(c) 2009 Brian E. Miller Photography
I’ve not written much on this blog lately, I don’t know if you’ve noticed. I haven’t burned out though. Quite the opposite. I am smoldering, slowly, waiting, watching.
Life has become hectic and running the edge of unmanageably. There is little extra time for anything, including photography. Most days as I collect my things to leave the house for work I look down at my camera bag sitting there, waiting patiently to be picked up, and I wonder, “can I?”
But, for now, I can’t. There isn’t time; and there isn’t time that can be made either. Life has become like that and I surrender to it. Yes, I could choose to rearrange my priorities. I know that. I could choose to make time. But my priorities are right where they need to be, and that leaves little or no time for making photographs. So I leave my camera bag at home yet another day, on purpose, mindfully. In this case taking it along would pull my attention away from those things that rightfully need to have it.
So, what is left then? Well, I watch. And I wait. And I observe. And I dream. And this makes the desire burn. The hot coals smolder and gain energy and when the time comes there will be a bright bursting forth. How do I know this? Well, it’s happened before. I’ve lived long enough to know that. I’ve seen it happen in others as well and the resulting creativity has been fabulous, amazing, fascinating.
It helps to want to create good photographs and this time of restricted productivity can fuel that “wanting to.” Or it can create frustration and resentment if I let it. The choice really is up to me.
I totally relate! I spent the week in Frankfurt, Germany, which has a beautiful skyline overlooking the Main River. I found a good vantage point, I found view I wanted, and I just waited for the full moon, which would set pre-dawn over the skyline! Of course, my alarm went off at 5:30, and those other priorities, like sleep, kicked in! 🙂
There will be another opportunity for me, I just hope that my coals are still smoldering and haven’t gone out with the rain!
Have a good weekend,
T.J.
Thanks T.J.
I suppose the trick is to keep the coals out of the rain, of course. 😉
Thanks for your comment and for reading my blog. Good to know there are others out there in the same boat at times. Have a great weekend as well!
~Brian
Well, I suppose you could stop blogging and spend that 1/2 hour or hour taking photos. Is it the actual shooting, or the sharing that is more fun? Because if no one sees them and appreciates them, is it still fulfilling for you? I suspect blogging takes place late at night whilst the family slumbers. And I know you enjoy writing as well. Thanks for the thoughts.