You know, I had a whole other post all written up and ready to go. And I read it over and decided it was just way too ranty. Irony? It was about ranting. Yeah, I know.
So I decided to scrap it, which is why I’m late putting this up. I’m gonna write about creative passions instead. About those things that get us going and spur us creatively. I have a quite a few—my entire being reacts to beauty in all its forms, be it scent, taste, visual, aural. So I indulge those senses because ultimately, it all finds its way into my writing. For the longest time, music and cooking were my two primary outlets. But art and photography have always inspired me as well. I love wandering galleries and combing through art books. Sadly, I cannot draw to save my life. But photography… I always wanted to learn how to take “real” pictures. I always wanted a good camera. Unfortunately, I have no patience for manuals. They drive me bananas– it’s like a geometry problem. I know the words, but they make no sense. Thing, too, because I cook and because I write, I kind of have a thing for immediate gratification. I’m not talking about publishing, obviously, because that’s the antithesis of instant gratification, but you write something, you see the words on a page. You whip up a recipe, you have the results in a relatively short amount of time. Taking pictures, at least with a standard camera, meant waiting to develop or creating a dark room and learning how to develop them. Then came digital.
Even then, I didn’t succumb to a traditional SLR. They were wicked expensive to start with and again, manuals. Geometry problems. But then, in the last year, some new hybrid cameras have come down the pike—ease of point and shoot, but otherwise, very much like an SLR, and best of all, instant gratification. I plug it into the computer and see my pictures, right away. For our anniversary, my husband surprised me with one and I was off and running. I took it on its maiden run on a cruise to Alaska. And now, living in the Pacific Northwest with the mountains and the changing seasons and the gorgeous, rugged scenery? Wheeeeee!! I mean, it is such a rush to see an image in my head and be able to recreate it
And the best part is, it stimulates my creativity in writing. I can see an image, take a picture, and have it evoke a story element or spark an idea. I can go relax and let another part of my creative brain take over while the lizard brain is mulling a story issue and solving a problem. And have I mentioned how much fun it is?
So, I’ll leave you with a few images I’ve taken and ask, what spurs your creative juices? What makes you happy? And I hope, whatever it is, that you’re gifted with an abundance of it during this holiday season and into the new year!
Thanks for indulging me and for welcoming to the Magical Musings Family! Happy Holidays, everyone!