Moleskine Journals

I know that in yesterday's post I said that the type of journal you choose doesn't matter. And it doesn't. But I thought I'd share my favorite journal with you anyhow. I first stumbled across Moleskine at Artlite Office Supply on Piedmont Road in Atlanta. I was going through a phase, trying every different style notebook and journal on the market, and Artlite had the broadest selection. For me, this little black book turned out to be the perfect choice. It was only then that I discovered it had a history.

Moleskine notebooks, originally made in Tours, France, have been around for two centuries. And they have been the journal of choice for many artists, writers and travelers. In it's published history, Moleskine claims to be the journal of choice for artists Henri Matisse and Vincent van Gogh, poet Andre  Breton, novelist Ernest Hemingway and travel writer Bruce Chatwin. In 1989, they briefly ceased making Moleskine notebooks, but Modo & Modo, an Italian manufacturer, revived production.

Moleskine notebooks come in various sizes, hard cover and softcover. My preference is the Large Ruled Notebook, which is 5.25" x 8.25". It's the perfect size--not too big, not too small. It has 240 lined, acid-free pages that accept ink exceptionally well without significant bleedthrough. (I can even use my fine-point Sharpie pens to write in these notebooks!) They are extremely well built, with sturdy cover boards and thread-bound binding that won't fall apart in day to day use, even in you carry your journal with you everywhere like I do. When you open a Moleskine, it actually lies flat. There is a thin ribbon page marker to keep your place, and an elastic band to keep the journal closed. And finally, though I rarely use this feature, there is an almost hidden pocket in the back of the book, just in case you want to tuck in a clipping, business card or some other reminder.

Though I haven't tried them, Moeskine also has story board notebooks for designers, videographers and advertisers; music notebooks for, well, musicians; sketchbooks for artists; daily planners for the organized; watercolor journals for painters; and travel books for recording your latest journeys. Just don't expect to choose your favorite color. This company believes in classic black. And that suits me just fine.

Keeping a Creative Journal

I’m not much of a diarist, but I am a firm believer in creative journals. People who keep creative journals tend to be idea people, and idea people need a way to capture their thoughts—because they’re often random, interconnected and fleeting. In a journal, you can jot down ideas while they’re fresh, then go back and fine-tune them when you have more time to think through the details. If you’re stuck, a journal is an excellent place to brainstorm, record your frustrations and play around with new ideas. If you’re a list person, a journal is a great place to keep your lists—whether they are places you’d like to photograph, projects you’d like to tackle, other photographer’s work you’d like to study, or techniques you’d like to try. Speaking of techniques, a creative journal is the perfect location to record what you did, how it turned out, and what you might change next time.

If the mood strikes, sketch out your ideas. Paste or tape in article clippings, proof prints, samples or things that inspire you. That’s the nice thing about a creative journal: Anything goes. Just do what works. Write. Make lists. Draw things you see. No one is looking over your shoulder or proofreading your work with a red pencil.

Write about other photographers. What do you like about their work? What makes it unique? How have they approached the business of photography? What can you learn from them?

Take your journal to a museum. What do you see? What inspires you? What ideas did you have? Take it to a solo lunch or the coffee shop. Go sit on a park bench and write. Carry it on a trip to pass the time on a plane or to record your adventures and ideas.

Brainstorm. Pick a subject—maybe how many different ways you could photograph a tulip—and just start jotting down ideas. See how many different ways you can approach the subject. When you think you’re about done, keep on going and double the number of ideas on your list. It’s a terrific creative exercise.

Having trouble getting started? Just put your pen to the paper and write for 10 minutes. Whatever comes to mind. No matter how crazy or rambling or poorly written. Just go with the flow. Don’t lift the pen from the paper or stop moving until your time is up. It’s like loosening up your muscles before you exercise.

Journal style doesn’t matter. Select a journal that suits you and that you won’t be afraid to write in. (My beautiful, leather-bound journals sit on a shelf without a mark in them. But my little black Moleskine journals with thin-ruled lines are filled front and back, top to bottom.) It doesn’t matter if it’s hard cover or soft cover, whether you paid $2 or $20. Buy a favorite pen, whether it’s a cheap ballpoint or finely crafted fountain pen. It just needs to feel good in your hand and help compel you to write.

Now then, quit reading and start writing! Jot down whatever is on your mind today.

Ugallery.com for Emerging Artists

There's a new website to help art students launch their careers. Ugallery.com is an e-commerce site featuring the work of emerging artists from universities, colleges and high schools across the U.S. They specialize in the work of artists who are either pursuing an art degree or have recently graduated with a BFA or MFA.

To maintain quality, all submitted artwork is reviewed by a panel of business art professionals: Alex Farkas, co-founder of Ugallery.com; Deborah Mosch, painting professor at the Savannah College of Art and Design; Alfred Quiroz, painting professor at the University of Arizona; and Carol Wittner, owner of Sky Fire in Jerome, AZ.

In addition to helping emerging painters, photographers, sculptors, printmakers and other artists launch their careers, Ugallery.com offers reasonably priced artwork for collectors. Search by medium, genre, color, size, artist, school or price.

Joyce Tenneson Exhibit

I had the pleasure of participating in one of Joyce Tenneson's workshops this past year at the Santa Fe Photographic Workshops. I have long admired the spiritual nature of her work and believe her book Wise Women was brilliant in both concept and execution. That's not to say her other books aren't outstanding. This one just hits the mark on so many levels. And I consider it the perfect gift book for any woman. Of any age.

When discussing the book, Joyce noted, "I loved doing Wise Women. I am not afraid of growing older. As long as you are interesting, people will want to be around you." Good advice.

This spring, Bulfinch Press released a retrospective book of her work: Joyce Tenneson, A Life in Photography. And she reports that she has already been on an eight-city tour for book signings. In addition, Gallery 291 in San Francisco is currently hosting an exhibition of her work by the same title. An artist reception and book signing will be held July 30. For information, contact Gallery 291 at 291 Geary Street, San Francisco.

Here's a short slideshow featuring Joyce's work:

What's in the Bag?

Each year, it seems my camera bag gets a little heavier, despite the fact that I continue to refine my packing routine and carry only what I need. The problem, of course, is digital. That means extra batteries (my camera battery looks and feels like a brick), battery chargers (even bigger, but not quite so heavy), laptops, portable hard drives, DVDs, card readers, PDA/phone. You get the picture.

As for camera equipment, I do try to keep it as simple as possible. A heavy-duty, pro-body SLR camera and lighter-weight backup body in case of emergency. A 24-105mm zoom (my workhorse for landscape architecture, gardens and broad landscapes), a 70-300mm zoom for plant portraits, gardener portraits and more detailed landscape views, and a 100mm macro (ideal for plant details, abstacts and extreme close-up work). There is a WhiteBal card to assist with color correction, along with polarizing filters, split neutral-density filters, a blower for dust (my #1 enemy, especially in arid, windy and sandy places), flash cards and the extra digital accessories noted above.

My most important accessory is a tripod--a light-weight, compact, carbon-fiber tripod that fits in my suitcase when flying. It's essential for my garden and landscape work because I'm out there in low light, shooting at low ISO, and most often want front-to-back tack sharpness in terms of depth of field. Long exposures, except on windy days, are a given for me.

Odd things in my bag: a shower cap to protect my camera in case of a sudden rainstorm, small notebooks for jotting down plant names, addresses, or quotes during interviews, and an expired drivers license, phone card and 20 bucks (in case, heaven forbid, I lose my wallet again).

Other things I wouldn't be without on the road: my iPOD (the key to surviving long flights and airport delays), my journal and a good book.

This week, I'm traveling with my rolling bag. It's easier on the back when traipsing through airports and works out fine when I'm shooting pools or landscape architecture. When I'm out in a garden, hiking short distances or photographing natural landscapes, I much prefer a backpack or fanny pack--depending on how far I'm going and how much gear I really need. The less gear I have to carry, the better.