As a teacher of photography, I can sometimes be so focused on nurturing my students creativity that I often forget about stretching my own creative muscles. I have really been making an effort this last week or so by entering some photographic competitions and also spending a day at The Baldessin Press studio in St Andrews (thanks Silvi Glattauer!). I have a few ideas brewing in my mind for a series but feel like I need a little extra encouragement to get going. Luckily I have some amazing people around me that have given me a much needed but gentle prod in the right direction. The wonderful Deb Dorman has created a group meet-up for creatives so that we can support and encourage one another but also be accountable in moving forward.  She has also come up with some monthly challenges, of the creative kind, to help us get those muscles back into shape. I really need to just get shooting again, simple as that!

There are so many opportunities to enter photography competitions at the moment, which is great. I have just been re-editing an old image (below) for one of these comps where the image must provoke, arouse or challenge the viewer. It is a very confronting image that I hope will provoke some conversation around the issues of domestic abuse.

On a creative note…It is amazing how differently I have edited the image this time. Shows I have come a long way in the last few years.