I’m writing a guest post right now that touches on the idea of ‘sense of place’ and it has me thinking of the way we build relationships to our habitat around us and the ways they intersect with our creative lives. For some maybe it is taking a break from sewing or painting to go for a walk and move their bodies. Or perhaps some are directly inspired by the subject matter they see every day. For those of us seeking out the beauty around us (and within us) through our cameras, our natural landscape can be pretty important.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the process of building that relationship too.
Last summer I moved from a part of the city where I’d been living for the last 5 years to a new area. It was a good move, as my new neighbourhood is full of life, quirky, artsy and where lots of my friends live.
Yet pretty much the entire evolution of my photographic explorations and taking of self-portraits took place in the landscape around that area where I lived before. Especially the natural world around my old home.
A block away there was a gorgeous and quiet ravine, a block in the other direction was some abandoned train tracks and trails. All of these places were populated enough that I felt safe but also had enough privacy for me to embrace wild abandon and take lots of jumping and twirling photos. Yet I didn’t feel completely at home in the neighbourhood as it was the kind of area where people didn’t socialize with their neighbourhoods and everyone zoomed around in their big fancy cars unlike me and my two feet (and the city bus). So it ended up being a place where I had lots of solitude.
One year into living my new neighbourhood and I fall more in love with it every day. It is more nestled near the mountains and I’m breath taken by looking up at them daily. People say hello to each other as many of us walk the world around us. There are kids swings hanging from trees and people on bikes zooming around. It has done wonders for me to live in such a connected and almost small town like neighbourhood.
Yet what I’m struggling with a bit is finding those spots, especially natural ones, that are nearby that feel like my ‘photo spots’. You know, the kind you can grab an item or two when the light is just right and run out to take a few photos.
So, as the days get longer, I’m challenging myself to go out in search of those spots as well as other great places for bigger photo adventures.
Yesterday I headed out for a walk to a place I’ve done lots of photo shoots in the past, but have never gone on a solo photo walk there. Its a bit further than a few blocks from my house but not so far that I couldn’t head there easily on a sunny day.
The building is an old factory turned into art studios. Outside the building there is tons of gorgeous grafitti and art and alongside the building are some tracks. This place is great as there is so much you can use as a background or setting in one place and head home with a big diversity of photos. Its also where this awesome video by Dan Mangan was shot. Yet it speaks clearly of an urban sensibility. When I look at my photos, they seem very tied to the natural world to me. Perhaps more urban exploration is good for me or perhaps I’ll find myself seeking out the parks and overgrown fields. We’ll see!
So I’m committed to getting to know more about my sense of place in this part of town. The feeling of home is there, absolutely, but I’m going in search of those spaces that invite the creative part of me to thrive.
I’d love to hear about how the natural or urban world around you speaks in your creative life. Does it create a balance with your creative work and allow you space? Is it an integral part of it? Is it your canvas or your model? I’d love to hear how your sense of place and creative life intersect!
Here are a few shots from yesterdays photo walk:
