a virtual blog tour

today i would like to share with you something a little different…

a few weeks ago, my lovely friend, cathy, invited me to participate in a virtual blog tour.  as i recall, i became acquainted with cathy through her photography on flickr.  i was immediately drawn to the tender, sweetness in her photographs.  and then later on i discovered her blog where she writes so beautiful about her life and her family.  i also love the profound honesty with which she shares about her creative journey.

i think that’s the really neat thing about a blog tour like this…i love the idea of being introduced to other creative individuals and learning about their creative process.

for this blog tour we were asked to answer some questions about our creative process.  so below is little bit about me.

1) what am i working on?

photographically speaking, right now i am working on my continued development as a photographer in all the technical aspects (getting better at nailing exposure, tight focus, good composition).  i am continuing to hone my post-processing skills to not only make them more efficient, but also to continue to refine my style if you will.

but really, for me, photography is just one piece of the puzzle….i continually strive to be more present in my own life.  to slow down and pay attention.  my goal in photography has always been to accurately capture the beauty and wonder in my ordinary life.  so my hope is to be open to those little moments that catch my eye and speak to my heart.

2) how does my work differ from others of its genre?

obviously, my physical surroundings make my photos different.  what i see and how i move through my days sets my work apart.

i know it probably shouldn’t be…but this is a very hard question for me to answer. i think one of the problems with this question for me is this idea of comparing myself to other photographers that i admire.  and compare can be such a tricky word for me.  it’s my own insecurity, but all too often when i look at my work next to the art of my peers, i tend to be overly critical.  so it’s actually something try to avoid.

in terms of being original, for a long time i struggled to find my niche…find my voice.  but then about a year and half ago i discovered this quote by c.s. lewis:

even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it.

isn’t that liberating?  honestly it has made all of the difference for me.  and so now, all i try to do is tell my truth as accurately as possible and hope that this sets my work apart.

3) why do I write/create what i do?

when i first started blogging, my goal was to document my empty-nest story and then i figured i’d be ready to move on to the next thing.  but as time has gone on, what i have discovered is that photography and blogging have filled a niche in my life that i never even knew i needed filled.  and so now i do it as a way to document my life – the good, the bad, the ugly – but also as a creative outlet.

the other part of this journey that i love is the opportunity to learn and to grow.  to find inspiration in my ordinary life.  and at the end of the day…it just makes me really happy.  and through all of this journey, i have finally decided that is enough reason right there.

4) how does my creative process work?

the short answer here is that it varies.  sometimes the photos inspire the story.  like expressing my love for nature or sharing a story about my life.

but then sometimes i’ll be vacuuming the carpet or drying my hair (where i do some of my best thinking) and i will be inspired or make a connection.  then it just becomes a matter of taking a photo with that theme in mind.

so now it’s on to next part of this virtual blog tour…i get to introduce you to three friends of mine.  all three photographers/bloggers whose work i greatly admire.  who continually inspire me with their art and vision.

• dotti rinehart spent 26 years in the world of academia, but has retired to pursue her twin passions, photography and blogging, as well as to provide loving child care to her only granddaughter after school, holidays, and summers. dotti’s photography muses are her granddaughter {when she can be persuaded to cooperate} and anything flower/garden related. dotti blogs at www.camperky.com.
• naomi wittlin is an artist, photographer, and blogger who lives in houston, tx with her husband and 5-year-old daughter.  she welcomes visitors at www.poeticaperture.com, where she writes about creativity, authenticity, and spirituality three days a week.
• susan licht is a new england photographer, capturing life’s little moments through the lens with a few words thrown in here and there.  she blogs at http://lichtyears.wordpress.com.

please be sure to visit my talented friends.  and thank you so much for letting me share a little bit about my creative process with you.

love, kelly