New Beginnings

This has been a long time coming, in the scheme of things.  I have spent the last several years trying to invent a persona to safely hide behind while I explore moving beyond the hobby level of  both  photography & writing, I got lost in the process and landed far away from where I had hoped to be.

I've realized that it's time to stop trying so hard to be what I'm not, and just be who I am. I'm terrified and excited at the same time.

Why Cracked Lens & Broken Pens?

 I don't color within the lines. I have a different and eclectic view of the world around me. My sphere lies far outside of the recognizable box.

I see things very differently in my photography. I can spend hours lying in the gravel, photographing a single blade of grass, focusing in on anything from a single drop of dew to the way the main blade reflects light and/or shadow. 

Where most people would throw a cracked lens away, I would revel in the opportunity to explore the altered view and challenge myself in the process. Sometimes I'm the only one who gets it,  Then there is that ONE shot that causes electricity to race through your body and you know you've captured something special.

 Last summer while on vacation I became fascinated by the glass-like transparency of ocean waves just as they crested. I took well over 5,000 shots trying to capture what I saw in my head. Is that over the top? Some might say so. But to me, when I'm capturing what I see in my head, it's very difficult for me to compromise. As I type this my head is shouting "There is no compromise!"

As far as my writing goes, it's always a work in progress and I am my harshest critic.  I've had several starts with lots of encouragement. The recurring issue has been my lack of self confidence in spite of the encouragement of others who are experienced in the business.

I've spent a great deal of effort trying to force my words to fit into a frame that was never designed for them, if that makes any sense.  The world of fanfiction gave me a great avenue to play with my words, but only one story was truly "meant" to be. It was written for my daughter and is the first thing I'd really written to completion in over 20 years.

I will always be grateful to fanfiction because it was the vehicle that helped me to start writing again.

My new commitment to myself is to let them grow and become what they are intended to be, even if it might be uncomfortable.

I'm going to take a deep breath and come what may, put myself out there.

I am fully aware that I have many challenges ahead of me. I'm still learning the ins and outs of both crafts.  I expect no instant and miraculous overnight successes, but I do expect to learn. I expect to fall down. I also expect to dust my knees off and try again and again.

Success?  In my world it is subjective. If I can sleep at night and bring joy to those around me, even if it's just my inner circle that is success.

I hope you become part of that circle.

Welcome to the beginning of my journey.


Robyn :)