Blessed Beyond Measure | The Greater Courage for When Things Go Right

Beyond Measure by Jim Crotty 8, originally uploaded by jimcrotty.com.

The challenges, disappointments and sorrows in life are often the experiences where faith and humility are formed. Those are the times when we are painfully reminded of not only our need to surrender control to a higher power but also of our need for love of each other.

I've been through a few during my short 48+ years here.

But there's also the need for a courage in faith when things go right. On the surface that seems counterintuitive. Let me explain. Throughout my life I've formed a bad habit of self-sabotage. Self-doubt and guilt. Worry and fear. The "uh-oh, someone's going to come along and rip the carpet out from underneath me" talk, or "I don't deserve this and what I'm doing is making someone else feel bad."

Some have picked-up on that bad habit of mine and at times have made it worse. Loved ones and true friends have helped me get through it. The messages we're bombarded with via news media as well as passive aggressive curiosities expressed through social media haven't exactly helped.

It's just as much of a collapse inward as is fear and sadness is during difficult circumstances. I would even argue that this sort of guilt and talk of unworthiness is in a way an expression of narcissistic tendencies.

Faith is also formed in our times of blessings and that can often require the greater courage. To stand-up and say a loud "thank you" and "yes I am worthy of this gift" and then to persevere through the guilt, ignore the negative talk (from inside and outside) and work hard in prayer and humility to build the blessing outward. To see it for it truly is - an opportunity to make a positive impact and to express through words and images the daily message of hope.

The new home and land I've been guided toward in Ohio is exactly such an opportunity, not only through photography but now built on a foundation of humble faith and gratitude. This is precisely why this coming home is a coming home to a place of peace.

This time I believe I finally got it right by being right with what matters the most. This time - through thankfulness and yes, dare I say "worthiness," I've found and been guided to a place called home.

I intend to stay here for quite a long time - on this land and in my heart.

Thank you.

The Power of Three

One of the tools I use for gaining hits, "likes" and reach on social media is creating and posting composites of my photographs, usually grouped by similar theme, location or subject. I've discovered that when done properly, and with a thoughtful sentence or two, "likes" and visibility can increase dramatically. Plus I just enjoy the process of sharing and inspiring.

As with composing a single landscape or nature image I choose to emphasize groupings of three. Three is a powerful number. Look around your everyday environment and you will be surprised just how often it appears, particularly when it comes to architectural design, landscaping and visual art.

Aesthetics aside, for me there is both a spiritual and a restorative essence in three. I do my best to convey that personal meaning in both the images I capture and in the postings I share. I don't come out and say the reason I do it. I just simply do it and I prefer to leave that little bit of mystery for the viewer to discover and speculate as to my reason why.

Art should never be reduced to something that becomes so homogenous that it becomes impossible to discern the work of one photographer from another. The work should always hold true to serving as the honest visual representation of what moves the artist to create in the first place. That takes courage, particularly in the age of instant sharing and the implied social pressure of social media approval.

The power of three resonates deeply with me and I don't try to hide that fact in what I compose with my camera and how I share it online. Composition, arrangement and presentation. Look closely and you will see hints at something so much more than an attractive landscape. There are stories here, stories of heart, soul and spirit. 

Hocking Hills Workshops Announced for August and October

I'm happy to announce weekend workshop at The Inn at Cedar Falls in Hocking Hills, Ohio for October 25-27, 2013.

The October program will be more for beginning level photographers who are new to DSLR photography. Field instruction will be emphasized on composing and exposing for the fall landscape in Hocking Hills State Park as well as basic digital edit and file management workflow.

These workshops are a blast to present. I keep my students on the move and busy but everyone has a lot of fun.

For more information on pricing and how to register, please see http://jimcrotty.zenfolio.com/photography-workshops

Home to the Hills | Spring Renewed

I wanted to share some of the incredible experiences I had upon returning to the Hocking Hills of Ohio, from April 17 - 23. I love returning to this region because it is where my love for nature photography first got started, many years ago. It's also where I teach best because I am so familiar with the landscape and subject matter. For me Hocking has become more of an old, best friend versus just another location to visit and photograph. The added plus last week was the opportunity to once again serve on the judging panel for Shoot the Hills and have the opportunity to speak and present my work to the public in attendance at the weekend event. 

This was the 10th year for Shoot the Hills. It's growing in popularity every year, drawing photographers from all over Ohio and the surrounding states. Funds raised go to support educational and preservation efforts within Hocking Hills State Park through Friends of Hocking Hills. Friends and fellow Photographers Barb and Jerry Jividen play a big role in both Friends of Hocking Hills and Shoot the Hills along with a dedicated group of hardworking volunteers, many of whom are also long time friends. The biggest project spearheaded by Friends of Hocking Hills was in working with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in rerouting the section of State Highway 664 to the far side of the parking area for Old Man's Cave. This was a HUGE improvement and highly beneficial, not only in terms of pedestrian safety but in eliminating the road noise issue down in the gorge and the run-off/deterioration from the almost constant traffic. 

This year's entries during Shoot the Hills were just as impressive as those of years past. The winning images have been posted on the Friends of Hocking Hills Facebook page for Shoot the Hills. It was also a blast to be included in the list of guest speakers on Sunday morning. I've uploaded the PDF version of my slide show presentation - "Photography as Personal Journey" - for online viewing. The images I showed and talked about were mostly captured during the last two years with landscape imagery of coastal South Carolina and Hilton Head Island well represented. It was interesting to note the number of email messages I received following my presentation from Ohioans planning summer trips to Hilton Head and wanting tips on where to photograph nature and landscape subjects on and near the Island. I partially joke that I should be on some sort of commission/recognition program with the Hilton Head Chamber of Commerce based on how often I answer such emails and how my images of Hilton Head are encouraging visitors to look beyond golf and restaurants as a reason to visit and vacation. I am happy to play some small roll in perhaps preserving the natural beauty of the area and to help others see that is well worth protecting. 

The other very rewarding experience of my recent trip back to Hocking Hills was in presenting another fun-filled workshop on nature photography, based at my home in Hocking, The Inn at Cedar Falls. I hosted a great group of energetic and talented photographers, many of whom were new to Hocking Hills. We had the opportunity to explore perfect spring conditions with wildflowers and waterfalls. This time around it was just a one-day workshop but still a ton of material and time teaching in the field resulted in more than a full day of nature photography. I am happy to announce that I have already reserved the meeting space at The Inn for two weekend workshops, one in August and the other in October. The dates are August 16 - 18 and October 25 - 27, at The Inn in Hocking Hills. I'm also working on arranging for a one-day workshop in Dayton - most likely Cox Arboretum - prior to the August program in Hocking Hills. Please email me if you would like to be added to my early reservation list. The cost of the weekend programs is $325 per person which includes guided instruction in the field and on the trails, classroom instruction on my favorite techniques for digital editing workflow, most meals and a complete workshop handbook. I anticipate both weekend programs in Hocking Hills to fill-up fast. Usually about half of my attendees are repeat workshop participants (and great friends too!). 

Following my recent April workshop and Shoot the Hills last week I made time for a full day on my own out on the trails, capturing and composing the landscape that I've come to know so well. I do this because I make a point not to shoot on my own when teaching workshops. When I teach, I teach. When I shoot on my own, I shoot on my own. Just to have one day alone on the trails does amazing things in revitalizing my spirit and energizing my creative soul. It's what I love to do best and I am always, always thankful for the opportunity. Below are just a few of the images I captured during my spring visit back "home" in Hocking Hills, Ohio. Enjoy!