Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Smitten With the Joy of Photography


I have been painting for many years.  During that time, photography was something I took for granted.  It was part of the process that I went through to set the stage for a composition.  A mere tool that I used to capture a landscape and not have to fight with the weather or lose just the right lighting.  A method for keeping the flowers alive while completing a Still Life painting.

Then one day while I was in Cape Cod taking photographs, I knew.    As I stood there, looking through the lens of my camera, I realized that I was really in love with my old friend, photography.  After all, my camera had never left my side and I found myself in the most unlikely places trying to capture that amazing shot.  I couldn't wait to get home to see the results of the day. That day I just knew, I was smitten.

I love having the ability to instantly memorize something meaningful.  Instead of trying to tell a story through my painting, I let the photograph tell the story.  Suddenly it has become easier to connect with  kindred spirits who are equally as smitten with the joy of photography.  People just like you.

When did you first discover that you too were smitten with the joy of photography?




26 comments:

Claudia said...

This will teach me to not type a comment on my Ipad. Ugggh

I would really love to join you some day at the CAPE!!

I love this shot

I fell in love, first with a lil brownie that my Aunt had. Took great pictures. (kinda tells how old I am doesn't it?) :)

Blondie's Journal said...

Karen...your pictures are as sweet and beautiful as your paintings. I wish you all the luck and joy in the world as you embark on this adventure in your life!

XO,
Jane

Cindy said...

Beautiful Karen, this is very exciting, I am so happy for you and that you share your love with us.

Mary said...

Oh how beautiful, Karen! It seems like I've always been in love with photography... At least since high school when I entered and won a photo contest in our local newspaper...and now, with all the artistic possibilities in Photoshop, I am totally smitten! ;). Best of luck to you all with this beautiful blog! xoxo

Dotti said...

I just LOVE this photo (b/c I live the Cape. But the story is beautiful!!! Welcome to our team and club!

Vee said...

I'm chuckling here, Karen, because the joy of it all is often replaced with a lot of angst as you'll see if you visit me today learning the reason why I linked to you.

This looks as if it's going to be a great place. I'm keeping it bookmarked.

CarolAlbers said...

Hi Karen,
I love your photograph and prompt, but I finally got time to click over to your blog, and your work is amazing! I love the fabrics and the photos and the music! I predict that I will be spending quite a bit of time there! So glad we're on the new adventure together!
Carol

terriporter said...

Love the photo (count me in on that trip to the Cape!) and love your words, Karen! I think photography steals our hearts in many different ways and for many different reasons. I can't really remember when I didn't love it. I am so grateful that I took photos of my three boys and all of our family adventures while they were growing up. I can go back and see them at 4,6 and 10 at any time I want to and feel sorry for the people who don't have their memories captured in photos. But it has been only in the past couple of years, since discovering Tracey Clark and her Picture classes at BPC that my interest has turned into all out infatuation with photography. Now it is the art form that I was searching for while having short flings with knitting, crochet, needlepoint, cross stitch, etc. Photography fulfills me in a way no other hobby ever has and I am sure it is a lifelong love for me. I am so happy to have you in this group with us. We are going to have such a good time sharing with each other as well as all of our readers.

Anonymous said...

Mom
love your photography and I am so proud of you. I love taking photos as well and I got it from you.

Love,
Ashley

Deanna said...

I am smitten with joy at your words & photo today. Your love of photography shows in your images as well as your words. Let's journey on this path together.

Beverly said...

I have loved taking photos since I was a young teenager with my first camera. But, I became smitten the instant I saw my sweet baby's face.♥ I knew I wanted to capture and remember every moment.

I've been hooked ever since.

Good luck with the new venture. It is wonderful here.

Linda said...

Such a lovely picture! Your story is a good one! Mine is not so colorful! I was bitten by the photography bug taking pictures of food. Of course that evolved into taking pictures of people and nature! I am learning as I go and enjoying every minute!

Holly ~ Soupatraveler said...

What a wonderful questions! And I love the image you've paired it with! I've been smitten for a long time...probably since i was a little girl. in high school and college, i loved documenting events. i loved shooting rolls and rolls of film on my travels...and then i forgot for a few years, lost that passion. But it grew once again when I started documenting my life and the things in it that made me happy. That just kept growing and growing until now i'm back to shooting the events around me once again!

Claudia said...

I am in love with this!!! What better support than from you darling daughter??

Claudia said...

Mary! Wow...so great to see you stop by here! I need to get back to see you on Mondays!

Joddo said...

I can't remember not being smitten by photography. My mom is an artist and try as I might, I could not do what she did. I had ideas and pictures in my head that I couldn't get out and I was smitten with the pictures I saw in books and magazines. We had a camera but back then it was so expensive that I wasn't allowed to play with it. When I was in my 20's I won $300 in a craft contest and used that money to buy my first camera, a fully manual Pentax 1000 with two lenses. My favorite thing to capture then was the honesty and innocence of children. It wasn't until I received my first digital camera 4 years ago that I began to realize just what I could do and finding the Picture Series by Tracey Clark has taught me how. All those ideas and pictures from years ago are beginning to pour out. Thank you for this great question and that beautiful photo and quote. I am still climbing.

Martin said...

Hi

Just passing the blog and thought I would see if it was possible to create a clickable hyperlink in your comments area!

Beautiful blog design by the way!


Martin

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

This is a wonderful photo, Karen, and your artistic creativity shines through. I think since I began blogging five years ago and improved my skills to using a DSLR camera I've found that I am enjoying photography more and more. I love to tell a story with my photos on my blog.

I'm looking forward to seeing more wonderful posts on this blog!

Cathy H. said...

Lovely image! I discovered my love for photography soon after I started my blog. Which by the way, I started for a journaling class. As I began to read other blogs, the first thing I noticed was their beautiful photos. Then, I found Big Picture Classes and Kat Eye View Of The World and the rest, as they say, is history!!

janel said...

What a lovely photo and quote. When everyone heads to the Cape...count me in also. What a beautiful place.
I think I fell in love with photography...or rather photos when I was a young girl and my father took slides and we spent many hours as a family viewing vacations, holidays, birthdays etc. The magic that a small piece of plastic could make that large 'real' photo on the screen was amazing. I always had a camera and always recorded family events, but it wasn't until I retired when I got my first dslr. that true love began.
Thank you for sharing your talent and your love.

Unknown said...

Thank you for your kind words. This photograph was taken in Sandwich, on the Cape. They have the most remarkable boardwalk that seems to go on forever. It is as beautiful there in the winter as it is int he summer. I think photography takes focus, and it isn't until the little ones are grown that you can have enough time to complete something creative. I love it when I can wake up and go out for the day and not have to worry about picking up the kids at school or making dinner.

Karen

Anonymous said...

Mom,

I love this post it's very inspirational for the casual photographer that can appreciate the daily beauties we are surrounded by. It is always important to memorize these special moments and breath taking views because as we know it may be a once in a life time experience like Hong Kong.

Love the new Blog,
Sarah

stephmull said...

Love the photo and your words!! I've been smitten for only a short time....a little over a year, but there's no turning back! So glad to be on this journey with you!
Stephanie

Tara said...

Hi Karen

Long time no see! How wonderful you are spreading your talent here...not much of a blogger these days due to family and/or no time but was happy to see you expanding here! As a working Mom I take tons of pictures --life goes by so fast and I want to know I lived it! Hope all is well-TARA (Days Missed on a Hammock)

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Karen,

What a great blog with all the collaborative work from talented photographers and thanks for telling us about it. I love your fabulous photo and quote.
I enjoy taking my camera out with me, but there is still a lot I need to learn.

Happy weekend
Hugs
Carolyn

susan said...

beautiful image!!! loved taking photos since i was a kid, took a couple classes in college, and finally invested in a decent camera years ago. got involved with more classes...and more and more classes and just can't stop the learning process! photography is pure joy to me, along with the creativity of photoshop, creating textures (by hand...many thanks to kim klassen!)

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