Joy of Creation

I finally get it now, what my photography is to me. It's my art. That might seem obvious but it's my truest hobby, perhaps not my career path. I can't bring myself to shoot without inspiration or just for the sake of taking a photo. My expectations for the images I create are higher than those anyone else may have for me. My capabilities don't always match my expectations. I am intimidated by the work I've done in the past and I often feel pressured to create an image that has the same effect as those past, from a viewers standpoint. So as to please my audience. But truthfully, some of my favorite images are photos that majority overlooks. Commercial work might get my name out, working with new people often might help word of mouth but I really only want to shoot my inspirations. I'm constantly inspired. Trouble is, I lack the resources I often desire to create my vision. Be it the proper face which conveys the proper mood or attitude, the proper weather or setting and most certainly, the proper equipment.
Confession: I shoot with a Canon Rebel XTi and the kit lens that came with it. I don't have fancy lenses. The manual for my studio lights is in chinese and half my modeling lamps are burnt out. My process is less than ideal but it does what I need it to do most of the time. Nearly everything you see in my portfolio was done with this equipment.


Visiting home in MI this past November, I was reminded again of my process, the flow in which I create. Meeting up with Jenni Lee; my forever muse and dear friend Leah to collaborate and play was refreshing! I love when we can come together, throw out ideas and experiment to create spontaneous magic. The images you see in this post were the results of that rendezvous. I hate viewing my photography as an obligation or work. I want to create. I want to make a call, send a text or FB message and have someone come by, just to mess around and see what genius is born. I'd love to pack the car full of miscellaneous accoutrements, scoop up a fancy face and drive around until I'm struck by that familiar creative lightning. No expectations, just the joy of creation.



What I love about my art, about photography, isn't the superficial pretty things. I don't do it for the sake of feeling cool with a camera in my hands or getting to know a lot of attractive people. My love of photography is really a love of light and color, sometimes the absence of color, of lines and curves, of negative vs positive space, of movement and of emotion.

Planning a childrens charity event...WHD 2010

As of today, I have official begun organizing a World Hoop Day event to take place here in Greenville. Last years WHD was very last minute on my part (48 hours in advance, eep!!) and I'm hoping to make this years even more successful!! The year I began hooping (2008) I volunteered at a World Hoop Day event in downtown Detroit. 08-08-08 it was that year. I always found it interesting that WHD fell on the one day of the year that not only are all the numbers of the date the same but the numbers themselves create little hoops and loops!!! This year, the event will be on 10-10-10 which to me resembles a little stick figure person holding a hoop, three stick persons to be exact..... =D

Right now I'm looking for local companies or organizations that'd be interested in participating in this event, either as sponsors or donors to the cause. I'd like to have an area with free snacks and beverages for the attendees to enjoy. It's also tradition that children receive free hoops to take home with them. Funding for this will have to be determined, whether local hoopers will donate handmade hoops for the kids or if we'll have to raise enough to purchase the super tiny, super cheap and lightweight hoops you find at dollar stores and elsewhere. The issue with the tiny cheap hoops is that they're near impossible for most adults to use and with the amount of children I'm hoping that will show, adults will be in surplus as well, so I'd like to accommodate. =D

Naturally, many members of Thee Inner Cirkus will be in attendance, as many of them hoop also. Not only will there be hooping but I think it's safe to say there will be stilt-walkers, jugglers and spinners of all sorts as well! <3

A short video of last years WHD, modest in size but still SUPER FUN!! That's me in the purple skirt!!!


Now, as summer has officially begun and the heat wouldn't let us forget it if we tried, I have HOOPS FOR SALE!! Now, I know the general complaint has been that it's too hot outside to hoop and I don't disagree. BUT, I can't let that stop me from doing what I love!!! So I've been taking my hoop downtown to the waterfall/fountain by O-Cha Tea Bar (on the river walk) to play in the water and keep cool. There's also a nice area under Main Street just down the walk where it's shaded all day long and the pavement isn't too hot to be barefoot. =D

So, no excuses for not hooping folks!!! Especially when downtown G-ville has so much sanctuary to offer!!!
The hoops I have currently for sale are shown in the photograph below but DON'T FORGET, I can do custom orders as well so if you don't see colors you like, let me know!!! Regularly $30 each, I'm offering a summer special on hoops. One hoop for $25 or two hoops for $40!!! AND if you buy a hoop, you get 50% of my Beginners Hoop Classes for the duration of your attendance! =D



I'm not going to pretend that WHD isn't for some personal gain as well. My goal is really to spread the love of hooping to the community of Greenville as it's already been done in Asheville and most of the West Coast, not to mention Detroit of course. I want to show YOU how much fun hooping can be!!! How beautiful it is as form of dance and how beneficial it can be to your health, both mental and physical!!! =D Thus, I'm now teaching. =D