Every Leaf Speaks Bliss To Me

On embracing play and surprise

Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;

Lenghten night and shorten day;

Every leaf speaks bliss to me

Fluttering from the autumn tree.

I shall smile when wreaths of snow

Blossom where the rose should grow;

I shall sing when night’s decay

Ushers in the drearier day.

- Emily Brontë

Six in-camera exposures (self-portrait)

Six in-camera exposures

Three in-camera exposures

Six in-camera exposures (Attempted self-portrait: You can see my eye, sort of, in the darkest part of the image, at least my eye lashes. It didn’t quite work out, but I still like it.)

Six in-camera exposures

Three in-camera exposures (self-portrait)

These images were all taken during a recent walk on a dreary November morning.

Play and experimentation is an essential part of the creative process and these photographs are the result of exactly that. It’s so much fun when you let go of worrying about results and instead embrace play.

I am currently in the middle of teaching a workshop on multiple exposure and at the moment we are learning everything about in-camera multiple exposure, as opposed to creating multiple exposures in Photoshop. The assignment for next session is to take a walk with the camera and start experimenting with double exposures. After that we will work our way up to more exposures.

The key to a good multiple exposure image is pre-visualization and the right settings. This takes practice and lots of trial and error. The rest is experimentation, embracing surprise and imperfection. I would describe this process as being intentional while also letting go of control. The images won’t be perfect, and that is precisely why I love them, and why I love this process.

It’s a great exercise and if you have the right camera for it; you should try it sometime. Play and experimentation nurtures you, your inspiration, and your motivation to create. It works every time.

All that matters is that you are making something you love, to the best of your ability, here and now. - Rick Rubin

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Items Of Note

Workshop with Maine Media

I am excited to announce that I will be teaching a workshop this coming February with Maine Media titled “Exploring The Art Of Multiple Exposure”. Click here to check out all the details!

Mark your calendars

I am hosting my next “Creative Hour” for paid subscribers on Saturday, December 14th at 11 am CST. You can read more about it in my recent post!