By Steve Burns
This has nothing to do with wedding photography, and then again it has everything to do about it.
Art is the skill that is acquired by experience, study and observation. It is the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects or works. Art implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power. It is a power that needs to be nurtured deeply on a personal level. (Taken loosely from Merriam-Webster)
Commerce, amongst other definitions, is the exchange or buying and selling of goods or commodities. In short it is doing business. Some aspects of doing commerce enliven, while some requirements are numbing.
The value of doing personal creative work, “art”, can never be stressed enough for any creative soul. Personal artwork is the food of the creative soul. You find it discussed through out “The Artist’s Way”, by Julia Cameron.
It is a vital experience, or activity for the creative soul to partake in. With out it one’s creative soul would die. Ian Summers’ uses the motto of “Grow or Die!” for his Heartstorming workshops. Truer words have never been spoken.
Through out my personal photographic life, I’ve always carried a camera with me be it to record my experiences, document what I’ve seen, or create what is in my soul. There have been times in my life when I’ve allowed the needs of commerce to get in the way of pursuing personal work. Too much of that and I begin to feel as if a part of my soul has been taken away from me in very short order.
This past December I was heavily involved in commercial work. On December 21’st, I sat somewhat brain numbed at the computer doing just that. It was snowing out side, and as dusk approached the light, and snowfall was particularly beautiful. I heard my soul calling out to me… “Get up, get away from what you are doing right now, and FEED ME!”
After putting on some warm clothes, and gathering some camera gear, I walked out my front door into the storm, to be greeted by the sight of a young marine walking down the street in the storm. A quick few snaps and he was along side of me. I stopped him, asking him if he would allow me to do a few quick portraits of him in exchange for a few prints?
Down the street there is a GAP store that was acting like a big soft box bathing the sidewalk in its light. I asked him to go down there with me, which he did. The rest is now history.
My creative soul was fed.
There is also another thing in life that is important to me, that being giving back to the world. I know that this young marine is willing to give something very dear for me, and I’m willing to give something to him and his family. They will be getting a nice large print.
Thank you Sir! Steve Burns
