I have been talking(and writing) alot lately about the creative process and what it means to pursue making a piece. I've been explaining to students that the making is the 'art' and all that goes into it, including the failed pieces are all a part of the creative process. Very important parts of it. Even the successes are more or less by-products of the art process. I was thinking about this today as I walked around a church in Cambridge Springs today looking for a good angle to photograph the building. In the parking lot were these long arrows and I saw a picture using my own feet. I thought that much of the creative process is just seeing--probably hearing and feeling too, but seeing is a pretty big thing. Especially in photography where most of the process is the ability to see a picture and navigate your way to making it. Photograph by Richard Sayer
I also took this picture today at the third soccer game in three days I covered. There was a collision in the middle of the field and the two players locked arms and sort of wrestled a little before the whistle blew to break them up. As they separated a punch was thrown. Apparently the punch wasn't visible to either referee because after the player pushed back a red card was pulled and the player that pushed back, not the one who threw the punch was ejected from the game. It can't be easy being a ref, I admit, but its also hard being a kid in the heat of battle to get thrown out of a game for retaliating for being slugged in the jaw. It is just a game afterall and I guess thats the best thing to remember when you're playing. No need to get your tempers so out of hand you lose control and get tossed out. Meadville Tribune photograph by Richard Sayer