Favorite Works of 2015

Favorite Works of 2015

I am a big believer in making time to analyze newly created works. At the end of each year I put together a personal list of top 10 images that I created so that I can do my research about my own process. After making my selections, I try to find similarities between them that might indicate a direction I could go in or a way to categorize the images. I look for similar lighting, locations, themes, characters, elements, etc.

This year I’m seeing a few recurring elements. One is fog and darkness. I love creating a neutral environment where the subject can stand out from the background, and creating a dark background or a foggy background seems to be something I am very drawn to. All of the images I liked from this year had obscured faces, so I know to continue down that path of really stripping the personal identity away from the characters I’m creating. And the final thing that seems to be consistent is that most of my characters are doing something. I like for them to interact with what I am photographing in some way, or to at least be posed in such a way that furthers the story and makes the physics of the world more believable.

Choosing images is never an easy thing. I found it simple to narrow my selections down to 12, but deleting two of them was really hard. I made my choices based on gut reactions to the works. Some I chose because of the whole process, and others solely based on what it ended up looking like. But either way, I can confidently say these are my favorites that I’ve created this year. And I had a lot of images I really, truly didn’t care for when all was said and done. I created over 80 images this year (and many more than ended up in the depths of my computer’s folders). I learned from the images I didn’t like as much.

And you know the connection there? They weren’t meaningful enough. They didn’t have enough story. They were created in haste. They were not loved enough while they were baking and the bread went flat.

If you’ve baked some not-so-tasty loaves of bread this year, don’t dwell on it. Sometimes it’s good to keep the mice in the back of your mind fed with bread crumbs. The art that you created that didn’t work out is food for thought. It isn’t something you sell, but it does inform your new works. You know what you did wrong. You can learn from it. And you can move on.

I would love to see your favorite piece of art that you created this year!

And if you aren’t an artist in the traditional sense, share something that you saw this year that really moved you! I can’t wait to be inspired by YOU!

9 thoughts on “Favorite Works of 2015

  1. Hello Brooke! Fantastic works! I love it! I liked your last paragraph and I totally agree with you. This year of 2015 was admirable. And I do not speak only in the art that I created, but also the friendships I made through this blog. I am delighted with this year. Soon I will speak on my blog about this year. As for my favorite work of 2015 is the, “we walk together”, which was and is dedicated to a mutual friend. By the way! This work was the one what had the best critic of my exhibition. I loved creating this work, for what I learned and what I felt while doing it, but also for being for whom it was. Below, you have the link of this work. Have a great weekend, Brooke. xoxo

    https://www.facebook.com/paulocarvalhophotography/photos/a.351378011692853.1073741829.351367031693951/436147759882544/?type=3&theater

  2. Hi, Brooke!

    Great analysis! I plan to do the same next week. I was surprised you didn’t include this picture of yours – https://www.flickr.com/photos/brookeshaden/16394811089/in/dateposted/ I think it is super powerful and is my favorite from your 2015 pictures.

    I would like to share my picture that thought me a lot and gave me a pleasant sense of meaning as I ended it up – ‘the monster’ https://www.flickr.com/photos/mariam_pic/19170627505/in/photostream/lightbox/

  3. You top ten are wonderful!

    I haven’t really had any super photos this year, I am still doing a lot of practice work lately. 🙂
    But I finished this carving a few weeks ago, I love the way a nice long flowing dress looks in a photo or a carving. This was inspired by your work, thank you! 🙂

    https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GhyZO24kO1w/VnYglOy500I/AAAAAAAAB3M/NeUQVHMWfwE/s512-Ic42/12-5-15%252520022.jpg

    https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DaUOjg03XeI/VnYgqk93rNI/AAAAAAAAB3o/HZDoW3XUEzk/s512-Ic42/12-5-15%252520028.jpg

  4. Hello, Brooke!

    What a great tradition to sum up the result of the year. I will do the same the next week.

    I was surprised you didn’t include this picture – https://www.flickr.com/photos/brookeshaden/16394811089/in/photostream/lightbox/
    ‘The rose garden’ is my absolute favorite from your 2015’s.

    I would like to share my photo as well. This photo has thought me a lot and I also wrote an essay about a very provocative theme to this image (death). So here it is – http://marianenenko.com/2015/06/26/recollections-on-death/

  5. I really like the feather on the back one the best I think, they are all so moving! Thank you for always sharing so much of yourself Brooke.
    So, i didn’t work for most of the year as I had a new little one, but my favorite since I’ve been back to having a bit more time for myself is this here: http://www.inspirationjourney.org/2015/12/06/millers-grove-olney-il-frozen-fog-december-2015/

    The girl is actually a stock I got permission to use and post but it fit in so awesome with this scene of this frozen fog on the lake one early morning my mother and i went out there, just good memories and good times/emotions connected to it

  6. I love the work that you do and how all of your images draw me in and inspire me. I’m amazed at the themes and stories you create!

    Here is my favorite image from this year. It was actually inspired by your image, “the sound of flying souls, part 1”.

    I have titled it “The Architect” because it reminds me of the universal survival skills shared throughout creation.

    The redwing blackbird’s nest is an architectural feat that is suspended from multiple reeds to ensure its species’ survival. The child grows while scattering ideas and skills into the lives they touch, again ensuring the species’ survival. Life’s mysteries abound. 🙂

    TheArchitect-5096.jpg http://lorinicoliphotography.zenfolio.com/p560193247/h698380

  7. “And you know the connection there? They weren’t meaningful enough. They didn’t have enough story. They were created in haste. They were not loved enough while they were baking and the bread went flat.

    If you’ve baked some not-so-tasty loaves of bread this year, don’t dwell on it. Sometimes it’s good to keep the mice in the back of your mind fed with bread crumbs. The art that you created that didn’t work out is food for thought. It isn’t something you sell, but it does inform your new works. You know what you did wrong. You can learn from it. And you can move on.”

    YES! Yes. YES! You have put my thoughts into words!!! Thank you!!

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