It occurred to me last week that I have officially outgrown my previous phase as an artist/photographer. Cheers for progress! :) The evolution of any artist is a necessary and inevitable process. Life experiences, expanded inspiration, unexpected opportunity, technical learnings … whatever the cause may be, growth happens. As an artist … we learn to embrace, adapt, or perish. ;)
For me, it arrived as elusively as the subtle tide rising on a full moon. A force so powerful that it’s gentle nudge left me standing in wide-eyed awe. — Basically that’s my poetic and overly dramatic way of saying … it took several things falling perfectly into place and now that they’ve arrived, I can’t imagine what life was like before. It just feels different. I feel different. It’s as simple as that. :)
So here we are. Two months into a new year and I’m as inspired as I think I’ve ever been. I have a new team, a million concepts on my mind, and am in the process of transforming my house into a creative haven (blog to follow). To me, it only seems natural that a new design for the website would pop up somewhere amongst the chaos. ;) side note || and I definitely mean ‘chaos’ in the most positive way imaginable.
Basically, it comes down to the idea of intent. As much as I visually enjoy the creative concept of FIDAMO’s current website … it’s just not me (nor us). Brick and graffiti are stale concepts, overplayed and overused. It’s time to grow (creatively) outside of what others have laid down before … to be true to myself and where I’m at. The current state, so to speak. Additionally, a photographers website should never compete with the art that they’re trying to display or the message they’re trying to send. You live, you learn. ;)
Anyway, back to the current project at hand… FIDAMO 2.0 — I’ve been back and forth through a dozen concepts and this is my favorite so far. :) The camera image was pulled from a scanned 1950’s advertisement for an Agfa Speedex ($29- for a Medium format camera … if you can imagine), the circles are modern art/retro inspired representations of the shutter on a lens … then you have the diagram-inspired menu on the homepage, collage-inspired header on the portfolio page, and latin-pronunciation-inspired aspect to the back of the business card (in each, several parts combine to create a whole). I love it because it’s clean & purposeful, without having to sell out to the current trend in professional photography web design … aka. straight black or white background. =p
So that’s whats new today. I sent the proof to the team late last night. A few more tweaks and with any luck, FIDAMO will have a new face by Tuesday. :) cheers! xoKT
February 25, 2010 at 2:45 pm · Filed under Art, Memoirs
It was recommended to me today — to be both “the river and the bridge” … a force of nature that flows vigorously (…) and a refuge for those who aren’t quite ready to jump in and swim for it — not sure how much stock I put in horoscopes, but I’m pretty sure there’s a photoshoot concept in there somewhere. ;)
In other life news, I pretty much feel like an insatiable sponge lately. Creative inspiration is coming in endless waves of obscurity. I love it. :))
Today’s inspiration comes from “Young Me / Now Me” — thanks Gary, definitely a fan. :)
[Thought for the day || Life wears grooves in every soul. It saddens me how some people grow weary and become so hard, so untouched, so untouching. Relished for the cracks in the paint ... who wants to live in a white-picket-fence world? I get how it happens; Lord knows I've seen my fair share of ups-and-downs ... I've questioned, I've faltered, sleepless nights over things I couldn't control.... but so what? In your own way I'm sure you have too....and like me, I'm sure you've made it through (a better person for it). In a society filled with walls, boundaries, protection, and fear ... I prefer the freedom found in those who appreciate that life is perfect because of it's imperfections, not inspite of them.
In tune with the poem below, perhaps that is the one thing that I appreciate the most about my mothers life (and her passing) ... even in her twilight, she was an open source of light ... teaching lessons as she learned them herself. If she had been born of another fiber, one who cursed the world for that which she did not request ... or reclused at every sign of need or hope (because with it, might also come pain) ... she would have never left such deeply beautiful tracks upon my soul.]
THINGS SHOULDN’T BE SO HARD
Kay Ryan
A life should leave
deep tracks:
ruts where she
went out and back
to get the mail
or move the hose
around the yard;
where she used to
stand before the sink,
a worn-out place;
beneath her hand
the china knobs
rubbed down to
white pastilles;
the switch she
used to feel for
in the dark
almost erased.
Her things should
keep her marks.
The passage
of a life should show;
it should abrade.
And when life stops,
a certain space—
however small —
should be left scarred
by the grand and
damaging parade.
Things shouldn’t
be so hard.
By the waters of Leman I sat down and wept ...
Sweet Thames, run softly till I end my song,
Sweet Thames, run softly,
for I speak not loud or long.
(...)
Musing upon the king my brother's wreck
And on the king my father's death before him.
(...)
Gaily, when invited, beating obedient
To controlling hands
I sat upon the shore
Fishing, with the arid plain behind me
Shall I at least set my lands in order?
* note : evolution of the masculine persona
February 23, 2010 at 2:15 am · Filed under Film, Music
[Elizabethtown]
From this day on I own my father’s gun
We dug his shallow grave beneath the sun
I laid his broken body down below the southern land
It wouldn’t do to bury him where any Yankee stands
I’ll take my horse and I’ll ride the northern plain
To wear the colour of the greys and join the fight again
I’ll not rest until I know the cause is fought and won
From this day on until I die I’ll wear my father’s gun
I’d like to know where the riverboat sails tonight
To New Orleans well that’s just fine alright
`Cause there’s fighting there and the company needs men
So slip us a rope and sail on round the bend
As soon as this is over we’ll go home
To plant the seeds of justice in our bones
To watch the children growing and see the women sewing
There’ll be laughter when the bells of freedom ring
