just be.

Take my hand and I will pull you through
The light is gone but I am still here with you
You are so far away thinkin’ you should roam
My arms are ready for you to come back home

Can you feel me, feel my reach?
Take it easy, honey, and just be.
from the song "The Reach" by Miranda Lee Richards 

When difficult/bad/sad things happen in my life, I have a system in place.  I acknowledge whatever the difficult/bad/sad thing is, shove it to the back of my mind into neat little compartments and go on my way. I've always done this and it's worked just fine.  This past year I've had more than my normal share of things occur and once again, I used my 'system' of dealing with everything and again, it's been working just fine...or so I thought.

While at Oasis, during a talk Kim Klassen and Xanthe Berkeley gave, Xanthe showed a video she had made for One Day on Earth.  I'd seen it before. Numerous times, in fact.  But on that day while I watched it again, one of my neat, little compartments that I had shoved to the back of my mind cracked open and I began to cry one of those ugly, snot-nosed cries (Thank you, Siobhan Wolf, for the use of your shoulder that day).

I realized at that moment that I had stopped enjoying the most simplest of things in my life and had essentially been just existing.  When I should have been celebrating all the little things in my life, I had been in a fog, waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop, for the bad things to get worse.  But you know what?  That other shoe has not dropped and in watching that video made up of Xanthe's gorgeous photos celebrating everyday life, I had an 'aha' moment.  I realized that I could take what I had been shoving away, examine it a little closer, acknowledge it fully and then move on.  I was going to be okay. 

Thanksgiving is this week and my immediate family is no longer here.  This saddens me greatly and once again I put my famous system back into place just like I've always had, but this morning while looking for something in my desk I came across a photo of my brother and grandmother, both of them tucked together in the very back of my desk drawer. I held them in my hand looking from one to another and at that moment, I let myself just be.  I cried a little, but at the same time I knew that I was meant to find those photos.  My brother has been gone 13 years and my grandmother 3 years. I'll celebrate them this week and remember them lovingly, making their favorite Thanksgiving dishes to share with my husband and my boys and tell them stories of holidays past and when the day is done, I'll feel blessed and full of love for all that I have...and just be. 

Today, share with us those photos that move you and in celebrating the holiday this week remember to give thanks...and to just be.  

Magenta

I never thought I would be a part of the Pink Sisterhood but on May 24 of 2011 diagnosed with Stage 3A breast cancer, I joined the club.  A sore left breast and a swollen lymph node led to 2 needle biopsies, a lumpectomy, 8 wicked chemo treatments, 5days a week for 7 weeks of radiation and a lot of photos.

I have been told many times that I am not your typical breast cancer patient and I think that’s true.  I didn’t let the word Cancer or being sick beat me. I attacked it head on with my camera in hand!  My camera has been my partner in crime since I was a child and it's always helped me through the ups and downs life throws at me. My passion for photography is what helped me through this journey and what will continue to help me. 

I never thought pink was my color until my diagnoses but since then, I have been wearing more pink and playing with pink in my images. The stencil art on 7th Avenue in Manhattan stated exactly what I feel; "Art is my Weapon".  Photography is my weapon. I added a pink color tint to it to really represent me right now. My photography has helped me heal and will continue to do so.  As long as I can continue to take photos I will do so as my weapon against the bad stuff in life.  

Let’s make a statement today with bright, bold, beautiful pink and shoot images featuring the brilliant shade called Magenta! Don't forget to tag your photos with #sscolormonth. and add them to the OWP pool on Flickr. 

Image and words by our guest blogger, the courageous Darlene Cannup. 

how we see ourselves

Shutter brother, Artfarmer, in the studio with his self portrait.

Artists use self-portraits to explore the basic question that plagues all of us: who am I? As early as the mid 1400's artists began painting themselves onto canvas. Later, with the invention of the camera (and mirrors) photographers began turning the image (and their artwork) inward as well. Yes, a mirror or a photograph can tell a person what he or she looks like, but we all know that the physical image doesn't reflect the whole self. We all know that photography can be 99% optical illusion. Self-portraiture insists that an artist embark on the journey of self-exploration. This journey of self brings about choices, the main one being how to represent him/herself authentically. You always get to choose how you see yourself, that is the beauty of self portraits. There's a growing group of like-minded friends ready to begin the journey of self... just as artists have done for hundreds of years. Does self portraiture call to you as well? 

There are lots of conversations I've seen online lately discussing the concept of "everyday beauty" and people are torn as to what that exactly means. Some folks feel this phrase has been overused, misused, or misconstrued. Everyday beauty is sometimes not beautiful at all, right? It's messy... we all know this. And so going with the literal definition of "beauty" can be confusing when approaching a topic as broad as art and self. And yet so often we try our best to clean it up. We shine it and polish it and try to make it presentable. Are we caught up in comparing our insides to other people's outsides? We photoshop and airbrush and texturize and soften. I have been known to do these things too, because I want to see what is aesthetically pleasing with my life... and so I organize the composition of my frame to put chaos into order. But can't everyday beauty include chaos? What is real is what is true: it's dishes in the sink, migraines, new love, and decay. Sometimes it screams in your face, sometimes it laughs. 

So, what is beautiful? Everyone has their own opinion. Self is beautiful, as is optical illusion. I believe life and reality... and the thought that we are here at all with our paints and film, exploring these thoughts... that is beautiful. All of it, no matter what, is worth documenting. You are allowed to view your life and your self with whatever filters you want to use. It's your life and your everyday! Your masculinity, your femininity, your weakness, your strength... it's all truth and worthy of being seen.

Today I'd love to hear your thoughts and words on the subject. What do you find yourself portraying most in your images? Why do we do the things we do? Share any images today of what you find to be beautiful, and help us redefine everyday beauty.

make a wish

While watching The Beckoning of Lovely on Friday, there was a moment when the viewer is asked to make a wish and take a photo of oneself while making this wish. What a beautiful thing, prompting the universe to make collective wishes together, and providing a space for those lovely wishes to live on and be seen. I find it so beautiful to see all those diverse faces in a moment of wishing. I have taken many photos of wishing. Birthday wishes, dandy wishes, but never have I thought to take a shot of myself actually wishing. Fun thing is, wishes can be done totally alone if you like. No one there to make you feel uncomfortable, or make you feel like you are wishing too long, or too much, or too hard, nope, no such thing. This is YOUR wish, you get to decide all of those things, just you. No wish is too silly or strange, you can wish for really big stuff or something small. The most delicious part of wishing is no one needs to know, not ever. Your wish is sacred. Your wish is yours to keep. No one can take your wish away. Another awesome thing about wishing is you can do it ANYWHERE. In your car, in your shower, in your bed, in the morning, at night, on a star, on a candle, on an eyelash, on a necklace clasp turned round, on a dandelion, or in your heart of hearts. You can write it down, crumple it up, light it on fire, save it in a jar, or send it on a breeze. Wish alone, or with someone you love. The universe is listening. Go ahead, close your eyes, WISH.. One last perfect thing about wishes? They are unlimited... wish away. go on! No one is keeping score.

Join me in making a wish(es) today.

Take a photo of your wish if you feel moved to do so and share it with us here, or hold it in your heart, just leave a little note here with your name saying you did. I forgot how simple and lovely making a wish feels. Pausing and taking that moment all to myself, it just feels hopeful.

Go on, your wishes are safe here. They are welcome here.

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(a special thank you to fellow contributor and artist, Kim Klassen for the use of her lovely one word texture, above.)

hold hands and stick together

Some days we just need the simplest of reminders. Just the other day I was escorting my "baby" to her brand new kindergarten room, outside the door was a poster with this poem. I remember reading this poem so many years ago and how simple it was, but so very true. It made me smile and feel a little more at ease with this big transition for my little one.  Kindergarten is good.  The rules are simple.  Re-reading this was good for my heart.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Most of what I really need
To know about how to live
And what to do and how to be
I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top
Of the graduate school mountain,
But there in the sandpile at school.
These are the things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life -
Learn some and think some
And draw and paint and sing and dance
And play and work everyday some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world,
Watch out for traffic,
Hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder."

~by Robert Fulghum

Today share an image of a that rings true in your heart... and don't forget to hold hands.  :)

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We are giving away one $100 Paper Coterie gift card EVERY SINGLE DAY of September to one of YOU! All you have to do is share a comment each day before midnight EST for your chance to win that day's random drawing. And be sure to keep shooting your own stories and adding them to the OWP Pool on Flickr where you have a second chance at winning one of those $100 Paper Coterie giveaways.