It is difficult to describe those moments when, as an artist, the muse strikes. The elation is balanced by a fear that something will be forgotten or left out as one’s thoughts spring, deer-like into the under-brush and woods of the future, available work-time.  Ideas can be so fleeting, so ephemeral, especially when balanced cruelly by the ability to realise them because the resources required cannot materialise like thoughts.

And then there is the sheer physical impact of having a great idea. It can, and will, stop me in my tracks, literally. On occasion I have found myself dragging myself out of the shower, naked, wet and cold, desperately scribbling down an idea on a scrap of paper. At other times the force of the idea has almost been sexually arousing, as the swirling, misty tendrils of a nascent concept dance and twist, slowly coalescing into more solid form. I have felt possessed by an idea, a vision of a photographic image I have to make. Eating, drinking, sleeping are superfluous, sometimes even abhorrent, until I am satisfied that I have thought the concept through enough to bide me.

Yesterday I started a trial shoot on an idea I have been thinking about for a decade. It did not realise itself quite as I had envisioned, but progress was made. I don’t want to count the hours I have spent working through the idea. It would be in the hundreds. It is that important to me.  I feel like I want to make it work by sheer force of will. It’s a tough shoot, for me as the photographer, and especially for my models who are truly putting themselves and very real memories and emotions out there. I cannot understate the respect I have for them in even assaying this, and the certain knowledge that they are doing it for me, because for some bizarre reason they tell me that I, and my ideas, inspire them. It’s a very humbling experience. Yes, the series needs a lot of work, but I think we’ll get there.

And there my musing on muses moves on into the tangible world. Yes, there is this intangible muse that strikes, but it would not strike without the inspiration, support and work of my real life muses. And there are a few. Fellow creatives whose own work inspires. People who, because of their love,  support and preparedness to explore their own boundaries to assist me in my art cannot but inspire.

None of what I have achieved over the last ten years would have happened without the presence in my life of three wonderful, talented, beautiful and creative souls. Without the inspiration, sounding boardness, bullying and adventuring nature of Lillian and her fantastic daughters, Breana and Cleone it is doubtful that I would have ever picked up a camera for anything other than snapshots again. More recently, Jennie Rosenbaum has been an inspiration, especially as I try to cope with my new disabilities and still be creative. And there are other muses, perhaps not with the constant creative input of those already mentioned, but inspirational nonetheless.  Kada, with her amazing candour;  Jess with her wonderful humour and classic beauty, bubbly, vivacious;  Laura with her inner turmoil clear beneath the surface but who maintains her calm; the band, Kettlespider, with their enthusiasm and love in music;  Rachel with her excitement mixed with trepidation as she pushes her own boundaries and her amazing intelligence… these people, and more, I cannot thank enough for the inspiration, love and support they give me, especially at this time when my very life itself is so uncertain. And they are all wonderful, talented creatives in their own rights. Dancers, illustrators, multi-media artists, singers, musicians and photographers all represented, and mostof them do more than one of those arts – I’m just a photographer. Hopefully, along with the images I create with, and because of them, I also communicate my deepest appreciation, and love, for my marvellous, magical, magnificent muses.