Present and Accounted For

by Kelly

'Here.'

That's what I used say in school during role call.  'Here' meant I was present.  In my seat.  I was accounted for.

These days, 'here' is something I say to myself.  'Here' means that I am present in any given moment. On difficult days, I am here.  I acknowledge the darkness and give thanks to the light.

On days when lack of sleep or too much media or a to-do list that won't quit sends my head spinning, I can push the pause button.  I can breathe.  I am here.  I am present.

In happy moments, I can let the joy wash over me.  I can receive the gift.  I can relish in wonder and thanksgiving.

I am so grateful for my camera.  I am so grateful for the gift of photography that anchors me in the present moment. I am so grateful for a community of kindred souls to share it with.

I am here.

Love, Kelly

The Benefits of Boredom

by Kelly

There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither. ~ Alan Cohen

When is the last time you were bored?

No really…I mean it.  My guess is that your life looks anything like mine, there is seldom the opportunity for boredom.  But recently, while on vacation, my family got a front-row seat to boredom.  And it was the very best thing that could have happened to us.

So let me back up for a minute.  A couple of months ago, my husband, my adventure-seeker and intrepid traveler, starting firming up the plans for our vacation to Costa Rica.  Passports up to date…check.  Airline flights confirmed…check. Accommodations set up…check.  Check, check, check.

Regarding the accommodations, our VRBO rental boasted that it had the three, must-have amenities for American travelers – air-conditioning, satellite television, and Wi-Fi.   And when we finally arrived to our destination, the first thing Tripp did (as he usually does) is turn on the air-conditioner, turn on the TV, and check for internet connection.  Typically, in that order.

After choosing our bedrooms and getting settled in, the first thing Tripp noticed was that the satellite dish wasn’t working.   We were in a fairly remote area, so we only got one, poorly connected, local station.  In Español no less. But no TV, no problem!  We had internet!  Or so we thought.  Because after an hour of unplugging and replugging and checking and resetting, it became clear that, although we did indeed have access to the internet, it was nothing like the speed or bandwidth that we, as uber-connected individuals, have become accustomed to.   But it was getting late and starting to storm.  Plus we hadn’t eaten dinner yet and all of us were getting fairly “hangry’.  So we decided to let it be and go back into town for a bite to eat.

Now, I would just like to pause here for a minute to acknowledge the fact that all of the ‘problems’ we were facing are so totally #firstworldprobs.  OK?  And we knew it.  Lack of high-speed internet is not a real problem and I am grateful that, even as a ‘plugged in’ family, we knew the difference.  And what happened as a result, has been far more gratifying than anything we could have experienced while online.

Anyway, long story, short…the satellite never worked and the agonizingly slow Wi-Fi was the best that Costa Rica had to offer.  And with two days with no real ‘activities’ scheduled, that meant we were going to have to get creative…literally and figuratively.

I’d also like to add here that as an introvert, I am totally fine – no…in COMPLETE HEAVEN – when I have nothing to do and nowhere to go. Quiet time at “home” is my nirvana, whether I’m at “home” at my permanent address or at “home” on vacation.  My husband and daughter are wired differently however.  Both of them love to go and do, so two days with nothing planned was more like their worst nightmare.

One afternoon, I could see Tripp restless and roaming around the house and I asked him, “Dear, are you ok?  Are you bored out of your mind?”  To which he replied, “Yes… but it’s probably a good thing.”

I’ve been thinking about this conversation on and off for a month…how being bored can be a good thing.  And how rarely the thought of boredom even comes about in everyday life.  And how could it?  Between cable TV, Netflix, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram (just to name a few), there is no shortage of ‘entertainment’ or ways to fill up the space in our lives.  And it’s so easy…with just a touch, a world of entertainment is right at our fingertips…quite literally in the palms of our hands.  I also wonder if it’s a bit of a cultural thing too.  In society that prides itself on productivity and flaunts busy-ness like a badge of honor, it’s almost like boredom has become a dirty word.

But I would like to state for the record that boredom can be a good thing.  Because with no access to TV, we spent more time with our faces in books.  With limited access to social media, we socialized with each other over afternoon cocktails and ping pong.  Without all the noise of a plugged-in life, we spent two quiet days wandering, daydreaming, napping, and resting.  Really resting – body, mind, and spirit.  A complete reset for our souls.

The more I have pondered it, what if, rather than classifying boredom as apathetic tedium or a restless ennui, we could see it differently.  Similar to whitespace in photography, what if we saw boredom as breathing room…space for our world-weary souls to rest.  Whitespace is a critical element of design in all of the graphic arts – the use of which creates more meaningful and more aesthetically pleasing compositions.  So why wouldn’t I apply these same design practices to my own art?  The art that is my life?

More than any trinket or tchotchke, this was the one souvenir that I really wanted to bring home with me…permission to be bored.  The gift of breathing room. The freedom from hustle. The feeling of peace.  The connection to who and what matters most.  Because these are the benefits to boredom…and these are the gifts that keep on giving.

Until next time,
Kelly

Challenge Accepted

by Kelly

“It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

When a friend, a fellow photographer and kindred spirit whose art you both respect and admire, encourages you to try something new with your own photography...you take heed.

"Now I want to see you do a series in B&W that is wide angle, includes people, and is underexposed. I want to see the Kelly shot of that."

To my friend Pam, challenge accepted.

In her original comment, Pam referenced Henri Cartier-Bresson, so before I started on this journey, I did a little research to find out more about his life and art.  I learned that Henri was French photographer who famous for his candid, street-style photography.  He shot almost exclusively in black & white and preferred to shoot events inconspicuously.  He also preferred to focus on small details believing that "the smallest thing can be a great subject."

For Henri, the technical aspects of photography were always secondary to "seeing"...they existed only to help him express what he saw with his mind's eye.  And it was with this intention that I spent the better half of the month of June, looking for opportunities to capture the moments that touched my heart. Such as my parents dancing to Unchained Melody on my back porch.

Or an afternoon on the lake with my girl.

Even ordinary, everyday moments seem to stand out in black and white.

If you have following this blog for very long at all, you probably are aware that I rarely shoot in black and white.  But after seeing these photos, it reminds me that there is something about this format that feel timeless and special to me.  I love that.

But mostly what I love is continuing to grow as a photographer.  Finding new ways to capture the moments that touch my heart.

Thank you, Pam, for your encouragement and your friendship and for helping me to grow in my art.

All my love, 

Kelly

The Art of Contentment

by Kelly

“I am content; that is a blessing greater than riches; and he to whom that is given need ask no more.” ~ Henry Fielding

Seeking.  Striving.  Exploring.  Learning.

All words you could use to describe the early stages of my relationship with photography.  And I do not believe it was a coincidence that I was also approaching my life the same way at the time…working through my mid-life crisis/empty-nest issues.  Looking for answers to some of life’s big questions.

In the beginning, I spent so much time and energy behind the lens and in front the screen…when I look back, it really was a time of very active growth.  I was reading everything I could get my hands on.  Experimenting with technique and style.  Making big discoveries about both my Life and my Art.

Life and Art….for me they always seem to go hand in hand.  

Lately though, it’s been a different story.  Less striving…less struggling.  A certain sense of quiet peace about both my life and my photography.

So, just to be clear, I am absolutely NOT pretending that life is perfect and I have all my problems worked out!  And I’m certainly not stating that I don’t have room to grow in my photography!  I guess what I am trying to say is that even in the midst of their imperfections and incompleteness, I feel content in both of these areas in my life right now.  For now, I am satisfied with where I am at.

Even as recently as a couple of years ago though this kind of quietness (or anything even **remotely** resembling emptiness) would have sent me into major hustle mode – Take a new class!  Start a new project!  I would have found some way to busy it up.  Fill up the space.  I had this notion that if I was not actively pursuing improvement in my Art then basically I was a total slacker.

But I am slowly learning Art isn’t only found in the relentless striving and the big epiphanies.  Art is wherever the heart is, so that means there can also be Art in contentment as well.

Finding the heart in my Art…it’s the core of my word for the year – CONNECT.  Connecting my hands, my head, and my heart in all of my creative pursuits.  And beyond the surface connotation of how it might apply to crafty-type endeavors, instead, where I am truly focusing my attention is in motivation behind my Art.  Making sure my Art is not driven by one of my “Big Three Art Killers”:

• the comparison trap
• fear of missing out
• hustling for worthiness

So then what does finding contentment in my Art look like?  For me, it starts with acknowledging the ebb and flow of creativity.  Getting comfortable with the seasons of life.  I believe the art of contentment also has its foundation in gratitude and mindfulness.  Staying present and avoiding my tendency to find distraction from uncomfortable situations and emotions.  And lastly, for me especially, resisting the urge to fill this quiet peacefulness with empty busyness.  

I think it's important here to add here that contentment is not complacency.  Whereas complacency is rooted in smugness and pride, contentment owes its origins to fulfillment and serenity.  Complacency boldly proclaims that I have learned enough.  Contentment whispers that there is much more to learn, but I am ok with the not-knowing.  

So to that end, I continue to pursue my creative vision of finding magic, wonder, and joy in my ordinary life. I still take photos everyday.  I'm still working to nail focus and exposure.  I am still looking to composition to help me accurately tell the story in my photo.  Because I want to continue to evolve as a photographer and as a person.  And I believe that being happy where I am right now is rich and fertile ground from which to grow.

Until next time,

Kelly

I See Hearts!

by Linda

This past week I celebrated the beginning of another trip around the sun. For the past few years, this occasion finds me more contemplative than any other time of year.

I am blessed beyond measure and thankful to still be part of this wonderful thing called life. The people in my life start asking me what I want and truthfully, I want for nothing, of course they find something to give me and nothing pleases me more than the gift of their heart that they so openly give.

I can see hearts in their eyes. I can see hearts in their smiles as they hand me whatever it is they have chosen.

These are moments that I treasure and hold close to my heart. They want to do something out of love. What a wonderful gesture.

Along with these heartfelt messages came some robo-messages but one actually stood out to me and made me think. I want to share it with you.

"What matters most in life is often viewed as peripheral to the things that we usually focus on. Passion takes a backseat to production, wellness to working, and balance to busyness. The old adage that 'life is not a dress rehearsal' is so true, and yet we act to the contrary by putting off what is truly important or indulging in things that are not. On your birthday, stop focusing on your age and start meditating on your life at this exact moment. How can you make it better? During the next year, reshuffle your priorities. Spend more time with family and friends, take care of your body and health and offer to help others in need. Discover what matters most to you and make your daily life into a true reflection of those ideals, beliefs and attitudes."

Amen.

...

Everyday Magic

by Kelly

Our goal should be to perceive the extraordinary in the ordinary, and when we get good enough, to live vice versa, in the ordinary extraordinary ~ Eric Booth

Standing in the kitchen Sunday morning, I could see it from the corner of my eye...there was a subtle glistening coming from my back porch.

After breakfast, I walked outside to get a closer look and to my delight, I noticed that my Nandina's were covered with tiny, spherical dewdrops.  

I was so enamored by these enchanting little orbs that I decided to Google it, and I discovered that these are not actually dew drops at all.  Whereas dewdrops are created by the condensation of water vapor in the air, these droplets are actually fluid that has been exuded from inside of the plant in a process that is known as 'guttation'.

Normally, water vapor is released through the process of transpiration where it evaporates from the surface of leaves of vascular plants.  But at night, these openings (stomata) are typically closed and so when the soil moisture is high, water pressure builds up.  This pressure then forces some of the water to exude through special glands (hydathodes) on the tips or edges of the leaves.  And when the nighttime humidity is high, as it has been the past several days, it creates these magical little spheres.

OK.  So I may have gone a little overboard and geeked out on Botany a bit.  But here's the deal...knowing the scientific explanation behind this phenomenon does not...even a tiny bit... take away from the magic and wonder I felt Sunday morning.  If anything, it feels even more astonishing!

Moments like this are what I have come to embrace as everyday magic.  Wonders of nature that reflect not only the brilliant design of our Creator but also His goodness in sharing with us these extraordinary gifts to delight our senses.

In a month that is devoted to gratitude, I can't help but be grateful for these wonders of nature. But I am also grateful for this hobby which has taught me to see more clearly.  Thankful for this practice that helps me notice the extraordinary in my ordinary days and brought so much joy into my life.

As we celebrate gratitude this month, we would love to have you share with us the magic of your leveryday life.  You can connect with us in our Flickr pool or on Instagram @focusing_on_life.  Be sure to use the hashtag #focusingonlife so we can find you!

Until next time,

Kelly

Little Victories in the Game of Life

by Kelly

My husband and I went to the University of Oklahoma football game this past weekend.

We've had season tickets for the past several years.  But if to be perfectly honest, my favorite part about going to the games has little to do with the actual game of football.  Rather, it is a toss-up between the flowers....right now the campus is beautifully dotted with mums in shades of crimson and cream (naturally).

And the my other favorite thing about the football games is watching the band.

What can I say - once a band geek, always a band geek.

My husband though...well that's a different story altogether.  Because Tripp loves the game of football and most especially, OU football.

The University of Oklahoma is a proud family legacy for Tripp and he's been going to OU football games as long as he can remember.  Tripp is Sooner born and Sooner bred - I swear the man bleeds crimson and cream - and watching a football game with him is always a learning experience for me.

Now I've watched enough football in my lifetime to understand the basic rules of the game.  But Tripp takes watching a game to a whole new level.  Even before the first kickoff, Tripp is already watching the players as they warm up.  He's looking to see who's injured and/or who hasn't suited up...already he's making mental notes. And then each time the players line up at the line of scrimmage, Tripp is paying keen attention to the formations.  He is analyzing the possible plays and coverage based on the players on the field.  He's looking for mismatches between the offensive and defensive packages.

Like most spectators, once the ball is snapped, I started watching to see where it winds up.  But not Tripp - he's watching the play unfold across the entire field.  He's looking to see if the running backs and receivers are blocking or running their routes. He's watching the defenders to see if they are rushing or hanging back.

I swear it's like he's watching a different game.  

Like I said, I'm no stranger to football, but I've never paid attention to all of the subtle details of the game.  Maybe it's because I've never actually played football or had a son who played football.  Or perhaps - and much more likely - I've never really been all that interested in the ins and outs of football to begin with.  But sitting next to Tripp at football games for all these years, and listening to him explain things to me, it's an entirely new experience.  And I enjoy watching the game through his eyes and learning see things in a new way.

I was thinking about this on the drive home Saturday....how paying attention to subtle details and seeing things differently can have a positive impact on a person's overall enjoyment of an activity. But I don't think this concept applies only to sports - I think it applies to life as well.

As photographers, I think we have a gift when it comes to paying attention.  As we continually hone our visual skills, we become more adept at noticing shapes, and lines, and textures, and patterns.

Through practice, we learn to notice subtle details.  We watch how the light moves through our homes and gardens....we see the sign of things to come.  We anticipate the change of seasons and notice the subtle signs of change often before anyone else does.

But I will go out on a limb here to say that as photographers we're not 'in it to win it'.  There's no scoreboard with winners and losers.  There's no big trophy waiting on us at the end of a winning season.

Instead, what we're gaining from all of this practice and observation is mindfulness.  Peace of mind when life feels overwhelming.  Calmness in the face of a never-ending to-do list.   Perspective on difficult days.

I would suggest that these are the triumphs - large and small - that we celebrate by paying attention and learning to see.  And I believe these simple joys are sweetest victories of all.


Until next time,

Kelly

Beyond the Comfort Zone

by Kelly

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. ~Neale Donald Walsch 

I blame Pinterest.

I swear I'm going to have that tattooed on my forehead someday.

I had a couple of flower arrangements that needed to have their stems re-cut and be put in fresh water.  That's it. But that was before I stumbled across this Pin on Pinterest.  And you know how that goes right?  An hour later I fell down the rabbit hole into the whole genre of dark & moody floral photography.

Admittedly, this sort of dark and moody look isn't really my go-to style.  But for some reason it really stood out to me that day.  Perhaps it's the deep,vibrant color - something I'm sorely missing right now in my own garden.  Or maybe it's the beautiful light.  Either way, I was immediately smitten and decided that my wilted flowers would make a perfect subject.

Like I said...this isn't really a style that I am comfortable with.  It was a little frustrating at first trying to get my exposure just right.  And then there was experimenting in Lightroom to achieve the moody look I was going for.  But after a bit of trial and error, I wound up with several shots that I was pretty happy with.

After I had a chance to let this experiment sort of sink in a little, I realized that lately I have been a bit complacent with regards to my photography.  For the past several months my typical workflow has looked something like this:

• find pretty light
• add an interesting subject
• take a bunch of pictures

Now please don't get me wrong.  It feels SO good to finally be at a place in my photography where I feel fairly comfortable in most situations. It was a long road to get here, and there is nothing at all wrong with feeling the feeling of confidence that comes from studying and practicing any skill or craft.  In fact, I have a friend who once told me that it is important to take a moment to relish the satisfaction that comes with any accomplishment.  

But I also believe that there are times when it's appropriate - beneficial even - to push ourselves.  To get outside of our comfort zones and try new things.

This is where I have been lately...feeling a subtle urge to expand my creativity.  And I think it is important that we heed this gentle knocking at our souls.  To cast aside fear and doubt.  To play and experiment and push our own boundaries.  For me, this exercise gave me that same exhilarating feeling of accomplishment that I used to get when I first started out in photography.

I think that life is a lot like art in the sense that it is often during those times of challenge and adversity that we experience the most growth.  This is something I am learning to embrace in my personal life.  And although these times can be extremely uncomfortable...painful even!...the lessons I have learned have made me a wiser person and a more confident photographer.

So how about you?  Have you tried something new or taken any risks with your photography lately?  If so, what did you learn about photography...or yourself?  And if not, what do you think is holding you back?

Until next time,  Kelly

P.S. Like I shared in my post, I have been pushing my creative boundaries lately - not just in my photography but also in my personal life.  I recently accepted an invitation to create a class at Skillshare.com.  My class is called Adobe Lightroom::One Photo Four Ways and in this class I am sharing the basics of my post-processing workflow as well as some of my favorite creative editing techniques.  As always, thank you so much for all of your kind words and encouragement...I am so grateful to be part of this wonderful community.  Love, Kelly

Convergence and a Crossroad

by Kim

"Above all, I crave to seize the whole essence, in the confines 

of one single photograph, of some situation that was in the

process of unrolling itself before my eyes."

- Henri Cartier-Bresson

Henri Cartier-Bresson was a street photographer. And although this is not about street photography, it is still about the essence we can capture in a single photograph in the moments that move through us if we allow them. 

It is about being able to see and fully experience the beauty beneath the exterior of life . . . because even beneath the surface of the grayest of days, both physically and metaphorically, there is something that shimmers, like gold.

For me, photography has always been a kind of spiritual practice. I've always felt that the photograph is secondary to my experience.

But there are some days that the convergence of my heart with the mindfulness of the present does not always become reality and I find myself at a crossroad of sorts.

Just being in the "right spot"isn't enough if I have disconnect between my head and my heart.

And honestly, there are days that I go out with my camera and have every intention of  "finding something" to bring home on my memory card. Those are the days that I find myself the most frustrated.

Because I've forgotten that expectations lead to disappointments, and that the process or practice of putting my camera to my eye is much more about a path of discovery, of myself and the world around me.

And then there are days like this one, where there were no preconceived ideas about what the sunrise should look like. Where I could feel the essence of the morning in a single photograph, and moments lingered like eternity.

"To us, the difference between the photographer as an individual eye and the photographer

as an objective recorder seems fundamental, the difference often regarded, mistakenly, as

separating photography as art from photography as document. But both are logical extensions

of what photography means; note-taking on, potentially, everything in the world, from every

possible angle."  - Susan Sontag