Typically my best ideas and concepts come to me in the moments before I fall asleep. This has always been frustrating to me for the obvious reasons. I wake up the next day asking myself
What was that thing I was going to try and make today?
I tried keeping a journal next to my bed and jaunting down the ideas to save them for the morning. But often by the time the sun rolls around I have lost any motivation I had to act on a concept.
Ive challenged myself to go a little crazy;
Act on my ideas the moment they pass into my thoughts. No matter the hour of the day or what plans I had (I don't typically have any large plans...I'm more of the work on my computer and paint pictures in solitude type of person.)
BUT this series of images is me acting on that challenge. Forcing myself out of bed at four in the morning to take some long exposure self-portraitss.
Stress art;
It has been a rough year for me and on this particular night, I was feeling compressed by a number of unanswerable questions I have about my life. Trusting that the universe will reward my hard work and efforts to build things out of my passions is something I still struggle with. But choose to believe.
Trust the process they say, good things will come.
I hope you enjoy.Taking long exposure portraits can be a difficult task. Especially if you happen to be a squirrely individual. Which I can be. The sleepiness didn't help the matter as well. I'd get my settings right, set the self timer to eight seconds, click and run around my tripod as quickly as possble to freeze myself in pose. It's definatey something I have plenty of room for improvement in.
Unavoidable Attachment - Long exposure self portrait series, TYA
I hear ya on the great ideas coming at the wrong time. I have been pushing myself late hours with a lot of the drawing/art contest stuff here on steemit. During the day it's "work" and nothing comes to me, then just before bedtime the ideas roll in and I know if I don't start on at least getting the rough ideas down I will lose them by morning. Many times I just power through and suffer the no sleep hangover the next day. :-)
Also, If you have a single bulb lamp you can put next to you or behind you , then shorten the shutter time, it will give a cool dramatic effect. You did good.
Yeah, it can become a dangerous cycle. Never getting enough sleep and keeping your mind active late into the night. I do it all the time though.
Someone once told me that the subconscious owns creativity, thus, in order for us to develop new ideas, we need to be able to shut off the ego and working parts of our mind. For a lot of us that doesn't happen until we lay down to sleep.
I'm not sure if I agree with that or not. But it's a good thought.
I'm paraphrasing here, but maybe this quote will offer you some insight
While we are asleep or pleasantly occupied, our subconscious works best.
Personal experience tells us this is easier said than done (especially for artists). At any rate, I admire your confidence! Take care.
Thank you for the quote. Do you know who the original author for it is?
And thank you for the admiration. It is always easier to let your confidence shine through the media. But I'm a firm advocate for self-love and allowing uniqueness to flourish, so it is something I work on.
I am 99% sure I read it in this 1962 book by Ben Sweetland:
The world could benefit from more self-love advocates such as yourself to encourage the rest of the population. Right on!
Oh awesome! I love a good read, I will have to check it out! Thank you for sharing.
I'd I agree 100%.
Fantastic portraits!