Believe: Making It Happen

Hi Everyone,

I hope we are all safe and well. Here in Southern England, we are in this midst of some fairly wild storms. So far I have some damage but not too much. Fingers crossed it stays that way. Never having been a winter person, this year the miserable weather seems to have been with us for ever. Spring can't come soon enough!

This month's post will not be a particularly long one but, for me, it is a significant milestone in my journey. After a little prompting, I have decided to self-publish a book charting my photographic journey over the last 2 years. The decision to embark on this venture was not taken lightly and when I finally decided that the time was right and that I had something to say the reality of the task started to reveal itself.

Where to start? How to start? What to include? What to say? What not to say? Why? Why not? So many questions...

Ever practical, I started with the 'how'. Never having tackled anything like this before I had no idea how to actually get going. What did a publisher actually need? What software should I use? After asking around it seemed that InDesign was the industry standard graphic design program for this sort of thing so that gave me a place to start.

Learning new software is never easy but where would we be without YouTube!  After a good few hours (days!) working alongside InDesign tutorials I finally felt I had enough of the basics to start thinking about content. (As an aside, I loved this part far more than I thought I would - it's a great bit of software.)

This March marks the two-year point since I left my crazy career behind me and started to live a different life. For all of us, these two years haven't gone as planned. There have been good times mixed in with dark times, opportunities taken and missed, tangents jumped on for good or bad, wormholes which swallowed me up and spat me out. Charting my 24-month roller coaster through a photographic lens felt like the right thing to do.

Going through the work I have produced over this period and pairing it with life (and world) events has been fascinating and enlightening. I was aware that my thoughts and feelings were manifesting themselves in my imagery but I hadn't realised how transparent I had been. My photography has been cathartic and gave me purpose when nothing made sense. Where would I be now without it!

Working in projects has given me lines in the sand that I can reference. Windows From Walls was my first proper abstract panel so it made sense to start there. I work through Forest Of Iron Lines, The Splintered, The Shadow Glows, Unlock My Mind, Echo Chamber, Healing Reservoir, Effervescence and finally, Believe. I have had a lovely time writing about each of the projects as well as how my life was changing over this period. It's been cathartic and enlightening in equal measure.

When I finally had something I thought could work, the reality of what I was doing hit me hard. I had pulled together the design for my first book using tools new to me, images that meant so much both now and at the time of their making, and words... so many new words bringing everything together, revealing so much and making sense of it all.

What next?

I can't tell you how hard it has been for me to take the next step, to go ahead and have it printed. The title of my book is 'Believe' and I did have to dig deep within myself and just go for it. Leap and the net will find you. I guess we will see. Making it this far without backing down is so exhilarating! I am waiting for printing dates but I am hoping for some time late March / early April. If nothing else that's more than a few Christmas and Birthday presents sorted...

As ever, please let me know what you think. I love to hear from you all and will always reply.

Please stay safe in this crazy world.

L  xx

17 Comments

  • Linda, fascinating, you are a marvel. Had not realised it was only 2 years since U escaped. I am just starting my 26th year of retirement!

    Hope to do a simple, “Down Edmunds’ Street” with Blurb this year. I have a lovely book of my Nudes which Jean managed to produce for my 70th (2018). Jean must have made nearly 30 books. From handmade with John Blakemore via Blurb, Cewe and Aperture.

    Did I say, “put us down” for a copy when published? I am hooked on photo books, recent ones include Nick Brandt, Rachael Talibart, Derek Fletcher and Stefan Forster.

    Will try to catch your Talk plugged by Ann Healey.

    Love, Glyn xxx & Jean xxx

    Reply
    • Hi Glyn,
      How lovely of you to take the time to comment. And yes, only 2 years but it does feel hard to remember what my working life was like – I have wiped the memory banks fairly successfully. I have absolutely loved doing the book – it’s such a lovely thing to do. Blimey though, 30 is a lot – good for her. And thank you for your support. It’s a big thing to take on now as I need to add a shop etc to the website but it gives me something new to learn which is no bad thing.
      Take care and thanks again
      L xx

      Reply
  • What a wonderful collection of images to bring together in a book expressing the journey you have been on over the last two years. I look forward to its availability in the not too distant future. Good luck with this milestone venture fellow “Blue Noter”

    Reply
    • Hi Malcolm,
      How lovely to hear from you and thank you so much for commenting. I decided that even if I didn’t have the nerve to go ahead and get it published that it was a lovely exercise to bring it all together and write about the journey. I have absolutely loved the process and it feels like the right time to tackle something like this. I don’t know what the next phase will be but it’s all about the journey.
      Good to stay in touch and thank you again
      Take care
      Linda

      Reply
    • Hi Howard,
      I think it’s all a bit mad… I have absolutely loved the process though and it’s really made me look at my work very differently. Thank you so much for commenting… I am really very excited.
      Take care
      L xx

      Reply
  • Linda I am in awe of your energy, commitment and discipline!!! One thing I’m sure of is you won’t have any blank pages! I look forward to seeing you and hearing more.
    Zara x

    Reply
    • Hi Zara,
      It’s definitely been a journey and I have loved every minute of it, including learning new software which is something I didn’t think I would ever say. Looking forward to catching up…
      Take care
      L xx

      Reply
  • I absolutely love all of your work and your commitment. Can’t wait to see the book. Please let me know how to purchase one.

    Best Wishes,

    Simone

    Reply
    • Hi Simone,
      How lovely of you to take the time to comment, such kind words too. And yes, my next challenge is to add a shop to my website so I will let everyone know once that is up and running.
      Thank you again and take care
      L xx

      Reply
  • I absolutely love all of your work and dedication to your art. Can’t wait to see the book. Please let me know how to purchase one.

    Best Wishes,

    Simone

    Reply
  • I love your vision and look forward to the book. I have done something similar over the past two years, only my project was the green spaces in Lewisham, the London borough in which I live. I too grappled with InDesign, and yes, it is tricky, and I recognise the difficulties of moving from a ‘good idea’ to the finished product! Congratulations!

    Reply
    • Hi Candy,
      It’s such a satisfying process. I imagine your book was equally as rewarding to create – a fascinating topic too. And yes, I am aware that I only scratched the surface with InDesign but it really was something I enjoyed more than I care to admit. I need to find another use for it now…
      Thanks again for taking the time to comment.
      Take care
      L xx

      Reply
  • Dear Linda,
    Please put me down for a copy!
    You know how I love and admire your work, the book will be especially meaningful and inspirational.
    Well done!

    Reply
    • Thank you so much Karen. I am so excited, I just hope it looks ok when it all arrives… always a worry.

      Take care and much love
      L xx

      Reply
  • Hi Linda
    Such inspiring work. Having been lucky enough to attend one of your webinars I’m really looking forward to the publication of your book. Please let me know when it’s available so I can order a copy.
    Many thanks.
    Lyn

    Reply
    • Hi Lyn,
      Thank you so much for your very kind words. I am so excited to be taking this very big step and I really can’t thank you enough for your support. I am currently working out how to add a shopping cart to my website so hopefully, the process will be simple and straightforward (fingers crossed!)

      Take care and thank you again
      L xx

      Reply

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