“We are our choices.”
― Jean-Paul Sartre
As an artist, as a photographer, as a human being – we continually make choices. The sum of these choices, both big and small, define who we are.
- What kind of camera do you use? Phone, DSLR or Film?
- Do you prefer to shoot indoors or outdoors?
- What is your favorite toy to photograph?
- Do you want your photos to be humorous or serious?
- Do you enjoy sharing your photos on social media or prefer to keep them private?
- If you use social media, what’s your favorite platform: Facebook, Instagram, G+, Flickr, EyeEm, 500px, Twitter, Tumbler, Snapchat, Vine?
- Do you edit your photos? If so do you do it a lot or a little?
- Do you use Lightbox, Aperture, Snapseed or Photoshop for editing?
- Do you write your own stories to accompany your images, use quotes from others, follow an existing movie script or talk about your life and interests?
- Do you get up early or stay up late to chase the best light?
- Do you enjoy the company of other toy photographers or are you a lone wolf?
- Do you practice your craft every day, only when you have time or only when inspiration hits?
- What kind of photographer are you: landscape, travel, product, still life, narrative or something completely different?
- Do you take your toys with you when you travel? Or does that make you uncomfortable?
- Do your family and friends know what you do for fun?
- Do you choose to clean your home, answer a work email, watch a TV show or set up your next photo?
I’ve had to answer every one of these questions (and a few more) at some point in the last five years. Each decision has slowly defined both me and my work; each decision has been another step on my creative journey. I may be in the ‘right’ place or the ‘wrong’ place, I don’t know, I’m just in my place. It’s a place I’m comfortable with. I realize it’s not a popular place, it’s not where the cool kids hang out and it’s certainly not a profitable place. It’s simply my place.
Whatever choices you’ve made along your own creative journey I hope you appreciate and cherish them. They’re what defines you as well as what makes your photography unique.
“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
~ Shelly
I want to thank everyone who has participated in our “Why?” series over the last two years. In each of the 20 individual stories we’re offered an insight into the creative choices that each artist took; sometimes by intention sometimes by instinct. I hope you’ll take a moment to read through the entires series and consider writing your own. Even if you don’t show anyone the results, I promise you’ll understand yourself and your creative process a little better.
Is there anyone you would like to suggest for this series?
Waiting for Lilo.
I nominate you Shelly.
Ha!
1) I’m impressed you noticed I’m missing from the previous 20
2) Aren’t my 275 blog posts a suitable “Why?”
xo
Your 275 blog post explain that you are looking for that next ‘toy photography high’ but no, I don’t think they substitute for a ‘why’ post. Maybe you and me are more similar and can’t write a ‘why’ post because we would need to write a ‘when’ post. When I do this…
Interesting…
Same question, different perspective.
“Waiting for Lilo.” – so beautiful! Is Lilo still out there surfing and Stitch is waiting for her to catch her last wave? Or is Lilo still scarfing down a plate of kalua pork before their sunset surf sesh? Or is Stitch waiting for LEGO to come out with a Lilo minifig? 😉
Definitely waiting for LEGO to come out with a Lilo mini figure. 🙂
This made me think pre-morning coffee. No mean feat! And if there’s no cool kids hanging out at your place, then I don’t want to be a cool kid!
“Well I’m not a cool guy anymore
as if I ever was before.”
Descendents – Coolidge
And FYI, our home is always ‘country clean’, the TV often off and work emails are only ever answered during work hours. To the toy room! 😀
Ha! I made you think before your coffee! That is impressive indeed! We can be un-cool kids together then. 🙂
Toy room? Only one? Come to my house of toys! 🙂
Hmm, have to think now Perhaps I should write down something for myself. Never been thinking about that.
Thank you for this post Shelly. I loved it. Staring with Sartre and ending with Beckett no less! This arrived at the perfect time for me. (And it’s all about me, right?)
Doug I’m so happy you enjoy this post! We talk a lot about choices at my house so I thought it would make a good blog post. I’m curious what struck you as so appropriate? Of course if you don’t want to reveal anything thats cool too. (All I can say is that great minds think alike!)
Thanks Shelly. I think you know I’m a new foster to adopt parent of a magical six year old. In my limited experience, every day (every 1.7 seconds?) as a parent is a reminder about choices. Your post spoke to me about choices and intention and motivation. I love taking time to explore those things for myself and with my son. And doing so about this odd plastic passion is enriching and fun. And then there’s Lilo as Godot.
Doug it makes me very happy to ‘know’ you. You have all my respect and admiration. Parenting is the toughest job you will ever love. Enjoy your magical six year old. Hug him and love him every day.
It took me awhile to get the Godot reference, but now I will never unseen it. lol! Thank you for that! xo
Great post, Shelly! It really got me thinking. It’s funny, I have answers for all (or at least most) of these questions, but have never really asked them of myself. They were just choices I made as I went along, for whatever reason (some out of convenience, some because of my initial artistic sensibilities), not necessarily conscious decisions… I wonder how that is for everyone else?
James, I love it that this series of three posts got people thinking. To me, that is a great success! I would bet that most people go along and make these choices without even thinking about them. Its what we all do – make millions of decisions every day without thinking, we work from intuition and our guts. But at some point you look around and say: “How did I get here?” Is it where you want to be? Is it time to make a change? Or double down and take it to the next step?
This blog is amazing!
There are a lot of interesting posts around here. I’m very glad I found it, thanks to Shelly posts in Instagram.
I love the lists so I try to answer most of the questions, haha.
What kind of camera do you use? Phone, DSLR or Film?
– Fujifilm Finepix S8200.
– Film: I’m waiting to buy a DSLR. If you have suggestions, thanks a lot!
Do you prefer to shoot indoors or outdoors?
– I love them both.
What is your favorite toy to photograph?
– LEGO Star Wars.
Do you want your photos to be humorous or serious?
– Serious and Reflectives.
Do you enjoy sharing your photos on social media or prefer to
keep them private?
– I prefer to share them on Social Media to catch the attention of other toyphotographers and to make possible to know them.
If you use social media, what’s your favorite platform: Facebook, Instagram, G+, Flickr, EyeEm, 500px, Twitter, Tumbler, Snapchat, Vine?
– Instagram.
Do you edit your photos? If so do you do it a lot or a little?
– Yes. It depends on the subject and the idea.
Do you use Lightbox, Aperture, Snapseed or Photoshop for editing?
– Snapseed.
Do you write your own stories to accompany your images, use quotes from others, follow an existing movie script or talk about your life and interests?
– I’m going to create stories, but I’ll use also quotes and movie scripts.
Do you get up early or stay up late to chase the best light?
– I usually stay up late to chase the best light.
Do you enjoy the company of other toy photographers or are you a lone wolf?
– I enjoy the company of other toyphotographers, in particular of those who have the same style of me.
Do you practice your craft every day, only when you have time or only when inspiration hits?
– I try all day, but it’s not easy. So I let my inspiration coming.
What kind of photographer are you: landscape, travel, product, still life, narrative or something completely different?
– Toys and Landscapes Photographer.
Do you take your toys with you when you travel? Or does that make you uncomfortable?
– I take my toys with me when I travel. On friday I’ll go at the sea, and I’ll bring with me a lot of Star Wars Characters.
Do your family and friends know what you do for fun?
– My family knows. Just few friends know my passion.
Do you choose to clean your home, answer a work email, watch a TV show or set up your next photo?
– Of course, set up the next photo, haha.
Thank you for joining g the conversation Mr. Troops. Its so cool to learn about you through your answers to these questions. The important thing to remember is that we all make our own choices based on whats important to our own artistic development. Its also important to acknowledge and take responsibility for those same choices. Cheers!