Inspirations Archives | Julie Stephenson

Dec 30

by Julie in Inspirations 0 comments

2017… what a year!

Well....2017 didn't go as planned... LOL... Life never does really though hey! Plans aren't reality! I've learned that living an enriched and meaningful life isn't about the dreams and plans which are achieved... it is about the honesty, love and genuine care and kindness which is experienced and given whilst following the path pencilled in by endeavouring to achieve those plans and dreams. In 2017 I experienced a love for snow and cold... and felt such a deep connection with the Arctic. I sustained serious injuries in a fall whilst I was doing something I loved - skiing. After I fell, in the silence of softly falling snow, I learned from the deer and trees how to deal with pain. I have used that skill a lot since that day. I want to be honest and as always, share not just the 'pretty' bits of my life here. @idoamazingthings , but that isn't the whole of my life. There is also another reality. That reality isn't pretty... but

Apr 01

by Julie in Inspirations 0 comments

To take notice…

I was asked the other day by a friend how to choose a fulfilling path in life. Perhaps it is simply to - 'Take notice'. I will explain - and although a bit of a read... may illuminate something for you. I was a little taken aback when my friend asked me, since I felt that I myself was a novice at this..LOL.. and then she said… “Julie. Look, you have had incredible ups and downs – but look where you are now. Look at how you are known and respected throughout the world and how you inspire so many. You have the most incredible life, and even...

Dec 02

by Julie in Inspirations, Uncategorized, Wisdom and Inspiration 0 comments

Aeroplane window – toward Bhutan… Bangkok.. Kolkata…

The smell of the cedar-wood shampoo reminded me of my last trip to Kolkata a year ago with Max before our drive through India and Bhutan. I love Kolkata. Yes. I know. Some are shaking their heads. For some reason being here feels.... hmmmm... can't quite put my finger on it. I think it brings me back to earth and I deepen my sense of gratitude. I am in awe of how so many people here survive and still offer such generosity and kindness.... and work so hard just to survive. The air this morning was damp and thick as the ravens reminded everyone of the smog, yet the small birds in the courtyard chirped that it was a new day with new opportunities to experience living. As I looked out from under crisp white cotton sheets through...

Nov 17

by Julie in Greenland, Inspirations, Motivation & Inspiration 0 comments

Wrinkles… wisdom.. fairytales and ‘Don’t be sad it’s over – be glad it once was.’

“Once upon a time there was a girl who…”…. You know how fairytales usually begin, and yet not all fairytales have the outcome of the ‘happy ending’ we hope for… even in the original fairytales from back-in-the-day which then were far less sanitised versions of the reality of life! I’ve been revisiting my images from Greenland and I recalled the day I felt such joy and child-like excitement when I saw these incredible icebergs. It was like fantasy land…. a land of towers… and maidens… and dragons… and men in leather on flying horses diving into caves and dungeons. It was the stage for fantasy and fairy-tales. Looking at these fantastic images on my computer I then recalled a few weeks ago a story of the hopes shared by a young woman - of a fairytale for her own life. I sat on the grass...

Oct 27

by Julie in Inspirations 0 comments

Be real. Be honest. Be kind.. and be grateful…. Wanderlust reflections.

Be real. Be honest. Be kind... and be grateful. This is what I distilled from four wonderful days at Wanterlust Sunshine Coast - a conscious living festival unlike any other I've been to. The youngies kept passing me water as I danced like a 'wild thing'.. with them saying they "..wished my mum danced like you." and "When I grow up I want to be like you." (hehehe) I think I was....

Oct 20

by Julie in Inspirations 0 comments

Wanderlust Sunshine Coast – I stood up and surfed!!! hehe

Wanderlust- I STOOD UP!!!! on a surfboard .... on my very FIRST run... and EVERY run during a lesson at the Wanderlust festival for conscious living at the Sunshine Coast. hehehehe I put my hand up for 3 surfing classes; 7 yoga classes; 5 meditation classes; 1 dance class; 3 talks; 3 concerts... and 3 more events I just can't remember right now. 24 events in 4 days... a time and space for deep reconnection and loads of fun!!! I've wanted to feel...

Oct 06

by Julie in Inspirations, poetry, Words 0 comments

Words left unsaid…

How many words are left unsaid into a place where time abandons memories and fragments of thoughts melt in silence?

Sep 29

by Julie in Inspirations 0 comments

Lipstick, Kisses and sharing the LOVE!!!

Lipstick hasn't been one of my things. I'm a 'natural beauty' so I've been told... so the make-up thing actually hasn't actually been a 'thing' for me until the celebration Gala dinner in the biggest ballroom in Paris at the end of our epic Peking to Paris car rally. I just couldn't wear my beautiful gown/frock without any lippy! Yesterday, I experienced something quite wonderful after ...

Aug 24

by Julie in Inspirations, Wisdom and Inspiration 0 comments

The choices we make; make us.

Yep... we make choices every second of every day, and each one of those choices leads us along a path of experience; self-discovery; learning; and at times destruction and a place we would rather not be. All of my previous choices have led me to where I am right now.... and you too! All of my choices have actually MADE ME!... ALL of my choices have enabled me to experience love, laughter and tears. ALL of my choices have given me an opportunity to formulate my philosophy; my life circumstances; my way of being and experiencing the world. I have chosen paths which have led me to flourish..and others which have led me to falter... and regardless... ALL have contributed to MAKING ME! Some of my choices; or forks in the road have come with warning signs. Sometimes....

May 31

by Julie in Inspirations, Wisdom and Inspiration 0 comments

Not taking notice of what is right in front of you… Loss of experience

Taking notice…. This image taken in Morocco in the Atlas mountains reminded me that if we don’t take notice of what is right in front of us; then so many opportunities for experience are lost. I took notice. I saw and felt what was there and I was willing to go there to find out and experience more. We were driving along a dirt road and I saw everything. The men. The child. The donkey. The large round wood. The pole. The rocks. The power line. The door. The building. The path. I saw in front of me the whole story yet it was just in my imagination. I had to stop and walk the landscape to truly experience and feel. We walked up and with warm smiles we were shown how the olive press worked. I experienced far more than if I had just sat in my car and thought about how all the pieces of what I saw would fit together. How many times have you not taken notice; and experienced only loss because you weren’t willing to truly see and experience what was right in front of you?

May 31

by Julie in Inspirations, Wisdom and Inspiration 0 comments

She watches the seasons….

"She witnesses the seasons
and within her she can feel her strength emerging
to be revealed as
the leaves fall
to expose her beauty more clearly."
Julie Stephenson
This is an image from Capitol Reef on a journey to the US in 2011. I learn so much about myself when I am in nature and even after my experiences, I reflect on my photographs and more is revealed to me about where I'm at even now.

May 23

by Julie in Inspirations, Wisdom and Inspiration 0 comments

If I take away….

If I take away my smile and expression. If I take away my features and identity. What am I left looking at? Who am I really? Who are YOU really?

Apr 21

by Julie in Inspirations 0 comments

I looked at the trees and heard.. “Julie, dive into language”….

I've been really enjoying walking through the bush early as the sun rises and having a quiet meditation. Today I saw markings on so many trees… and I heard “Julie, dive into language”, over and over again. Here is an excerpt from my blog post..."I love words; speaking, writing, taking photographs; the language of my body moving by running, dancing, wildly making love. I realised that when I am creative and open, my language comes from a place of innateness ....

Jan 01

by Julie in Earth and Sea, Inspirations, Photography Teachings 1 comments

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

Jul 17

by Julie in Europe 2013, Inspirations, Travels Europe 2013, Wisdom and Inspiration 0 comments

It’s not time we waste…. its….

“We say we waste time, but that is impossible. We waste ourselves.” Alice Bloch

May 06

by Julie in Europe 2013, Inspirations, poetry, Words 0 comments

Alchemy

Another half an hour before our flight to London from Singapore... so

Apr 16

by Julie in Inspirations, poetry, Words 0 comments

A necessary Autumn…

Whilst driving home from Melbourne I used my iphone to snap some images

Feb 17

by Julie in Inspirations, Tonga, Wisdom and Inspiration 2 comments

“Try and be a piece of paper with nothing on it……

"Try and be a sheet of paper with nothing on it. Be a spot of ground where nothing is growing, where something might be planted, a seed, possibly, from the Absolute." ~ Rumi

Jan 24

by Julie in Earth and Sea, Fine Art Photography, Inspirations, Photography Teachings, Wisdom and Inspiration, Words 0 comments

“…the life of clouds is a parting and a meeting… A tear and a smile…”

In the artwork above I have made a sky of clouds; (all images taken on one two hour flight from Brisbane to Melbourne).... where .."the waters of the sea become vapour and rise and come together in cloud..."

Jan 14

by Julie in Earth and Sea, Inspirations 0 comments

A long way to go…..Cloud series

Far in the distance - right at the middle background is a beautiful bright light cloud. It may be hard to see in such a low resolution... but when I discovered it, I could see myself walking along a cloudy pathway - taking different directions;

Jan 12

by Julie in Earth and Sea, Inspirations, Photography Teachings, Wisdom and Inspiration, Words 0 comments

Just going to BE!

As a photographer I am constantly observing the landscape and connect with and witness my own response to

Jan 11

by Julie in Earth and Sea, Inspirations, Photography Teachings, Wisdom and Inspiration, Words 0 comments

No-one knows what happens next…

Although I am quite psychic; have incredible foresight and intuitive abilities and even premonition dreams… I really don’t know what’s going to happen next. I don’t really know how my life will unfold

Dec 27

by Julie in Inspirations, poetry, Uncategorized, Wisdom and Inspiration, Words 0 comments

In deep sleep – who am I?

In deep sleep where there are no dreams

Oct 28

by Julie in Inspirations, Wisdom and Inspiration 0 comments

The first step to expressing one’s personal vision is to ‘own’ the word “I”.

I have been asked so many times for some guidance on how others can more clearly express their own personal voice.... or express more clearly the feeling or idea that they wanted to through their images. The first step is to own the word "I".

Aug 23

by Julie in Inspirations, Photography Teachings, Uncategorized, Wisdom and Inspiration 0 comments

“Be daring, be different, be impractical…..

“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” – Peter Lindbergh

Aug 04

by Julie in About Me, Inspirations, Wisdom and Inspiration 0 comments

I just had this overwhelming feeling to shout out to the world!

My feelings are always close to the surface.

Jul 27

by Julie in Inspirations, Photography Teachings 0 comments

Expressing oneself

"The true tragedy in life is not death but that which dies inside of us while we are still living." Norman Cousins.

Jul 10

by Julie in Inspirations, Photography Teachings, Uncategorized 0 comments

Working out your Goals to achieve your Mission – (as a stepping stone to completing things!)

Ok... Firstly, last night I was asked what my Mission was... so here it is –

Jul 09

by Julie in Inspirations, Photography Teachings 0 comments

A small diversion – Developing either a Creative or Personal Mission

Creative and Personal Mission statements are often aligned closely with our core values and the sense of our purpose. These Mission statements often

Jun 27

by Julie in Fine Art Photography, Inspirations, Photography Teachings 0 comments

What happens WHEN I….?????? – One of the best questions a photographer can ask oneself.

Have this phrase at the forefront of your mind.... and PLAY with - "WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I......... "

Jun 20

by Julie in Inspirations, Photography Teachings 0 comments

Third thing to try to kick start your creative vision.

First thing - WITHOUT memory card. Second thing - WITHOUT CAMERA THIRD THING TO TRY

Jun 17

by Julie in Inspirations, Photography Teachings 2 comments

Second thing to try to assist you to create images which reflect your personal voice.

Ok.. the First thing to try was to photograph WITHOUT a memory card. SECOND THING TO TRY Go to a location you to intend to photograph.... BUT LEAVE YOUR CAMERA AT HOME !

Jun 17

by Julie in Inspirations, Photography Teachings 0 comments

Are you in the photographic doldrums? 3 ways to get yourself out.

Over the next three posts I will offer you one suggestion per post, of ways to try to get yourself out of a photographic rut....and kick start your creative vision again. FIRST THING TO TRY

Jun 14

by Julie in Earth and Sea, Inspirations, Karijini 2012, poetry, Words 0 comments