artistry & being seen
a ritual for reclaiming your art
It’s been a looong time since I’ve picked up my camera ~ but recently, my camera has been tugging at my heart, nudging me to pick her up, dust her off, and take her out for a walk. When this nudge didn’t leave me, even a week later, I reflected and realized that a part of me was insecure about strolling around my neighborhood with my camera… I could hear my inner critic’s echos of who are you to walk outside, mid-day, on a weekday, just to take photos? You’re not even a ‘photographer’… what’s the point? What will you DO with the photos you end up taking?
It became very clear that once again, a deeply embedded fear of being seen, of taking up space, was indeed taking up too much space within my own psyche. I knew I had to squash those thoughts and insecurities by directly going against them — by picking up my camera, going for a goddamn walk, and taking photos of whatever sparked my spirit. I called this Venus day adventure my Photo Walk Ritual ~ and with the help of ChatGPT, I set out with a theme of capturing Soft Contrast, in whatever ways sparked my inspiration during a 30 minute walk.
Not only did I have such a wonderful time on this sacred walk, but I also noticed how much more present I was with my surroundings. I walked so slowly, pausing along the way to capture moments of beauty, of contrast, around me. The depth of presence I felt during this walk — with my camera in hand, focused on the pure task of capturing beauty — made me reflect on all the times in the past when I was actively filmmaking, documenting, capturing, sharing… and how much it lifts my spirit to be in communion with art and my personal artistry.
I recalled a question my sister once asked me, back when I was filming for YouTube regularly — does it take you out of the present moment when you’re always behind a camera? My answer — a resounding NO! My camera actually helps me drop deeper into presence. I feel like I’m more in tune with my surroundings when I zone in on them for the simple purpose of capturing beauty (rather than walking around lost in my thoughts).
These photos aren’t award-winning; they won’t change the world or spark a global revolution. But what they did do was a spark a quiet revolution, a reclamation, within my own spirit. I feel better because I took 30 minutes just to create and make art. I feel stronger because I took up space, to be seen as an artist — a muscle I vow to continue flexing until the day I die.
I’ve been off social media for a long time ~ over 4 months off Instagram and even longer on YouTube. While I needed that time away, I cannot deny that a part of me has missed the simple joys of capturing and sharing mundane moments of beauty & reflections online.
I have a lot more to say on where I’m at with social media, and what might be next (there will be a piece on this soon, I think) — but for now, I plan to continue my Photo Walk Ritual as a weekly practice; and to continue taking baby steps in reclaiming my artistry — one photo, one essay, one video at a time.
Perhaps this ritual will inspire you to get out there and create something too. You’re worth it.
All my love,
aaliyah 🌸
“But what they did do was a spark a quiet revolution, a reclamation, within my own spirit.”
It’s the best part of creating, and leaning into those nudges. Just feeling the gifts they bring and being deeply present in the art of it!
The warmth of your photos shines through— very beautiful! 🌹🌹makes me wanna take a stroll
As a virgo pisces who's so attuned to the details of life, i realize i have almost always loved clicking pictures - the shadows, the light, the colour, the tones ooooh. But for the past few years as IG came i started feeling so judged by everyone who'd see me clicking like almost they're whispering, "oh for the 'gram? So obsessed!" This is so beautiful ❤️ ❤️ truly inspires me to move beyond the judgement for the sake of my own joy ✨☁️