creative process, lisa lillibridge, south dakota, identity, vermont, midlife, psychology, creativity, south dakota photographyLISA LILLIBRIDGE

Last year at this time I purchased these photographs at REsource VT on Pine Street in Burlington, Vermont for $2.00 each. Today I was cleaning out my desk and shelves and came across them again. When I purchased theses images I was overcome with a certain amount of sadness because they had been discarded. Thankfully they weren’t recycled.

I’ve personally had to get rid of some of my own paintings or children’s artwork before because I can’t keep everything. I know there are a million reasons why these ended up at REsource. I’m really grateful that I stumbled upon them.

If anyone recognizes people in these photos or remembers being in a class with the photographer or any information really—please e-mail me. The first name is Sidney but I can’t make out the last name. I would love to know more. This photographer has a remarkable sense of composition, light and emotion. There’s a real bravery to this subject matter.

This photographer was willing to get intimate with their subjects. For some reason it appears to me that they didn’t necessarily know the people they were shooting. I’m not certain of that—it’s just my hunch. I always admire that quality. That willingness and risk can be really hard for me. I love to shoot people, but I’m not very assertive in certain situations. I’ve missed some great shots because of my hesitancy. This photographer makes me feel braver and for that I’m grateful to you Sidney, whoever you are.

Please send me any information or even vague ideas about this photographs.

If you haven’t seen the documentary on NETFLIX “Finding Vivian Maier”. It’s well worth your time. It’s a great documentary. Vivian Maier had a really unique “eye” and her story is truly fascinating.

Here’s an excerpt of the film from the photo blog: PETAPIXEL by Michael Zhang.

“In case you haven’t been following the Vivian Maier saga, here’s a short summary: back in 2007, a 26-year-old real estate agent named John Maloof bought a box of 30,000 negatives from an estate sale for $400 (and later more photos that brought his collection to 100,000 images). Turns out it was the lifetime work of a then-unknown street photographer named Vivian Maier, whose eye for composition and brilliant shots captured the world’s attention.”

http://dvd.netflix.com/Movie/Finding-Vivian-Maier/70291615

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that every day we are already being “PURPOSEFUL”?

We all do things that make the world a better place on a “micropurpose” level all the time. These adds up to something pretty damn awesome. We make people laugh, prepare food, hold doors, show up, smile, let something go, say “I’m sorry”, pick up the check, sit with people in grief, lend a helping hand, let someone cut in line, turn the other cheek, give hugs, wash things, lend money and encouragement, pick up trash, grab coffee, send gifts, laugh at jokes, buy a drink, text “I love you” or make a phone call, the list goes on and on.

So, instead of beating ourselves up that we haven’t found our life’s purpose—let’s just take breath (or 2 or even 3) and then take a look at how truly purposeful we are every single day of our lives. These purposeful gestures can have a ripple effect making things better for so many beings…including ourselves.