He Didn't Stop After the 6th Day

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...

I believe it and oh man, I would have loved to stand in midst of it all and photograph the creation. What a sight! My husband and I read Genesis 1-3 last night and of course I was imagining all the beautiful images in my head. I wonder if God took photos that we can probably see later. I know I would love to see that. : )

It hit me this morning that his creation continues even now. Every morning he is creating a new day. He never stops molding something new in us and for us. It's thrilling to know he is always at work for us. We rest in the evening to receive new things in the morning. New mercies, new agendas, new feelings, new goals, new dreams, new people, new things are always coming our way. We're in the who-knows-what day of creation! For someone who easily tires of the same ol', like me, it's one of his greatest gifts! His creation never ends.

Everyday, I have tried to wake up early to go discover these new things in the places that surround me. I capture it, so I can look back, share, and treasure what I've found. The plans are to show the new images God continually created for me to take photographs of. I want to embrace his constant renewing. Being an instrument to keep creating is such a privilege and I know I fall so short of the greatness he can do but I like to think I am blessed with witnessing simple yet really neat sights everyday. Then being able to share them leads to to other new exciting experiences.

The whole process of creating a body of work in photography is endearing and always keeps things fresh and surprising. At least, I know this process has been so. I wake up and have no idea where I will end up, or who I am going to meet and then I am challenged with photographing a place I haven't been before. I crop pieces of this new little world in my camera and later open all the pieces up in my computer. I admit, I get a little anxious everyday, can't wait to go home and download the images and study the new pieces of the project.

Sorry to ramble on, but God has never ceased to be amazing in every area of my life. I trust it's the same in yours. I hope there are good and new things coming your way no matter where you're at or what you're in. I also hope that you continue following me during the creation of this project, which will soon be complete.

"A Picture Tells a Thousand Words"

The title for this post was the reason a man gave me when refusing my proposal to take a few photos of him last Wednesday morning. He laughed at first then said, "Well, a picture tells a thousand words," and nodded his head to say no. I was a little confused as to what words he was afraid the pictures would say. He looked decent and he was just doing laundry. Hmm? Interestingly funny. 

Then I found the sweetest young lady named Dee. She was so cooperative and didn't seem nervous at all. I love people like her! I only visit places once to shoot, but I definitely will go back there. 

This project has been an amazing blessing in countless ways. I have had great morning conversations with so many different people. And it's been a very diverse group. From a young lady who wakes up to be at work in a convenience store at 5:00 am every morning to a man finishing wood work at sunrise in his backyard. And they all have been so friendly and open with me while i'm taking their picture. They all have their different reasons to approve my proposal. One understands because she's seen the projects her kids have in college, one wants to expose his work, and some just really don't mind. For whatever reason, I like the generosity i'm seeing in people in regards to their time and space. I like those who are being cautious with it too, they are strong in their opinion and aren't afraid to speak up for themselves if they disagree. So I appreciate and learn from both responses. 

Well, I can't wait to display the images all together and to hopefully have a mini exhibit for all to see. I'm very excited, it's my first project without teachers counseling me throughout so I expect a lot of room for growth, but I can't wait for the critique and development that will come afterwards, too. Yay! 

Sideline Photographer

I shot a close friend's wedding this weekend. I'm not an official professional wedding photographer, but somehow weddings find me and I have a really good time shooting them. Anyway, I was really excited about this one, but right before it began, I was told that I needed to remain on the sidelines throughout the ceremony. Honestly, I was shot down. As a photographer, I want the liberty to explore the experience without restrictions, and it had been taken from me so unexpectedly. Although, the instructions were very upsetting at the time, it helped me realize something valuable and edifying about my current photography work and this project specifically.

I had been feeling very unhappy with the latest results in my personal photo project. Like i wasn't pushing the envelope. As i reviewed the images i shot for the project this past Sunday morning, i realized they looked as though i was instructed to remain on the sidelines for the project, too. I thought back to the thoughts running through my head during the shoot that morning and remembered being very cautious and driven by the level of people's comfortability. And it showed in the images. The visual results showed weak exploration. It showed a photographer on the side just looking at scenarios and taking a picture opposed to someone who dug deeper and tried every possible angle, regardless of minute obstacles, and alas found the best photograph to represent the exploration.

But now, after the disappointment, a new procedure must take place. Hopefully new and better results will then follow. I plan to display unique and captivating angles of common places we see everyday. I see now it's going to take more effort, skill, and passion than I expected but thank God he made us creatures who can change and better at these and at so much more.

Also, If you know of any place that i can shoot at in Kingsville early weekday mornings or in Corpus Christi early weekend mornings please email me buttirwalk@yahoo.com or comment below. Thanks for reading. Photo above was shot during the project for the blog.

Stay Tuned

Word on the streets is that people are actually reading this. Cool! Well, i've been so vague probably as to what the heck this whole thing is about and on the who's what's where's and when's. Well if you are someone who I have handed you a card to verify the validity of the reason I went to shoot pictures at your place, I won't have your pictures up here. They will be up on my website, which is still in construction, God willing by August my website will be up and I will let you know here on this blog. So please please check here often. I update weekly. I am editing and going through a lot of photos from other things that I have shot besides this project. I am going to start looking for editorial photo and assisting work after my site is up, so I am trying to get some good stuff up. 

So, the plans as of now for this project is to show my favorite photos on the website in August and hopefully by Sept. or Oct. exhibit them somewhere in Corpus Christi and/or Kingsville, Texas. I hope to have a mini book for sale, too. So please check here for the dates and places for these events, too. There are a lot of firsts for me throughout this project stuff, so we'll see how it all plays out. Keep following.