Dual Views - A Side Project Week 31
This week Lisa shares some words about her process:
August 8 2025. I nearly missed the sunset! I had set an alarm on my phone to remind me at the start of golden hour, and somehow I missed the alarm. When I realized I’d missed sunset by 15 minutes I grabbed my camera and rushed outside to the yard. The dogs all wanted to go too because all they knew was the human was SUPER agitated and running out the door. LOL. I took a few photos of the puppy sitting for kibble (we’re working on training things like wait, stay, and watch). I decided to include 2 images again for my sunset photo. I’ve noted on the image settings and time of capture. Now that Kim and I are more than halfway through this project I am relaxing a bit and starting to play more with what I submit for the week. I am my own toughest critic, and back in January I would NEVER ever EVER consider working on an image with so much noise and difficult (or technically not correct) lighting. However-as Kim likes to remind me-this isn’t for competition-this is for our project and we make the rules.
I love love love that Lisa has finally let go of her inner perfectionist, at least for our project. I am a firm believer that as artists - especially as photographers - perfection is non existent. Yes, you absolutely can follow every single photographic rule. Rule of thirds. Low noise is better (in the digital space anyway). Ensure the subject is posed correctly. Make sure the colour harmony is spot on. On and on an on they go. But I ask you reader, especially if you are a follower of your particular art practices rules, are you still enjoying the process? Are those rules allowing you freedom to express yourself? To let your heart show through in your work? Is perfection holding you back? Then please, throw those rules out the window. Or if you can’t, give yourself permission to stop holding to them so tightly. See what happens when you do. You might find yourself in the same shoes as Lisa, capturing a photo of her gorgeous puppy Imogene (what an epic name for a puppy by the way!) and superimposing it in front of a sunset that was different from the one before it and different from those to come. I promise you there will be no other photo (or other type of artwork) like it. It will be uniquely yours. A moment captured in time, to be remembered forever.
Kim
I *LOVE* your comments Kim. You continue to inspire and challenge me to be as kind and thoughtful as you. Also, banger of an image from you!!