Beauty in Decay
This series came about when I was feeling uncreative. The short days of autumn - dark, grey and damp - does this to me every year. Makes me feel blue. Slightly lethargic. Most of all: creative-less.
I hate that feeling.
A few things often help in times where my 'mojo' goes AWOL. When my 'funk' flops. When the 'spark' fizzles out.
First of all, just getting off my butt and getting something - anything - done. Like checking stuff off my "To Do" list. That can lift my spirits somewhat.
Going outside and getting some fresh air and daylight (even through heavy cloud cover) and letting my mind wander during long walk. Or getting on my bicycle and heading off for a ride.
And - of course - making images. Regardless of the lack of desire to do so. Just make images. Good, bad or ugly. Just get out the camera (that stares disapprovingly at me) and start shooting something. Anything. Pick a spot. Drive somewhere. Take a half an hour and shoot.
So I went out into our yard (laziness is also prevalent during these days of lethargy) and crawled around the dying plants and weeds...looking for color and texture. Shot lots of boring stuff, then I noticed some red leaves that had blown in from the neighbors' cherry tree.
I sat down on the patio and arranged the leaves and took some shots, arranged some more, cursed the wind a few times, took some shots. Suddenly, I was actually liking what I was making. I was creating!
Then I started to notice other things in the yard. Among the dead and dying plants, there was so actually a lot of beauty!
Suddenly I was making images! I was creating! And I would love to share some of those images with you! I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I - finally - enjoyed making them!
