Life As An Artform (aka the week that changed my life)

October 30, 2007

There are few events and moments in your life that change you & your outlook on life & people profoundly. Last week was one of those weeks. It’s hard to know where to start – there was so much going on that it’s almost like a jumbled thought. But perhaps we should start at the beginning?

As I was flying over San Diego on my way home, I spotted fires and was greeted to a haze of smoke. Early in the morning, we were woken up and forced to evacuate the area. As you pack all those things that you hold dear to you, or know that you simply cannot replace, you realize what things that are truly important to you – and everything else is just filler built to make life convenient.

Here are a few photos from the evacuation experience. I posted some already before, but here are some more.


The skies that morning.


Gromit waiting for us to leave.


A product of the winds


Del Mar – not so bad


A few miles up in Cardiff – HUGE difference. I didn’t color change anything.


After passing Encinitas – it was literally a wall that was passed through. It was so strange.


Watching the news nonstop.


My kitty scared out of his mind. We were staying with friends with some other friends there, and there were a total of 5 cats and one dog in that home.


Ash on my car the next morning

During the same week, I was most fortunate to attend the Jesh de Rox (blog) Life as an Artform workshop, which was to say the least, amazing. It’s almost impossible to put into words all that I learned, felt and discovered. I met amazing, amazing people from all over, all of whom I feel are friends for life for me. The host studio, The Image is Found (blog), are some of the most wonderful people in the world. I am more than blessed to call you friends now. They have one particularly hilarious animation of Jesh “connecting” with Mike & Nellie on their blog too ;)

This workshop was more than just about how to take better pictures, or become a better photographer. It was about becoming a better you. And not in the sense that we need to change ourselves because we’re horrible people, but to change our outlook and attitudes and to realize our potential as people who are capable of immense love. The connections that I have made during that time are ones that I will never ever forget. I’ve realized so much during the workshop, so much about myself as a person, a photographer, and someone who relates to people everyday. Every connection that we make has the potential to be life changing. Wouldn’t you want to be a part of that?

I am simply filled with so much love right now, it’s amazing. Love and wonder.

I feel… free.

Also, as an icing on the cake, I got to meet and photograph Amy Seeley – whose music I simply love. I love listening to her as I’m editing photos, and just in general. You must check her music out! And to listen to her live in such an intimate setting of only 13 people? Words could not describe it. ;) I’m totally excited to be seeing her again as she will be singing at my good friend’s wedding in a month. :) Here are some of the photos that I took of her.

Also, as one of the assignments, I photographed the wonderful and beautiful Sarah Maren from my hometown of Sacramento. Here are a few shots from that (you can see the shots she took of me on her blog ;))

I actually didn’t do a lot of shooting during the actual workshop outside of our assignments, so I did most of my shooting while we were all hanging out. Here are a few shots ;)


Jesh spreadin’ the love & Jennifer


[b]ecker, Jessica Claire & Jesh


Lisa & Sarah, peeking at what Jesh was doing


Heather having way too much fun with the hurricane blower!


Jesh making some hand movement he makes often. Taken by Heather.


Lisa!


Heather, Jennifer & Lisa listening to Jesh’s wisdom


Me, taken by Heather

On top of all that, it was Jesh’s birthday last week, and we were able to give him a nice little birthday love with a little ice cream cake. ;) I especially love the various faces Jesh had made throughout the photos.


Jesh’s pot pie. You had to be there.


Sarah, Nate & Jaclyn


Surprise!


Happy birthday, Jesh!


Connecting with his cake.. haha!


Showing off his guns.


This face just cracks me up


Jesh, Heather & Ed


Nate, Shannon


Justin


Sarah and THE ECLAIR.


Sara F, Shannon & Kathy


Kathy, Jesh, Heather, Ed

Thank you, Nate & Jaclyn, for opening your studio to us, and your lives. You’re beautiful (and hilarious) people and I look forward to crossing paths in the future. :) It can’t be that hard, right? We’re in the same town! lol

Thank you, Jesh, for opening yourself to all of us, and helping me realize the potential in me. For that I am indebted to you. You’re a beautiful soul, and definitely a friend for life. :)

And thank you, Sarah M, Heather, Lisa, Jennifer, Justin, Ed, Kathy, Sara F, and Shannon – I’m blessed to have met you all, get to know you better, and like I said before, we are friends for life. I hope that our paths will soon cross again one day. ;)

P.S. Happy Halloween! :)

14 Responses to “Life As An Artform (aka the week that changed my life)”

  1. Jennifer says:

    Hey Sus,
    Took me a minute to figure out how to post a comment. DOH! I’m so glad we were able to meet and we’ll definitely have to hook up next time you’re in Sac. Email me some of those pics, would you? So I can blog them too!
    Jen (www.memoryjournalists.blogspot.com)

  2. Sarah Maren says:

    So seriously, I just cried reading this and looking at all those pictures all together. Thank you so much for having the wherewithal to actually BRING your camera with you! I kept trying to show pictures to my husband and he just couldn’t understand what was so funny about a pot pie. :) Thanks for being part of this life changing experience, Susan. You are a delight and I can’t wait to see you again when you come for a visit. HUGS!!!!!

  3. Susan! I love the way you described our week. I have had such a hard time putting it all into words but you did it beautifully… there is a connectedness that is indescribable and I am so glad that we had the chance to meet in that setting. I can’t wait to see you again! Keep in touch ;)

    ~Shannon

  4. Ed Atrero says:

    Hey Susan!

    Thanks for the awesome post and helping us relive the good times from last week. What a week, eh? (practicing my Canadian.) I feel like a dummy for not bringing a camera along, so thanks a million for grabbing these shots of everyone!

    BTW, When’s the next SD GTG? Time to bug Paula, eh? (now I’m really Canadian).

    Take care,
    -Ed

    p.s. For all you folks out there considering Jesh’s workshop, I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s a real life-changer on many fronts.

  5. Let’s just say I was there in spirit. I woulda love to have been there and hung out with all you amazing folks. I’m extremely glad to hear that you all had a good time – and are safe from the fires. Next time you all get together for a workshop, I’ll be there, Lord willing. It was a crazy week for so many people in so many ways. Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Susan. I knew you’d come back all pumped! : )
    -E

  6. samm blake says:

    Hey Susan!

    I am so jealous of you!!!!! =)
    All of my favourite photographers in one room together!!!

    I really badly wanted to to fly to the states just to attend jesh’s workshop.. I had a wedding booked so couldnt make it this time… I would have probably come otherwise! I cant come over for WPPI next year cause I also have weddings booked, but i am keeping all of my March 09 free so hopefully I will finally be able to make it over then. March is one of our busiest months for weddings in Australia .. but owell i know it will be worth it a million times over. Hopefully you will be there in March 09 so I will have a friend there! =)

    Hope your house and everyone is safe from the fires

    lots of love
    xox

    samm

  7. cris says:

    that’s so awesome susan! it’s so neat to see a glimpse of all of the neat things that you learned! :) and the awesome people and photographs you got along the way! :) very inspirational!!! :)

    hope you guys are gettin settled back home! glad that you guys are all safe! :)

    love ya!

  8. mel says:

    great portraits! the pic of the trees being uprooted is pretty powerful. good thing they didn’t fall the other way and block the road!

    you totally should come to seattle and we can show you around. :) and i told you i’d trash my dress for you, but you just have to give me enough warning so i can make sure i fit into it. i haven’t even cleaned my dress after two years. pretty gross, huh?

  9. Lisa Roah says:

    Susan – What a great post! Thanks for being the official documentarian of the week! I haven’t even had words to express myself about the experience! Can’t wait to see you again sometime soon!

  10. Rachel says:

    this is a wonderful post, susan! I have kind of a girl-photographer-crush on Sarah so it was fun to see her in the mix, too!

  11. i’m a pa photog who just happened across your blog through jesh’s blog – love your work! Always looking for “texturized” inspirations!!! jealous beyond words for all those able to attend the workshop ;o)Blessings – Heather Meyers

  12. winnie says:

    Glad to hear you and your home are safe! The workshop sounds amazing too.

  13. Susan says:

    JENNIFER — omg, i definitely have to mail you those pics! remind me can you? :)
    SARAH — *heart*! :) we need to hang… maybe thanksgiving week – i’ll be in town, but i don’t know how much time i’ll have – that weds is my bday! :)
    SHANNON — i wish we had been able to talk more – i’m so glad we met though, keep in touch of course :)
    ED — i don’t know! but next time, we’re doing a bowling night! ;) and i agree, jesh’s workshop, i can’t recommend it highly enough :)
    EDDIE — thanks for your comment! :) wish you were there too ;)
    SAMM — oh! i would’ve been so thrilled if you were able to have gone to that workshop, or any of jesh’s! it’s so life changing. you most definitely need to come to the states soon, i want to try and go to wppi this year and next (i hope dwf is in vegas again next year!) so YES we can hang out! *heart* maybe i can come to australia soon ;)
    CRIS — *heart* *heart*
    MEL — oh, i’ve heard worse! yes, if i do come to seattle, we should do an impromptu ttd, it would be so much fun, and a whole new venue/location for me! yay! i want to go to canada too *heart*
    LISA — girl, we need to hang out, you don’t live too far away ;)
    RACHEL — thanks for the comment, sarah is a fun girl! ;)
    HEATHER — thanks for stopping by ;)
    WINNIE — thanks dear!

  14. emgra says:

    emgra…

    I found your post titled Gavere – Sint-Martens-Latem – 23 juli 2006 – ca. 50 km ” interesting and share most of your views, but just dont get your second point….