Comments on: Create Like A Beginner

By: Ceili

Ceili — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 01:34:55 +0000

Brooke, you are truly inspirational, both as an artist and as a human being. Thank you for sharing yourself so honestly with the world and for paying it forward! A week ago I met and became the assistant for a local artist. Twenty years ago he suffered traumatic brain injury when his car was hit by a truck while waiting at an intersection. He lost relationships and his life went from being a dentist and teaching classes at Harvard to being unable to read or write. He was bed-ridden for a year after having back surgery. Art had been a part of his life since childhood. Even as a dentist, he worked on art projects as a hobby. He used dental material such as alginate impression material to make masks of his friends’ faces and melted down old gold fillings to make jewelry, such as wedding rings. Since the accident he has not been able to work but has been able to create art. But even his art has changed and he believes it’s for the better. His colors are bright and his subject matter is both what is physically around him and the moment he is in. His work is happier and he is more prolific than ever before. He is 73 yrs. old now and wants to share his art and positive outlook on life as well as support and inspire others with disabilities. If chosen, I would give the $150 to him to continue his work.

By: Anna

Anna — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 15:01:11 +0000

You recently said you returned to your darker roots, primal inspiration, I think it is a wonderful decision, these darker images also are the ones among your pictures which inspire me, love the recent one with the tested out spine, the series from Creative Life Fine Art course, the one with two “sisters” in white on the escalator, these really resonate with me. I totally understand the decision to start learning anew, even the greatest artists may be threatened with stagnation at some point, although I believe an artist usually, as George Crewdson once said , has only one story to tell, you still need keep discovering the means to do so.
I always used to write then turned to photography after some sort of a crisis, as much I love it, it somehow feels nearly like esciapism compared to writing. Remember you saying once that self portrait makes you feel the full ownership of the picture , I feel the same and find self portrait most fulfilling, although love portraits in general, unlike you I’m drawn to faces. I started simply. Just learning craft on Portraits it now moving slowly more towards a concept, a story .
It has not been easy to reconcile creating with hated full time office job, chronic fatigue and pilling debts , life seems to be pushing against art and art against life, who knows which and to what extent will win in the end…

By: Geetha Slock

Geetha Slock — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 18:24:58 +0000

In reply to Addie. Hey Addie, so great you're doing self-portraits as a way to find joy in photography again. I had trouble finding the right kind of photography for me and felt like a failure for a long time until I started taking self-portraits, just for fun, just for me. You can use a prop, a chair, a pillow, another person and manually focus on that/him/her? Good luck and most of all enjoy! I'd love to see your work :)!

By: Geetha Slock

Geetha Slock — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 18:16:49 +0000

In reply to Sarah.

Hey Sarah, I think it’s great you both pursue your passion, even if it means you have to work with the time you have and make sacrifices. And I mean 6 children of which you’re homeschooling 3? That’s a LOT to take on. I hope you can find the time to plan more You-shoots since I think it’s important to give your creativity an outlet. Because you’ll be happy when you do. And when you’re happy, you’ll accomplish more. At least that’a my opinion. Keep up the great work and good luck with future shoots!

By: Noe

Noe — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 17:52:28 +0000

Brooke! I love to read you, is like a good way to give me an impulse for the week. I’m from Paraguay and here to live or pay bills working with art is really hard. I’m learning mostly online and improving in every way I can. Thank you for you weekly newsletter. Love!

By: Lorretta J Clarke

Lorretta J Clarke — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 17:38:01 +0000

I don’t need the money – although I can’t justify spending any money on photography – I would like a calibrator for my laptop, but considering people that are struggling to live, I can wait. I have to say something about your going back to your roots and a lesson I have learned and hopefully resonates with others. I used to be a painter and had no hindrance to ideas when I was younger. After a long break bringing up my daughter, I thought I could just switch this creativity back on. I learned that I didnt have the patience with the paints, so thought photography would be ideal for me. However, I learned that my struggle was with the creative process. I have shot many landscapes, many weddings etc and got caught up in the process rather than the creativity and realized that this was because I had lost the avenue of creativity. Realizing this and armed with an abundance of technique I turned to creativity, but soon learned that one’s unique “creativity” or “storytelling” (that feeling of complete assurance that you are tuned into what you are here to do) isn’t something you can just switch on at will. I have come to the realization that the creative process is blocked by resistance, trying too hard. There seems to be a frequency that you have to tap into to have that ecstasy that comes with the creative process. How to get there, stick a toe in everywhere and don’t commit yourself until you have electric shock feeling. Classes are good, but the key may well be going back to your roots with ease, doing other things that make you happy because creativity. happiness and joy are the same frequency. and eventually the ideas will come.

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 14:12:18 +0000

Hi Brooke!

You probably don’t remember me, but I took your workshop in NYC like 5 years ago. It was awesome and totally stirred a life long love of photography!

It feels a little weird asking for the money in this giveaway (as I’m sure there are always so many more people who need it!) But right now that type of money would certainly be helpful. Sadly, back in November (two days before thanksgiving) my apartment burned down. By the grace of god the things that matter to me most – my partner, neighbors, our cats, and photo equipment all survived…but it’s been a rough few months: we had to move in with family far away, have none of our own furniture, and have been struggling living week to week.

$150.00 isn’t a life changing amount of money, of course, but just thinking off the top of my head: for us it would either a) cover a month of groceries. or b) let us take a weekend air bnb trip upstate to get away for a weekend and take our minds off how hard these past few months have been. Either of those things would make me and my partner super happy. 🙂

Whomever you give it to though, I know it will be someone who deserves it very much and I am already so happy for them!

Have a great day. xoxo

-Laura

By: John Clyde

John Clyde — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 12:45:52 +0000

Hi. I’m john from the Philippines. I have started to take interest in photography since I was 15 or 16. Back then, my parents were not in good terms then eventually decided to separate. I’ve been left with the responsibility to look after my siblings since I was the eldest. I was depressed that time and was thinking about negative things but I would say that photography saved me. I took photos and it ‘opened my eyes’. I felt like I am seeing the world for the first time. Whenever I feel sad, I would just walk and notice details about things that I’ve never noticed before. There’s always this urge to take a picture of something. I don’t know but I am hooked. It greatly helped me in going through my life and I learned to appreciate the things I have and people that I interact with. 🙂 I took my photos with my phone and I think it will be better if I have a camera. ^^

By: Jemina

Jemina — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 12:43:31 +0000

Hi Brooke,
I’ve admired your work since I was about 15 or so. It’s been great to see you grow, and I often find my own work in film to express similar topics and emotions you portray in your work. I’m sorry about your laptop, but I’m glad Microsoft came to the rescue! Keep being you and doing the great and unique work you do!

As for the $150, I would do it so I could see my fiancé again…We’ve been separated by distance for nearly 5 years now and were supposed to be married 5 months ago, but there was a problem with my visa application to the US. Since I am not allowed to enter the USA while my new application is processed and he can only fly to Europe this summer to see me once, I would spend the money to meet him in Vienna where he will be doing research. It’s a very simple wish, to be next to the person you love the most and are separated the most from, but it is also a privilege most people do not appreciate. To me it means everything to be able to physically be in my fiancé’s presence, to be able to hold him, instead of crying because I cannot remember what it feels like to be held.
On another note, whether I’d get $150 or not, I hope you keep creating the work you do. It speaks to me on a completely different level, processing hidden feelings or thoughts, rediscovering things about myself, and I often find myself inspired by your work when I try to make films.

By: Carolyn D'Alessandro

Carolyn D'Alessandro — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 11:52:58 +0000

I find this so interesting that so many people are not needing help and so kind and willing to pass it on. In reading this I feel ashamed of the fact that I do need help. I had a Nikon D300 for as long as I can remember. They fit in my hand so well. About three months ago it died and I died with it. It is my passion and I have been doing photography for over 30 years. My shutter just gave up. It would cost to repair more then the camera is worth. I don’t have what I need to just run out and purchase a new camera so I have been saving and still need more funds to make it a reality. I would love to purchase a D800 but that is really pushing my dreams so I settled on a little more realistic D7200. I am close, but not close enough.
I wish I had met you when I started photography I would be amazing by now. I love your work, your outlook on life and your inspiration. Thank you, Brooke, for all you do.