I enjoy the writings of the poet, David Whyte. I wanted to add words to this photograph I made ... found, here in Rarotonga.
An extract from his poem, Courage, seemed perfect.
People tell me I'm brave, that I have courage but I have this idea that it's just as brave to choose to stay, sometimes.
One has left a version of oneself at the place of departure and it waits for us at the point of return - but she is not me when I get there.
Kirsty Gunn. My Katherine Mansfield Project.
I went out wandering with Mari Lena, a new friend, an Italian staying here too. And we found these beautiful flowers growing on the side of the road. It's so lush here in Rarotonga.
The notion of home is coming at me from all over, in my reading ... in my everyday life too, as I head home after 6 years away, after 8 years away before that.
I'm about to buy an e-book. This extract came from it ...
It's an idea that has always preoccupied me - that notion of creative process as a making, a willed brick-by-brick, word-by-word building of a place on the page that might let a story inhabit it - to create a home of words, where I, the writer, may also live.
Kirsty Gunn, from My Katherine Mansfield Project.
One of the most beautiful things about a portrait shoot at home is becoming known and trusted by those you are photographing.
And you have the luxury of time, for shots like this.
My brand new, recently-fell-from-a-tree-nearby, Kindle stand.
Taken at the start of my third week in Rarotonga, after a few days of rain, thunder, lightning and heat. I went to the water's edge to photograph the sunset and my hair was caught by the wind. Feeling like Medusa, I took a couple of shots. This is the tamer one. A tan has been acquired while going about my daily life, and it continues to deepen. I'm okay with that :-)
I am loving the photography. So far I've really only had time to play around 'home'. I was out, watching another sunset and noticed the trees in the wind. I loved this but perhaps it's too strange for anyone else to like.
We have a new lunchtime friend. This is the second day, in a row, he's popped up from a gap in the middle of the outside table, to remind us to share that fresh paw paw, banana, mango and pineapple smoothie of ours.
I'm frustrated by my lens options ... this was taken with my 70-200mm. Not ideal but you get the idea. He trusts us and stays, quietly licking our offerings until he is full.
I love the Gecko here - the Moko. They 'chatter' in the softest way, and they eat insects and spiders. As I am constantly waging war with the ants, all Moko are welcome.
Life goes on. I have learned the peculiar pleasure that is observing the 50km, maximum, speed limit. Life, in general, is so much slower here. And I'm loving the small truck that I drive. I would drive a million miles in it if I could.
The woman who said she would wear jeans here now wanders, dressed minimally. A local sarong as a skirt, a singlet, and my beloved Havaianas ... my elegant black 'wear everywhere' jandals.
This Rarotongan life ... it's a good life.
I will be in New Zealand for the month of March (landing in Auckland Feb 22), running photography workshops for women.
Photography workshops that take you on a hands-on journey through the basics of photography.
I will be popping up all over the country, so check in and ask if I will be teaching near you.
The workshops run for 4-6 hours per day, and I'll leave it to you to decide whether you just need one day, or more.
Also included in the fee is my pdf workbook. This takes you through everything I teach, and more, so don't worry that you need to retain everything on the day. You can go back over lessons in your own time, and I will be available, via social media, afterwards.
These workshops are also about encouraging you to understand how YOU see and capture the world. I believe each person has their own unique way of seeing, a way that needs to be understood and respected.
I am happy to answer any questions you might have about my life lived abroad, these last 15 years, in cities as diverse as Istanbul, Antwerp, Berlin, London, and the city I love best in the world ... Genoa, Italy. I'm happy to share ideas on how you might do the same.
Contact me using the contact form on my website, via the link below.
If you don't hear from me, I didn't get your message. Don't hesitate to try again:-)
You can read more about my workshops here, and I'll be adding to the information here in the days ahead.
