Gordon Parks

I have been thinking about doing a post on Renaissance Men and Women for about six months. I though I would start with William Blake and do only one post, but wonderfully, there are many Renaissance people!

I am now watching Half Past Autumn: Gordon Parks, inspired to share it with you, to want the possibility that I am unlimited. Check it out for inspiration, to see some great photographs and hear some great music plus.

Gordon Parks-photographer, composer, musician, poet, writer, film director, choreographer-a Renaissance man, lived a full life.  One of his daughter’s said he had a fever. His creative fever took him to many places and away from his family. 

From the movie, many things fell into place in his life after he picked up a camera. Of course, he also showed cajones and took risks: Walked into places without appointments and persevered until someone looked at his work. And he did all this at a time during the late fifties and sixties during times of segregation and the Civil Rights movement.

An editor at Harper and Rowe told him to write a book. He said he couldn’t, that he never had. He told him to go home and try it over the weekend. Parks said okay. He wrote only seven triple-spaced pages that weekend, but received a deal any way with a great $10,000 (lots of bucks then) advance. He ended up writing 14 books, just from saying okay and trying it. Of course he put in the work writing, too.

He was a composer and musician without any formal training.

I want to let go of the ridiculous stigma that we all have to have the training, formality,  formal education (he never graduated from high school), degrees, perfect letters. Some people have “the fever” and create not only their masterpieces, but their opportunities, too.

Follow your fever through March. Let me know where it takes you.

What can I do today?

I ask myself, “What can I do today?” A note, a page, a sentence. I want the office setting and Claire’s emotions. That’s what I’ll do today. And you. What can you do today? Even just in a commercial break, or sitting on the pot? Oschner keeps post it notes in her bathroom and writes the feelings, sensations, smells, sounds, of a scene.
What can you do today for yourself, for your creative output?

Late Birthday Party

Seems my party never ends. We just celebrated my January birthday at the lake this past weekend. BBQ chicken (homemade BBQ sauce-Thanks Dad!), Dump Cake (Thanks Terry!) and loads of never before thought of by me, conversation. My family is gifted, creative and original. (okay, maybe everyone thinks their family and relatives are originals.)

I received fantastic gifts and most important, people showed up. They were all family plus Cassie’s friend (who came because of Cassie).  They came!!!

Wind stormed the house, juggled the waves, soothed Wise One (my baby).

I didn’t write a thing nor take many pictures (just 36 or so-an old-fashioned roll), but I enjoyed being with everyone and learning more about them all.

Truly, my family is very creative. I want to remember to encourage that in the younger members. They are all talented and could be artists, photographers, actors and/or writers.  I don’t want to be a naysayer to people, not let them take their own risks. Iwant to give them support to create, take risks in whatever they want to do.

Perhaps, I could be a more successful role model. Or, maybe, I’m a great role model because I’m happy.  Okay, I’m a good role model in some areas, but not so good in other areas. Human, durnit.

And the creative lesson is? Hmmmmm. Don’t underestimate what you give to others by following your own passion!

It’s dark out, Hubby is gently snoring, the house is silent otherwise. Time for bed (if I can quiet my head.)

With gratitude,

Laurie

The camera came

The camera  came, one small package. And yes,  a man delivered it in brown shorts. I took a few great pictures of family. Later, I accidentally formatted the SD memory card. Boo hoo. Alas, I can take more pictures. But, so much for fiddling with it before reading  and while giddy with excitement.

Sunday I went out to shoot.

And I felt scared. Aw man. Now I’m “serious” about taking pictures, so I was scared. Ha ha. I don’t want to be serious, I want to have fun.

Posing a picture in the mind is good for writers and writing scenes. What are the brackets or boundaries of the shot of a scene? How much exposure is needed?  Is the shot clear or blurry? Does the background distract from the focus?

I did shoot on Sunday.  (And I drove my family crazy on Friday and Saturday.)

I enjoy driving around with the camera on the seat beside me, ready for action. I read that the biggest secret of photography is to carry your camera with you all the time. Hmmmm, kind of like, take a notebook and a pen with you wherever you go.

With passion,

Laurie