where do you go?

We talk a lot about shooting the beauty in life's happy moments full of light and colors.  But where do you go on the darker days?  We all have our low moments and darker times.  Life is full of ups and downs, it is inevitable that sadness seeps in and finds its way into our creative spaces every now and then.  Especially when shooting a 365 project.  No matter how steadfast you are at being positive, eventually you are going to have one of those days.  So where does your lens go when you feel off balance? Where do you find solace?  Do you commune with nature?  Perhaps still life brings you a sense calm? Focusing even seems too much? Let go and find beauty in the blur. Or maybe you turn your lens to something personal or sacred?   On those certain off days i seek out a little piece of peace.  One of my favorite things to look to are my smooth beach stones.  I carefully choose a few and stack them, finding my center in this simple practice of stillness and nature all in one.  Show us where you find peace on your darker days?  What brings you serenity when things seem off balance?  There is beauty and light to be found even in those moments of darkness.

Comments

[Bree]

I go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bleach226/4405205221/

[Marcie]

On my darker days..I tend to look upwards. Perhaps searching for answers in the sky:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1109

[Chris]

A month ago I had to put my 90 yr. old grandma in a nursing home. She had never been away from her own home to live somewhere else. It was horribly sad for me and broke my heart. Still, I documented in photos what was occuring. I needed it. It was very personal to me and I almost didn't share it. Now I'm glad I did.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeroldssis/sets/72157623200149315/

[Nilo Dream]

maybe i am the only one who is not a photographer here and know nothing about photography , but i think i am also the only stone man , that is why the term " stone meditation " stroke me like a revelation , i was looking for it for years , i do really like stone meditation and it is the only kind of meditation i ever practice in my life , yes when life is really dumb you can talk with the stones , the stones can really talk , they can also walk and dance and love and heat and freeze and encourage and discourage and listen and smile and cry and hug and warm and calm and keep a secret and everything , i am not crazy , but yes i took my stones with me to bed sometimes and talked with them , i do not believe in anything holistic or spiritual about the stones , but i think they are a beauty in themselves and a perfect medium for meditation , that is why i like this post and this term " stone meditation " , thank you for that and for your post .

http://picasaweb.google.com/nilodream/Meditation#

[Puna]

I have been silly with all of the cold this winter. When it rained the other day I was depressed. When will it ever be spring? However, I did go outside and shoot some photos in the rain. It helps.

http://lifesignatures.org/wordpress/2010/03/march-25-coming-soon-april-showers/

[xanthe]

so lovely. perfectly composed. and gorgeous image.

i find try to find peace here -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/4462381432/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/4014892846/

and most of all you have to believe -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xantheberkeley/3793948065/

[georgia]

thank you for posting this. it's good to see and know others have dark days. not because i want that for anyone, but because i know i am not alone and i feel less awkward for letting those darker days show in my blogs or photography.

i've come to see so much in the past year just how much photographers use their camera as an outlet for pain and as a tool for hope and encouragement. i'm amazed at how much my camera has become tied to my emotions and my life. so this is a very poignant post and very honest, and i'm glad you wrote it.

when i need serenity and balance, in photography i go to nature. in the written word, i go to the psalms.
http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2010/03/be-still.html

than you for your picture of serenity today, kristin.

[wendy]

I always turn to nature...there is always something that calms me, centers me and I feel like I can breath again.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/awebert/4289875727/

[informal moments]

wow - thanks for the link! the thing I love about photography is that it makes room for the "where I am" at almost any given moment. this post definitely speaks to that...

[marina]

Thank you for this post!
I try to find peace picking up my camera and looking for colors and life in nature
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36167691@N03/4444488617/in/set-72157623650357938/

[traceyclark]

love the truth spoken here kristin. love the questions. we all go through these times and it's nice to remember we are not along. this image you've shared is a perfect shot for so many reasons. thank you for speaking (and shooting) from your heart.

[Crisse]

Photography has been my medium for processing and exploring my emotions, good, bad and the ugly. Through the photos, how they are processed and the words that come with them I find a way to understand and even heal myself. Thank you for writing this post. Sometimes it can feel as though we are alone in our dark days. When I feel the need to find my center I find myself drawn to nature. The healing breath of the wind and often of water can so often bring clarity and peace.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tildabelle/4218215886/

[DorkyMum]

When my life is lacking brightness, I hop on a bus to the part of the city where all the students and skaters hang out. There is a big colourful graffiti wall, and the occasional attack by guerilla knitters, both of which are guaranteed to cheer me up.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4385387764/in/set-72157623183172887/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dorkymum/4384805047/in/set-72157623183172887/

[angela/jhscrapmom]

i go off by myself and just try to work with the familiar. me;). it is a reminder that i am here and capable and even needed. i have had more than a few dark days, both when i was doing my 365's and even as recently as last week ( when this shot was taken). but i always feel better after, when i have taken some time and some pictures. it is my reflection time.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/duchesslala/4441142597/?edited=1

[damiec]

Beautiful photo and wonderful words. Thank you. It was only since the gift of a wonderful little that I started to think of myself as a photographer. Since I began my 365 last summer, I have been amazed by how the act of taking pictures helps me get out of myself, lifts my spirit, and shifts my mood.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/4458422333/

When I am feeling low, I look to nature or my children - and I always find beauty and joy. I was on the verge of tears while taking this picture yesterday, in the late light. In the grand scheme of things, it's not much, but I came home to see the framing of my neighbor's new monstrous addition. It will rob me of my favorite kitchen window view, ruin some beautiful flower beds and potentially shrink the size of our vegetable garden. It won't - can't steal all of my light, though.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/4461495340/

[Tara R.]

I head to water... and look to the skies. To me there is something calming about the ocean and rolling clouds.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifmomsaysok/3553668855/in/set-72157623545560111/

[Nalen Aguilar]

Not that I always visit this Asian restaurant, but the I find my solace on having a cup of tea. :P

http://barriegirl.tumblr.com/post//after-the-gluttony-is-a-cup-of-tea

[JoLyn]

Great post--I hadn't really thought about this before. One thing that brings me peace is nature, so I suppose on my dark days that is where I turn. I especially find peace looking at nature close up, at little details and beautiful colors I hadn't noticed before. http://www.ayearofhappyphotos.com/2010/03/38-blooming-yellow.html

[Sarah]

Hmmmm..I guess I go to nature. We have a wonderful hiking area just blocks away from me... Tubbs Hill. It is generally a quiet and good place for me to regroup and rebalance. I take the time to stop and notice the little things..macros mainly..just breathe, walk and shoot whatever my heart desires. Sarah
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cottagegardenstudios/4299515572/

[Michel]

I had one of these days just recently. I find in my recent 365 journey I go to photoshop for my healing. I tend to take a photo of something and create a mood within it. I guess I have the idea in my head before I head out, but tricking my brain with post production seems to help me. Does anyone else do this?

http://www.wishfulthinkingblog.com/wishful-thinking/2010/3/19/friday-fog.html

[spread your wings]

one day when i thought there was nothing to photograph I looked around and there was this great shadow on the wall. i watch for shadows and patterns on the wall - i play with them.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/4286013262/in/set-72157613507730668/

[lifeineden]

thanks kristin for reminding me to still shoot on those days, i'm going to try
http://lifeineden.wordpress.com/2010/03/25/struggling/

[Maegan]

Kristin, you touched on such an excellent topic here! I'm enjoying reading everyone's answer.

I go outside...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbeasoap/4463104552/

Great post, dear! xo

[Johanna]

If possible, I choose to go riding. The best place to leave the worries behind is
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mun_kuvia/3402436626/in/set-72157614542610139/">on horseback.</a>

[Johanna]

Sorry, here's the proper link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mun_kuvia/3402436626/in/set-72157614542610139/

[Hay]

I prefer the darkness. Great links k!

[elk]

it happens to us all and your gentle post about this "place " will touch many today ..blessings Kristin.

always to the sky i go......black and white this day ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammymom/4425620646

[Hannah]

I have seen in my work that I tend towards macro when I'm feeling off. I find details, seeking beauty and light in the small things.

[Kim Klassen]

this is really truly lovely. i adore photographing river rocks.. and simple things....

this images makes me feel calmer!

[Deirdre]

Often just getting out by myself and wandering with my camera is enough, but when I need a little more inspiration, I head to the Hudson River. I grew up across the street from the river and now live a 20-minute drive away,and it never fails to soothe me.

This week has been one of those weeks -- I've coming out of denial about some major issues we're facing with one of my daughters. Today I had some time to myself and made sure to visit the river:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/superdewa/4464397274/

[emily, aka squeeekphoto]

I think I shoot "the real deal" and then look at it freshly as a photograph, cropped.
When it's cropped, it's not so bad!

I tend to get overwhelmed by seeing everything, all at once. Putting my "mess", either literal or metaphorical into a tightly framed box, is a nice way to gain some perspective on just how small these things are...

Not that my dark place is just a messy house.. but here are a couple of shots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/squeeekphoto/4250647133/in/set-72157622494226868/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/squeeekphoto/4422254013/in/set-72157622838255170/

[Megan]

NATURE! I feel most at home, at peace, and full of joy in the great outdoors :)