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Aug 10
in Photography Teachings, Uncategorized

Third “P” …. be PLAYFUL !

So…. we’ve just looked at PASSION…. and this third “P”…. is just so much fun and so liberating!!!

 

“The real voyage of discovery consists of not seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

Marcel Proust.

 

I can’t find new things if I don’t go looking. Pushing the boundaries of what is possible and how and what I want to say through my images requires that I be playful and try out things without judgement. For me – there is no right- no wrong. For me..it is just PLAYFUL experience.

I don’t want to create ‘ordinary’ images. I want to be fearless in diving in to exploring and expressing the rich experience that is my life; through my images and artworks; and actually every breath. I want to create ‘soulful’ images, which speak of my experience. As I have shared before, it is the process of this exploration and expression which is my teacher about me. What a wonderful way to learn by being PLAYFUL!

 

“Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play.” (Henri Matisse)

Being PLAYFUL can only be stifled if I judge myself and I set up an expectation of what I want to achieve and then fear failing that anticipated outcome. I realised fear of failure stifles my creativity. If I am not happy with my results, that has then helped clarify what step to take next. I realised there is no such thing as failure if I use experience as my compass.

I realised
to just dive in to my child-like essence by ‘having a go’ at everything…. and letting my intuitive voice lead the way without tethering, scrutiny or condemnation.

I realised the time would reveal itself later when it was appropriate to appraise the results of my playfulness….and once again I used my intuition and observed my own visceral response to see whether the images or artwork I created, had an essence which continued to speak.

 

“Creativity is about play and a kind of willingness to go with your intuition. It’s crucial to an artist. If you know where you are going and what you are going to do, why do it? ” (Frank Gehry)

So how do I be playful? I actually don’t have much trouble with being playful, because through the sheer nature of my personality I am a very playful person; but I still made a conscious effort to do a few things… the first being breaking the rules.

 

 

Breaking the rules helped me break the boundaries which perhaps limited my creativity. Firstly however I had to know the rules. I researched and studied ‘rules’ of photography and art. I then wrote down all ‘my own rules’, (I will deal with this in a future post)…the characteristics and parameters which I used as my own subconscious boundaries I brought into my conscious awareness. I do this periodically so I don’t slip back into comfortable safe patterns which limit my exploration.

I then made a conscious decision to purposely NOT adhere to any of my learned rules, or the rules I had developed a habit of implementing. It is hard!! Creating images which don’t adhere to established rules is really difficult….and honestly… it isn’t the fact that I find that I have created an image which breaks the rules and then jump for joy and have a party; it is the fact that I become conscious of what I am doing which excites me.

I am actually being PRESENT whilst I am PLAYING. I realise I am connecting with my PASSION because I become excited and engrossed in having fun… even in the seriousness of being focussed and connecting with a quiet scene, I am often enjoying myself creating an expression of what I am feeling.  I love feeling a fire in my belly of something which I need to explore, play with and experience. I feel an incredible sense of freedom being able to try and experiment with anything which comes to me… because I’m not concerned with where I am going.

I experiment. I take risks. I try things on location. I try things in Photoshop. I play. I don’t worry about failing. I am fearless.

One of the other ways I play is to connect with the freedom of my physical form to express and connect –  especially in the natural landscape. This lovely quote by one of my many favourite poets – Kahil Gibran, expresses more eloquently than I could ever hope to; how I love to experience myself in the landscape and my connection within it.

“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.”

(Kahil Gibran)

 

Next post….the fourth “P”…. PRACTICE

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About the Author: Julie
I am a Journeywoman. I live my life as an explorer. An adventurer. An Observer. An Artist. There is no differentiation between how I live my life and the art that is an expression of it. It is through my experience adventuring the unknown, that I learn more about myself. My aim through this connection is to live where my expression is fully in alignment with the essence of who I am. “In the field of Fine-Art Photography, Julie stands apart from others with the way she sees the world and expresses her connection within it. Julie Stephenson’s photographs are sublime. Her work is an expression of her deep connection; and a gift to the world.”

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Instagram post 2181901153613465477_7573063145 Indigo blue; cotton thread; sewing and laughter. In Dali in South-Western China I sewed, wrapped thread and dipped my cotton into liquid blue; under the instruction of the local Bai women in a small village on the outskirts of Dali; and together with Max and our Guides, had the best day. 
This traditional practice of dyeing has survived for over a thousand years surviving the Cultural Revolution, when many other Dong traditions such as Shamanism, were stamped out by Communist ideology.
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This process of botanical dyeing uses plants such as indigo, woad and mugwort which are native to the nearby mountains of Cangshan. These plants are not only used for dye, but for food, medicine and ornaments.

Historically in this region it is the men who harvest and prepare the dyes, whilst the women weave, prepare the cloth and do the stitching and washing of the dyed fabric.

A couple of dozen plants were used for dyeing. I learned that both acid and alkaline mordants were used to modify the colours.

I also learned of the sense of ritual involved in the dyeing process. Dyeing within the lives of the villagers was only performed on goat days in the lunar calendar from June to October. 
Through our interpreter the ladies shared that they were trying to hold on to their tradition, but were fearful that their traditions were being lost as the young people moved away to the cities and their culture was being wiped out. 
I’m so grateful to have learned this unique and special technique from these fabulous ladies. I had the best day. Swipe for pics and more on my website - link in profile.
. . #liveboldly#traveller #roadtrip #momentsofmine #dali #adventurer #journeywoman #indigo #travelmore #instatravelling #travelgram #explore #explorer #traveldiaries #livingthedream #travelawesome #traveldeeper #livefully #livecreatively #inspired #travelmore #wonderfulplaces #openmyworld #lovetotravel #seekmoments #botanicaldyeing #bai #handcrafts
Instagram post 2175476617724628608_7573063145 There is something quite lovely about wearing items which are crafted using one’s hands; and there has been time, quality materials, and one’s heart and soul embedded within them. My skirt; my jumpers and scarves that I knitted myself.. and my jewellery which was made by artisans I’ve met along our journeys over the years; all hold the essence of human creativity and soul. 
Most days on our journey I wore, the most exquisite piece of woven silk fabric I purchased from @ockpoptok in Luang Prabang in Laos… and held it up using the belt I wove with @theweavingsisters . 
Luang Prabang in Laos was a dyers and weavers heaven. At Ock Pop Toc  there was a beautiful display of weaving using silk. I learned so much about the different styles of weaving techniques… and had a really great time with the weavers there.  I’ve always loved weaving and after my fabulous day weaving my belt with @theweavingsisters, I was hungry to learn more… and considering purchasing a loom when we returned home so I could weave at home. 
What was wonderful about wearing an exquisite piece of fabric, was that I could adapt the tying style according to the country and when I was in Tibet, I realised that the fold was in the back instead of at the side as in Laos… so…. just an adjustment in the fold and my skirt was much admired by the local ladies… but for me, more importantly was that there was something quite wonderful about wearing items which had taken time, heart and soul to create and that I could let them live as I walked and travelled across land. 
Swipe to see more photos and more stories and photographs in my Journal on my website – link in my profile. ..
Pic at Everest Base Camp in Tibet, with Chomolungma )Mt Everest) reaching skyward behind me. .
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Samen Shawl by @westknits 
My motifs in Astrid by @junkookamoto212 .
.#liveboldly #Laos #traveller #roadtrip #weaving #momentsofmine #laostravel #adventurer #journeywoman #instatravel #instatravelling #himalayas #travelgram #explore #explorer #traveldiaries #livingthedream #travelawesome #traveldeeper #livefully #livecreatively #inspired #adventureseeker #travelmore #goexplore #wonderfulplaces #openmyworld #lovetotravel #seekmoments
Instagram post 2139205226465755348_7573063145 Road trip in a vintage car from Bangkok to London is filled with rich experiences. Last week I learned from @theweavingsisters how to weave using the back-strap technique and I had the BEST time! I wove this belt .. which was dyed using locally grown indigo! 
Us sista’s laughed so much and had a beautiful sharing time together and I learned so much.
My class was in Luang Prabang in Laos. 
We’re in China right now and having a fabulous time. Long hot days. Rough roads.... and so many experiences to share! I’ll share when I can. Internet is random here in China, and often at night we just need to get to sleep ready for our next big day. I’m updating my website with journal posts when I can, so pop there if you want more stories and photographs. 
Link in profile. .
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#roadtrip #happydays #weaving #indigo #laos #generous #funtimes #traveladdict #journeywoman #vintagecar #laos
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2017 All photographs created by and property of Julie Stephenson.
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