I had a few takeaways

Well, last year I had an entire syllabus laid out for the year and I was going in for the deep dive.  And while I didn’t totally blow it off, I probably missed by a little more than half.  Considering all that happened I don’t think that’s too bad.

I read the first book, Zen Camera, with a friend of mine, Lori Z.  We would zoom every week and read a chapter, give ourselves assignments based on what that chapter was about.  Check in the next week, review and critique each other’s work.  When

The main lesson I took away from that book, and it’s something I’ve heard many times before, was to carry your camera with you everywhere you go.  And I did, for about 2 months or so.  Then it petered away as life got in the way. 

There weren’t too many photo outings this year, with my mom being sick and such.  I would spend most of my time with her and then moving.  I remember one day in the summer, I helped her down into my sister’s backyard, we laid there by the pool talking and enjoying the nice weather.  She eventually fell asleep.  I took my camera and just shot the clouds as they floated by.  I wondered about Alfred Stieglitz, and how he came to shoot his famous cloud pictures.

I took a summer job that transitioned into a new job.  More on that in the second half of “It was a really bad year”.  I think it was November that I went to Baltimore for a conference for work.  I had brought my camera, but it was intrusive attending classes and such with it.  So, it mostly stayed in my room. 

One evening we had some free time there was a bar/restaurant that a group of us wanted to go to.  So, off I went with no camera, walking along the waterfront at the inner harbor. 

I haven’t been there in probably 35 years.  The aquarium was still pretty new and there wasn’t much else there.  Well, I’ll tell you it’s changed since then, there were all kinds of things to see and do.  So, much that I’m going back this March while on a road trip to Tennessee.  Anyway, I digress. 

The only thing that I had with me was my cell phone.  I must admit that I have always looked down on cell phones to take pictures.  But we all know the cliché, “use the camera that you have with you”.  I did.  All the pictures above are taken with my cell phone, and I don’t mind saying I think they’re pretty good, considering. 

My Take Away’s

I have a small Sony RX100 V point and shoot camera.  I’ve resolved to take it with me everywhere. 

I am, and to date pretty much have, going to create something every day.  Whether I’m out on a photo shoot, in the studio working with mixed media, encaustic, writing for this website.  Anything that can stretch the creative muscles, expand the creative side of the brain, push myself beyond my current comfort zone.

I’ve been trying to reset my circadian system, so I wake up early every day.  For most of my life I would wake up 10 or 15 minutes before my alarm clock.  When I was married, I’d have to get up at dawn to feed the animals and get ready to start work at seven.  The last 20 years working at the University of Scranton, I fell into the habit of sleeping right up to the last minute, jumping out of bed, getting dressed and getting to work about 10 minutes early.  I bought a sunrise and sunset alarm clock and have been waking up before 6:30 every day.  The goal is to be up every day by six. 

The path to improving oneself is never ending.  Like making the bed in the morning, doing laundry or, washing dishes; it’s just something that we should do and embrace.  That’s where I am on my creative path, today!