Curious. Creative. Living Boldly.
  • Home
  • Journal
  • Fibre Arts
  • Journeywoman
    • Bangkok to London
    • Northern Sea Route Russia 1
    • Northern Sea Route – Russia 2
    • Journey Bhutan – East to West 2016
    • Antarctica 2016
    • Peking to Paris in Penny 2016
    • India and Bhutan in Penny 2015
      • Kolkata
      • ON the Tram…. a bit fish-bowley but lots of waves and smiles…
      • Siliguri to Darjeeling
      • A mountain Drive….. Paro to Thimpu
      • Mongar to Trashingang
      • Trashingang to Sandrup Jongkhar
      • Kale to Monymar… then to so many temples at Bagan
      • Temples in Myanmar
      • Magical Ballooning over Temples in Bagan
      • Bagan to Inlay Lake
      • Inlay Lake
      • Inlay Lake to Taungoo
      • Taungoo to Kyaiktiyo
      • Last day in Myanmar and missing clouds in the sky
    • Greenland 2015
      • Iceberg Gallery
      • Magical Greenland….
      • Julie the landscape
      • Walking the tundra
      • Ymer Island…
      • Zodiacs and Icebergs!!!
      • Ittorqqortoormiit
    • Iceland 2015
    • Antarctica 2014
    • Chile 2014
    • Morocco in Penny 2013
    • Europe 2013
    • Bhutan 2016
    • Journal Categories
  • Photography
    • Biography
    • Arctic Silence
    • Svalbard Ice 2018
    • Svalbard Mountains
    • Antarctica 2016
    • The Shape of Cold
    • The Ice Breathes
    • Greenland 2015
    • Whales
    • Hindsight
    • Exhibitions
    • Books
  • Julie
    • About Julie Stephenson
    • Journeywoman
    • Photography
    • Shaman and Healer
    • Storyteller
    • Wisdom
      • Courage
    • What others have said….
  • Connect
Previous Post
Next Post
Jan 01
in Earth and Sea, Inspirations, Photography Teachings

Beyond the narrative….

Sometimes the narrative is necessary – as I have done on many of my journeys around the world; collating a visual diary; telling a visual story….but there are other ways to see and feel the world; and for me exploring beyond the narrative is where I dive more deeply into how I respond and interact within the world and is where I learn more about myself. I have recognised that for me just sticking to the narrative is safe. For me…the narrative isnt enough.

When I stick to just the visual narrative in my visual diary happy snaps, I find that somethign is missing. I have recognised when I just stick to the narrative something within me is left hungry. There is somethign which is left unexplored and wasted. I recognised that is why I love writing about my experiences so much – especially when I am travelling, because I can explore ME – beyond the visual story where I can go beyond and deeper into something which is more meaningful for me to explore in my response to that narrative. It is only then that I can connect with and then share with more honesty who I am.

There are some artists whose images tell incredibly powerful stories. For me my process of exploration and going beyond the narrative is that which is the meaningful part of my photographic process, and it is that which enriches my life and commences to quench my hunger.

In this image below I have taken a photograph to tell the narrative; the story. This is an image of arriving at the Port at Algecerias from where I explored going beyond the narrative of where we travelled. In the example I am using to go beyond the narrative is in an abstract way….but there are many ways to go beyond the narrative which I will share over the coming posts.

Algeciras

I was fascinated by the colour and movement of the light on the water.

The following is a tryptic of three of my images where I explored this light and movement and played with how I viewed the light and water. I went beyond the narrative.

Seeing from a different perspective

There are many ways to go beyond the narrative if you want to experiment with different ways of viewing the world and finding out more about yourself and create art which speaks of your own unique voice.

For me focussing my attention and awareness is the primary place to commence. I feel something in my body and that is my inner spark which guides me where to explore visually and then to another level of reflection and connection. I immerse myself in focussed awareness to where I feel I just lose myself in the mystery of what I see and feel.

In this instance I zoomed with my canon G15 point and shoot into where the light was on the water. Then in processing – I played. I inverted the images. I wanted to ‘literally turn my world upside down’ and explore what I saw when I changed my perspective of what was in my vision.

You too can experiment and play with exploring how you can view the world in different ways and learn about yourself in the process. Next time you have satisfied yourself that the narrative has been achieved – try exploring connecting more deeply with what interests you and what you feel; both within your body and your emotions. Connect with expressing what you connect with through images which speak of your creativity and the different way you have observed and interacted in the world…and in doing so reveal more about those hidden aspects of yourself to yourself – as well as to others, for them to be enriched by your exploration, connection and communication of that exploration.

In my opinion this is a very powerful way to deepen my experience within myself and with others through the connection and communication of how I have played and explored with what I see and feel beyond the narrative.

Below is a little card I made for well wishes for those in my life and for those who have come here to read my Blog …and the words will indicate how my image beyond the narrative of Algeciras, has helped me to connect with what is important in my life.

New year 2014

…so I wish you an amazing 2014, with new ways to see the world….new ways of walking alongside others….new ways of shining your light into the mystery of uncertainty.

With love, Julie

Share this:
2477
3
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.”

  • red light – green light
    This made me laugh Read more
    in Uncategorized 0 comments
    0
  • my last day?
    I was wondering today if I went to sleep tonight for the last time this Read more
    in Inspirations 0 comments
    0
  • So enjoying knitting!…
    I love using my hands. Knitting. Being creative... ... and living Boldly. Read more
    in Knitting 0 comments
    0

1 Comments:

  1. Aileen Hubbard
    December 13, 2014
    Log in to Reply

    Hi Julie
    I have been enjoying your writing and have learnt so much from it.
    I can see and feel you growing as have I.
    Love Aileen


Leave a Comment! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.
Journal Categories
  • Fine Art Journal Posts
  • Northern Sea Route
  • Peking to Paris Journal Posts
  • India and Bhutan
  • Antarctica Journal Posts
  • Greenland Journal Posts
  • Morocco Journal Posts
  • Tonga Journal Posts
  • Photography Teaching Journal Posts
  • Inspirations Journal Posts
  • Books

skeinydipping

I looked down and saw my hands. Hands which have t I looked down and saw my hands. Hands which have touched; have loved; have created; have worked; have nurtured. My hands.   

I looked down and saw on my wrist and fingers items from around the world which have so many stories; items which have all been created from the heart and made by the hands of others. 

I looked down and saw beautiful yarn. Yarn which has been handled carefully through shearing, dyeing, skeining, balling; and now being knit in my beautiful hands. 

My hands are one of my gifts. This year I’ve really missed the touch of another with my hands, to feel the heart of another through my fingertips; but so grateful and love my hands which touch and feel; work and play!

What do you see when you look at your hands?

.
.
.
Knitting a fabulous  #slipstravaganzamkal by @westknits .
.
.

#gratitudeattitude #westknitsarethebestknits #westknitsmkal2020 #knittersofinstagram #knittersoftheworld #knittersofaustralia #indiedyedyarn #handmadewithlove #handmade #handmadejewellery #fromtheheart #createeveryday #livetotravel #healing #healinghands #creativehands
My life is wonderful… and I have so many stories My life is wonderful… and I have so many stories. I’ve had adventures on all continents. Slept being rocked by the sea; felt the ice on my skin in both polar regions, and felt the silence of the deserts. I’ve walked stone steps in monasteries at altitudes where each step I’ve taken consciously and mindfully; focussing on treasuring every molecule of oxygen in the rarefied atmosphere. 

COVID has paused those adventures, but I draw upon my experiences as I navigate adventuring my days in a different way, on our ‘home range’. 

I recall my steps in Tibet as I walk through our bushland. I am mindful and conscious of my surroundings. I listen. I feel. I feel happy here. I am content.

My new stories may not hold the same experiences of connection with others; and may not be of extreme challenges or crazy things  (which I am rather prone to doing! 🙂 ) but they are not less wondrous… as I smell the warm eucalyptus waft from under my feet. 

I weave my stories, and this story is of my personal journey on my daily walk through our bushland. 
You can see some of my other woven stories on my website - link in profile. 

How do you express your life’s stories?
.
-
.
-
#weaversofinstagram #indiedyedyarn #indiedyed #rigidheddleloomweaving #ashford #inspiredbynature #contentcreator #emotionalbalance #homedeco #handcrafted #makersmovement #creativelifehappylife #wellbeing #travellerlife #journeywoman #weavingaustralia
“....The Assookinakii cowl was created for those “....The Assookinakii cowl was created for those times in your life when you need a meditative and healing knit. Assookinakii (ass-s-oo-kin-uh-k-EE) means ‘healer’ in the Blackfeet language, thank you to Cut Woods School in Browning, MT for the tradish language support”. –  Candice from @thefarmersdaughterfibers 

Knitting this beautiful cowl by Candice from @thefarmersdaughterfibers for @sistersunitedmt ; WAS healing. 

As my hands gently formed the repetitive stitches I reflected on the word ‘Assookinakii ‘ - healer. I am a healer. I don’t understand it. It’s something unseen. Something within me which has been recognised by Ngangkari and ‘clever men’ here in Australia; and shaman and healers around the world as we travel. This recognition always has caught me by surprise; as I seem to walk a line between two worlds. 

As the stitches slipped from one needle to another and the beautiful colours of @spincycle_yarns revealed themselves; in the pauses between the stitches I heard a voice whispering to continue to seek connection with the natural world and listen deeply. 

What has been healing for you this year?
.
.
.
.
#healingjourney #meditationpractice #dyedinthewool #assookinakii_cowl #knittersofinstagram #knittingaddict #livinglifetothefullest #happydays #shaman #healer #healersofinstagram #listentoyourheart #indiedyedyarn #handmadewithlove #knittersgonnaknit #knittersoftheworld
Follow me on Instagram

 

 

2017 All photographs created by and property of Julie Stephenson.