Weeks ago when I started reading Chris Orwig’s Digital Poetry, and ideas for designing a home photography course were just brewing within me, I asked myself, as Chris does in Digital Poetry, what inspires me. I jotted down a list, just off the top of my head, of what makes me want to “go.” Here is what I came up with some ten weeks ago:
What inspires me,
old photographs, blurry photographs, in focus, good and bad composition, beautiful photographs
yoga; observing and being in the crane and upward dog pose, I feel so strong,
breathing in and out practicing yoga by myself or with my daughter, looking out our back windows and snow covered trees,
smiling back at Levi’s toothless grin; I can’t get enough of his sloppy kisses too,
the power in my husband’s eyes, their darkness, their emotion,
my best friend, her life amazes me, her work inspires me,
other photographers . . . .
Ten weeks later, I look back and find inspiration in these sources, and I feel so lucky because so much else inspires me too . . . it as though once I started down this path, this study of framing and composing a picture, that inspiration abounds; it is everywhere. With access to the internet and connection with other photographers and bloggers, I find inspiration too. While reading your posts, I found the following inspirational:
Bluebirdbaby’s “Thankful for . . .”
little red buttons‘ amazing photos
Mama-om’s insightful thoughts on kids and junk
this poem published over at Serene Journey
and this photographer. I can only say that I am in love.
What else? My kids, of course. Your kids too. I love kids; uh, let me rephrase: I love your kids when you’re with them. What doesn’t inspire me . . . being the watchful eye (er, discipline) for other peoples’ kids . . . but I do love kids. They’re curiosity, their innocence, their energy . . . yes, even their tantrums and what some parents call “spiritedness.” I love it all.
Last, I will leave you with this photo, which I took over the weekend at a bookstore. I just love their little feet too.
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Last, if you’d like to join me in my home photography course, here is a PDF of my syllabus. Leave a comment or e-mail me at jessicamonte@jessicamonte.com to let me know if you have any questions. I’d love to study with you!
{ 4 comments }
Wow! Thank you so much! I find you inspiring as well!
I’ll have to check out your home photography course, I have so much to learn and this seems like it would be a great way to do so.
Jessica Reply:
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:37 pm
I’m so glad I stumbled across your work. Amazing photos! I hope you’ll join me in my course, or at least, we can learn side by side, course or no course, :-)
Thanks for your syllabus! I’m so impressed that you are doing this and I would love to join you, but my schedule seems a bit crazy now. I’m such an amateur – I think I really need to spend time with my camera manual. I’m excited though – I did a photo shoot last weekend for a friend’s book cover and I have another shoot coming up for a friend’s massage webpage (yes, I’ll get paid with a massage, sounds good to me). It’s so cool that you got to do a wedding! Can’t wait to see your homework!
Jessica Reply:
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Dcan, I don’t think it matters. Just know that what you really are is a photographer. You can see images from both weddings I covered. Go to my photography site: http://www.jessicamonte.com and click on weddings. One is mostly in black and whites, which is the small evening wedding I just assisted. Other photos were taken at a wedding that was in the mountains. I had so much fun at both!
And oh yes, a massage is a worthy reward, lol. :-)
Yes, like Abby and as I have mentioned to you before, you inspire me too!
Beautiful line about your husband’s eyes!
Jessica Reply:
March 3rd, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Thanks Pras. He still is a mystery to me, :-)
Story time- what a sweet image.
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