Art and the Camera

When I was young, I would spend hours coloring in my books. Spending summer days with chalk on the driveway or outside with a set of paints so as to keep the mess at a minimum. Even during my high school years, my drawing ability was far greater than now. I often ponder the reasons why I can't seem to sketch any longer. Is it that my brain has grown too impatient, wanting immediate results? Or is it that I've lost the childish wonderment and allow my brain to think too much about the task at hand? I do believe that is my problem. Too much thinking and definitely too often my own harsh personal judgment.

Picking up the camera frees my thinking mind and allows the creativity to flow once again. The camera has become my chalk and the Internet a way to display my images. I find myself lost in the act of creating a photo and remember those hours spent coloring in a book, losing track of all time. It must be a similar sensation. At one time, I would allow doubt to creep into my head while holding a camera, hearing other's critique of images. "It's not sharp", "it's got blocked up shadows and burned out highlights", "it's horizon is right down the center", "boring subject", "no subject", "how many photos of that thing do you need" and the list goes on and on. At some point, I quit hearing those voices (and frequenting the photo critique forums). I have let go of conventional wisdom and allow my lens to become my artist's brush. The choice of lens does, indeed, change one's perspective and can create the art. I allow myself to break the rules and give myself to the image.

I did have some great epiphany of thought but as I started to type, it vanished. Poof. If it should resurface, I will jot it down quickly.

Photo notes:
First image was taken using a Lensbaby lens. It is a banner at the Evanston Art Museum.
Second image is a photo of two of my only remaining "art" projects from art class. I'm sure I have more around but where would they be after all these moves. I know the colorful watercolor earned me an A.