It’s so easy to chuck in a self directed challenge. I’m up to date 6 of my photography challenge on Instagram and I struggled a little this morning.
I thought I should be running instead of walking. I didn’t know what to take a photo of and I felt the need to get it over and done with as quickly as possible. I was beginning to mutter what is the point?
So I remembered why I began.
10-15 years ago, maybe even 20 now – I was obsessed with photography and bought some beautiful cameras and lenses during that time. Then the boys grew up and I lost my favourite subjects. Plus, iPhone cameras became pretty good. I always had one in my pocket. My DSLR’s and lenses were big and bulky. I stopped using them.
And they sat on a shelf in my office, gathering dust. I thought about selling them but couldn’t do it. Yet every time I looked at them I was annoyed by my laziness and their lack of use.
So last week I challenged myself to use them. Every day. And this week has been different. Different in a really good way.
Photography and walking around with a camera pulls me into the moment. When I’m head down running, I’m deep in my head. Which isn’t always a nice place as it cycles through worries and frustrations.
When I’m considering the landscape for potential photos I notice everything. This morning, not really knowing where to begin, I simply chose yellow.
There were so many yellow flowers and objects that in the end, I had to become super selective.
So the challenge continues. And will continue for as long as I can. It may get boring for others on Instagram but that doesn’t matter – it isn’t for them, it’s for me. Which is a good way to use and think about social media in general. We shouldn’t post anything artful whilst wondering how someone else will feel about it.
Art is for art itself. And the making of it changes us, in many beautiful ways.
Have a lovely day, from the inside out, and I hope you notice every bit of it.
