Typically February can be frigid and full of snow storms here in Maine. Not this year. We had heavy precipitation once this month. It began on Wednesday and it escalated into a raging storm by Thursday night. I heard we got 6 inches of rain as the winds screamed and slammed through the trees, tearing down anything too weak to hang on. We were without power for 2 days.

Life, as we know it, comes to a halt when the power is out. The silent aftermath can either become a time to complain about not having the creature comforts we are used to having or we can make use of less distractions and notice the beauty around us.

In all honesty, I did a little of both but I especially loved having my camera out to photograph the simplicity of nature as it lay dormant. Spring is so near right now, a bit too soon, though. How this year will unfold as the climate shifts remains a mystery.

By your own soul, learn to live.  And if men thwart you take no heed. If men hate you have no care. Sing your song, dream your dream, hope your hope and pray your prayer. - Parkenham Beatty

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

“If your creativity during the upcoming year could take shape—or if the space that accommodates it could take shape—what would it look like? Show us.”  Inspired by this post on Shutter Sisters.

This is an interesting way of looking at creativity – that it could have a shape. A physical form.

Creativity is a mental and social process involving the discovery of new ideas or concepts or new associations of the creative mind between existing ideas or concepts. Creativity is fueled by the process of either conscious or unconscious insight. An alternative conception of creativeness (based on its etymology) is that it is simply the act of making something new. – Wikipedia

I don’t come up with New Year’s resolutions like many people do. This year I decided on a word to focus on. Soar. My creativity is entwined in this word. Its meaning is a guiding force for the way I proceed through my daily photographic endeavors.

Giving my creativity a shape has got me thinking. So I started to look through some of my images to see if any of them jumped out at me, announcing a physical presence.

This image volunteered. It is clearly a fence line, but beyond its borders lives mystery. Beauty. Light. Freedom. Infinity. Within its borders there is very little space. And it is limited. Familiar.

I envision myself soaring over the fence line. My creativity is clearly on the other side.

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits

In late October I photographed Carly and her horse, Pepe’.  It was a secret.  The photos were to be used for Christmas presents so I couldn’t post them until now.  I remember Kirstie telling me – “good luck!  She doesn’t like to have her picture taken.  She usually makes funny faces.”  I thought, okay, I’ll work with it.  When I finished editing them and sent Kirstie a preview she said, “no one has ever captured Carly like that!”  Needless to say, we were both pleased.

“On Friendship” by Kahlil Gibran

Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.

When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the “nay” in your own mind, nor do you withhold the “ay.”
And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;
For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.

And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.

Maine Lifestyle Photographer in Bristol - Children's Photography, Family Photography, Weddings, Events, Portraits