fYup you caught me! I love my toys and camera lenses are my weakness. When I first bought this Canon Macro lens it was not as a working lens, but rather a fun lens to play around with. A sweet discount at B+H Photo gave me the last push and I gave in to my desire. Little did I know that the lure of it would have such a grip on me. The lens I am talking about is the Canon Macro Photo MP-E 65. This is the lens the other lenses are not allowed to know about. It even put my Canon TS lens in the shadow. This splurge of mine became my zen lens. It was the first lens I pulled out in the morning to get my creativity warmed up. My dandelion collection was born that year.  During my time in Italy working on my MFA degree,  I had done a series of macro photographs for my color photography class. In a historical city like Florence I found delicious spots of aged materials which reminded me contemporary abstract works. My professor loved the results and challenged me to do the same with food, my media of choice when it came to photography. My apartment was located right behind the duomo and in walking distance of 3 fresh food markets. Although I ate out a lot  (how can I not living in Italy),  I also cooked many meals for myself and friends. The inspiration came to me on one of those days while pealing garlic. The afternoon sun skimming the delicate skin of the garlic and caught my eyes.  I noticed how delicately translucent its skin was and that the fine lines running though the skin almost looked like butterfly wings. I pulled out my macro lens shot a few frames and presented them to my professor. He was delighted and I continued on a series of 20 high key white on white macro photographs of garlic. Little did I know that this would be the beginning not the end of my exploration with organic plant skins. This body of work was the foundation of my theses work.

Inspiration hit me when least expected and I learned to keep notes when they do. Either on my phone or on my computer. There are days I am challenged and inspirations are hart to come by. That is when I go back to my notes. Other times inspiration simmer and occupy my mind until they are ready to be realized. What inspires you? Do you have tools you would not want to live without?  

#abstractart  #kunstwerk #artwork #abstraktekunst #abstractphotography  #artoncanvas #Abstraktfotografien#interiordesign #artinspiration #homedecor #designhome #Kunst #Art #artist #Künstler #macrophotography #canonmacro #canonmacrolens #canon #artistsunday #artgifts #artprints