shake it up

In Inspiration, Mobile
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Those days. Or sometimes weeks! You know the ones, where you look at your camera (or pencil, or paintbrush, or keyboard) gathering dust and can’t be bothered to pick it up or get out the door. Where inspiration seems to fade away and you question whether you can even call yourself a photographer, or artist, or whatever most closely describes your creative identity.

Sometimes I need a push.  A kick out the door.  And sometimes a gathering.  I recently spent a weekend in Santa Cruz with a group of like-minded women (photographers , artists, mothers) and it was the reboot I needed right when I needed it. I am sometimes reluctantly pulled away from my cozy, secure home and family, but I bundled up my SX-70 with its expired pack of Impossible Project film, my iPhone and my dslr. I ended up barely using the dslr because I wanted to travel light and I’m having a renewed love affair with my iPhone at the moment.

polas

Just walking somewhere fresh, chatting and sharing with the amazing tribe of women I was with, opened my eyes to new colors and shapes.

blue

And movement! (seriously? the slow-mo feature in the iPhone6 camera? I can’t stop.)

In the weeks since then, I’ve been inspired to finally complete my website re-design and I’ve joined a local community studio where I am co-working once a week.  It’s sometimes like pulling teeth with me but because I put on my shoes and stepped out of my comfort zone, I’m energized and eager to see what’s next.  I hope you too are listening to your inner voice when it encourages you to lift your paintbrush or sling that camera over your shoulder, perhaps grab a friend or two, and see the world with fresh eyes.

cheers,
kim

5 Comments

  1. Nodding my head yes to so much of this. The cozy and comfortable has quite a magnetic pull on me too.
    I find the shooting isn’t so hard for me, but the pushing myself to take things one step further – that’s the tough bit. I wish you lived closer than the full width of the Country away so we could keep each on course!
    Your time away sounds wonderful and it did the trick beautifully. I can actually feel your enthusiasm for what you were seeing in these images.

  2. Yes!!!!! I can feel your excitement from this side of the pond! And seriously loving the slow mo on that ride.

  3. WORD, my friend. I love all the photos you made during your shake-up weekend and your site is gorgeous. Let’s ride that momentum like we’re on the boardwalk at Santa Cruz. Also, I SO need to go back to California!

  4. I love all these stories Kim! And I’m so impressed you are co-working! you go girl! Your website looks beautiful! xo

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