self-portrait challenge: day 7

Recouping my inspiration.
It is fall and this is one of my favorite seasons. The colors this year, even though Oregon's trees were brittle and dry and falling off at the end of our droughty, hot summer -- are gorgeous! The reds are more red this year and well, I'm inspired to go take a wide-angle park shot that bright, vibrant yellow trees frame! (more to come, obviously..)

At least I don't feel like EVERYTHING I do is crap. Only some of it.
These boots inspired me to take the very common shoe-shot in self-portraiture.
I really like the decaying leaf color along with the boots and the cement. These all seem like complimentary tones. -AND- there is a correction spot in here I did in Lightroom. (see? I added a technique in too :-) Can you spot it?

Ultimately, I think there is a cycle to creativity. I think along this 30-day process I will go in and out of mini creative cycles. I will see my inspiration and motivation wax and wane. I will see my ideas surge and my passion flow. I think there is a very important part of the creative cycle that is overlooked, however. I think our western culture does not value the "nothingness/emptiness" phase. And yet, I think this might be the most important one; returning to yourself, being depleted and naturally regenerating ideas and energy. I experienced a mini "emptiness/boredom/hopelessness" yesterday and quickly came out of it by showing up (just keep shooting) to what turned out to be a fabulous shoot at The Art of Make Up school in Vancouver. (Will post as soon as possible!)  IT NEVER FAILS - when I get down and empty (which some Buddhists see as a divine stage in a creative cycle), I have found time and again I am about ready to bust out to a new level. I am learning to trust this. To simply pursue my "self" and my passion. No one may be reading or following this blog, but it is a great way to be accountable to myself and log what I'm learning and experiencing.

By the way....the boots were left behind by my college-going daughter who is in NYC! HA! Technically that does not count as stealing.
Great "left-behinds" I'd say!!

AS FOR THE UNIVERSE: Pursue yourself. Love yourself. Compassion for others and success and JOY will get woven in along the way.