Sunday, January 5, 2014

Week 1: Let there be Light!


*Bring a camera to class! Any kind will do (preferably digital), even your cell phone camera. 

Genesis 1:1-5 (New Revised Standard Version)

In the beginning when God created[a] the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God[b] swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

So we begin at the beginning! Let there be light- we will explore the metaphysical meaning of light in the creative process. And once there is light, there is space and time- and these three: Light, Space, Time comprise the elements necessary for photography. Using photography, we will explore the first step in the creative process as you embark on this journey of developing your personal creative process and style. You are the Light of the world, and "God saw that the light was good."

You might choose to share some of your thoughts as you prepare for our first class together. What thoughts do you have about your own creative process? Use this space to introduce yourself. Thank you for your willingness to unleash your creative power!

4 comments:

  1. I'm very excited about this class. I used to think I wasn't creative at all but as I grow and develop spiritually I am discovering a side to myself I never let myself explore before! Really looking forward to unleashing some creative power.

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  2. I decided to photograph a disposable cup in which my friend Wendy had brought hot chocolate into class. I love to take photos, but as I expressed in class, I was worried about my exposure speed and not being able to use my flash. As I had feared, most of the photos had come out grainy because I wasn't able to tweak my settings. Here they are if you care to see them. I did play around with them a bit, changing colors and using effects before I posted them.

    One thing that I learned from this experiment is that fear and worry should not be a part of my creative process; otherwise, I am defeated before I begin.

    I also learned that the first disposable, paper cups were used in China in the 2nd century B.C. but were not popularly known until 1907 when the "Dixie Cup" came into common use in the U.S. in order to prevent the spread of disease which was widespread because, at that time, children were using shared cups in schools.

    The disposable cup has changed our world by speeding it up. Before its invention, one had to sit down somewhere: at home, in a cafe or restaurant. There they might meet someone new, talk to their child or talk with a friend who they see everyday. Now we sip hot liquids from little holes in the top of our portable cups as we drive and talk on our hands free speaker phone to our best friend whom we never see because we both work two jobs and are in school, part time, to get a degree so that we can get a better job so we don't have to work two jobs anymore.

    You would have difficulty finding a paper cup in the cafés in Paris. Coffee is somewhat of a sacred thing to this day in Europe. There, you would meet someone you've never met and find out they live three blocks from you in Kansas City. Or you might meet a waiter who speaks English but pretends not to when you ask him for directions in order to get a giggle out of his friend. Vive la porcelain cup!

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  3. Oh, one other thing...I thought it an odd coincidence that I said my creativity was in a state of chaos and that very word was the focus of your talk, which by the way, was inspiring and thought provoking.

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  4. Thank you, Tim! It is wonderful when our thoughts find companionship in one another. Wonderful to be on this journey with you. :)

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