This week I am in Dallas taking a workshop with one of my favorite photographers. It's inspiring and I'm loving every minute of it. Our instructor created this analog Facebook like wall for us. We put out inspiration pieces on it, an image from our work and little bits of pieces of things we love. On the first day, we went around and introduced ourselves and talked about why we were here, a little bit about ourselves and what our photography is like. It was so nice to hear everyone's stories. It is always amazing to me how a group of stories can be so similar yet so unique.
For me, I am searching for new inspiration. I am a body in motion trying to stay in motion. Ideas beget ideas and action and inspiration are the seeds for ideas.
It's hard to be away from though. It's been almost 4 days and I'm missing my three guys. I like to be away and off in the world on my own every so often but after a few days I start to feel a little untethered. I need hugs from my boys and I need to know Steven is nearby. I need to see their faces. For now, I need to head back into class and immerse myself into the work, focus and enjoy the respite.
For me, I am searching for new inspiration. I am a body in motion trying to stay in motion. Ideas beget ideas and action and inspiration are the seeds for ideas.It's hard to be away from though. It's been almost 4 days and I'm missing my three guys. I like to be away and off in the world on my own every so often but after a few days I start to feel a little untethered. I need hugs from my boys and I need to know Steven is nearby. I need to see their faces. For now, I need to head back into class and immerse myself into the work, focus and enjoy the respite.
Brene says:
Very cool! Enjoy your time in Dallas! I'm heading home today too. Inspired, homesick and READY!
(05.04.11 @ 03:56 PM)
I absolutely love to travel. Yes, I dislike the lugging of bags, time changes, airport hassles and all that but I adore being in new places and seeing life in a completely different way. So, for my 40th birthday, I knew that I wanted to do something special. I took my youngest son with me on an adventure to Belize.
I had heard about Blancaneaux Lodge years ago and have always wanted to go. It's a mountain lodge in the pine forest of Belize that is owned by Francis Ford Coppola. It's a wonderful place. The staff is incredible as is the food and wine. The vegetables all come from their own organic garden at the lodge. The eggs are fresh and the fish all comes from the coast. It'll satisfy the foodie travelers for sure. The lodge itself is really pretty as well. I would describe it as eco-luxury or kind of rustic luxury. If that sounds good, then I highly recommend it.
Our room had its own little pool. All of our soap was handmade locally and smelled wonderful. Taking a shower under the stars is amazing! It took me 4 days to convince my 5 year old to do it but then loved it! (we had an indoor one too)
The rooms did not have AC but the nights were pretty cool so it wasn't bad at all. Every morning they brought Finnian fresh squeezed orange juice and me coffee. It was a perfect way to wake up.
The trip almost didn't happen. Finnian was super sick right up until the time we left. It was touch and go whether or not we could even go. We finally got an antibiotic shot and an ok from the doc and, nervously, headed out. It was stressful at first but we managed to settle down, his fever broke and we started to have some fun. Finn discovered horseback riding and fell in love with it and all the horses at Blancaneax - especially Sunny. We celebrated my birthday with one of the best chocolate cakes I've had and a great bottle of Coppola's Claret (Finn had a sprite).
We climbed the Mayan ruins at Caracol.
Saw lots and lots of interesting (and big) bugs...
Belize is butterfly heaven! They are everywhere!
We swam in waterfall pools.
and toured the mountain reserve and pine forests.
We even went through a hurricane! When I got home, my husband said, "well you wanted something memorable!". I did and it was. I kept telling Finn thank you. I think he got it too, because he would stop and turn on these soulful little eyes and say it right back.
If you like, you can check out a few more images from the trip on my Flickr page.
Laura Phillips says:
OMG Farrah...how awesome... I couldn't believe it when you posted the link on FB because Jeff and I are going in November for some diving and 'jungle-ing' at Turneffe Atol and Chaa Creek. Hey...you 'stole' our itinerary! Caracol and the mountain pine forest, etc.... Thanks so much for sharing this teaser. Now I'm really excited to go. Belize has so much to offer and is right up our alley. No real place for a vacation from shooting is there?
(10.27.10 @ 06:55 PM)
Sarah Lynn Seaton says:
Thanks for the inspiration!! ow I know what I want to do for christmas!!
(11.06.10 @ 05:09 PM)
I know I have been MIA. It's been a crazy busy last 2 weeks. Most of the crazy was getting ready for our trip. My youngest son and I are in Belize at the moment and we have a hurrricane bearing down on us. This is what happens when you turn 40 by the way (smile). Seriously though, we're doing fine. The kids just enjoyed the last of my birthday cake. That's them in the pic above - eating cake out of coffee cups and keeping out of the rain.
So, for those of you that are worried about us, we're doing fine. It looks like the storm will be coming through tonight after dinner and out by the morning. We're up high at a resort with our own power, food and a generator.
I'll log on and post more tomorrow. Thanks for the overwhelming amount of birthday wishes on Facebook. I am awash with gratitude. Thanks for thinking of me!
Recently, I went to hear my friend, Brene Brown, speak at the launch for her new book. I love hearing her speak and, every time I do, it reaffirms a few key things for me. The first is that we have to make room in our lives for personal, restorative time. She emphasizes creative time and play time- time spent just to fill your heart and soul with new energy. You might think that, because of what I do, I spent time being creative every day. I do, but, often I am trying to do specific work for a specific person. I am working after all and I have a sense of responsibility to make a certain thing happen for my client. So, in that way, it's not completely free play and creative time.
Before I started this business I was an art student making work for work's sake. I made things simply for the sake of the doing, because it filled me up and made me happy. As life gets busier and my business grows, it becomes more of a challenge to carve out special time just for me. Whenever I am planning time like this, I get the guilt anxiety whispers in my head. Let me explain...recently I took a trip to Marfa with 2 girlfriends. It was just for fun and spur of the moment. I didn't have to be there and, in order for me to go, I had to call in a favor from my husband and take time away from work during a busy time. So, naturally, as I am packing my bags to go, the "itty bitty shitty committee" (as my friend Kristen so eloquently calls them) aka the anxious whispers start working their way into my head. It sounds like this...have fun on your trip because, while you're away, something terrible is going to happen to the kids and then you'll get plenty of "alone time" and "creative time" when your children are gone. Or it may go like this, how convenient that YOU get some alone time while Steven has to stay home and man the fort. Have fun with all your alone time while he struggles at home. I know I am not alone in this. I think the itty bitty shitty committee visits everyone in some way. They are the voice of fear and doubt and they know just what to say to get us anxious.
You will be happy to know that I ignored them. I packed my bags and headed out and had an amazing time too. I came home and everyone was fine, no one was hurt and life was just as it was when I left. While we were away, we stayed out late, drank lots of wine, listened to great music and slept in. For three glorious days, we stopped watching our clocks and there was no one to pick up and no one to cook for. We only dressed ourselves and we even went to see some cool art. Best of all, I took photographs just because...photos with no purpose but to be beautiful and interesting to me. I just did what I love to do, study the things around me, take a moment to stop and really see.
I even shot film! I forgot how much I love the sound of my Mamiya as it captures the shot and advances the film. It feels substantial and satisfying. I forgot how much fun it is to not be immediately gratified by looking at the back of the camera. It's fun to wonder if you "got it" and it's like a present when you get the film back from the lab.
These flowers say it all. This is exactly how I felt on our trip.
So, thank you Brene, for being there the night before I left to go to Marfa and for reassuring me that no one would die while I was away. I promise to return that favor whenever you call.
It's like the flight attendants say when they give the safety speech, you have to put the oxygen mask on yourself before you help others. I encourage you all to go get some oxygen too. Tell the itty bitty shitty committee to take a hike, or even better you can use my very favorite four letter word and make a real impression on them. Go have fun for fun's sake and play! Happy weekend!
If you have any favorite shots this Friday, I'd love to see them! Leave links to your images, blogs, etc. in the comments below or add them to my Favorite Shot Friday Flickr pool. Don't be shy!
Before I started this business I was an art student making work for work's sake. I made things simply for the sake of the doing, because it filled me up and made me happy. As life gets busier and my business grows, it becomes more of a challenge to carve out special time just for me. Whenever I am planning time like this, I get the guilt anxiety whispers in my head. Let me explain...recently I took a trip to Marfa with 2 girlfriends. It was just for fun and spur of the moment. I didn't have to be there and, in order for me to go, I had to call in a favor from my husband and take time away from work during a busy time. So, naturally, as I am packing my bags to go, the "itty bitty shitty committee" (as my friend Kristen so eloquently calls them) aka the anxious whispers start working their way into my head. It sounds like this...have fun on your trip because, while you're away, something terrible is going to happen to the kids and then you'll get plenty of "alone time" and "creative time" when your children are gone. Or it may go like this, how convenient that YOU get some alone time while Steven has to stay home and man the fort. Have fun with all your alone time while he struggles at home. I know I am not alone in this. I think the itty bitty shitty committee visits everyone in some way. They are the voice of fear and doubt and they know just what to say to get us anxious.
You will be happy to know that I ignored them. I packed my bags and headed out and had an amazing time too. I came home and everyone was fine, no one was hurt and life was just as it was when I left. While we were away, we stayed out late, drank lots of wine, listened to great music and slept in. For three glorious days, we stopped watching our clocks and there was no one to pick up and no one to cook for. We only dressed ourselves and we even went to see some cool art. Best of all, I took photographs just because...photos with no purpose but to be beautiful and interesting to me. I just did what I love to do, study the things around me, take a moment to stop and really see.
I even shot film! I forgot how much I love the sound of my Mamiya as it captures the shot and advances the film. It feels substantial and satisfying. I forgot how much fun it is to not be immediately gratified by looking at the back of the camera. It's fun to wonder if you "got it" and it's like a present when you get the film back from the lab.
These flowers say it all. This is exactly how I felt on our trip.
So, thank you Brene, for being there the night before I left to go to Marfa and for reassuring me that no one would die while I was away. I promise to return that favor whenever you call.
It's like the flight attendants say when they give the safety speech, you have to put the oxygen mask on yourself before you help others. I encourage you all to go get some oxygen too. Tell the itty bitty shitty committee to take a hike, or even better you can use my very favorite four letter word and make a real impression on them. Go have fun for fun's sake and play! Happy weekend!
If you have any favorite shots this Friday, I'd love to see them! Leave links to your images, blogs, etc. in the comments below or add them to my Favorite Shot Friday Flickr pool. Don't be shy!
Beth Crocker says:
The pink cosmos are stunning! Excellent blog post too. Here's the link to my shots of the production, tonight we have our final performance.
http://www.thewayiseeitthroughmylens.blogspot.com (and my flickr page has them too)
(10.09.10 @ 08:51 AM)
It was very, very difficult to pick a single shot as my favorite for today's post. Marfa was just too special for one image to be chosen. I could have picked the shot of my traveling companions or maybe one of the shots of the buildings...In the end, I chose this one. I chose it because the thing that impressed me to most about west Texas was the enormous sky.
There isn't a picture that you could take that would convey the real feeling of that vast sky. You just have to be there, under it, looking up and out. You can see (a little bit) how the light danced around the mountain tops as it peeked in and out from behind the puffy clouds. It really needs to be seen to be understood. I'm already planning our next trip out there!
Here are a few more from the last day of our trip, enjoy! Please post links to your favorite images from the week or you can submit them to the Favorite Shot Friday Flickr pool. Happy weekend!
They look kinda like rock stars, right? :) We joked that these could be their girl band album cover. The last one is my favorite. Many thanks to my companions, the journey was a blast and the destination was cool too!