I’ve been persevering with the 52 weeks project, taking a self portrait every week. Well, not quite every week. For one, I need to set aside the time. Also it does feel terribly narcissistic; I don’t think it’s too healthy to spend too long focusing on yourself and I try to step outside of myself for the portraits (note: not easy – too tempting to edit the pics!!) However it’s been a good discipline – and having one subject to photograph does create a unique challenge. I’m almost half way. It’s that point on a project where you tend to lose a bit of steam. It’s also the point where you can break through to remarkable new ideas if you press on. So I’m setting aside a few minutes each week (when I can find it) amongst the busyness of raising a family, spending time with my husband, my community and enjoying my work. It doesn’t just encourage me to improve my photography and creative eye; it helps me to observe moments in time, the seasons, the environment and the world around me – just waiting to be noticed and captured.
I’ve also joined Amy Palko’s Photography Less Ordinary Flickr group. She’s a very creative individual who wrote a great series on taking photos, worth a look-see.
Do you set aside time to explore your creativity? Do you set yourself challenges? How does it add to your quality of life?