Marginal Maiden: Marginal Way
Marginal Way held their annual Marginal Maidens event celebrating the Women of the Park's community. I always look forward to coming to this skatepark, and it was great seeing familiar faces.
Recently, I’ve been in a major slump where I’ve struggled to find anything redeeming about my photos. I never want my photography to get to the point where my stress to perform detracts from the actual experiences I’m having, and I felt myself falling in this direction. Photographing Marginal Way has reeled me back in and reminded me why I love taking pictures. After almost every photo, I am sharing a laugh or smile with someone. The photos end up feeling like a result of the experience, which I’ve always felt produces the best work.
The reason I continue to take photos has never been about the work I produce, but rather the personal growth I’ve seen as a result of it. This motivation is never more apparent than when I’m photographing at Marginal Way. I have had a longtime personal struggle with feeling deserving of people’s time and attention. When I’m at this park, it's obvious to me that my presence is appreciated. Being received so positively and enthusiastically has given me a confidence I’ve never had in my life. Funny enough, I’ve started having the opposite problem now where each photo has so much personal significance that it's hard to critique them objectively. Ultimately, I’m ok with this because I’d much rather like my photos than hate them.
Thank you for taking the time to look at my photos and read this post.
