A few days ago, as I was falling asleep an idea popped into my head. I can’t really call it a new idea, because it has come to me in bits and pieces of wishes and dreams over the year.
I was in that weird half-asleep phase of thought, so my thoughts were more visual than normal and dreams tried to crowd out thoughts, and what I visualized were a group of friends, co-artists, working side-by-side combining their talents–though admittedly varied–to create something with value.
Art, creativity, writing with substance that communicates messages of “you’re enough” and teaches valuable life wisdom. Our efforts would pour out love and hope into the world, showing others that they can make a difference too, no matter how little they believe they have to give.
What I am envisioning is a collaboration, most often focused on writing pieces, but who take times to create art to push the boundaries of what they believe they are capable–proving that together we are better than one on one. And together we can make a difference.
I am sorry to inform you that the art that I create with you appears to be subpar. These images are ignored, or if they are appreciated, individuals expect to receive them for free. Knowing that I put my heart, experience, and education and significant financial investments into the photo-taking process, my only conclusion can be that you are holding me back.
Now, don’t get me wrong. You are a perfectly good camera. I love you with my whole heart, but there is something about the union of you and me, that fails to create beautiful respectable art. I know I push your buttons, but that’s how our relationship works, and the only way we can create art. I’ve tried my hardest, creating blogs and Facebook pages to display our creations, but they fall upon an unappreciative audience.
For these reasons, I’m giving you an ultimatum. Either we figure this out together and create beautiful art that has impact, or I’m going to have to let you go. I am considering my prospects with Pen, as perhaps writing is the path I should take to creating art. This is your chance to prove me wrong. So, please….prove me wrong.
You have my word that I will be trying to make this work, the ball in in your court now. Remember, it might be good to give me a gift when you try to woo me back. I have given you at least 6 lenses over the years, and from you I’ve received no more than $100 total from various small gifts of print sales. I do not mean to sound rude, but I need to know that I am loved too.
Love,
Rebecca Turk
(the one who holds your hand and pushes your buttons)
Ps. I will be eagerly awaiting your response, and hopefully anticipating our next long walk on the beach at sunset. I do love you, dear Camera. I have included some our our images here to remind you of where we’ve been and what we’ve created together in the past.
Property of Rebecca Turk
Property of Rebecca Turk [prints available for sale upon request]
Life is full of textured layers of beauty, insight, inspiration, & demonstrations of love. Pretend it is “I spy” and see what you find. It may surprise you.
For there, in nature, hides art unseen.
Camouflaged in verdant greens.
Without knowledge you may lose your chance
One rushed step, one unfocused glance,
And the art will vanish.
Where, O caretakers, have the wild places gone,
the miles of green, the echo of birdsong?
Where, O stewards, are the laborers of love?
What exactly is it that we’ve done?
-Rebecca Turk
Property of Rebecca Turk
I cannot claim to be an outspoken activist. I am not. I have nothing to show as credentials and know but a small bit of the reality of destruction to our planet.
What I do know is, after a recent trip to Florida, I found it very hard to get completely natural shots because of litter and development. While I admit, I didn’t go into any deep forest hiking, I was at parks that were meant to be nature-filled and full of beauty. I understand the development of parks. They give the average person accessibility to nature–something I would not have had without them. What I do not understand, however, is disrespect for nature. Look at the pictures I share here. Can you spot what is wrong?
Property of Rebecca Turk
People who know more than me about issues of the environment, also warn of farm run off, diversion of natural water flow, deforestation in prime migratory paths, and ignorance of where our products come from and how they are produced, among other troubling things. I realize that I likely cannot learn about all these things, it will take different people with different passions to go after their passion. Changing the industries and mindsets bit by bit so that no one person has to know it all and challenge it all.
That doesn’t mean don’t be mindful of your impact in diverse applications, nor to ignore anything that isn’t “my passion”. You see, I had discounted many of these photos because of the trash that had snuck into the images. Some I took because of the contrast between natural and manmade.
what never connected for me, until now, is that most of the bodies of water had signs warning you not to drink the water. I had merely thought, “I wasn’t planning on it….” but now, as I go through the photos, I realize that these animals ARE drinking from it, eating from it, raising their families around it.
Property of Rebecca Turk
In fact, at one location I found a pile of bird droppings. In the droppings was a long brightly colored piece of plastic. It brought to mind that clip I saw once, of birds who had died and when you examine their stomach you find handfuls of human trash–mostly plastic.
Here are a few of those photos I mention. As best I can tell this is for water being drained off so water levels stay low enough for surrounding housing developments:
Property of Rebecca Turk
Property of Rebecca Turk
Property of Rebecca TurkProperty of Rebecca TurkProperty of Rebecca Turk
This park was my favorite. If I had discovered it earlier, I would have spent almost all day every day. There was a lot of bio diversity, and it was just beautiful!
![Property of Rebecca Turk [prints available for sale upon request]](https://i2.wp.com/hopeandhaworthia.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/img_9311.jpg?w=437&h=291&crop&ssl=1 "Property of Rebecca Turk")
![© Rebecca Turk [Photo prints available for sale upon request].](https://i1.wp.com/hopeandhaworthia.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/screen-shot-2015-10-21-at-9-57-24-pm.png?w=215&h=143&crop&ssl=1 "© Rebecca Turk")
