Kind Hearts and Coronets

Today started out beautifully. One of the most fantastic days I have had in years, in fact. I woke up, put my clothes on, made a cup of tea, harvested some of the family garden which produced beautiful ruby-red tomatoes, yellow squash, and loads of green beans (while wearing my new favorite sunglasses). Then I decided it would be a good time to (re)start a book. I played a my Hobart Crabtree CD and sat on the front porch reading Annie Dillard and Eric Greitens, still wearing my new sunglasses and sipping on a water bottle. Later in the day, I was chatting with some close friends on facebook (and you're thinking, why the hell do I care?) and one of my most cherished friends made me feel the best I have felt in many years as well. He told me why I was cool. Why I was important, essentially. I told him why I thought he was cool and important. And it felt good. Life is now step higher than it used to be. I feel like life should always feel this way. And I will make it always feel this way.

In photography, we lose ourselves. We worry: "that's not good enough". "That doesn't look like anyone else's art". So? It's your own. It is unique. It is alive in that way. It will make tears well up in your eyes and fire ignite in your soul. You do it because you want to. You tell people your story because you want to. And I am sorry I am not being informative about how to take this picture or that picture, but too many photographers worry about too many rules in my opinion. They say "your lighting is off", or "you're not using the rule of thirds!". And why should we? Give us a few really good reasons why. People who don't worry about unimportant rules find more in life. They do something. They build up the rest of us. They find beauty in everything that is imperfect, as is most of the world. They are the ones that run away from home to write in a journal and live in a car only until one day when they write on a typewriter and live in a mansion because they followed through with their passions and desires. I am not saying to run away, I am just saying be open-minded and try something new and maybe take a chance if you're ready.

I wish I could find love, and I don't look for it. It never seems to come, other than through friends. And that's okay. But life should have the other kind of love too... at some point in time. My heart is always in my throat when I meet someone I love. But it never happens. Why? I suppose the world is forcing me to follow through with my worldly passions such as photography, service work, languages, and travel. Love will come sooner or later. This blog entry is going to be longer than usual. :)   This song is how my life feels, even if you don't like it, just listen to the words. Joni Mitchell is my all-time favorite musician. I believe that music inspires photography as well, so listen to words if you don't mind: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaEyWhwXC7c 
Here is an older shot by me: Love Birds: All rights reserved.

Just ask people if you can take their picture. This girl was kind enough to let me get this incredible shot of her jovial face. The best photos are often by accident. Don't look too hard. Or think to hard. Just do it. Talk to people and don't worry what they think. I have spent too much time worrying and regretting things. It's time to change.

Signing off, 

Camille Elaine Craig

"Today, I wished without mercy in the bloodless nations of the mind,

That a city had gone down with you.

Not as in a war fought..."

-Tess Gallagher, Amplitude, All Day the Light is Clear

One of my favorite poets and one of my favorite poems.

I love you all! Thank you for reading. Arrivederci! 

P.S. To support my friend, here is the name of his awesome band: Great Horned Owl. Look it up! Buy a t-shirt! Haha. Seriously. :)