Swept Away by Erin Babnik

Swept Away by Erin Babnik

I recently returned from teaching three workshops in a row with co-leader Ted Gore in the Eastern Sierra. Including the time we spent scouting before workshops and a little stint of personal shooting near the end, I was on the road for a total of nearly five weeks and spent 25 of those nights sleeping in a tent. We often had the option to sleep in hotels instead of camping, but Ted and I camped at every opportunity. It is less expensive to camp, of course, but I also find that immersing myself in nature has the added benefit of keeping me in the right frame of mind for being creative when the time comes. For the same reason, I am extremely enthusiastic about shooting in intense conditions such as strong winds. Whenever I can experience the raw power of nature exerting its influence, I invariably feel very ‘present’ in the moment and enjoy a special mental clarity. It is as though the intensity of the experience leaves no room in my psyche for distracting thoughts—anything that might be weighing on my mind gets swept away, and I’m left with sensory stimulation and visceral reactions to guide me. It is an awesome, exhilarating feeling to interact with the kinds of gusts that can launch plumes of sand many feet into the air or can push snow flurries as far as the eye can see. I love leaning into the wind without falling over or attempting to walk as the wind tries to alter each step of my course. It is a playful experience, one that taps into that space in the mind where creativity begins. As I wrote in a recent article for Photo Cascadia, one of the most important lessons that I’ve ever learned is the necessity of remembering to have fun while making photographs because creativity is ultimately a playful process. When nature is literally wrapping itself around me, I don’t have to remember to have fun; it simply is really, really fun! Join us for some fun in 2017! Ted Gore and I have now scheduled our 2017 workshops in the Eastern Sierra and also in the Dolomites of northern Italy. Details are available on my website: CLICK HERE FOR INFO ————
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