Pause and reflect

Whatever phase of life you are in, make time to pause and reflect where you are heading to. It is good time to insert a coma now and realign yourself to your inner self before your life ends in a full stop. – Roopleen

I was given the following questions to reflect on my photography during one of the online classes I attended recently. I find myself gaining a lot of clarity by taking time to ponder those questions and answered them thoughtfully. It is a good practice to take time to pause and reflect on my photography. I can see myself returning to answering those questions from time to time.

When you think about your photography, what's become clear to you recently?

My emotional response is very important with my photography. Instead of focusing on the aesthetics of the images, which of course I want to have a nicely composed, properly edited images, the emotional side is of utmost importance too. I take more time and ask myself what feelings a certain scene gives me before I take any images nowadays, and when I do find myself feeling something, I hope to find ways to translate it into my images and hopefully it comes across to my viewers.

- What confusion has cleared up? Still confused at times:-).

The confusion was I had to have professional ambition with my photography. I remember when Laura asked me how I defined success with my photography, I was taken back by the question as I always see photography as a hobby, a healthy outlet for my creativity. I was confused at times I needed to have some ambitions goals. I did try entering some competitions and submitted images for magazine consideration before, and got some success, I didn’t find myself getting much satisfaction for spending the time in that respect. Instead of focusing my effort to create for external validation, I very much am in the camp of “shooting for joy”. My photography is my jar for my fulfillment. I am no less valid even though I don’t take photos for a living. We each have our path and I am perfectly happy with mine.

- What feels resolved?

I will continue to grow and morph as a person despite turning 50 in a few months. My photography changes along with my life experience. I used to get very hung up on finding or building my style, but I am feeling relaxed about it nowadays. My voice will surface in due time if I create the work for myself. There is no need to fuss about it too much.

- What do you understand now that you didn't before?

I do have my own voice. I like intimate scenes way more than the grand landscape with big vistas that I used to be drawn to.

- Can you see how you've grown?

With the technical side of things, I think I have reached my peak already. What I am hoping is my work will be an extension of my personality, and I feel I am heading in the right direction. I took time to back up some of my edited files last week. I looked and reflected on some of the images I took during the past few months, especially during the time after my first mentoring session with Laura in June, to my great surprise, I found myself seeing images that have more personality, and they have a clearer vision. I could see a trajectory forming, and I do find it gratifying to have that revelation. This experience has taught me it is a good practice to occasionally look at my work and reflect on them. I am thankful Laura didn’t mince her words when we had our time together as I found myself taking what she said to heart when I am working nowadays, and the progress I have made reflects that working experience we have together. It is good to have found someone I feel comfortable working with who can give me an objective view from time to time.

- What changes have you made that feel good/right? Since week 29’s lesson, I have started doing those mini folios when I try working with a theme, or some words that have meaning to me. I find the deliberate practice: working with a purpose has worked well for me. I have a creative journal now where I write down my ideas, or things I need to work on when I photograph. I must admit it is sheer agony at times pulling images together when my ideas are vague, and there are times I feel like banging my head on the wall, but what comes with struggle, is a lot of satisfaction even when the end results are not perfect. I learn a lot and enjoy the practice. It helps train my eye to see visual relationships between images, and I edit them so there is a strong visual cohesion within the set. I find the practice challenging and yet very rewarding. I hope to continue as much as I can.