New Year's Resolutions? Keep on Writing...

Like most folks this time of year, I reflect back on what has transpired in the last year and also look forward to the promise of new and wonderful things ahead. I have thought about what I have achieved with my writing and what I hope to pursue in the coming year. I originally wrote this awhile ago, but am encouraged that some of my perceptions about the life of a free lance writer have actually "evolved" into perhaps a more realistic view. I've had a few articles published, completed my first book and had many ups and downs. Yet I have resolved to just keep plugging....

I am a Writer because I write, not to be defined by a paycheck. I have been published several times, but the “steady paycheck” for my efforts has yet to transpire.  I write about this today, because I know I have to come to grips with this myself, because I am the one that is most affected by attitudes of others and also my own introspective attitudes.  Attitudes that can be hurtful to me and undermine my inspiration.  Attitudes that can demean and feel condescending to me…if I let them.  So in writing about this issue that I am grappling with in my life, I am hoping it will help me come to terms with this.

 “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
― Confucius
 

I am loving what I do, but do not receive a regular paycheck: one of the risks you take as a freelance writer.  I love my life as a writer, so far so good.

Prior to beginning my life as a writer, I had been receiving a paycheck since I was 16 years old. Through the years the size of the checks have gone up and down, which is not surprising at all considering the variety of jobs I have held.  I never really thought about it too much, because I have always had a check, big or small, they have always been there.  When my husband took the plunge and decided to retire, and I knew we would be OK (financially stable) so I could pursue my passion of writing. This being said, it is not required of me to have an income, but I have yet to adjust to the fact that I don’t have one. Then here begins the Feminist argument that women should be self-sufficient in the economic realm. Through the years the value and true monetary figure of what has traditionally been described as “women’s work”, raising children and efficiently operating a household, has never been actually determined.  Which is not surprising because it is extremely difficult to put an exact monetary value on something that is an intangible concept.  In discussing this type of work, a woman is not producing a tangible, marketable product.  I know in my heart that women have made great strides in having the value of their work appreciated by society as a whole and not just other women with the same struggles. 

In the book “The Second Stage”, by Betty Friedan (a brilliant woman in my opinion!) she discusses the second stage of the feminist movement which seeks to end the polarization of feminism and the family, and also between men and women.  Published in 1981, when I was still in college and an aspiring journalist, her words really spoke to me, and really created a stir in both feminist and relationship circles. Even though it was written quite some time ago, the validity of it still rings true.  Some ideas she presented have evolved into every day, commonly accepted practices. Sadly, some of the tired, old attitudes still exist.  I have to review my own attitudes and find what works for me and also the people that I love.

So I come full circle with this discussion, trying once again to affirm that my value as a human being is not determined by the size of my paycheck or for that matter, if there is any paycheck at all! Especially as a woman, the people I love and take care of , the meals I share with them, the flowers I tend, the journals I create....all these things provide value and beauty in my world, and the world I share with those I love. That is better than any paycheck I could receive. Betty would be proud of me...and Maya too!

Going beyond the mechanics: Finding the Joy in Phototograpy

This is not a lesson in apertures, F-stops and shutter speeds. It is more of a discussion on the subjective nature of photography and how different perspectives can improve the quality of your photographs.

Great Blue Heron--Lake Wapogasset, Wisconsin

What makes a truly great photograph? Like any art, a "great" photograph is subjective and is perceived differently by each person. As the adage goes: "One man's trash is another man's treasure", and that could be applied to favorite photos as well. I was so incredibly excited to get this shot of a beautiful Heron as he was fishing for his supper. I was relatively close to him and stood very still, he didn't seem to mind....he was more focused on his fishing. I also have a fairly decent zoom lens, which helps. In any case, I was happy with the end result. When it comes to wildlife photography, anyone who has achieved a terrific shot will tell you patience is a virtue. And takes LOTS of shots, it may take several to get the exact photo you want.

When I was journalism student in college (back in the day before digital photography....just a few yeas ago)  I took several photography classes as part of my curriculum. The mechanics of photography have changed, but the elements of style and design have not.   A great example of this propensity for subjectivity in the art of photography became very clear to me in the experience I had with this class. I kept up with the assignments and had mastered the processes involved in dark room work. Our final project required a series of 12 photos, all black and white and all based on a specific theme. Now this is a perfect way to help budding photographers hone the craft: stay focused on a specific theme and/or object and really explore all the possibilities. I choose cemeteries and beautiful tombstones. I thought it was a great topic for black and white photos; dark and mysterious and bit macabre.  I worked hard on different landscapes, lighting and I was quite proud of the end result. All our projects were shared with the class. Another class mate did her entire final project on one lone tree on the top of a hill. She probably did all her shooting in one day. She got an "A" and I ended up with a "C". Obviously the professor and I did not have the same perception of what is considered artistic and quality photographs. I will never forget how it made me feel, but it also taught me a valuable lesson. Photography is so much more than the mechanics of the process, it has to be felt from the heart. It is also an art, which of course is perceived differently by different people. So if you have a photo that you are proud of, display it proudly and share it too!

Split Rock Lighthouse:Lake Superior                      Inside the Keeper's Pantry

There are photos that are just documentation of a special event, special within their own right, then there are photos that take on an artistic rendering of the subject. The lighting, angles, focus and filters can really change an everyday object and bring out unique features. I took the above photographs of my favorite, very scenic lighthouse: Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior. The color image is nice to capture the majestic cliff, icy blue waters of Superior and the details of the lighthouse itself. Yet the black and white image of the pantry in the Keeper's quarters seems to tell a story of the lonely, simple and frugal life of the lighthouse keepers. If it were depicted in color, it just wouldn't seem to have the same qualities. The simplicity of black and white photography can really make a statement and it's good to consider that depending on the subject.

The more I take photos I realize, some of the best are taken when the subjects are unaware they are being photographed. This creates a feeling of intimacy and takes away the "posed" look. When I was visiting an aquarium in Seward with my husband and son, I snapped this picture of them sitting together chatting in front of an exhibit. A very nice father/son moment... and it ended up being one of my favorite pictures of the day. So don't forget to be a little stealth with your camera, you will be pleasantly surprised what you will capture.

Nevertheless, it can also be rewarding to have a thematic element to a collection of pictures. Maybe my college photography instructor had some good points in that respect. It adds a neat perspective to see a collection of photographs that follow a theme. A Facebook page I follow: "The Northern Way of Life" always has a fantastic collection of photos about....wait for it....the Northern Way of Life. The man that started the page is a Wisconsin resident. Ya-Hoo! Looking at the photos, it's easy to see the different perceptions of all that is worth taking pictures "up north" here: a forest path, a lone fisherman, a Bald Eagle circling above a sparkling stream. The possibilities are endless and it is interesting to note that this group has close to 37,000 followers, and I can see why. It is so fun to admire the photo artwork of others and it frequently provides inspiration.

Another site that I really enjoy is sure to bring inspiration for photographers. Flickr is a photo sharing site and I have been a member since 2016. You can check out flickr with the following link:https://www.flickr.com/people/141888018@N06/ This takes you to my page, or you can just look at flickr.com. There are so many talented photographers there and speaking of themes, you can do any search and it will bring up in amazing amount of photos on a range of subjects. I lately have found an interest in the amazing diversity and character to be found in photographing old barns.

Sounds boring, but they have a story to tell. Just search "old barns" on flickr and you will be amazed at all the cool buildings and settings you will see.  When I did that search I came across the old barn in Wyoming at the Grand Tetons National Park.  It is an amazing iconic structure and once you see it with the mountains in the background you definitely remember it.  I went to Wyoming a few years ago, and when I saw the photo it still jumped out to me as the Tetons. Wow! I also discovered that it has a specific name: The Moulton Barn. Discoveries like that are exciting and seems to shout: "A picture is worth a thousand words". And also worth sparking a thousand memories.
The more you view others photos the more inspiration you will find to enhance your own. ENJOY the search. JES