Today I decided to print and frame a couple of recent photographs. There is something about the print process that is very satisfying to me. It feels like when I actually print a photo that I made I am
Completing the Photograph
Now that I am no longer selling my photos I have fewer reasons to print my work. But whenever I actually sit down to print something I am so glad that I did. I’ve had a few frames sitting around in my office that I intended to use for my photographs but I never seemed to prioritize doing so.
You would think that as a photographer my walls would be full of photos. Not so. It seems like I never get around to actually framing and hanging my work.
Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.
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While I love printing my photos, framing them is not my favorite task. It’s a bit fussy and particular. And I’m never sure where to place them. Occasionally I have ideas for making large prints to fill an empty space on a large wall but then I never quite find the right photograph or frame for the space.
Procrastination
Do you have creative ideas that you also put off?
Procrastination is not Laziness”, I tell him. “It is fear. Call it by its right name, and forgive yourself.”
― The Prosperous Heart
I like Julia Cameron’s take on procrastination — that it is actually fear. But I also think that sometimes projects seem too big, too hard, or too impossible. Perhaps those thoughts are related to fear too.
I wish I could tell you why I decided to make prints today when I’ve put off making them for months.
Actually, maybe I can explain some of my motivation. I cleaned off my work table in my office this afternoon because it was covered with stuff that I wasn’t using and I finally got tired of the clutter and mess. There wasn’t any space available to do something like laying out prints or framing a print.
Once my table was clear, I suddenly felt like making prints. So I did. And then it didn’t take long to mat and frame the prints with mats and frames that I already had.
Experts tell us that breaking down goals into smaller tasks helps. But I believe that the cure for procrastination is probably different for every person. Perhaps the first thing to do is to make space (whatever kind of space you need). A second step might be to chose one small task that moves you toward your goal. And always be kind to yourself. If you cannot make a move towards your goal, forgive yourself and give yourself a big internal hug.
Growing, ripening, aging, dying — the passing of time is predestined, inevitable.
There is only one solution if old age is not to be an absurd parody of our former life, and that is to go on pursuing ends that give our existence a meaning — devotion to individuals, to groups or to causes, social, political, intellectual or creative work… In old age we should wish still to have passions strong enough to prevent us turning in on ourselves. One’s life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation, compassion.
— Simone de Beauvoir
May you walk in beauty.
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