Life Lessons from Photography | The Inner Path of Photography

November 19, 2012

Failure as Friend – by Dan Milnor

This latest blog post, “Failure as Friend,” by Daniel Milnor, photographer is wonderful. It’s so freeing for someone to share the blips in the road, be able to laugh about them, and to express so beautifully the understanding that our lives are not about perfectionism – and our “failures” are all part of living life passionately and participating fully in the creative process.

I’m going to see Dan tonight at Santa Fe University of Art and Design, where he’ll be talking about publishing Blurb books. I’ve been looking forward to his talk – looks like I’ll have a double bonus today after such a fine article.

Thanks, Dan!

“Failure as Friend,” Dan Milnor, SMOGRANCH blog

July 23, 2012

“Unexpected”

The cookies are gone, espresso savored
Warm feelings from an evening with friends.

Playful posting of photo, just taking a break, and then

Tender memories of a passionate time.

A different photo
A man who could capture
layers of emotion through a simple cup and saucer.

Images and coffee
Friendship and love

A rich life.

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July 10, 2012

Nick Waplington, “Other Edens”

Nick Waplington, “Other Edens”, 1994

My favorite photo book of the day –

Nick Waplington places his head and body atop/within many spaces that aren’t the usual.

Other images from the book and an interesting post can be found on Chris Pittman’s blog (the fish are a bonus). Frieze Magazine has a review deconstructing the deepest darkest meanings and associations –

But you really need the book in hand.

Enjoy the wonderful introduction by Marianne Wiggins and then experience the “Where’s Wally?” type journey as you turn the pages of unique image after image, Nick appearing in the most unlikely places. Then you can appreciate the mind and sensibility of this creative, slightly wacky artist.

I love how Nick is “Honoring Inner/Creating Outer” by allowing himself to express inner feelings and associations to places in an unusual way. He’s playful, yet also serious about his photographs. And he has certainly taken the concept of “travel photography” far beyond the expected.

January 22, 2012

“One Moment in Time”

We judge ourselves too harshly when we look at the now
(which may not measure up to our dreams and expectations)

and think
“This is My Life”

Rather than looking at our lives as a sequence of images
a flow of moments in time that – lived through, gathered together –
reflect complex lives of good times and bad
Triumphs and illusions of failure.

Underlying all:

The personal story of constant expression
of love, inspiration, depth of spirit, courage

The experience of pure moments
thankfulness to be alive.

Remember your story

(or perhaps you’ve forgotten
and need someone to tell it to you,
and remind you of the images)

Celebrate the amazing fact
that you are still here to tell the tale

Yes.

Then you may say,
“This is My Life.”

***

Last week I posted a short article here about “sequencing” in photography – where you use the flow of a series of photographs to tell a story, rather than depending on one image to tell it all. I found once again that the choices we make in art often reflect the way we think about life.

Must your life right now be the “ultimate image?” Or can you relax and trust in the beauty of sequencing, your true life story…

Perhaps we could remember that, just as in “sequencing,” our lives cannot be evaluated by just one image, one moment in time.

Category: Life Lessons from Photography