Same hill, different day – Paul Octavious : “For the past 2 years I have visited a beautiful mound of earth that I have come to call “the hill.” Each time I have come to the hill a new story is told to me as if the hill is my stage and the locals are the actors in this daily play.” -paul
Sirens – Liz Lantz : “Sirens grew from a desire to understand a culture that I desperately wanted to be a part of as a land-locked surfer, riding the waves of Lake Michigan. When I moved to San Diego, it was both exciting and intimidating to see beaches full of people who shared my love for surfing. Popular surf media painted a picture of male-dominated world and I was surprised to see many other women in the water. In response to my own surf experiences, I set out to learn about these women and a side of surfing that is rarely exposed.” -liz
I have been feeling very pulled lately – pulled to dig deeper into what I am passionate about. Pulled to drop everything, pick up some cameras, and just….GO. Shoot for me, selfishly and seriously. Figure out what exactly it is I want my point of view to say. What do I see that no one else does? I have been pondering a lot on what I would want to focus on, what I would want to dig into.
Today I was introduced to these two photographers via blog surfing and they have just fanned the flames of my desire. Both projects appeal to me on a personal level very much, and I wanted to share them with you.
xo
Tara
so happy that you have found others to do for you what you already do for so many. you fan my flames on a daily basis!! ; )
YES YES YES!
You must do what makes you the happy!
Sometimes it’s scary, but passion projects are the best.
it was so fun spending the afternoon with your spunky self. you inspire in a way i cannot put into words.
GO GO GO!
Tara YOU inspire, and if anyone has a unique perspective it’s you lady. I love those images of the hill. How starkly different each one is, yet how similar. We have a similar hill nearby…in the winter it’s filled with sledders, but last time I drove by it was filled with people flying kites on a windy spring day. Great idea.
Very cool, thank you for sharing!
oh man, i love paul octavius. i don’t know the other one, but now i will definitely check it out.
can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Love that you’re branching out into what speaks to you visually! I love your question “What do I see that no one else does?” Truly an artist statement. I can’t wait to see what you see!! (please share!!)
I love the same hill different day idea. Love it.
sometimes we need to stop and change direction. what once fueled our fire may be an ember. follow your heart – you will know where you are supposed to go.
:)
i feel the same. longing to dig deeper and find myself–truly find myself. i continue to ponder this daily, knowing that some day, it will happen. can’t wait to see where things go for you tara.
good luck!
hugs!
deb
freakin AMAZING!!! LOVED those sites…thanks for passing on the inspiration!
paul has such a great idea! thanks for sharing!
These THRILL me! thank you for sharing :)
I looove that hill project, I keep seeing it popping up across the interwebs and it’s just so gorgeous. And the chick surfers? Awesome.
What strikes me about your style is the details you capture in people. Rogue ponytails, lovely crows feet, wide smiles, holding hands. The light in which you frame them is still fascinating to me. <3
Very lurvely.
inspiring. thanks for sharing tara!
I am in love with that first shot of the hill and that womens mermaid tattoo, thank you for sharing.
I totally get your p.o.v. !!!One of the many admirations of your work is how you think outside the box and push your creative mind!!!!
I know so many people in that same exact place right now, including myself. It shows that we’re truly passionate about what we’re doing, but sometimes it still just seems like a daunting task. Figure out your EXACT viewpoint; what you’re doing, how you’re going to do it, WHY you’re doing it. YIKES.
I guess I don’t really have any wise words, but I’ll see you on the journey!
your post gave me goosebumps while I nodded in agreement.
Go get ’em, girl.
Dana
here’s something to fan the flame a bit more… i saw these girl’s speak at a sf event (pop-up magazine) back in september. check out the site for their movie http://www.villavillacola.com/about.html that features all surf women. *sigh* so beautiful… can’t wait to see what you do next – love, love your work!!!
yes yes yes!! i’m feeling this too and it makes me feel so alive – and hungry at the same time. These two projects are amazing – thank you for sharing these artists and for sharing your journey (as always)
Do it. Will prevent burn out for you! Gotta change it up, or you will blow up…ya know! I know I love to see ANY pics you shoot. Your the bomb girl!
amazing pictures…thanks for sharing!
Glad to see these and be reminded of the ART of photography, the healthy part of shooting for oneself. Thanks for the surfer link(s)… I only wish I were in Cali just to photograph my sister out on the waves, she’s beginning to blog about her days of surfing. http://www.surfingteriandmonkey.blogspot.com/
random question…
what’s the color on your living room walls?
i love it!
Just got word of a Maine Media Workshop with Stella Johnson (cool photog I worked with in Boston who’s always got a project in the works). She’s got a Documentary Workshop which will help one “Learn how to develop a long-term documentary project”. Check it out
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=118508938164096
Beautiful! Why does that girl’s board say “Taliban” though?
love this. can’t wait to see what comes out of you——— be ultra-selfish. have you heard of the book the artists way? it was helpful for me to really tap into my unique vision. anyway—— you go.
just love your words here
breathtaking photos!
Is that Berkeley Kite festival?
Tara, your work always always takes my breath away!
Go do it, Tara. Allow yourself to be pulled in a different direction. I selfishly want to see the incredible things you do when you’re being “selfish”.
xo teri
(p.s. thank you for visiting my site and for your support!!!!)
Thank you for the wonderful inspiration! LOVE!!
My business partners and I were forever feeling that pull. Our solution is that we finally put up a creative umbrella that we could house everything we loved under. Design, art, photography, education, sustainability—a little of each tucked under our collective umbrella. Some things bring in the dollars, while others bring inner peace. It’s forever a juggling act, but it’s starting to feel so much more like a comfortable pair of shoes as the days go by.