Inspirational Photography

Photography and Drawing – Finding Your Creative Self-Expression

by Sheila Finkelstein on July 30, 2008

Picture to Ponder – Volume 4 – Issue 27

Morikami Tile

Today’s Picture to Ponder Photo

Wavy Tiles on a Wall in the Contemplation Pavilion at the Morikami Gardens in Delray Beach, FL

I was recently reviewing the journal in which I wrote during my twelve targeted visits to the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens during the time I was participating in a pilot program of a Healing Gardens Walk. The photo above exudes such a sense of peacefulness, with the strong horizontal flow of the tiles and the gentle shadows, that I’m leaving it as a stand alone photo for this issue. I invite you to take a moment or two and simply “be” with the photo.

Once you are satisfied with that you might wish to spend another moment or two with the more expansive view:

Large rock and wall in Contemplation Pavilion at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

Self-Reflecting Queries
In addition to experiencing the peacefulness in this photo, in rereading my journal I was interested to find an “aha” insight I had that explains some of my current involvement with photography. Photography, for me, provides INSTANT GRATIFICATION, something I love.

In the journal, two and half months after the passing of my beloved husband Sam, I wrote: “I need to practice really resting, quiet meditation.” Then I did a quick squiggly line, a “drawing” of the tiles, followed by,

“The shingles are restful; my drawing impatient. Camera satisfies impatience.”

Where in your life are you showing, or feeling, impatience? Do you have a practice for settling down, easing up, altering your state? And, if you do, do you remember to put it in place? It may be something as simple as taking some long, deep breaths.

Be sure to have fun and play with this.

Added Notes on Drawing
In reflecting on my comment in the journal on drawing, I went back to my college and teaching days and remembered how much I enjoyed drawing, how important I thought it was. When I taught Art in the elementary school, I would often have children, as young as those in first grade, posing for each other as they drew what we saw.

What is particularly interesting about all of this for me now is, that in addition to my journal observation, within the past week I came across the work of Deborah Putnoi, a participant in an online course in which I am enrolled. In checking out her web site – deborahputnoi.com – I was moved by her artist statement and then even more by some by various thoughts she puts forth in the five small pages of her JOURNAL on the site [no longer on the site]:

“DRAWING – It is a small but powerful act. One that everyone can do. Drawing. It is a pencil, ballpoint pen, charcoal on paper. It is a mark in the sand, chalk on the sidewalk. Drawing, is a visual language. Making marks on a surface is a truly democratic activity, something that everyone regardless of age, culture, socio-economic status can take part in.” 

Additionally, on the more “practical” side, Deborah has a blog where she discusses “Doodles”, her drawing journal and the Drawing Labs she holds in Massachusetts. She states:

“I want to bring my passion for drawing to everyone. There are times like now when I am in my studio when there is a small voice inside me that is begging to paint but there is that need in me to create these DRAWING LABS so that others can experience their own ability to make a line on the page. To give people back their sense of their creative selves.” See the DRAWING MIND BLOG for more.

What occured to me after reading the above is that bringing you back to the sense of your creative self is part of my underlying mission with Picture to Ponder.

For now my, creative self is being most fully expressed in photography and writing. How about your creative self?

Keep in mind, as you answer this question, the creative expression does not necessarily have to be in the arts. It could be the way you are being in whatever life role(s) you are following, those where you are self-expressed and fulfilled.

Again, have fun and PLAY with these queries!

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Freedom Resulting from Taking Purposeful Actions

by Sheila Finkelstein on July 22, 2008

Picture to Ponder Volume 4 – Issue 26

clamshell orchid

cockleshell orchid at American Orchid Society

Today’s Picture to Ponder Photo
Prosthechea Cochleata, popularly known as Clamshell, or Cockleshell, Orchids, photographed in the American Orchid Center’s Greenhouse in Delray Beach.It’s only recently that I noticed this particular species of orchids and periodically have thought to share them with you.

They are so light and joyous, “footloose and fancy free”, that they seemed to be the perfect follow-up to the, seemingly dancing, Purple Gallinule featured in the last issue of Picture to Ponder.

Given, I had thought to photograph the signage identifying the flower, it was easy to do a web search to learn more about them. Subscriber Susan Taylor, who is the Editor for Bella Online’s weekly Orchid Newsletter featured an interesting descriptive article on them. I highly recommend Susan’s articles for orchid lovers who wish to learn more about the plants’ care and maintenance, as well as information on specific species. Click on CLAMSHELL ARTICLE for information on today’s featured flower.

Self-Reflecting Queries
Joyous, light and playful, attributes that these flowers visually represent. It’s also the state from which I aspire to live my life. Interestingly the experience of finding them in my files, to share today, was far from that state.

Ironically, I am in the middle of a four-week course on Organizing for Artists led by Alyson Stanfield, so I expect part of the challenging experience today was to point out to me that one step in my organizing process would be to put aside, in computer folders, any photos that I think I might want to feature in Picture to Ponder or on my new Photography and Transformation Blog.

How simple it would be/will become to take the extra minute or two to categorize something when I think of it and am in the middle of it, rather than go for the extended, painful searches later! Taking simple actions when we are in the process of a search can actually result in that light and joyous state cited in the beginning. It’s also reflective of the theme to which I so often refer, “being in the moment.”

Are there places in your life where you are noticing things that are important to you, where you’d like to take action, and you’ve putting it/them aside for “later?” If so, I invite you to become aware of them and consider taking the actions in the moment.

I must put forth one cautionary note, from my own experience. Before moving on the little actions, you might want to check in with yourself, “Will what I am about to do forward what’s important to me right now, or in the immediate future? Am I/will I be staying on purpose?” And then, bottom line, do you wish to stay on track, or it’s not important to you. Either way is neither right nor wrong.

I find that when I’ve paid attention, I’ve become aware that many of my actions are actually reactions to what comes across my desk, or my mind. I’d make an instant shift in what I was doing to follow through on that. For me, I am looking more keenly at focus and what that means for me.

What about you?

In conclusion, to get back to the lighter note, I had finally set myself a deadline in the search for today’s photos. I told myself that if they did not show up by …:30, I would move on and feature another photo. I kept looking at my computer clock to stay on track. And, miracle of miracles, EXACTLY, at the time I specified, the photos showed up on my monitor.

Intention/declaration/fulfillment. Is there something you would like to declare now?

As always, have fun and play with this.

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Gallinule Play and Letting Go of Stuckness

by Sheila Finkelstein on July 17, 2008

Allow the Purple Gallinule to Inspire you to break through
any blocks you might have or simply enjoy him.

Purple Gallinune Wings spread - back view - at Wakodahatchee Wetlands

This purple gallinule on a fireflag stem in Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Boynton Beach, Florida was featured in the last issue of Picture to Ponder photo ezine. As part of the Self-Reflecting Queries

I wrote: “We could get heavy and significant about the bird, make a determination that he is struggling and “holding on tight,” or we could say he’s simply relaxing with his wings spread out, enjoying his scenery.

Then the Gallinule went further out on the stem.

Purple Galline dancing on Stem of fireflag plant in Wakodahatchee Wetlands

We could state that he is warily taking his next step, or we could say he’s dancing (my initial response when I first viewed the photo.)

Bottom line, we can make all kinds of interpretations as to what’s happening with the gallinule. Who is to determine which is the “correct” one? On the other hand, we can simply be with the beauty of his colors, the lines of his legs and amazing feet, or however you see it.

And, I’m aware that I’ve brought my interpretations into the picture. I invite you to check in with yourself. Are there places in your life where you are so busy making interpretations, “figuring” something out, that you are missing the opportunity of having fun?

If so what thoughts and/or emotions would you need to release right now to have that pleasure. Might it be perfectionism? judgment? the need to be right? anger? something else? If you see it, please take the action of letting go so you can have pleasure in this moment.

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