What I learned from the Rockies
Though I intend for my life to be one of movement and change, currently I am situated in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. Colorado has become a home to me in ways I never expected. It has challenged me and inspired me. I always thought moving to a beautiful place would improve my art but in truth? It was not for the faint of heart. Here, I needed to relearn how to be an artist. How do I make art that competes with the consequence of earthquakes? How do I make art that can sit beside pine trees who are generations older than I am?
I spent most of my life in the midwest telling myself that my creative work was limited by my environment of cornfields and flatlands. I think there’s some amount of truth there. Potentially you move to beautiful and exciting places and you get inspired by the people and landscapes around you. For example LA or NYC. But when I moved out to the edge of the Rockies, I felt it more intimidating than inspiring. God it was beautiful. I’d never seen such picturesque landscapes. I felt boundless. You could probably see all of Indiana if you really put a lot of effort into it. But Colorado? It felt like I’d never see it all in a lifetime. I stood at the base of mountains and cowered. I climbed summits and still I felt so small. And once I finally found the nerve to shoot against the scenic backdrop I found myself lazy. I didn’t have to do much to take a great photo. The mountains did most of that work for you. Whereas in Indiana I found myself using birthday candles as cigarettes and lining eyelids with flower petals. I was contorting my body crawling around on the floors of antique markets and climbing around on old trains. I’d shoot in the rain wind and fog. My models would be lying in the grass or the dirt or the water. I found that you really have to push yourself in beautiful places. Don’t stop at the shot anyone could get. The following recommendations are through a photographer’s eyes but that’s not to say they couldn’t be useful to other artists.
My recommendations?
Go for long walks in search of one photo. Challenge yourself to only take one.
Get creative with posing!
Use the natural elements (Though maybe take it easy with the fire) Don’t shy away from windy or rainy days. Adapt. What nature gives you is usually a gift.
Collaborate with other artists. It will teach you so much.
Use cinema to get inspired. If you live in the mountains watch how the pros capture them.
Read literature by Native and Indigenous authors.
If you haven’t photographed a dancer, do it. I’ve found they are the few that can compete with the magnanimity of nature. You’ll learn a lot from them.
Take breaks to just exist in nature. Not every moment needs to be a photo. Take a breath now and then and just look, listen and feel. How does the wind play with your hair? What are the leaves singing? Where is the winding rushing river trying to lead you? Everything about nature is an ancient story, one that began long before you or any of us. Honor it.
