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Jul 31
in Photography Teachings, Uncategorized

Have you ever thought to yourself – “I don’t know whether this image works or not?”

“Where do I start?” “I really like parts of this image…. but I’m just not sure???”  “Some parts I really connect with…. but something’s not quite happening – and I don’t know what it is???” “I’m not sure this image is really saying what I had in mind nor what I felt???”

…..and then if I had an emotional investment in the image I might have pontificated over it for ages –  going round and around endeavouring to work out whether I ‘liked’ it or not, or it ‘worked’; OR – if I didn’t have an emotional investment in it I may have just moved on to the next image.

BUT… because now I have developed an approach to guide me to tease out elements of an image to ascertain what works and what doesn’t; as well as my own personal response to it…. I find I can connect with the elements of an image and my response much more effectively and deeply, and this then enables me to not only learn more about myself, but also facilitates the making of images which speak more clearly of my own voice.

This approach then enables me to examine an image as a process – rather than an ‘end result’. This approach allows me to ask “What happens when I….” alter different elements of an image through processing or revisiting a scene. This approach gives me the opportunity to evaluate whether I have achieved my own goal in expressing myself as I intended through my work. I’m always open however to other things being revealed to me through my images,  and I’ve often been surprised that the image has exceeded my original intention of expression through it – because of the deeper investigation and attention I have given to it as I ask myself “What happens when I….”

So…. what is the FIRST STEP?? The first step when evaluating my own images is to the best of my ability – remove any emotional attachment to the image and not let the memory of the experience I felt while I was taking a photograph, have any influence over the response I have from the dots on the page or screen in front of me. I endeavour to imagine that the image in front of me was taken by someone else… and that all I am looking at is just dots on paper…or pixels on a screen. That is the best way that I can be objective in hearing what my eyes see…rather than blurring my view with memory and expectations.

Once I have listened to what the dots and pixels have said to me… I then ask the question “What happens when I…” (make it warmer…make this part lighter…etc) and then observe what these changes ‘say’.

The approach I use for my own images is exactly the same one I use when others ask me for my “opinion“. Over the next few posts I will be outlining this approach to examining the elements of an image …… but remember to just look at the dots or pixels – without memory or expectation. 🙂

 

 

 

The-Grand-Canyon-3

 

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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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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?

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Knitting a fabulous  #slipstravaganzamkal by @westknits .
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#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?
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#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?
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#healingjourney #meditationpractice #dyedinthewool #assookinakii_cowl #knittersofinstagram #knittingaddict #livinglifetothefullest #happydays #shaman #healer #healersofinstagram #listentoyourheart #indiedyedyarn #handmadewithlove #knittersgonnaknit #knittersoftheworld
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2017 All photographs created by and property of Julie Stephenson.