getting out there...

"You can't stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes"     ~ Winnie the Pooh.

I have been thinking a lot about how scary it can be to put yourself out there. About how much easier it is to stay in your corner of the forest. In a place that is you. I am often quite content to be in my own little world, the problem with this is it can be lonely! And often lacking in challenges to help me move forward and learn more. Not that I don't learn a lot from being curled up in bed with a good book! But the world seems to be on a completely different wavelength to me sometimes, its confusing and very tiring. So I plod along in my own little world... keeping myself to myself and dreaming about what could be. The trouble is that it will only be dreams if I don't take the risk and put myself out there. 

This blog is part of my process of getting out there... of creeping out of my corner of the forest. Its great because I get to stay in my own little world and get out there at the same time... brilliant! A great starting point. But there are more challenges around each corner, I don't think the forest wants me to stay there anymore!!

I went to visit a gallery today. One of the ladies who run this lovely space www.beyondtheimage.co.uk asked me if I would like to go have a look and think about displaying some (or one!) of my photos. The place is lovely and it is set within a gorgeous estate with lots of woodland walks, a gift shop and coffee shop. The gallery was displaying some amazing pictures taken with a giant pin hole camera... so very inspiring. But can I possibly face the challenge of displaying one of my own pictures on one of those walls? Put myself out there? I really don't know.

Part of me says go for it... challenge yourself and grasp a new experience. The other part of me says why exhibit? What is it all about, what is your reasoning. I take pictures for me, as part of my exploration of the world around me, do I need them to be seen? And what if people don't get it, don't see what I see... does it matter if not? Its a big internal battle!! I guess I feel like if I display work... framed properly... I feel like I am saying it has worth and may offer something to others. I am not sure I can do that. But isn't it just another door to be pushed, another path to follow and see where it leads. I can't hide up in my tree house for ever can I? Maybe I will print up a giant self portrait and demand they slap it pride of place.... I think not!!

So as my little thought processes ramble on I get to the point where I think OK one step at a time! I have been thinking about this blog for a long time, working it all through slowly, so why not do the same with this. Perhaps I shall choose some of my favourite shots to print (they don't often make it that far!). Then perhaps I can think about having one or two framed, and perhaps after that see if I am at a point to hand one in. My conclusion... I don't have to have everything figured out right now do I! bit by bit, inch by inch and let's see where I end up!