what i think vs what they think
i took these photos one day last summer. every time i looked at them, they made me smile. one day, i started to share them with you, but voices in my head stopped me. you see, i had recently stumbled upon a photographer’s critique of photographers who deliberately take out-of-focus images. shortly after, i stumbled upon another one. for some reason, their harsh words stuck with me, and i tucked my images away for safekeeping.
when i tucked my images away for safekeeping, what i was really doing was protecting the tender part of me who loves her images and now felt wrong for loving them.
in my experience, other people’s words tend to pierce me when they agree with something part of me fears is true already. it seems there is a small part of me that thinks (worries) that in order to be a good photographer, in order to be a photographer, my flowers need to be in focus. (side note: this seems oddly specific.) those photographers were popular, or famous, and therefore their assessment of my photos (even though they were speaking generally, not specifically) must be right.
after i let all of this simmer, i remembered two things. the first was that while the other photographers’ words might be true for them, that doesn’t mean they are true for everyone. the second was that i take my photos for me, and the only thing that matters to me is how i feel about them. i think this is true of all art. it might even be true of everything.
Out of focus pictures allow our minds to see what our eyes cannot.
i love your photography. it always takes me back to dreams and growing up, sitting in a little field full of flowers. and thank you for this. i tend to do that with my art. you are a wise wise girl. xoxo
i could not have said it as well as kelly and jerry already have.
and your last sentence is true.
and i am proud owner of your art on my wall.
i couldn’t care one whit what supposedly ‘famous’ artists or people say.
the fact that they say something like that leads me to believe they have lost their own vision. there are no ‘rules.’
unless you’re in it for the ‘money.’
as kelly says.
you are a wise wise girl.
XO♥
Jerry: Mmmmm. I like that.
Kelly: “dreams and growing up, sitting in a little field full of flowers”. I can see it. I can see you. So full of color + wonder. Thank you for the image. And for the reminder that we are never alone.
Tammy: Sometimes it’s just easy to think that someone else has all the answers, you know? But really, no one does. We all have our own. I always appreciate the loving wisdom you share here!
I really like these photos! And you know you’ve won me over to your out-of-focus images (& even taking my own!)
Haven’t read the critiques, but to me, it is another form of photographic art. Just like in painting, where there is very realistic, true-to-life, as well as more surreal or abstract.