mr. Moore's reflections on what we can be doing to help today's youth and his own personal story, as well as the other work of the conference attendees was truly inspiring.
And because every post is better with photos, I've put some of my favorites below from the NPEA Conference.
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