I had the clear picture in my head for weeks. I knew exactly how I wanted it to look. All I needed was the perfect globe and a willing subject. Luckily I had a whole sign up sheet of willing subjects, the issue was the perfect globe. After weeks of scouring the internet I finally found one that would be perfect and would match the overall look and theme of the series.
The time came for shooting. My model was such a trooper. I was asking her to do all sorts of dancer-like poses, difficult if you have no background in dance. I was asking a lot of her, but she did so wonderful and created the perfect form for me. I got all my elements just in time before the river behind us became flooded with river rafters.
When it came time for editing I was very excited!
But the image wasn't working. No matter what I did, something just wasn't right. And it wasn't my model's fault, not in the least. She did everything I asked of her and more. I messed up. I had a background in mind but when we got to the location I changed my mind last minute, thinking having the river behind her would create a nice little break in a series that has been nothing but evergreens and grassy fields. I was so wrong. I should have gone with what I had originally envisioned.
I felt bad having to call up my model (and my assistant) and ask her if she was available for a reshoot. I felt like a failure as a pro-photographer, I should have gotten the shot correct the first time. But even "pros" are still learning. I learned I need to trust my original inspiration. It's just the way my creativity works.
But then I changed the image again. (Wait, didn't I just learn NOT to divert from my original concept?)
It happened as we got to the location again. I had to take a quick bathroom break and while about my business a new image came into my mind. A simple change, but one I felt would speak more to the nature of what I wanted the image to say than the original composition. I had envisioned a young woman dancing in a field with a larger than life globe balancing on top of her finger, playing with it as if it were a toy and requiring no effort at all on her part. She was having fun.
Atlas | (c) M.M.Hewitt 2014 Downloading this image for any use without written permission is strictly prohibited.
And then I came up with the above. And I was more excited about this new composition than I was about my original. It feels more innocent, child-like and playful, which is what the image needed. And as I expected, my model did a wonderful job. What I finally learned was I should always stick to my true moments of inspiration.
We walk around every day with the weight of the world on our shoulders; feeling that we have to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. There are all sorts of things in the world that can bring us down, make us sad or angry or frustrated or fatigued. But we were not made for this world. The world was made for us. And that allows us to take part in the things that bring us joy, happiness, fulfillment, and knowledge and disregard or break free from the things that only cause us pain and heartache.
What can you do to enjoy the world and not let it's weight bring you down?