Update from a longtime photographer full time mom

[AHL]

Well hello everyone. It has been 5 months since we last spoke and I wanted to return your kindness and help in my struggles to find my place and purpose through my photography. I felt I owed that to all of you who really did help to inspire me to continue the search of finding me through photography. The journey continues but I have found a niche that seems to challenge me and hopefully can help me integrate and express my emotions into something tangible. I feel that I need to be honest in my update in exploring my journey.
Self portraiture seems to be the avenue that suits this purpose best for me. Exploring ways to express my emotions and thoughts through self portraiture challenges me on many different levels and helps me to delve into issues that surround me.
It is difficult to get across an emotional issue successfully but I feel using myself as a subject works best for me .
This pursuit is still very much in its early stages but the issues I struggle with is how to balance or whether I should consider expressing “sentiments” not considered politically or socially popular by some. I hesitate to share more as not to get involved in issues that some may have different opinions on and I do not wish to offend anyone. Although the various subject matter may perhaps not be of the popular opinion I feel the need to express myself on these subject .
Again thanks to all for caring enough to respond to my original introduction, and taking the time to read this update which I hope doesn’t come across as self involved as it sounds to me.
Anita

 

[Kino]

Every individual has their own path to pursue in photography; none should be subject to a vote outside of the person doing the creating. Just pursue what you are instinctively drawn to; there are no right or wrongs here.

Not everyone might enjoy or understand your path, but that's OK. Do as you like and feel compelled to do.

Good luck!

 

[Derek Lofgreen]

Anita, Thanks for coming back with an update. So glad you have found the beginnings of your journey. Pull that thread and listen to that voice, it will lead you to where you need to go.

Keep it up,
D.

 

[koraks]

Good to hear from you @AHL - and also that you've focused your photographic journey in a particular direction. Whether or not you choose to share the results here, I wish you the best of luck in further pursuing it!

issues I struggle with is how to balance or whether I should consider expressing “sentiments” not considered politically or socially popular by some.

I think perhaps we could start by distinguishing making the photographs from showing them. And if they're going to be shown, there may be ways to exercise a certain degree of control over what audience gets to see them. This may make the endeavor feel safer?

 

[loccdor]

I agree with the others.

Never censor your art at the moment of creation, because that is stifling to the flow of your ideas. You can choose who you show it to later.

There are many artists that I will never appreciate but I still like that they had the opportunity to express themselves. There are also artists out there who are considered broadly offensive but that doesn't mean their work is worth less from that. They just have a harder and less accepting road to travel.

 

[Don_ih]

It sounds like you mostly want to engage in a personal project of expression, so your main audience will be yourself - you will be the one that gets the greatest amount of value from it. You may also feel the need to show others (as the end point of that expressive attempt), and then you get to control what audience you are trying to reach and what you will show them.

All personal work has a value, even if no one sees it. As for being offensive - some offences are worse than others and sometimes the right thing to do is offend.

 

[Saganich]

I once knew a photographer, Sarah, I met a bunch of times, in both the photo and music world. The first time (memories a bit hazy) I meet Sarah we were at a presentation in DUMBO for photo contest winners watching a slide show of everyone's work. When my work was shown it wasn't mine, but my name on someone else's work, lol, some intern got it all mixed up. Afterwards I was bummed out drinking cheap wine and smoking cigarettes on the roof deck. Sara came over and bummed a cigarette and we got to talking a bit. Her presentation that night (again hazy memories) had an edited version of an ongoing self-portrait project where she had/has been taking a polaroid selfie every day since 1997. I remember discussing self examination, honesty, self expression, emotion, and managing an unabashed presentation, which reminded me of your posts. I don't think there is another avenue other than self portraits for this line of inquiry except writing perhaps. Anyway I see Sara has a website with her polaroid's, maybe interesting for you. I should add her work isn't office friendly if you are at the office, lol.

Polaroid of the Day | Sarah Small

Entranced by the concept of repetition, accumulation, and self-examination, Grammy-winning composer, singer, director, performer, and photographer, Sarah Small, began shooting a diaristic “Polaroid of the Day” in 1997 during her freshman of college, and continued the project for 15 years until...

www.sarahsmall.com

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to Photrio!

 

[mshchem]

I once knew a photographer, Sarah, I met a bunch of times, in both the photo and music world. The first time (memories a bit hazy) I meet Sarah we were at a presentation in DUMBO for photo contest winners watching a slide show of everyone's work. When my work was shown it wasn't mine, but my name on someone else's work, lol, some intern got it all mixed up. Afterwards I was bummed out drinking cheap wine and smoking cigarettes on the roof deck. Sara came over and bummed a cigarette and we got to talking a bit. Her presentation that night (again hazy memories) had an edited version of an ongoing self-portrait project where she had/has been taking a polaroid selfie every day since 1997. I remember discussing self examination, honesty, self expression, emotion, and managing an unabashed presentation, which reminded me of your posts. I don't think there is another avenue other than self portraits for this line of inquiry except writing perhaps. Anyway I see Sara has a website with her polaroid's, maybe interesting for you. I should add her work isn't office friendly if you are at the office, lol.

Polaroid of the Day | Sarah Small

Entranced by the concept of repetition, accumulation, and self-examination, Grammy-winning composer, singer, director, performer, and photographer, Sarah Small, began shooting a diaristic “Polaroid of the Day” in 1997 during her freshman of college, and continued the project for 15 years until...

www.sarahsmall.com

That's an amazing body of work. I need to run this by my wife, the artist and all knowing one hereabouts.

 

[AHL]

Every individual has their own path to pursue in photography; none should be subject to a vote outside of the person doing the creating. Just pursue what you are instinctively drawn to; there are no right or wrongs here.

Not everyone might enjoy or understand your path, but that's OK. Do as you like and feel compelled to do.

Good luck!

Thanks! I needed to hear that sentiment! And will do!

 

[AHL]

Anita, Thanks for coming back with an update. So glad you have found the beginnings of your journey. Pull that thread and listen to that voice, it will lead you to where you need to go.

Keep it up,
D.

Thank you. I don’t produce a lot of work but I hope to keep producing.

 

[AHL]

Good to hear from you @AHL - and also that you've focused your photographic journey in a particular direction. Whether or not you choose to share the results here, I wish you the best of luck in further pursuing it!


I think perhaps we could start by distinguishing making the photographs from showing them. And if they're going to be shown, there may be ways to exercise a certain degree of control over what audience gets to see them. This may make the endeavor feel safer?

Yes I usually don’t concern myself with what people think of my pics since I only show a few people but my focus seems to be on social issues rather than personal ones in the past. But I’ll leave the thoughts of showing the photos to a time when I maybe ready to deal with that
Thanks. Good to hear from you !

 

[AHL]

It sounds like you mostly want to engage in a personal project of expression, so your main audience will be yourself - you will be the one that gets the greatest amount of value from it. You may also feel the need to show others (as the end point of that expressive attempt), and then you get to control what audience you are trying to reach and what you will show them.

All personal work has a value, even if no one sees it. As for being offensive - some offences are worse than others and sometimes the right thing to do is offend.

You stated exactly how I feel. Thanks! It’s good to be understood!

 

[AHL]

I once knew a photographer, Sarah, I met a bunch of times, in both the photo and music world. The first time (memories a bit hazy) I meet Sarah we were at a presentation in DUMBO for photo contest winners watching a slide show of everyone's work. When my work was shown it wasn't mine, but my name on someone else's work, lol, some intern got it all mixed up. Afterwards I was bummed out drinking cheap wine and smoking cigarettes on the roof deck. Sara came over and bummed a cigarette and we got to talking a bit. Her presentation that night (again hazy memories) had an edited version of an ongoing self-portrait project where she had/has been taking a polaroid selfie every day since 1997. I remember discussing self examination, honesty, self expression, emotion, and managing an unabashed presentation, which reminded me of your posts. I don't think there is another avenue other than self portraits for this line of inquiry except writing perhaps. Anyway I see Sara has a website with her polaroid's, maybe interesting for you. I should add her work isn't office friendly if you are at the office, lol.

Polaroid of the Day | Sarah Small

Entranced by the concept of repetition, accumulation, and self-examination, Grammy-winning composer, singer, director, performer, and photographer, Sarah Small, began shooting a diaristic “Polaroid of the Day” in 1997 during her freshman of college, and continued the project for 15 years until...

www.sarahsmall.com

Wow what an amazing body of work. I am humbled looking at it. It truly works !
Thank you for introducing me to her work

 

[AHL]

Welcome to Photrio!

Thank you!