One of the most valuable lessons I have learned from living in Bakersfield is we can always make the most of where we are when we put our heart and soul and creative mind at the center of our experience. Bakersfield was never anywhere at the top or even ON my list of places to live but here I have found myself for the majority of my adult life.
I have also elected to be an artist-of-life which means I am an artist as in I am a poet, mixed-media artist, photographer, actor and director AND beyond that, I approach life as if it was a work-of-art-in-progress as well.
One of the ways I put that into practice is through “Chasing the Sunset” on a regular basis. Two weeks ago I took my daughters, Katherine and Emma, out with me for a ride on a “just on the outskirts of town” photo taking adventure.
I am going to start at the end - because I’m quirky and why not?
Emma was not feeling well as we continued with our expedition, but I wasn’t prepared for her to become physically ill to the point I had to stop the car, clean it up, and wrap her in a blanket because her clothes were covered with… well, you’ve probably figured it out.
Look at what a good sport she was! And Mommy, well, this Mommy has long practiced loving everything about her children even cleaning up the less than pleasant messes they accidentally make. We will always remember this photo-taking adventure in part because of this precise moment.
My daughters know my process pretty well by now, even though they haven't chased the sunset with me before this. I found a pleasing spot, put the blanket down so they had a place to sit, and offered up a few props - in this case books. Emma grabbed a biography of Margaret Fuller and Katherine chose to focus on the sky. Both choices quite perfect expressions of who these remarkable young women are.
You can see on Emma's face she isn't feeling well but she is soldiering on here. I loved the colors of the surroundings contrasted off their dresses. We got Katherine's at "Out of the the Closet" a thrift store chain in Los Angeles as well as the Bay Area whose proceeds go to HIV and AIDS charities. That little dress has lived quite a few adventures since we bought it!
The light and perspective drew me into this photo. It breaks a lot of photography rules plus I like the outcome.
We have a history of skipping in photos. I should say Emma does. Katherine proves here she will not be outdone by her mother and little sister. Neither foot is on the ground as she skips exuberantly down Granite Road (no traffic in sight, naturally!)
We need to come back to this spot. I loved Katherine in her sweet self climbing this fence. I wanted to get her to go IN the pen, but I think that is more what I would do and less what she would want to do!
Every sunset chase needs a mystical moment or two. This location was perfect for it - and all scary movies (and mystical ones) seem to feature a random shed that has surprises within. We're not telling what we found... yet!
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I didn't realize how long it has been since I've done a Photo Friday link up. I'm glad to be here today - maybe this is YOUR week to join the fun in your own photo blog post.
Do you have a photo blog post you would like to feature? Link up with Pierced Wonder's Photo Friday.
Julie Jordan Scott inspires people to experience artistic rebirth via her programs, playshops, books, performances and simply being herself out in the world. She is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and mixed-media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people's creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming in Spring, 2015 and beyond.
To contact Julie to schedule a Writing or Creative Life Coaching Session, call or text her at 661.444.2735.
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