In this past year I've started collecting old photos. There are a few kinds of photos that I'm always on the lookout for to grow a couple of specific parts of my small collection. But I also adopt anything that speaks to me.
When I saw this one in a box of old photos last week, my heart stopped in my throat. I was so disbelieving at this find that I asked B. to please verify that what I was seeing was in fact true and not just my imagination.
As many of you know, I am PASSIONATE about water photography. Working with water as a subject last summer was life changing. I've been a life-long lover of water, and interacting with it through the camera lens gave me a whole new appreciation and understanding for it. I see it completely differently now. Colors, shapes and patterns that I previously never knew were there are now details that I see whether I'm shooting it or not. My biggest ever art project to date was my Water Portraits series last summer.
So it was a big moment for me when I found this blurry old photo in the box. Movement is one thing I haven't worked with in my water portraits yet. It was like finding another new face of the waters I love. Water in motion, shot while in motion, the movement and the reflective light creating this incredible texture. I'm enchanted.
With my work schedule being so busy this summer, I've only shot water once so far this year. But there's still plenty of summer left and things are about to slow down. So I hope to be shooting again soon. And thanks to this inspiring and treasured photo, I'll be giving some thought to how I can experiment with adding some movement to my shots this year. I just know there's even more to be seen in the water and I can't wait to see what it has to show me!
This old beauty is from January 11th, 1941. I love that someone cared enough to keep it all these years and didn't toss it out as just another 'blurry photo.' Because this photo was definitely meant to find me and inspire me in my art. I'm so grateful for it and for the person(s) who snapped and saved it.