dripping roses

A girlfriend of mine owns a gallery/studio/boutique and she wants me to do a show of my flower photos.  Wow.  I told her that I don't have the confidence to show my pictures in that kind of setting and I'll tell you why.  I'm not about technique when I'm using a camera.  I do fiddle with the settings and try to manually get a good shot so that I don't have to adjust much more than maybe a little color later on.  I try to capture the hidden beauty and overlooked happenings that surround me.  It freaking' excites me to take 50 pictures of a single rose.  I don't know much about camera/photography technique but I am trying to learn in my spare time.  Photo magazines have been a huge help.  So, if I were to show my pictures, I think I would die if anyone asked me about technique.  What would I say?  That's the only reason why I said no.  And the girl called me on it telling me it was such a bullshit excuse.  This is a fun hobby for me and that's what I need to get across to anyone who asks me about any of my pictures.  I will learn about technique as I go along, but for the time being, you're just gonna have to know that this captured image of mine is nothing more than a really, really fantastic accident.  I'm comfortable with that, so maybe sometime in the future I will take her up on her offer.  It was totally flattering and exiting that she even put the offer out there to me.

Last year when I did the Art Everyday month with Leah, I really got into painting.  It was so therapeutic and calming for me.  Then I started taking pictures for fun - added work outs and exercise for my health - and I can't tell you how much these little changes and hobbies have helped me.  In the past, I've always strived for perfection.  I am so seeing now that nothing is perfect - there is no such thing as perfect.  I won't ever paint a perfect picture, keep a perfect house, have clear beautiful pores... not even close.  The difference is that now, I don't care.  Saturday night, I shared a long talk and a bottle of wine with one of my oldest friends who is realizing the same things as I am.  We can let go of our ideals and sick standards we've imposed on ourselves and enjoy life a lot more being totally present and content in a very messy moment.. or fret and bitch to ourselves that something is not perfect enough, thinking about the next thing we have to do.  How did I ever live like that?  God.... life is so much more less complicated now.  More laid back.  More enjoyable.

A little link sharing, perhaps?  I found the cutest website run by a woman who is really into packing lunches the Japanese bento way.  You have to take a peek.  Everything is so colorful and simply prepared.  This is an awesome way to pack a lunch and use up leftovers - especially now for mama's who will be soon spending long days by the pool, lake, or beach.  There seems to be a little bit of everything in one little lunch box.  The accessories are cute too.

OK, I am off to enjoy the rest of my day. 

Comments

[Jessie]

Congratulations on your upcoming show, Bella! :) I think it is so cool that you have been offered this opportunity...not only to show your stunning photography, but to realize just how good you are! :)

Here's to enjoying life's simple beauties. ;)

[leah]

you know what, i feel the same way about my art. i still don't think i know what i'm doing. so don't let what you think you know or don't know hold you back. really. we're always learning, it never ends. you don't need to be an "expert" to share your beautiful creations. xoxo so i think you could definitely go ahead and show your pictures!! not intending to pressure you here, i just want to encourage. :-)

[bella]

Thank you two sweeties. xo

[kristen]

ok, i've thought a lot about this since i read this post...i completely understand not wanting to show for the reasons you listed. dude, i'm right there not knowing the techie side of things. BUT. i really, really, REALLY think you should hang the show and F any techie talk that you might not know. your camera records all the info. for the shot (ie: ISO, apeture, shutter, etc.) and you can keep a notebook recording these with the image that you like and then play from there. you'll learn, i promise (so will i), but please don't sell yourself short, friend.

love. xoxo

[bella]

Yeah, I know. I will totally take her up on the offer in the future (because getting everything organized will take time). I thought about it alot - and again - doing this as a hobby, not as a profession, is so much fun for me. I only capture things based on how they make me feel. If the picture comes out good - hey - I'm happy. If on the number side it's all wrong, there's not much I can do about that!!!
I'm not even worried or focused on this anymore.. totally let go of it.
xo

[Melba]

I totally think you should let your work be shown in public ~ that being said I also think there is this certain amount of unwritten pressure here in the cyber world to "make it big" with whatever hobby we have. Like the joy of the hobby in itself isn't enough. I have heard it said (especially in the forums on Etsy)that people are selling themselves short because they are not pricing high enough for their art or networking enough, but you know there is nothing wrong with a hobby being a hobby! I do sell my art and therefor have a business license and pay taxes, but really, personally I feel much of what I create is for the feeling, not the imcome. But that doesn't mean I would turn down the cash or exposure! ~ it is just not my #1 priority.

[bella]

and that's how I feel.. thanks girly. xo

[Becca]

Bottom line, Bella, is do what you feel comfortable with at this moment. Your photos and paintings have this lovely free spirit about them which is what makes them so magical. Enjoy creation for creation's sake, and if/when you want to take it to another level, I'm betting the opportunities will be there.