Aug 23, 2010

Inspiration and Dreams: a Journey Begun


Gosh. Sometimes don’t things just go from exciting to EXCITING?

Staycation was beyond great for me. It was quite simply the most inspired and dreamy week: Time changed its pace, the light followed my lens, and ideas just happened. Simple. Like that.

But once simple was done, the hard part showed up for dinner.

Now, I am getting down to the business of turning those tiny, optimistic ideas into a workable, creative reality.

Hmm...sounds a lot like washing up after a dinner party for 20. Except that Kim then asked me to share the story of my journey with you. How very, very exciting! Crazy as it seems, I can’t wait to start the washing up.



I’m not yet exactly sure where this journey will lead. But I do know that things are going to happen along the way: Big things, little things, scary things and most hopefully of all, inspiring, creative, successful beyond-all-imagination things.

Before we start on this adventure together, I’d like to again share the story of Staycation week which Kim so kindly published in her amazing eBook (do check it out if you haven’t seen it!)

Staycation week and Dreams Revealed:

Lucky for me, Staycation week was family holiday week. We escaped, young and old, to Emerald Isle, NC, carrying with us the rough edges of any family. We did all of the typical things that help to relax those rough edges: we ate ice cream, we took naps, we walked in the surf, we built castles, we gathered shells, we played card games, we laughed at and with the kids...
Through it all, inspiring Staycation snippets echoed as my background music. Thus enabled, I just had to get up early to read and to create. I made, begged and borrowed time each day to shoot and process photos. There were so many ideas bouncing around my head that I couldn’t nap. This perplexed my family beyond belief. They were convinced I was working on things for, well...work. Nope. I knew I was working on my dream.

And suddenly, part-way through the week, in a flash, I found how to define the first part of my dream.



You see, photography, the creation of images that make one stop for half a breath, has been a secret, unexplored passion for all of my life. It was only three years ago that I started to learn my way around a camera. Just this year, I found Kim and her online Photoshop courses (fabulous indeed!).


A second passion, Writing, is something that I explored at university, but let fade in the crazy pull of daily life.

During Staycation, I started to combine the two of these things. And boy, has it been fabulous!



I’m so grateful for Kim for creating Staycation and thrilled that she is highlighting some of my images and words here. I hope you like them and hope that they are just a little inspiring in their own way. I’m on my way to setting up a shop for prints, cards and calendars, but please email me if you are interested in something now.

.....

12 comments:

Gilding Lilies said...

Congratulations! Your words and images are wonderful. I wish you so much success.

Laura @ 52 FLEA said...

Good luck on your journey! I am excited for you....Love your inspiring photos...:)

Suki said...

I can't wait to see where life takes you. I believe that staycation worked a miracle on all of us.
Love your images and words.
Keep following your dream!

Jennifer said...

Congratulations and best wishes!

Renee said...

That sounds wonderful! I'm glad that you are making your passions "work" for you!
-Renee

Jamie said...

What a wonderful post - I love hearing and seeing the amazing things that were inspired by stay-cation - and can't wait to see what is next.

Carmen said...

So excited for you Denise!!!

xo,
Carmen

blue elephant photography said...

i love your post =) such a wonderful journey and photos ♥

Kim Klassen said...

sooo happy you are willing to share your journey with us Denise.... such an exciting time!

xxo, kim

Prairie Girl Studio said...

oh denise ~ this is such an uplifting story ... and i can't wait to hear more as you continue on your dream path ... it is all so exhilarating and freeing!
so happy for you!!
: )
xo
pg

Leah C said...

Absolutely beautiful images...and a wonderful post:)

kelly@thebluemuse said...

I have been on the same journey this year.. your photos are fabulous, so glad to see you here!