Why is this such a cliche!

There is something sublime, desolate but yet relaxing about being in a location with very few people almost untouched by mankind whatsoever. That feeling of isolation, the ability to let your mind wander and just be present while being surrounded by something so freeing is such a peaceful and happy space to be in. When you are able to be alone and enjoy the environment around you whether at an isolated beach, mountain top or an extremely noisy subway; the ability to find solitude where you feel the most at peace is comforting. Most people think photography is just about clicking a button but really it's about self exploration and exposing the beauty and/or reality (often times both) in what's around us or from our own experiences. Vision, creativity and perspective are key and foundational components of photography. It's not about being relevant but about finding what makes you unique and happy and building on it. These are the areas where you find inspiration. Where you embark on your personal inspiration, uniqueness and style. Where you discover what it is that you want your art to say. What makes you, you. Most importantly, you discover what stories you want to tell. Photography is an art; not just a photograph, as long as you make it such.

Photographically, I've tried to make compositions with strong patterns, emphasis of color or harsh/soft light, that convey a mood; any mood. As long as one existed, right? The more dramatic, the better the photograph... right? It's funny thinking about this thought process and as I type this out because, what the actual.... excuse my language... F! You can use any tools available to you; color, tone, equipment, lines, etc. to create these dramatic, soft, picturesque, pictorial, sublime, juxtaposed photographs. What I will tell you, is the mood you want to create; all begins with you and what you want to say/convey. This applies to any art medium, not just photography.

Peace, love and happiness! So cliche, right! Art is a craft and a skill that absolutely requires self exploration and appreciation of you. Your art will always reflect how you're feeling and what you're going through because there is this innate emotional connection between self and your art aka what the world sees. Sometimes we subconsciously want the world to see us at our most vulnerable selves to understand us, what we are going through and how we are feeling. Find peace within yourself, and when you find it protect it. Stay on a continuous journey of loving yourself and being happy with yourself; your flaws, experiences, traumas, personality, etc. it's what makes you, you. Be flexible because the more you develop and are in tune with yourself, the more you will develop your art. Let your mood/emotions guide you, let your camera convey that idea. The wind could blow a different direction or the sun can set and it could change your entire perspective; let it! Like life; there is always an opportunity to tell a different story!

--Tarisha W.