being seen

{happy}

i have a very hard time with recognition.

always have.

it always feels good, but somehow always surprises me or catches me off guard.

i admire those who are right up front, like hey look at me look what i did or won.  i never feel comfortable with it.  but lately many things have snuck into my life, things i want to share, places i want to point out,  not as a pat on my own back, but as a "see anyone can do it!"  i have NO training in photography.  zilch.  ok lie,  i took 1 class in high school. 1 elective photography class, we shot black and white film, i used my dad's old minolta 35mm camera, we had a dark room, and  i developed my own shots.  that was 20 years ago!!!  all it is to me now is a great memory.  i loved the class, i loved my teacher,  i retained none of it.  i have a few digital photography books generously purchased from my husband,  that i have thumbed through and admired the beautiful pictures,  but not read a word of.  i get all weird when technical terms start flying off the page.  i run and hide.  do i aspire to learn it?  yes.  just right now does not feel like the time.   why am i telling you this?  i guess to let you know trust your eye, your gut, your passion.   you do not need fancy equipment.  i have an entry level dslr, a nikonD60,  i love it.  it is not a big gun in any sense of the word, but to me it is magic.  before that, just 1 year ago,  i shot solely with a point and shoot, and i loved that camera too!  i have no photo software, frankly it scares me a little like the books do.  do i hope to get some and learn it well one day?  yes, yes i do.  but for now i use flickr editing tools and i think they are great tools!   so again, passion, eye, gut.  these have served me more than well.  more than i ever dreamed or imagined for myself.  i am a mom.  a wife.  a homemaker.  i like to take pictures.  a lot.  every day. passion.  but now a whole new world has opened with the click of my shutter.  it amazes me every day.  last year i joined a photowalk for fun in hopes of meeting a few shutterbugs who i could befriend.  i was not in it for the competition, but i won.  it was really unexpected.  but it proved to me that very day that it did not matter the size or make or lens of my camera.  not at all.  

from there i gained confidence in my shots.  most recently i was approached by a Dana Galin and asked for the use of a few images on a web site she was launching.  she exchanged info and jpegs.  the site is called Defineum.  it is now up and running.  they used 3 of my images various places on the website, along with great images from another photographer who also happens to be named Kristen!  ( i am an 'in' she being an 'en') we are both even named on the bottom of the partners page of the website.  it is exciting and flattering and as always unexpected.  and i think the images look great.  thanks Dana!   then i found out that a post written here in my little space was featured on the PBS Supersisters website!   thank you Jen Lemen!  what an honor and extra special since it was this post written about my husband's 91 year old nana who i adore.  and just today i had a "meeting" (coffee) with a Maine based photographer Scott Eccleston of  the blog Weekly Photography Tips.  he was the local leader of that very first photowalk i mentioned above.  he also featured my flare work last week on his blog!  then contacted me to see if i was interested in meeting to discuss the possible workings of a new photography blog. why heck yeah! so we had that coffee and talk.  he shared some great advice and tips.  thanks Scott

so i keep trying on that photographer word.  i can be all those things right?  mother, wife, home maker, blogger, photographer?  i have to keep saying it to myself.  what i do know is that i cannot imagine my life without doing this.  it feeds my soul so very much.  anything that comes from it is icing on my already wonderful cake.  so thank you to all who encourage me as i follow/fumble my way through this exciting new chapter.   thank you to all who comment daily on any of my photos on flickr.  it is such a wonderful place of connection- support- inspiration and REAL friendship!  and thank you all who stop here and read my ramblings.  so whatever your passion may be, and no matter your age when you find it, get on out there and shine with it!  

***one of my fave quotes...

 Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? ~ mary oliver