MICHELLE BLAKEN PHOTOGRAPHY

This project was born out of my quest to create beautiful images that touch the soul in a meaningful way. My husband and I love to travel out and about for weeks at a time in our motorhome and have been embarking on UK and Southern Ireland based trips together for the last few years now. As a photographer I like to either work alone or in the company of another photographer because, as with many arts, the creative process becomes very personal. At times, I find that trying to tune in to and nurture my creative flow whilst I am immersed in a shared experience with someone else often leaves me stuttering and faltering to let go and get lost in the moment of creativity.  This is mainly because I am always very conscious of imposing on and rail-roading other people’s experiences if that is not the main reason for being there.  Indeed, as my husband often says ‘we went so that Michelle could take photographs’ – actually, no we didn’t.  We went to look and be and experience, together; the photographs are a bonus and a by-product of this kind of trip.  This may just be an outlook that is particular to me, but I do know that rightly or wrongly, it does affect the way I work.  Next up: Part 2