The Creative Process

    I have been slowly editing photos from several shoots. It's a time consuming process for a nit picky perfectionist such as myself (not to mention my "real" job gets in the way).  At some point I just have to be done with the editing process!  It really takes me back to my early days as an artist when I would go insane over how some little smudge or mark on my drawing/painting was out of place. Sometimes it would get so bad that I would tear up my work, heck I even set it on fire once or twice!  I get a little out of control sometimes...... Photography is no different.  I'm sensitive about my work, craving kind critiques and most of all support. I do love the editing process and photography has definitely become my new art.  You might think that it takes nothing to snap some photos and adjust the contrast and colors and you'd be right! It does, however, take considerable time and effort to plan an idea for a shot from start to finish.  The lighting has to be right, right equipment, right camera settings, right personal mood.  These are all important parameters and artistic decisions in and of themselves. Have you ever taken some photos with an idea in your head and felt disappointment when you looked at the photo later on.. having to tell your friends, "This doesn't really do what I was seeing any justice".  The pros don't get those amazing shots without planning, and without adjusting the photos afterward.  For those artists out there like myself, you will understand the amount of work that goes into a creative vision!  Now the fun really begins, you open your image file on your workstation and now selectively adjust the colors, the saturation, the feel of the photo.  Remember, you started with a vision.. now you have to convey your vision visually to someone else and hope they can see what you see/saw in your head at the onset.

    The creative process is wonderful and frustrating all at the same time.  Some of the works I am most proud of others don't care for and some I don't really care for are sold for a good deal of money.  In the end it is something I am wildly passionate about, something I love to teach and something that is all of my own conception.  I don't do it for money, fame or recognition (though those things are nice, let's not kid ourselves).

Cheers,
Linda

How does this one sit with you? Tell me what it makes you feel or think!