I absolutely love spending time outside. I am always in awe of our Earth and all of the good things that it provides us. God is the ultimate artist and it kind of blows my mind how things work together in perfect harmony to create the ecosystems that we enjoy. I feel really fortunate to live in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia because it has so much beauty. We're surrounded by salt water marshes and wetlands, beautiful beaches (both oceanfront and bayfront), stunning coastlines, and a short drive away we have mountains. I put together a photographic Earth appreciation post for you to enjoy! Some of these are taken locally, in Hampton Roads, but some are from of our other travels and will be noted. Forget not that the Earth delights to feel your bare feet and the wind longs to play with your hair. - Kahlil Gibran If you'd like for me to come along on your next adventure outdoors, click the Contact tab above or just click here. I'd love to talk with you about documenting your time spent together, outside.
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I was making my usual morning cup of Earl Grey in my favorite mug a few weeks ago and I heard the familiar notification sound that my phone makes when I get an email. I open up my account and my eyes are slow to adjust, but I think it says that one of my images was selected for exhibition. I see words like "congratulations" and phrases like "the competition was tough" and "the standard was high". I blink. Re-read it again. And then again. I see a link at the bottom to view the exhibit and I scroll down and I see a very familiar picture...a photograph I made. And it hits me then that my work was included among so many talented photographers that I deeply admire and look up to. And an environmental portrait that I made was included among theirs. I am so filled with gratitude and honestly, I am humbled. To the amazing jurors, thank you so much for seeing the magic that I see in this photograph and for believing in my work. To see the whole exhibit, please click here. It's so inspiring!
Finding inspiration in the everyday, ordinary moments is one of my favorite things to do. It is a challenge, for sure, but I welcome the challenge. It's something I am always and forever working on. I have worked hard to train my eyes and my brain to seek out these things- to study the light, to think about composition, to think about colors. There are others whose work I admire, who I feel are so much better at this than me. But I also know this: comparison is the thief of joy. You will never know joy if you are comparing your progress and your work to others. Your path is your path. Your creative journey is yours alone. Here are a few of the ways I continue to find inspiration in the everyday:
These are just a few of the ways I am striving to better myself and my art. When I am in a creative rut, it helps to do things that are different. Something that allows you to stretch your creative muscles. Sometimes when you do something out of the ordinary, it sparks that one thing that was missing, or obstructing, your creative flow.
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AuthorJess is a photographer serving families located in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. She specializes in documentary and storytelling photography. Categories
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