"You walk like you're looking for something. You walk like a photographer.." Now what does that mean? That's a quote from another thought provoking post by tango baby. On this occasion it was her "street muse" (my title) who said this. They'd never seen one another before and yet he knew something about her and her art.
That really made me think. I've lately been reflecting upon this passing year. I've begun to map the path of my quest towards the craft of photography.
For my purposes I'm not aiming to become a 'fine art art photographer', a 'professiona'l or an expert photographer. That's a noun. I need verbs, the words of action. I have been reading, practicing, consulting, critiquing, studying, playing, blogging and clicking along all this year. I intend to so the same this next year. Perhaps i'll make a few modifications like setting a goal or two, God forbid!
One of the results of living the life of a verb is that i see things. Tango baby's street muse observed this phenomenon in her. I don't know what he saw but he recognized something compelling about her.
I've gotten better at grasping the context of something i see or viewing a scene as a frame in motion. The photograph below was just one of those kinds of frames in motion and happy accidents. The shutter became stuck while i was taking a garden self portrait and it clicked off about a hundred frames before i got up and stopped it. This experiences led quickly to the photographs i posted on this day which was one of the more important days in the development of my verb-like relationship with my camera. I saw something i had not seen before. I saw possibility. And so the story continues.....
please feel free to leave a link to your own happy accidents as you post. I have enjoyed what i have seen from those of you who have!! Happy Tuesday my friends.
xvxv
Cody always exclaims that I DON'T walk.....I do more of a stop and go! Happy accident.....I'll have to think on that one.
Posted by: Wayfaring Wanderer | January 02, 2009 at 11:51 AM
This is wonderful -- you look a whirlwind, and I see this photo as capturing all that goes in your marvelous mind and spirit! The words you write express it all. And beautifully!
Posted by: jeanie | December 31, 2008 at 10:33 AM
I love seeing you in motion, in action, surrounded by one flower or many. I think you've hit it on the head... it's the process that's the fun part. I had someone write to me to ask me to teach them how to take photographs and it floored me.
That would mean teaching someone how to see. It's the journey, not the goal. Thank you for being my muse on every day I visit you here, and all the days in between. I'm looking to years more inspiration and beauty from you, dear robin bird, in whatever way you capture it and share it with us.
xoxo
Posted by: tangobaby | December 31, 2008 at 09:18 AM
At least you took it all in stride, even smiling about it. One thing for sure Robin, you are a very good writer and photographer. I can see you one day publishing something. What I love about digital photography is, it's evolving nature. Always something new and exciting to learn, plus you build on what you already know. Some of the greatest discoveries were made by accidents. Keep on taking pictures and keep up the writing Robin. Hope you have a great New Year!
Posted by: John Maslowski | December 31, 2008 at 06:03 AM
Here's to possibility in the new year - and your trip to Paris! xoxox
Posted by: Paris Parfait | December 31, 2008 at 05:21 AM
are you holding a flower? or a handful of flowers? lovely
Posted by: elizabeth | December 30, 2008 at 07:02 PM
The photos with the curtain - so whimsical. I've made that same "accident" before and loved the results but I never thought to recreate the accident on purpose. What a lovely, surprise lesson.
Posted by: Jamie | December 30, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Now 2 comments have disappeared. I promise you I have been here. Look for my footprints, and then follow them to my words. They are out there somewhere! LOL!
Posted by: debi | December 30, 2008 at 03:44 PM
Hmmm . . . my comment disappeared. It was all good, I promise you, and perhaps at this very moment is fluttering about in cyberspace like your lovely little flower. And no doubt you are laughing as you watch it flit by, not sure where to go, what to do.
:) Debi
Posted by: debi | December 30, 2008 at 03:42 PM
I can't add anything to Peggy's comment. It's exactly how I envision you. Okay - I'll add laughing to her words. Other than that, ditto.
:) Debi
Posted by: debi | December 30, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Wow...what a summation for the year! Very right on, though about wanting to be a verb and not a noun. I couldn't agree more. I often wish that I could get my thoughts to crystalize like that and then be able to articulate it.
And, oh yes, do I love the happy accidents. The unexpected. Something that I didn't have control over but loved the outcome. There is something very exciting about that relationship of letting go of control and letting something be what it is meant to be.
I love what you do and I love what you say!
Posted by: Molokai Girl | December 30, 2008 at 03:13 PM
funny to me that this was an accident to you but to me it is quite a prolfic portrait of how I envision you...busily fluttering your wings between beauty and wisdom...seeing the world in a blur of creativity!
Posted by: Peggy | December 30, 2008 at 02:42 PM
Lovely flower muse!
Posted by: Yoli | December 30, 2008 at 01:18 PM