The Joy of Creativity – Part I – Capturing Simple Beauty Photography

For a little over a year now I have been stuck in a rut with my photography. 2022 proved to be such a great year. I had ample opportunity to go out with my camera, the weather seemed to be kinder (I don’t know if this is actually true but it sure has been very wet and grey this year thus far) and I felt very motivated and inspired. When 2023 rolled around however, all motivation disappeared. No matter how much I wanted to pick up my camera, I just couldn’t seem to do it; if did go out then I wasn’t very inspired in the field. Rather than dwell on it, I focused on my writing and actually put together a book of poems, photography and meditations. This is what I felt led to do by God so I obeyed and this is what I did (maybe I’ll write a blog about that another time but in the meantime you can take a look at that here).

Anywho, I was listening to a podcast recently and the guest on this particular episode was talking about creativity, particularly pursuing creativity ‘in the margins of motherhood’¹. Ashlee Gadd, author of ‘Create Anyway: The Joy of Pursuing Creativity in the Margins of Motherhood’ is passionate about empowering mothers and giving them permission to pursue their creative dreams and passions alongside motherhood, whether that’s writing poetry while the kiddos are making play dough masterpieces or leaving dirty dishes in the sink and creating while the littles ones are napping.

When I listened to the podcast that particular day, I had already planned to spend my evening writing and scheduling a blog post that evening. But the voices in my head were telling me of other tasks I needed to be doing instead – folding laundry, ironing bedding, cleaning the kitchen. I decided to ignore those voices in favour of creating. Creating brings me so much joy and excitement and I know that when I have a chance to write or do photography I feel a deep sense of good wellbeing. I know I need to do this. Ashlee Gadd believes we all need to do this – to create. She writes, ‘creativity is a fundamental part of being human, […] of being alive.’²
I completely agree and know how alive I feel when I am creating.

A few days later, after purchasing and reading some of Ashlee’s book, Create Anyway, I had a desire to do something I hadn’t done in a long time and followed through with the desire – I picked up my camera and started taking photos. It occurred to me that I’d stopped taking photos because I didn’t have the opportunity to go out with my camera to the beach or some other location. I hadn’t thought of photographing closer to home. However, one Sunday afternoon when the light was streaming through the lounge windows, I picked up my camera and started to photograph scenes in my home – baskets filled with laundry, the boys playing, the boys creating. Once the boys were in bed later that evening, I sat on the sofa, imported the images onto my computer and began editing. For the first time in a long time, I felt so pleased with what I’d made and felt a little spark ignite. Ever since that Sunday afternoon, my camera has been close at hand, ready and waiting for any moment that I might want to capture. It feels so good to be creating again.

I want to end by asking you what creative thing you like to do?
Do you like to bake? Crochet? Write poetry? Write novels? Play music? Gardening? Flower arranging?

Can I give you permission to leave laundry unfolded, dirty dishes in the sink in order to create something?