They ring in the air
With the passing breeze
Stories are told
With consumate ease
Casting the mind back
To days before
Memories fast
Come to the fore
They gently persuade
And settle your mood
Bringing you back
To the present
Leaving your mind
Effervescent!
Written by David Johnson
© CommunicatingCreatively/David Johnson 2015
Whenever we have an interest, be it in Art, Sport, Work or in another area of Life, there are people that will inspire you.
Over time I will be highlighting the men, women and groups that have (or still do) inspire me.
I begin with one of my favourite photographers, Margaret Bourke-White: (1904 – 1971)
Margaret Bourke-White was a pioneer in many ways and her specialties included Photojournalism, Social Documentation, Architectural, Industrial and War photography, working in predominantly Black & White. She was one of LIFE Magazine’s most prolific photographers.
Margaret Bourke-White had a fascinating life full of challenges and adventures. I remain captivated by her imagery and her boldness in overcoming both work-related and personal challenges throughout her prolific photo-taking period from 1920’s through the 1950’s. She was indeed a pioneer.
In photographing in a Steel plant she used heavy equipment (that today would seem antiquated) and experimented with lenses, films, Magnesium flares and her imagination to obtain dramatic Industrial images.
Margaret Bourke-White also worked with Writer, Erskine Caldwell on the ‘You Have Seen Their Faces’ Sharecropper farmers that affected 10,000,000 Southern Family lives in the United States in 1936. The project was approached in a compassionate manner. The images are powerful and depict the farmers’ harsh way of life…
She was a pioneer of the ‘photo essay’ and photographed many of the leaders of her time, including Gandhi, Pope Pius XII, Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill.
I look at her images and can see a great sense of personal involvement from her in them. Immersing herself into her subjects, she was able to bring out graphic emotion and the beauty of light, shape and form. I have two books i.e. her autobiography, “Portrait of Myself” and the book pictured above.
A true inspiration!
Written by David Johnson
20 August 2015
Recommended reading:
We’ve probably all heard that quote, ‘When the student is ready, the teacher will appear…’
Over the years (being the Library addict I am) I sought out different books on the subject of Writing, as I kept thinking that I would like to write someday. Time always seemed the enemy, though perhaps it was not high enough on my priority-list… Photography was still my main interest at that time and, in terms of interests, not much else got a look-in.
I purchased the book ‘The Tao Of Writing’ back when I was working in the City of Sydney in 2008. I had a Coffee Table book 
called ‘The Tao Of Photography’ which I liked and I thought it would be interesting to read how The Tao applied to Writing.
Commencing the book I found that it ‘did not resonate with me.’ The words were just words on a page that could not seem to hold my interest. It remained in my bookshelves. A couple of years later I tried again. Same result, yet I held onto the book through moving house/book culls.
In 2013 I ventured into my first two Blogs, ‘Light Inspired’ (Photography) & ‘Observations & Other Writings’ (mainly Poetry with a few articles) and over the past two years I have enjoyed writing for both of them.
In May this year whilst scanning my bookshelves, there it was…‘The Tao Of Writing.’
It stared at me and I stared at it. I picked it out and started to read and it began to speak to me in ways that I could not imagine.
It has inspired me to:
Was this the same book? Indeed it was and I enjoyed each and every page that I read, and the exercises at the end of each Chapter.
Why the difference? I guess I was not ‘ready’ to see and begin to absorb what Ralph L. Wahlstrom had to teach me.
I class myself as a ‘beginner’ in the writing world and have much to learn!
I’m really looking forward to attempting the 70 exercises in the back of the book, and I know I will be revisiting the book time and time again.
Something told me years ago ‘to hang onto that book.’ I’m very glad I did!
Written by David Johnson
Sitting on the porch
Strumming that guitar
Writing about their history
They’ve come so far
From early beginnings
Throughout their youth
Within their songs
They reach for the truth
Hardship, working life
Make up the verses
All the while
In an emotional furnace
Journey’s been hard
Will to win stubborn
Going through their lives
Always been governed
Seeking redemption
Wanting to be free
Listen to their story
To the future, they foresee…
Written by David Johnson
© CommunicatingCreatively/David Johnson 2015
The title of this post is from one of my favourite Photographers.
There are quite literally millions of things to photograph and no photographer could rightly claim to have photographed everything there is, however we do not need to.
I often hear the comment, ‘there is nothing to photograph…” An amazing statement really… As I sit in my office I look out the window (in suburbia currently), I see many subjects and many ideas come to mind of what/how I could photograph them.
The problem isn’t the lack of subject matter. The problem is that we wander around blissfully unaware of our surroundings and we also get caught up in the world, rushing here rushing there.
STOP! Just for one moment wherever you are reading this! Look around.
Do you see a tree? Yes. Look at it as if it is not a tree, but an idea generator, branches as conduit bringing forth ideas (leaves) and photograph it accordingly…
Do you see a fence? Yes. Look at it as if it is not a fence, but a palette. A palette that has light dancing over it creating form and texture, lines and shapes.
Are you a glamour/nude photographer? View the body, not as a body but as a sculpture; view it as part of the landscape and photograph it accordingly…
Are you a flower photographer? View the flower, not as a flower but as a person with a personality…
It is not lack of subject matter, it’s a lack of ideas.
The continued challenge as a photographer is that we need to reinvent and apply new ideas to the subject matter or as Ernst Haas eloquently puts it…
“I am not interested in shooting new things – I am interested to see things new.” Ernst Haas
Today, what will you see? How will you communicate it?
Written by David Johnson
3 August 2015
As an Artist, (whether you are a painter, photographer, musician, speaker, sculptor or any kind of visual artist) you must continue to feed your mind, ask questions of the world and ponder. Your Art is your attempt to answer those questions and in doing so you can add your flavour to society.
So how do you feed your mind?
* Reading books and other literature
* Attending Exhibitions (not just the Art you like either)
* Watching movies, documentaries and other media
* Attending lectures and presentations
* Getting together with your peers or Artists outside your realm
* Go outside your comfort zone
* Attending workshops
* Spending time contemplating about your style, about your world
Experiencing that which is outside your realm of interest is important as well. This has the effect of stretching your world-view and opens your mind to other possibilities. Your feelings about this may reveal to you a new way of seeing ‘the old’ which then will translate into your Art.
Why do all this?
You are a product of your environment. You have been subjected to different influences (chosen or otherwise). You have beliefs and your own thoughts.
Like any endeavour, you will want to grow and evolve, communicate through expressions of your Art.
The world wants to see what and how you feel about things. The world wants to see your flavour, a flavour that can help grow the world into news ways of appreciation and seeing.
The world is waiting…just waiting for you to inspire us!
Written by David Johnson
31 July 2015
Sitting under a tree
Engrossed in a book
The world passes by
No need to look
Within your world
You are at peace
Happy as can be
It’s your release
Alone with a book
Is such sweet pleasure
As you uncover all
Its Earthly treasure
Sometimes fiction
Sometimes reference
You need to choose
It’s your very own preference
With each page
Your mind is fed
Your life enhanced
And your Heart is led
Turning each page
Leads you to uncover
The very thing
That makes you a book-lover!
Written by David Johnson
© CommunicatingCreatively/David Johnson 2015
Urban sketches, etchings, watercolours, pen and ink.
A Daily Visual Journal
Practical advice for a happier, fuller, and more meaningful life
INSPIRATIONAL KWOTES, STORIES, and IMAGES
Malaysian author and storyteller
Welcome to my mind. Watch the first step, it's a doozy.
A learner for life….wants to live fully….destination matter so does the journey…every movement to feel alive…and die with peace in eyes…being me…
A look at life, achieving good physical and mental health and happiness
embrace the magic
Just another WordPress.com site
A place where words come alive
Learn more about an independent artist who creates a unique style of music all his own.
Discovering the joy of art
Writing, Poetry, book reviews, interviews, music reviews, contests, art
Mostly photographs with some words by this arty scientist...
Artist by choice, photographer by default, poet and author by accident.
"Rêve onirique & Bulle d'évasion"
Life is all about being curious, asking questions, and discovering your passion. And it can be fun!
By JMACTHEDREAM
Adevărata graniţă a libertăţii este gândirea. - Juliana Mallart
Listen to your inner self..it has all the answers..
For the love of pens, paper, office supplies and a beautiful place to work
Pens, inks, notebooks and other accessories
Adventures in Watercolor Painting and Sketching, Watercolour Magazine, with Charlie O'Shields
Poetry From the Heart!
News, Tips & Website Tutorials
Become the oil and wine in today's society.
I want to be rich. Rich in love, rich in health, rich in laughter, rich in adventure and rich in knowledge. You?
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
I dream so I write ..
Musings on poetry, language, perception, numbers, food, and anything else that slips through the cracks.
Jane Lurie Photography
An Independent Nondiscriminatory Platform With No Religious, Political, Financial, or Social Affiliations - FOUNDED 2014
Random Ravings from an Old Bloke Down Under
By Periwinkleblur
Author, Blogger, Social Media Jedi
Where observation and imagination meet nature in poetry.
Original poetry, commentary, and fiction. All copyrights reserved.
Communicating Creatively 