Those of you who have been reading awhile know that my word this year is SOAR. The word that will carry me through this year and teach me how to spread my wings and fly with my photography. Photographer MeRa Koh is hard as work over at the SOAR blog with her team developing the exercises to help us on our journey this year. The first exercise “Doing the Deeper Work” was just that. It required some deep thought and reflection into who were are and where we are on this journey.
Our assignment was this:
This is a Self Portrait Photography Exercise. You will take TWO Self Portraits. One image will have you in the photo. The second one will be an object that symbolizes you. Both Self Portraits are meant to document where you are in your journey of life. When you think about this present season of life–this monumental moment in your journey of being committed to SOAR!, being on your way to become a successful photographer…How do you feel?  Are you excited, afraid, alone? What colors are you wearing? If we saw your true insides, what would they look like right now? What object would symbolize this time in life? What angle would you shoot it from and why?
Fortunately the idea of a self portrait exercise did not scare me too much. Through my photography work over the past year via project 365 and this blog I have shared myself pretty openly. My photography has been an emotional healing and I’ve been able to share my daily feelings on life with much compassion and encouragement from those of you that visit.
But summing up ME and my life RIGHT NOW was no easy feat. I am full of Ideas. Dreams. Possibilities. Creativity. Emotion. Devotion. Compassion. Drive. Desire. But I have not made it yet. I have a long way to go. I feel like I am taking the right steps. I am doing my research and connecting with others who share my dreams. Working hard and practicing. But I still very much feel like an outsider looking into a world of possibility that I am so wishing was mine. THIS is me.
Part 2 of the exercise was my object photo. Finding something to symbolize me on this journey was a little easier that I expected. I am: Impulsive, Imperfect, and Exploding with Ideas. I am sure when just the right amount of heat and energy hit I am going to just pop right into something amazing.
Only time will tell where this all takes me. But I have dug deeper. Done some of the intense reflection. And I am revitalized and encouraged to stay to course and continue along this journey. I hope you all will come along with me.