I have friends who actually use snail mail...with stamps...handwriting...messages in envelopes...
I took the latest message from my dear, Beth...just wanting to look at it...breathe it in as if it were a new one...and then answer it.
My Beth! She sends these little quotes and treasures...and one message was, in HER own words, just what I needed:
Allow yourself to push past resistance into the life you know you love.
Honestly...until I read that...I did not know what I was feeling; that it was RESISTANCE that had me so clogged creatively.
And I pulled out all these postcards I had received from my fellow groupies who photograph...inspiring!
All of this gave me the strength to push me past my resistance to use my inspiration in these still life's. Has resistance shaken the dust off his shoes and left yet...not totally. But I think he might be thinking about it.
What do you do when resistance shows up? Does your creative energies ever get sucked dry from the drudgery of hard drive fails, backing up, organizing in Lightroom, printer problems, and the tedium of it all the technology maintenance?
I would love to hear how you handle it...
PS: All flowers are from my garden... :)
What beautiful images Denise. Love the flowers. Handwritten messages are best.
ReplyDeleteI made a gorgeous still of my parents love letters to each other and then had it done in a large canvas that hangs over our bed. Here is a link of the image. https://www.flickr.com/photos/sparrowgirl/6884187157
DeleteResistance I know it well. But you will get through it Denise and come out stronger at the end. Love your edits...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Viv...you seem to always be inspired and busy creating...but I know you've been there.
DeleteI think we all suffer from this and I think this is where the classes help along with the connects that Kim's does. Are you in the Be Still and the connects? I know that helps me, just showing up and doing each week keeps me on track. I know from your post of beautiful images Denise I would hate to not see your work.
ReplyDeleteThe classes help. Sometimes I feel pressure because I work full time and keeping up can become stressful. But I will always push through...because I love it SO much...just wish I had more time. :(
DeleteLike Barbara says, this is a normal part of the creative cycle. But I'll tell you what ... you have really broken through with these photos. They're fabulous. Love the common thread of flowers in each one.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dotti. Our dahlias have been amazing this year! Cooler summer, just the right amount of rain.
DeleteGreat awesome edits and collages. I spent nearly 4 days while hubby was out of town backing up and reorganizing the computer. I had hoped to be creative and get sooooo much done. But I just gave in to the organizational urge that was taking over. I didn't have any creative thing calling my name so I guess it worked out ok. Just wasn't what I had hoped for.
ReplyDeleteI have spent way too much time lately with back ups and the drudgery of reorganizing my LR catalog. They are the "have tos" of photography. I'm sure getting my studio/creative space done will REALLY make all the difference.
DeleteChange always brings out resistance in me, slows me mentally and creatively. What I do is try new things, read new things, look everywhere for inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah. You seem to always be inspired but do we really show ourselves when resistance is knocking at our door and that's why we all seem inspired all the time?
DeleteBeautiful flowers. I still don't know how to organize in LR and that can be a time sucker. Love the editing power of it htough.
ReplyDeleteThanks! The LR coursework, Be Still 52, organizing, backing up AND actually taking photography is a lot to get through when you are working full time. I am loving LR more and more and know it is worth the investment!
DeleteLovely photos and stills! Postal mail is something to cherish...I like to keep the mailman on his toes delivering real mail. I agree with Barbara about getting inspiration from the classes with Kim.
ReplyDeleteClasses with Kim is really when my photography started to take off. It all started with the Skinny-Mini free course! She makes it all so approachable, as opposed to the snobbish airs of some professionals. So glad I connected with her and all of my groupies!
DeleteLovely photos Denise... I was keeping up and then needed to take a break to be still... now I am trying to catch up... not always so easy to do... to get back into the swing of things!
ReplyDeleteDonna - I cut and paste the web page onto a document and add the notes from the video(s)...so I stay up with the content and save it for when I'm ready to do it. I have to resist the temptation of perfectionism...i.e., be on every lesson and posting an image at every link up. But embracing the content for when it feels right for me.
DeleteI love this series of photos! What a blessing a handwritten note of encouragement is, and how lovely the way you photographed it!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Elizabeth. Love your blog! My friend lives on the Oregon coast and we've not seen each other in 37 years when we were both students at Mount Vernon Nazarene College. Possible trip out west this coming year...
DeleteMy dahlias just kind of curled up and went pppfffttt... I think too poor of soil for them. Your's are pretty! I'm glad you are pushing through. I don't face resistance just hard to prioritize creating over the rest of life that seems quite pressing.
ReplyDeleteJill - yeah, I think that is part of it, too. This has been the best year I've ever had for dahlias. Mine are the bushy kind...not the tall ones.
DeleteYou may have been resistant, but you certainly found a lovely way to work through it! I have trouble with still-life photos. They seem to come out flat and boring. In your photos I feel your warmth and love coming through! Beautifully done!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kindness, Cathy! It was that quote that pushed me through to finally do a blog post. Relationships with kindred spirits spur me on.
Deletegosh i totally hear you...the technology of photograph can be a total creativity suck. alot of times taking a break works for me. unplugging from my computer and/or social media. taking walk, doing something tactile - those are my antidotes to too much screen time. glad you've started seeing your way out of feeling stuck. this is a beautiful series of photos!
ReplyDeleteOh, I know...so know...I need to get away from the computer! Sometimes I think reading tutorials or learning more will light a fire. It sometimes works...but I need to walk away more often. Thanks for your kind words.
DeleteYou've created some lovely still life shots here with really nice tones.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful series of photographs!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Jill!
DeleteDenise your series of images and the grouping together is so stunning. Riding my bike with my small camera helps for me.
ReplyDeleteI actually took some photos with my phone this past week...something I never do.
DeleteLove your images here and how lovely to get snail mail. Resistance is a familiar foe of mine too - I find being outside helps and just pushing on through, show up and do the work anyway. That's not to say it's not really hard sometimes (or that I always manage to show up....). Looks like you're doing a pretty good job of it, though. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Becs! I'm still pushing through...once is not enough.
Deleteevery photo in your post is a gem. how wonderful that you still get meaningful snail mail!
ReplyDeleteMeaningful snail mail. I think if we are not careful or do not become intentional, meaningful snail mail will become extinct.
DeleteSnail mail is the best, something about being able to hold and touch the paper... (If that makes any sense :) I was feeling some resistance getting back into the swing of things after summer break. It looks like you are getting through the resistance, your still life images are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Michelle. There is NOTHING like seeing a handwritten letter from my great-grandmother, who I never met, knowing her hands touched that paper...that that handwriting is hers...uniquely hers.
DeleteFrom your beautiful pictures, I can see that your are digging in and working even though you might not quite feel like it. And the results are sincere and thoughtful. I love that your friends are encouraging and that you do not isolate yourself when struggles abound. For myself, I have learned that my creativity has a natural rhythm, and I choose to respect rhythm. It helps to have several passions. So that when I am uninspired to make photo art, I might go back to quilting or training for a long bike ride with friends or trying new recipes for family dinners. Like you, the time behind the computer is the least fun for me . . . so I limit my time (like now - zooming along visiting blogs and commenting - but only for a limited time frame) . . then back to this sunny day!
ReplyDeleteI think your words are wise. I also believe in rhythm...natural rhythm of things. I can't do it all. If you focus on something else, you find your way. But pushing through can also work. I think where it is dangerous is if somehow your sense of resistance is stemming from a competition attitude...selfishly worshiping the idol of affirmation/approval.
DeleteHow lovely that you received those items in the mail just when you needed a little push!
ReplyDeleteGod's timing is perfect!
DeleteWhat a wonderful group of friends that you have. Your photos are great.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words!
DeleteWow, Denise, you have some great still lifes here. Glad you have pushed past the resistance. You have a wonderful friend to send you such special notes.
ReplyDeleteI pushed through for that day...but need to keep pushing through it...Actually, what spurs me on is when I get in gratitude frame of mine.
DeleteThese are all so lovely, Denise, wonderful captures and colors !
ReplyDeleteAnd what a sweet friend Beth is !
About resistance, I think it happens to all of us ... just doing something else really helps ...
a walk, reading, enjoying some quiet time ...
Have a nice evening,
Sylvia
I spent some great time with another priceless friend today...reminders of what life is about. Feeling so much gratitude right now!
DeleteHI Denise...this is a fabulous post and tribute to Mr R - a fellow traveler with us all. You took the high road and pushed back with some beautiful, really BEAUTIFUL, camera- and editing-play. You've read Pressfield's The War of Art, right? If not, give it a go. It's short, concise and - well...you know/you'll see.
ReplyDeletexoxo
I have it...but not read it. I had it early in my camera adventure and thought (ha ha) resistance would never be an issue! HOW STUPID OF ME! Pulling it out now...
Delete