Original and True | Coen Brother Films as Inspiration

"Like something out of a Coen Brothers movie." There's a fine line between inspiration and imitation and I suppose that's why I find my best sources of inspiration in other mediums than still photography. I admire the work of the masters such as Adams and Weston, but I never want to imitate it. And that can be a challenge sometimes. But to be inspired by prose and poetry, music, film, design, sculpture . . . that's where energy in the art of expression is renewed, again and again.

For example, the films of Joel and Ethan Coen. They don't bend to popular whims nor do they film to please this particular group or that particular audience. They hold true to their own creative vision and all else falls into place. They also stay true to those components or pieces that best serve their vision, whether it be the musical genius of T. Bone Burnett or the understated performances of John Goodman.

The Coen's nail it every time because they have the courage to be who they are and not mold themselves to the expectations of a fickle audience, and the studios come to them. Sure their best work often gets snubbed but there's no mistaking one of their films from those of a sea of other filmmakers.

The universal connection found in the art of creative expression that is unique to each soul is life and light set to a harmonious interludes of wonder and joy. To be true, even it means long stretches of hanging out there by your lonesome, that's the place to be. Life was never meant to be a popularity contest. The posturing and posing and pandering leaves everyone wanting. I've seen a lot of that in my life. There have been many times I've been guilty of falling into that trap as well. The two years I was living and working on Hilton Head Island immediately come to mind due to the country club nature of resort town life and the rampant narcissism that results from it. Calculating and manipulating. Always misleading. Ultimately it was just plain sad. It served as a painful reminder of the importance of being true to self, always humble and thankful to a higher power and love without conditions or false intentions.

Life is meant to be lived in the courage of your own convictions and expressed through the work of your own hands. Talent fully utilized may on the surface be seen as selfish but when serving the higher purpose of inspiring others (and always in gratefulness) it is actually quite the opposite, and beautiful to behold.