mission: MUSE - "what inspires you?"
by guest muse darrah
I spent many years looking outside of myself for inspiration. The grass was always greener somewhere else. Looking back, I now realize that my wandering spirit came from a dissatisfaction with life as it was. I spent my twenties moving across the country, from apartment to apartment, from coast to coast, from job to job, all on a quest to find happiness. To find inspiration.
Everything changed the moment I picked up a camera.
Peering through the lens of my beloved camera, my wandering spirit went on an internal journey through the depths of my heart as I began a new adventure through the uncharted territory of my everyday life. Armed with my camera, I photographed the seemingly mundane and average things – my home, my cat, my meals, my mess – and discovered that these things were not average. In fact, they were special – because they were mine.
These days, I find inspiration in the most unexpected places. I no longer have to travel to distant places to find beauty. I now know that it is right before me at any given moment. All I have to do is open my eyes and my heart to the possibilities. And if I’m lucky, I’ll have my camera with me to capture it.
My passion for photographing everyday life has turned into a MISSION. I have discovered a little slice of heaven on earth – and I want to take you with me!
That is why I created the Slice of Life Project: Capturing the Everyday in Extraordinary Ways. In this six-week online workshop, you will dig beneath the surface of your everyday life with your trusty camera by your side and unearth the beauty that has been there all along.
The Slice of Life Project starts January 3. Early-bird registration is happening now. Click here to learn how you can receive the early-bird, reduced rate!
What do you find inspiring in your everyday life? Leave a comment here and let us all know what inspires you. Everyone who comments will be entered into a drawing for a free registration in the Slice of Life Project!
Thank you for inviting me to muse with you.
Darrah
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Darrah Parker is a Seattle-based portrait, family, and “slice of life” photographer. Armed with her camera, she is on a constant search for the joy in everyday life, beauty in the over-looked and under-appreciated, and the magic in simple moments. She lives with her musician husband in Seattle and can be found most days at a coffee shop or farmers market, usually with a camera in hand. She shares her photography on her website and thoughts on living a creative life on her blog. She sells fine art photography prints in her Etsy shop and is available for portrait sessions in the Seattle area and beyond.
This is such a great article on inspiration, it has really made me want to do the course, I love the idea of really finding inspiration in everyday things.
ReplyDeleteI love this post. I, just like you, found inspiration at home. Here it were the little ones who brought my attention back to the core, back to my heart, back to my soul.
ReplyDeleteThe ordinary, capturing it, and enjoying seeing it once it's passed my eye & through the camera.
ReplyDeleteLovely post and so much of it struck a chord with me. I am/was also a wandering soul but lately have felt much more grounded and attached to the every day. Off to check out what sounds like a wonderful e-course.
ReplyDeletesounds like a great course. i work from home so i often times find myself taking photos in the apartment--my dog, cat, food, a glass on the windowsill...thanks for sharing this today.
ReplyDeleteThe most ordinary moments in life inspire me. Lately - it's the last of the changing leaves.. the color..the light. Love your image. A perfectly ordinary moment rendered extraordinary!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Darrah. Thank you for musing with us and sharing your inspiration. :) Tam
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for inviting me to muse with you! It was my pleasure!
ReplyDeleteI love the message behind Darrah post!
ReplyDeletei agree with your philosophy! there is beauty in the everyday moment that is often overooked.
ReplyDeleteDuring this 365 project, I've been finding peace in the everyday. And that has made such a difference in my life.
ReplyDeleteI am happy to have discovered Darrah's blog today! I started a blog for the purpose of capturing and remembering this "slice of life"..I don't do it as often as I would like but even a little is better than none:)
ReplyDeleteLots of creative blogs and creative women are inspiring me. And the autumn colors!!!
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful post on inspiration!
ReplyDeleteWonderful inspiration, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI love your thoughts on everyday inspiration Darrah!
ReplyDeleteLately, I have been finding the little sparrows that visit the bird feeders in my back garden very inspirational. There is a pair that comes regularly...one little bird feeds the other. It floods my heart with emotion and inspiration daily.
I just discovered this upcoming class today - looks great! What inspires me lately has been my son. He is wild, full of temper, style and attitude and drives me crazy most of the time, but even when I don't love the things he does and says....my camera is just loving him!
ReplyDeleteI too have spent years looking outside of myself for inspiration...chasing after happiness... now I'm learning to find inspiration in the little things that are already surrounding me
ReplyDeleteGood luck with The SLice of Life Project :)
photography has really helped me find beauty right in my own back yard. your e-course sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeleteYour lovely thoughts resonate so strongly with me, Darrah. It was through traveling athat I learned to take a closer look at everything in my immediate vicinity. When I was traveling I realized that everything I was photographing and writing about was part of someone else's everyday life. I'm more writer than photographer, but both arts ask me to find magic in every moment I experience, wherever I happen to be.
ReplyDeleteNature, weather, and my friends and family inspire me in my everyday life. Such a cute photo!
ReplyDeleteOh Darrah, your words inspire me so mcuh! thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder to ...just....be. <3
ReplyDeleteLove this post and reminder, Darrah. Like you, I find inspiration at home, around me, within me.
ReplyDeletePicking up the camera has led me back to the creativity within. I went for a very long time living my life in a black hole, looking at the place where my next footstep would fall. 4 years ago I became a mama again after my older kids were out of the house and suddenly sunshine and giggles invaded that space and every weed became a flower and every picture I took (thanks to picasa and other such programs) had something beautiful in it or could be made from it.
ReplyDeletewould love to win
xoxo
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