Category Archives: Creativity

Big In Korea

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For the last couple of years, the Canadian and I have mused over a term that we created to describe my photography.  Without any seriousness at all, we started saying that I was “Big in Korea”. Of all the photo publications that I have had, for some reason a few of them have been in Korea. So when a lovely editor from Elle Girl Korea asked to feature some of my photos in an upcoming Spring issue, I was thrilled to be featured, but also because I had another chance to say, “I’m big in Korea!” Maybe I should have some pins and t shirts made up. ;)

Seriously though, I’m very honoured to be in featured in the magazine along with some amazing photographers including Ye Rin Mok, Whitney Johnson, Azuree Wiitala and Elle Moss. I can’t read the article as it’s in Korean but I know it’s called Days of Blossom and about photographing flowers, which is one of my favourite things to do! It’s such a lovely treat. The magazine itself has got some great articles and some beautiful photography. Thank you to Joohee for kindly sending me a copy.

Thanks so much for the lovely feature Elle Girl Korea!

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Impossible Is Possible

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Soft and sweet for ‘Down’ on Words To Shoot By. Often I don’t know where my 3 photographs will take me when I start shooting for Words To Shoot By. Steph Parke is the creator behind this project and once a fortnight, she asks us to shoot 3 images based on one given word. I don’t always contribute, but when I do, I try to do something that’s not so planned out. I enjoy imagining the word and seeing where it takes me. These were shot on the gorgeous Impossible Project PX600 Silver Shade UV+ film which is my favourite of all their films so far. I love the creamy tones and the subtleties in the variations of lightness and dark.

Speaking of Impossible Project films, this weekend, the Impossible team gave us a sneak peek at their newest film, Impossible PX680 which is a colour film made for 600 cameras. It was such a joy to see my twitter feed flooding with new photos taken with the film. My girl Jen has knocked it out of the park with these shots of her cherubs, as has Azuree Wiitala with these babies. If you take a look through the pool, you will see strong tones and some colours that rival those of the beloved Time Zero film of the past- check out the colour of skies! This film looks very promising and I’m most looking forward to not needing the use of my shielding contraption. Apparently it doesn’t need to be shielded like the more sensitive films they have released so far.

The film is still in beta mode and is being tweaked for a better release in June. I cannot wait.

Don’t forget to stop by Words To Shoot By to see all the artists’ contributions this week.

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What I Really Want

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OK, kids, I’m putting it all out there today. Are you ready?

We all have dreams, hopes and ways in which we imagine we could be living our lives but often I find standing up to those dreams and announcing them to the world is far more risky than actually going after them. I have a ton of things I’d like to do in my life and very often I’m plagued with the “you can’t do that” voices whispering in my ear. You all know what I’m talking about, don’t you?

Usually, I don’t like talking about what I really want because the self esteem eater inside of me tries to persuade me that it won’t happen, so I keep it to myself. I just roll them up into a little ball of yarn and keep them tucked away out of sight.

“Why tell people about your dreams when they likely won’t happen? Don’t put yourself through the embarrassment! You won’t find that kind of success and happiness, so why put it out there?”

That’s what my head tries to convince me of all the time. Today I say, “Screw you, head.”

Today I am going to tell you what I really want. Are you ready?

  • I want a magazine/ publisher to send me around the world with my camera. I want this magazine/publisher to send me to a foreign country to shoot a series of photographs that said magazine/publisher will then publish in magazine or book.
  • I want to own a photography studio where I photograph imaginative, quirky kids in natural light. There will be clouds and handmade ships and floating carpets. And a long table filled with donuts and chocolate milk. And giggles, lots of giggles.
  • I want to shoot and write another book. I have ideas for at least 3.
  • I want to shoot with medium format. I want a Contax 645 to make this happen.

These are the things I want today. I don’t know if any of them will ever happen but life is a work in progress, right? I will keep working my way towards them. Of course, if there is anyone out there that could help to make this happen, please email me.

And now…I want YOU to tell me what you want. Go on, be brave! Put it out there for this little pocket of the world to see. Come on, you know you want to…Maybe I’ll even turn this into a list of all our wants in another post. Wouldn’t that be fun to just see all our dreams out there? Tell your friends to come by and tell us what they want. I want a big list of happy wants and dreams and hopes! Tell me! Tweet this so others can join in too. What do you want?

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The Idea Cloud

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Lately I’ve been a little lost- lost in a sea of my own thoughts, all crashing into each other and mixing me up. You know that cloud of dust that Pig-Pen from Peanuts has that follows him wherever he goes? I feel like I’ve been walking around with that cloud above my head for months. But my cloud isn’t dust, it’s thousands of scribbled thoughts all jumbled and intertwined, waiting for the organised part of my brain to unravel them and neatly place them where they need to go. The organised sector of my brain must be on holidays because the cloud is still there and at times I feel like it’s great because I go to bed thinking, “Yay, today was awesome, I came up with all these ideas and thoughts of creative magic”. But then the next morning, they are all still up there, tangled and messy and floating.

To keep myself on track, I’ve started journaling in 2 different books. One is a pure ideas book where I write whatever I’m feeling, thinking, seeing. I stick photographs and little pieces of ephemera from my day in the journal and then come back to it when I’m feeling the Pig-Pen Idea Cloud appear. I get the ideas out of the cloud and onto paper. It seems to be working so far.

The other is a more organised journal that lays out my week ahead for projects, work and to do lists. It also has a section for blog posts and I section I call “Me”. Under the “Me” heading are bullet points that I have to tick off at the end of each week. It’s sad that I have to remind myself to go to bed by a certain time, to exercise, drink water and to eat a certain way but when life is so complicated, it’s simple things like looking after yourself that get forgotten.

Do you keep journals to keep yourself on track? How do you deal with your Pig-Pen cloud?

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Polaroid Afternoons

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I’m more about the pictures than the words right now.

I’ve been playing with an expired pack of 669 that has sat on a shelf for the last few years. I love the colours even with the ghostly chemical splotches. Do you enjoy using films or cameras that are a bit experimental or do you prefer a cleaner look? Years ago, I would have considered these photographs a mistake but now I see the beauty in the crazy.

Speaking of film, Suzie of Black Eyed Angel has opened registrations for a film photography workshop she is running called Shooting the Breeze. Suzie shoots primarily with 35mm film and is a Radiohead fan…a girl after my own heart! The course is running from the 28th March to the 22nd May. You can register for the course here!

Thanks for all the wonderful recent comments about the book everyone. I truly appreciate them all!

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Polaroid Kind Of Day

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Hello Mocking Bird readers….this Polaroid girl is out in full force today with a little more PX 600 film coming at you. I love how the tones of this film are so varied with different light. The first ghostly shot was taken outdoors on a very cold day under cloud cover but with sun peeking through, while the second was taken indoors on a cloudy day with window light.

Even with the harsh cold elements, the film was still able to produce the top image. I use my protective cardboard device ( attached to my camera oh so elegantly with sticky tape) to shield the film when it ejects from the camera. All my shots have turned out since using it, so I’ll be sticking with it for now. This roll was taken on my SLR680 which is designed for 600 films, but I might try the next one in my SX70 with an ND filter.

I am absolutely loving experimenting with these new films. Anyone who has been on the fence about buying a Polaroid camera because of the film situation, should listen to me now and go out and buy one. This film will give you the chance to test out your Polaroid skills and allow you to feel like you’re creating something magical again.

Thank you to Anne and The Impossible Project for sending some film my way. It is very much appreciated!

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Twelve: February

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We’ve already completed a month worth of photographs for the Twelve Photography Project and I have been so thrilled with the reaction to the project. I had hoped to encourage maybe a few people to get out there and shoot a photography project for 2011, but after our first month, there are already 280 members taking part. I am over the moon at the response.

January’s theme of Wish was welcomed with open arms and I was so impressed with the beautiful photos that flooded the flickr pool. Personally, I didn’t shoot as many photos as I would have hoped, but my goal is to shoot more for this month’s theme. If you didn’t shoot as many as you had hoped, perhaps you can aim a little higher this month with me.

Today I am announcing the theme for February. I was in two minds about this because the theme is an obvious one, but I also thought that it allows for a wide scope of imaginative images and I’m pretty excited to explore the theme myself throughout February.

The theme for February is: Love

February Colour Inspiration: red, pink and all their hues.

I know it’s a little clichéd, but I can’t not have the theme of love in 2011, so February it is. Whether you shoot your children blowing kisses, your collection of adored red shoes, your girlfriend asleep on the couch, pink heart cupcakes, or your puppy playing in the yard, the possibilities are endless.

Don’t forget that you can come back here and leave a link to your images or a post on your blog that includes your Twelve photographs. I know quite a few people wrote about and shared their images on their blogs. Thank you!

Here’s to another great month of imaginative and creative photographs. How did you go for the first month? Did you shoot as much as you had hoped or do you need to step it up in February like I do?

Not sure what this is about? Check out this post for the details.

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2011, A Year Of Focus

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A lot of bloggers, creatives and philosophers like to choose a word to look to for a year. One word that can launch their aspirations and drive their success for the year. I’ve never done this myself but am drawn to this idea of giving yourself a target for the year. If I were to choose a word that would buoy my hopes for 2011, my word would be “focus”.

In 2011, I want to focus on focus. I want not to do a little bit of this and little bit of that, to not start one thing and then start another, but to concentrate my efforts in one area until I have something substantial and something that I am proud of. I hope to direct my photography down this path and to really look at why I’m shooting. At the end of 2011, I would much rather have 10 photographs that tell a story than 200 that are bits and pieces of a bowerbird’s nest. This is not to say that 200 bowerbird pictures aren’t suitable and honest, but for me right now, I need some focus and a little direction.

Have you chosen one little word in the past? How did you find it helped you throughout the year? I’m interested to see how this plays out and would love to hear your opinions on whether it worked for you or not. I’d also love to hear about your words for the year, if you’re playing along.

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