This is {HONESTY}

This wild flower has self seeded all over my garden, from where I'm a little unsure. Probably from one of those free mix seed packets I through into the back border last summer! At first they looked like unwanted weeds as they rapidly grew before my eyes. They bolted up overnight and then burst forth into tall stems of  tiny purple and, more beautiful, white flowers.

This little bloom is abundant, vigorous and beautiful and has got me thinking (as you probably know from previous posts I'm doing a lot of that right now) as to the irony of this chance germination. As I have made the decision to down tools in order to force myself to slow down, live in the moment and recognise my achievements and only to work from a standpoint of total self indulgence rather than for any outside gain.....look what comes to grow in my garden...this is Honesty!



Have a wonderful day and please take a moment to be in the moment wherever you are. Love Sarah x  

Being Away {The start of a different kind of Journey}

I have just returned from a week away to the tiny Spanish island of Ibiza. It was the first time aboard from my children and they loved everything about it. From the aeroplane, the warm early May sun, the clear sea, the cove beaches, the food, and everything in between. This trip was intended as nothing more than a well needed family get away, something for us all to look forward to. 

I refused to take my big 'grown up' camera! Instead I packed light and opted form my little Samsung NX1000. I wanted a break from work, from Facebook, emails and the Internet. I wanted only to communicate with the five people I traveled with, my husband, my children and my parents. Bliss...yes it was! It was just the pause I needed to still my mind, and when I finally did I was quite amazed at what I observed. 

I consider myself to be a relaxed person (anyone who knows me will probably laugh at this statement). Because in reality (obviously not my own) I'm really anything but relaxed! The first few days of the holiday, I found I was actually having difficulties just chilling out with everyone. I couldn't even relax enough to read my book. I'm know I'm not great at stopping, I feel that I'm wasting time. I feel compelled to make the most out of every thought, to try and realise everything that goes through my head. My mind rants on and on, one idea after another. Crashing thoughts like waves on the shore! One over lapping another of inspirational ideas, to-do lists and planned projects. (And I find myself thinking the only other thing that crashes to shore are shipwrecks!) I NEED calmer waters, where I can reflect. They say you can't reflect in running water and it so true! 

As the holiday went on I started writing my thoughts down. I thought about how I could address this desire to slow down and be okay with it. I also thought about how I could use my work, as a photographer, to help me. And, finally I wrote down the things about myself I started to observe.

For now let's just say I have started an altogether different kind of journey and I have no idea as to it's destination.



 

{PHOTOGRAPHY NOTES}
I took many, rather dreadful, family snaps, and a small handful of images to just remind me of this special holiday. I was really careful to never detract my attention away from what was going on around me for no more than a few minutes at a time to snap some inspirational images of what was close by. I would have loved to explore the island, venture into every cove and wonder peacefully through the islands village dwellings. But this was a family holiday and my attention was on it being just that..... 

Processed with Beyond the Lens Photoshop Actions, North Light and a touch of Nottingham & Sway.

 

Seen for the first time...

I get a real sense of inner beauty and a deeper connection when I combine and present a small collection of images together. These images are subtle, softer and have nothing in particular of their own to make them stand out. In fact there really isn't anything about them at all! But when combined, with other similar images, suddenly I see them! I feel them and they harmonise to set a scene. The first inclinations of a story emerge and that I adore.  Just like musical instruments, somethings just work better together then they do alone. Perhaps there is a lot in life that work's better together than alone, {thought}. 

Spring Refocused

I find myself gathering my thoughts more so at this time of year. Clearing out the old to make way for the new.  I work in the garden to prepare beds and boarders for vegetables and sown flower seeds and beans.  As I work I clear through my thinking too, assess the importance of the direction my work and think of new projects to work on over the summer.




I've also been clearing through my old photographic files, and I've been amazed at the huge shift in my work over the past few years. I stumbled upon a 'back-up' folder full of my first textured attempts. I was quite horrified at how dreadful they were and initially felt ashamed. Then I got to thinking and I realised that my very first creative stumblings were just that! A way of finding my creative feet, a necessity for any journey. I'm actually kind of grateful that I came across this file as it made me realise just how far I've come and how I've continued to evolve my style. I feel that I'm now beginning to really discover 'me' beyond the layers of learning.  I've spent, and invested, so much time in 'learning' I'm finally ready to set sail, take a bigger leap of faith and wonder again into the unknown. 

April Blossom

To work without regard for any outcome, other than true self expression, is to have complete creative freedom.

Enjoy Sx 

I love everything their is to love about trees in bloom! I think it's the view point of being underneath them looking up towards the beautiful dappled light of the sky. I just adore the way they sway and dance in the breeze and even when their blossom starts to fade it rains down like pink snowflakes.  They may only last a week or so but trees in bloom are just heaven. 

As a child my grandparents lived on an avenue of cheery trees and in spring the blossom would create the most magnificent display. The street was narrow and the decision was made to widen the road surface to cater for the growing number of cars and the main bus route. The council cut down nearly all the trees in the avenue in order to make way for a wider road. As a child I was really sadened by this heartless distruction of beauty just for the sake of being able to provide car parking! But do you know what? Out of the 30 to 40 trees that lined that road, a few were left untouched! They were the ones outside my grandparents home. A true blessing, I thought so anyway.

 

Processing tip: I've proceesed these images to enhance the pale colour and hues that already existed. I  wanted to pull through the cool light from the overcast day and contrast that against the pretty delicate pinks. When I designed my {Beyond the Lens Photoshop Actions} I wanted to have the tools to be able to specifically enhance hue and tonal gradients.  To create this look I Pre Proceesed with ProTecII and then I ran Creative Actions: Barbican, Sway and North Light (in that order) and tweeked their opactity to achive the tones I was after.  Hope that helps. Sx