It’s been quiet over here. But there are works-in-progress.
Here’s some of what’s been going on and what I’m thinking, reading, and studying.
Finished works. Kate and I finished our year-long collaborative project, From Here to There, in June. I’ve published the book and you can take a look. Kate and her family have moved to Georgia and I’m missing her fiercely. I am even willing to Zoom or FaceTime to stay in touch!
Website Refresh. I’d like to change things up. I’ve looked at the beautiful Atlantic Template for Squarespace offered by Kate Densmore. I’m having some trouble justifying the expense since this isn’t a business. But then, maybe having creative work that gives meaning and purpose to my life, and having a place to show that work, is reason enough.
All good things must come to an end. Don’t Take PIctures is closing. I’ve followed Kat Kiernan and her team for 8 years and I’m sad to see them go. But I get it. I really do.
“It is time to rethink the purpose of a magazine in the age of social media. For all that is gained by the ability to find photographers with a few clicks of a mouse, much of the grandeur and magic of their artwork is lost when viewed in slideshows, as thumbnails, or as part of an infinite stream of images. The demands of the internet era require a churning of content that is both unfeasible for Don’t Take Pictures’ staff and antithetical to our mission.” —Kat Kiernan, Editor-in-Chief
Taking down names. And learning about namesakes with Rob Walker. Signed up for Rob’s newsletter, The Art of Noticing. Checked out his book from the the library, too.
Poetry. Can’t get this poem out of my head. What Happiness Looks Like by Marge Piercy. The poem came to me by way of the ever delightful Janice Falls and her blog, Heart Poems. And this line in particular . . . Some things are ordinary but perfect.
Back-to-school. I love the clean slate of fall. I’ve ordered new minimalist shoes for fall, Blackwing pencils (the Woody Guthrie edition), and a new LL Bean hoodie (which came in petite so I won’t have to roll the sleeves up 4 inches). I also ordered new underwear, and if you’d like to know what kind I got, you can email to ask. ☺
Stepped way out of my comfort zone. I am a quarterly contributor to ViewFinders. For my upcoming post, I interviewed one of my favorite photographers, Emily White. I’ve been working hard, behind-the-scenes! Stay tuned for the post. Scheduled for September 15th on ViewFinders.
All this goes to say that even when I am not picking up my camera often, even when it seems I am doing nothing much at all, even when there is no product or accomplishment, my mind is still fertile. Turning ideas over. And then resting. Trying things out. Discarding and re-shuffling. It’s a beautiful process.