“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.”
- Albert Einstein
This post is intended to include a blatant self-promotion, so let me just put it here at the start, and then I’ll describe below how I got here.
I have created a new Meetup Group for persons interested in photography in the metro region of Portland, OR. My intent is to lead small groups of photographers for photo walks on hiking trails or city streets, looking for anything that may capture one's interest. Events are based on nature trails for landscapes and wildlife, city and urban areas for architecture and street photography, and other areas of interest that may arise. So that I can be a confident leader and guide for each event, if I have not visited a location previously, I scout the location for suitability and safety.
The Meetup group was created in Feb. 2024 and the first event to a wildlife refuge was held on Feb. 24th. Since then, we have enjoyed 14 events with a mix of people with varying skill levels and interests, though all intent on photography as a shared experience.
My Meetup group: https://www.meetup.com/pdx-metro-area-photography-outings-scoutings/
For a good basic description of Meetup, check this link:
Actual event image.
Here is part of my history and reason for starting this social photography group:
My first real foray into photography began a few years ago. My early efforts involved trying different genres, learning from books, blogs, and web videos, and trial-and-error. Most of my time doing photography was spent alone; I was out in nature looking for snapshots, or arranging objects and flowers for abstract and macro work on my kitchen table, or experimenting with different edits of images with a variety of software tools on my computer. I did enjoy the solitude these activities provided, and I enjoyed the creative zone that held my focus. But it was primarily a solitary joy.
Prior to 2020 and the pandemic, I had attended a handful of photography events and workshops that allowed me the pleasure of working with other like-minded creatives, learning new skills and sharing perspectives. My most memorable experience was a week-long photography workshop to explore and photograph Death Valley and the Eastern Sierras in late 2019. It was a great time for immersion into a new and beautiful environment and for learning my art!
Then the pandemic arrived, and the ability and freedom to travel and attend group events were seriously restricted. Even Meetup groups had suspended most group activities because of social distancing requirements. As the pandemic eased and severe lockdowns were lifted, Meetup groups began to function again. After some struggles with the isolation of lockdowns, I swore to myself I would look for all opportunities to connect with others through Meetup events, typically hiking and social activities.
So, I began taking advantage of every possible event that helped me to get out and connect with others. It was very healing to reconnect with other people on trails or while engaging in shared efforts. I almost always carried a camera with me, in case a photographic opportunity presented itself. A problem I found was that may appetite for photography was often unsatisfied, as hiking groups and social activity groups are not always conducive to my contemplative need for slowing down to look, to feel, and to capture the world around me. I love the Meetup groups I belong to and attend events often. But I need, as I think other photographers do, to slow down and enjoy the artistic "zone" that feeds us.
Hence, the reason for my photography-centric Meetup group. If you live in the area or are visiting and want to enjoy a group photography outing, please check out Meetup details via the link given above for "PDX Metro-Area Photography Outings & Scoutings".
Creativity belongs to all of us and is unique to each of us. Finding the spur or the spark for a new creative interest, reaching a higher skill level, or discovering a new direction for an existing creative interest can guide us on the creative path.
Discover your creative passions, enter your creative zones, and take pride in your efforts and results. Listen and learn with an open mind from valuable critique. Above all, give yourself the freedom to create, and then create with freedom!
I invite feedback from readers for different perspectives on creativity. Please use the comments feature at the bottom of this post, if desired. If my writings in this photography project can benefit anyone on their creative journey, I am proud to be of service!
#Creativity52 #creativity #create #crafts #hobbies #art #innovation #photography #photographyproject #photoproject #Recovery52
Art along the Willamette River.