Frustrated
Tonight I find myself frustrated for my bride. Despite her weakness lately with Lupus, Olivia worked hard for and participated in a bi-monthly photography competition for her photo club, but the results were not at all what we expected.
One leader in the group describes these meetings on his webpage as "Bimonthly competitions ... held in order to help sharpen the club members photography skills." However, it aparently isn't true. What it really seems to be is a competition to see who can travel the furthest and take a photo of something created by someone else (be it a landscape or, in this case, a door). Creativity is shunned. Artistry is minimal. Those without the financial resources to travel or a passion for haystacks, wind generators, and sunsets are practically ignored. I attended one of these competitions recently and noticed a particular lack among the mostly older/semi-retired members to learn anything about being artistic or creative in their photography. They were more concerned with defining the box than trying to think outside of it. Therefore, my criticism is both first and second hand, and is not limited to tonight's disappointment and feelings of rejection.
Tonight, Olivia submitted 5 wonderful pictures, each done with the artistry and creativity that I feel marks so much of her work. They were also done with a good deal of time and physical effort. Yet, her work was dismissed by those with lesser imaginations as if she had simply walked out of the front of our house and taken a Polaroid of the front porch! Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to travel to Uganda or New Mexico just to take pictures like some of the members do, so her photos require more art and less simply capturing an image of something someone else has made beautiful. Isn't that more the point of competitive photography? Isn't the idea to make something simple or ordinary into something amazing more than it is to take credit for someone else's creation? To find the perspective or idea that captures the imagination and awakens the imagination? Aristotle said, "Art completes what nature cannot bring to finish."
"The Bible clarifies the difference between righteous and sinful anger, and the contrast between these two angers is important to understand. The Bible distinguishes righteous anger as anger on behalf of others. Righteous anger is anger that imitates God’s anger, which is always controlled and with purpose. Righteous anger is not accompanied by hatred, malice, or resentment; it is not selfish, but expresses appropriate hatred of sin and injustice or stems out of genuine care and concern. The purpose of righteous anger is to correct or curtail destructive behavior, never to break relationships. God’s anger is directed at injustice or willful disobedience. Likewise, righteous anger is always expressed on behalf of another who is oppressed, abused, or betrayed." (from SharperIron.org)
With this in mind, I'm trying to remain positive and not become bitter toward this group of people. I hope that writing out my thoughts will be a positive act, and not merely a venting of frustration. The positive result I want is this:
Follow Olivia's example! When you see the world, don't just fall in line with the majority. Search for beauty in the everyday. Find purpose and meaning in the common. Don't just focus on the obvious, but look deeper. Find the creativity within you that is part of being made in the image on the God described in my previous post, the God who creates and gives purpose to all things. Olivia worked hard, not just to win a competition, but to display the image of God in her creativity so other's would see the world differently. Tonight, her work was rejected, but I am more proud of her than ever. My prayer for Olivia is that she will not let this moment change her, but that she will "Trust in the Lord with all of her heart."
I love you, my sweet, talented, wonderful, artistic, friend.
Here is one of the pieces Olivia should have won with: "Access to Imagination" (The theme was "Doors")
One leader in the group describes these meetings on his webpage as "Bimonthly competitions ... held in order to help sharpen the club members photography skills." However, it aparently isn't true. What it really seems to be is a competition to see who can travel the furthest and take a photo of something created by someone else (be it a landscape or, in this case, a door). Creativity is shunned. Artistry is minimal. Those without the financial resources to travel or a passion for haystacks, wind generators, and sunsets are practically ignored. I attended one of these competitions recently and noticed a particular lack among the mostly older/semi-retired members to learn anything about being artistic or creative in their photography. They were more concerned with defining the box than trying to think outside of it. Therefore, my criticism is both first and second hand, and is not limited to tonight's disappointment and feelings of rejection.
Tonight, Olivia submitted 5 wonderful pictures, each done with the artistry and creativity that I feel marks so much of her work. They were also done with a good deal of time and physical effort. Yet, her work was dismissed by those with lesser imaginations as if she had simply walked out of the front of our house and taken a Polaroid of the front porch! Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to travel to Uganda or New Mexico just to take pictures like some of the members do, so her photos require more art and less simply capturing an image of something someone else has made beautiful. Isn't that more the point of competitive photography? Isn't the idea to make something simple or ordinary into something amazing more than it is to take credit for someone else's creation? To find the perspective or idea that captures the imagination and awakens the imagination? Aristotle said, "Art completes what nature cannot bring to finish."
"The Bible clarifies the difference between righteous and sinful anger, and the contrast between these two angers is important to understand. The Bible distinguishes righteous anger as anger on behalf of others. Righteous anger is anger that imitates God’s anger, which is always controlled and with purpose. Righteous anger is not accompanied by hatred, malice, or resentment; it is not selfish, but expresses appropriate hatred of sin and injustice or stems out of genuine care and concern. The purpose of righteous anger is to correct or curtail destructive behavior, never to break relationships. God’s anger is directed at injustice or willful disobedience. Likewise, righteous anger is always expressed on behalf of another who is oppressed, abused, or betrayed." (from SharperIron.org)
With this in mind, I'm trying to remain positive and not become bitter toward this group of people. I hope that writing out my thoughts will be a positive act, and not merely a venting of frustration. The positive result I want is this:
Follow Olivia's example! When you see the world, don't just fall in line with the majority. Search for beauty in the everyday. Find purpose and meaning in the common. Don't just focus on the obvious, but look deeper. Find the creativity within you that is part of being made in the image on the God described in my previous post, the God who creates and gives purpose to all things. Olivia worked hard, not just to win a competition, but to display the image of God in her creativity so other's would see the world differently. Tonight, her work was rejected, but I am more proud of her than ever. My prayer for Olivia is that she will not let this moment change her, but that she will "Trust in the Lord with all of her heart."
I love you, my sweet, talented, wonderful, artistic, friend.
Here is one of the pieces Olivia should have won with: "Access to Imagination" (The theme was "Doors")
© 2008 Inspired by Grace
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