I am so happy to introduce you to Michelle GD today. I can’t even remember now where I first “met” Michelle–be it on flickr, our blogs or some other social media hotspot. Regardless, I’ve been a fan of her work from the beginning. Her photography is gorgeous and real, and the words she writes flow beautifully off the page and always take me to another place. (be sure to check out her new e-course offering at the end of this post!) Michelle…take it away…
the camera has been in my hands off and on since i was a child, a love affair of peaks and valleys. in recent years, the camera has settled itself abidingly into my hands and heart. it has become a constant, a daily tool aiding me in my practice of life. i can’t tell you the exact moment when i realized photography was with me to stay. i can only tell you that it is, now.
photography is my meditation.
landscapes, architecture, newborn babes…i’ve shot quantities of these, and am glad for every single shot. but a shift occurred at some point…a shift which had me peeking through my lens in a different way. i am interested in composition and light and form, most definitely. and i want to capture the everyday beauty, which so many of us do. but as i hold my camera in my hands, there is – more and more – deep intention. i continue to take pictures when obvious beauty catches my eye. but as i determine to live life more fully and more consciously, i find myself looking through my lens with a gentle earnestness to capture the tiny moments of my life.
sometimes these tiny moments are filled with gratitude. sometimes they are filled with doubt or frustration. whatever the moment holds for me, it touches me. and i find myself reaching for my camera. it is my way of noting, of remembering, of meditating. words often follow, and this is an extension of my meditation. but, so frequently, it begins with the visual reminder of that blip in time. i felt it, tasted it, smelt it, saw it. knew it.
i’ve spent much of my life second-guessing myself and listening to what other people think i should do. as i get older and as i settle into rhythm with myself, i’m learning to trust myself. i’m learning what it is i can do, what it is i want to do.
photography is my red thread. it is the string which perhaps got a bit tangled along the way, but never disconnected. it has brought me back to myself…does so daily. it helps me navigate the facets of my life – wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, creative.
and so i circle back to the lens and the heart each and every day.
photography. red thread. me.
meditation.
* * * * *
Michelle GD believes in the beauty of tiny moments and in the healing power of images and words. She can be found at her blog (www.michellegd.com), on Instagram (@michelle_gd), VSCO grid ( http://michellegd.vsco.co ), and flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/michellegd), and on her collaborative blog (http://www.
I’m also happy to share with you that Michelle will be offering an online photography course called 28 Moments.
“Life is made up of points in time strung together. These points in time, these moments, shape and mold us as individuals. In this course, you will celebrate tiny moments. Using writing and photography as tools, you will gift yourself an opportunity to look closely at how you move through your days.”
More information on the course can be found in this video here and on this page here. It will run from September 16 – October 13 and registration is now open! Register by September 3 by clicking here.
Michelle, thanks again for being with us on Mortal Muses today!
~Christy | Urban Muser
Beautiful and touching as always.
Lovely images and beautiful words, Michelle. These lines in particular really resonated with me:
i’ve spent much of my life second-guessing myself and listening to what other people think i should do. as i get older and as i settle into rhythm with myself, i’m learning to trust myself. i’m learning what it is i can do, what it is i want to do.
Photography is my red thread too and you’ve expressed it beautifully.
Such beautiful imagery!
I adore Michelle. Her words and photos soothe my soul. Congrats my friend!
thank you, lynn. always…
becs, it’s so nice to know this resonated with you. it’s a beautiful red thread, isn’t it? so happy you have this too.
thank you so much, jordan!
oh, kelly, you are too good to me. thank you for your kind words.
I scrolled down slowly through your post, M, because I wanted to savour each word, each image. Your photos and words are like eating a brownie — delicious and soothing and leaving me wanting more. Nicely done, my friend. xo
I have devoured every word, every photo.
I am satisfied, as always to sit with you.
A beautiful article here Michelle.
xoxo
Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful words and photos with us on MM, Michelle. Your instagram stream is one of my daily sources of inspiration and I’m always so pleased to get to connect with you there. xo
barbara, the brownies and the savoring…thank you for always seeing me.
deb, thank you for sitting with me…you make me smile and you make my heart sing.
debra, it’s such a pleasure for me to be here, truly. thank you for your kind words. i’m so happy we’ve been able to re-connect via instagram and, today, here since our unravelling days together. xx
Dear sweet Michelle,
It’s a treasure and a pleasure to sit softly with your words and images. I know that what comes from you will always be real and true. Your genuine and grounded observations create the most beautiful heart space.
Thank you for being you.
Xoxo.
Oh Michelle, so happy to have you here!
I’m particularly struck by what you say about photography as a visual reminder of a moment in time – I find it absolutely fascinating that we can use photography to remember by sight how a moment felt like to the other senses.
Michelle, beautiful words. I love how your red thread has brought you back to yourself, to trusting your own vision, to seeing things the way YOU see them and not how others think you should. Thank you for musing with us today 🙂 xo
I have to say Im glad I found you thru IG initially. Love hearing about your story of why you love photography. Great to see you here also Michelle!
Beautiful, thank u
Beautiful.
And so lovely to read more about your thoughts on photography after only seeing snatches on IG.
Thank you.
jennifer, you are always such a kind and loving friend and supporter. and i thank you
jenny, thank you so much! photography is such a gift in so many ways…
holly, thank you for what you’ve written. it’s an absolute pleasure to be musing here in this community…
thank you, veronica! i’m happy to have found you and your beautiful work as well…
sam hill, thank you and thank *you*…
kirstin, thank you for your kind words. so nice to be here…
<3 me some michelle <3
Michelle, so wonderful to have you here. Thank you for sharing your artistry with us 🙂
Calm and delicious…. Drinking in the flow of words and savouring the images captured with love :)) ……….
Your last words and that last image brought me to tears. So glad to have you sharing out here!
Oh lovely Michelle….your tenderness always touches me deeply. I am so looking forward to your class.
xo
oh, alisha, you are lovely! thank you <3
christy, so, so happy to be here. thank you for everything!
emma, thank you for your words, thank you for feeling the love…
vanessa, your words touch me. thank you, thank you.
marmee, thank you for your kind words, always. i'm looking forward to having you in class!!!
Oh wow, so beautiful. I´m so inspired and hope I can take such photos some day. Wish so much I could win a place in your picture everyday class. (sadly money is barely this time) <3
nicki, thank you
and
if you find this note from me…please email me! (email on blog).
xo