Tell me a bit about your background and what inspires you to be creative.

Thank you, Denise, for inviting me to be a part of your Inspiring Creatives series. I always enjoy reading what others say in this series. I am delighted and surprised to be a guest here.

I have a background in textiles where I learned a great deal about color. My more recent background has been in digital art, but the pull to return to photography hit me hard over a year ago. “Capture the Ordinary in Unusual Ways” has been my mantra for a very long time and it inspires me on a daily basis. I wanted to get back to enjoying images for what I can capture ‘in camera’.

What started your photographic journey?

I’ve always created, worked with my hands and one day, almost 20 years ago, I just picked up an old Canon Rebel that my son had. Once I saw different aspects of life through the viewfinder I was hooked. I would much rather be behind the lens than in front of it.

What drives you to keep growing creativity?

I think it is curiosity. I’m a life-long learner and always want to know more. And when you seek out more information about whatever your interest is, you can’t help but use the knowledge to create.

What or who has been the biggest influence on your creativity and why?

This is a tough question. There are many photographers out there who inspire me, but I’ve tried to follow my own path and not be influenced by what others do. I have great admiration for all types of photography but sometimes I need to pull away from viewing so much of what others do so that I can focus on the things right here in front of me.

What has been the most challenging part of creating your art?

With so much information out there, we are all hit with hundreds of images every day through social media and more. Sometimes it is challenging to shut the world out to stay true to my own vision and stay on my own path. I think this plays hand in hand with shooting what you love, not shooting to fill someone else’s need.

What was your biggest fear when you started to follow your passion and how have you overcome that?

My biggest fears have always just been in my own mind. Can I use this lens to convey what I am feeling at the time? Can others see the story I am trying to tell? Am I able to convey part of the story through imagery? It really boils down to the fact that no one really cares what I am doing, what I am working on, what I am shooting today. So it frees me to follow my own agenda, to please myself with what I do, and to not worry about the rest.

How has embracing your creativity impacted your life?

I have always been creative, even as a kid. I think embracing creativity is good for the soul. It helps me think differently. I have the need inside of me to accomplish something every day. I would say that this desire to produce is what keeps creativity alive. If I don’t use it, the inspiration becomes a bit less and before long there is no inspiration remaining. Great transition to the next question!

What do you do when you find yourself in a rut or you are feeling uninspired?

I’ve several things that work for me when I’m in a lull. It is key for any creative to switch it up.

1. I enjoy food photography which has led to a renewed appreciation of cooking. Baking, especially. And visiting the Farmer’s Market always offers new inspiration for me.
2. I spend time up at the lake. It clears my mind completely. I walk in the woods, kayak around the lake, and sometimes hike. There truly is nothing like being out in nature, away from day to day obligations, to clear your mind.

3. When feeling uninspired, I find it is also good for me to stay away from social media for a few days. It really does clear my mind. It is good for me to not be bombarded with all there is out there to see.
4. I have a little black book full of written ideas. Page after page of notes, composition ideas, etc. Browsing through this little book usually sparks a new idea or takes me back to an older idea that may still interest me. I nearly tore the studio apart one afternoon because I could not find my ‘little black book’!
5. I paint. I work out a still life composition for an oil painting then put on the apron, mix paint, and get the brushes out.

I have a variety of interests so it is easy to switch up the creative activities for a boost. I have a very busy brain.

If you could share one truth… from your creative heart to ours… what would you want us to know?

Be curious. Follow that curiosity.

What’s next? Where do you see your artistic vision leading you?

I’m not really thinking about what might be next. I’m enjoying today satisfied that I’m on my own path. I do have things I wish to accomplish yet, but they will come when I am ready. How is that for being evasive?

Do you have any tips, tricks or advice for those just getting started out in photography?

Shoot more. Shoot for you. Shoot what inspires you. If you shoot what you love, it will be clearly seen in your images.

What is the one piece of photography equipment you absolutely cannot live without?

My Lensbaby Lenses. They feed that curiosity enabling me to attend to the more subtle aspects, they help me to explore different options, and they help me come up with more original ways to present a subject.

Last words… what is the question you wished I’d ask that you’d like to answer?

We all need an emotional boost now and then with regards to the imagery we create. What photography “success” was beneficial to you, giving you an emotional boost?

Having an image win the Click Magazine Food Photography contest was a nice bonus for me. In my mind, it validated what I’ve been doing. And being asked to beta test Lensbaby lenses is another one high on my list. It is always nice to receive recognition for work published. And recently I was approached by a national food company to shoot for their website. Even though their project has been temporarily put on hold, I learned a great deal about that side of the business. They found me through my website, so it was very nice knowing that the website is out there doing what it is supposed to be doing.

Would I still be doing what I do without these things? Absolutely, because I need to express myself creatively and my camera is the tool of choice.