I'M HERE TO EMPOWER YOU!

I’m an artist . . . but that’s not saying much, because I believe, and it is something that I have devoted my time heavily to convey, that art expression is an inherent property of human nature. The media may vary, but not the innate disposition.

Those that know me have heard my “talent-as-myth” diatribe all too often, and if you end up tuning in to my posts, you will encounter it soon enough. It is my goal to change the notion, which a great number of people resign to, that one needs to have “talent” to pursue the art they feel or want and am doing this on a daily basis through my program in the G+ Mentorship Program for Photographers.

With that as preface, I will probably devote a portion of my posts to inspiring artists, but I also plan to impart other conceptions that I have about life in general, with the goal of elevating, encouraging, enlivening or energizing those who read them.

Let me begin with this:

I wish for you the ability to create for yourself all that your heart desires.

Start!


➡️ fill out this form, if you’re interested in the new home for “G+ Mentorship Program for Photographers”

➡️ fill out this form, if you’re interested in keeping in touch or getting mentored by Robin


You can begin by watching "The Myth of Talent" here:


"The Myth of Talent" by Robin Griggs Wood

Robin Griggs Wood •artist•(@robingriggswood)'s Instagram

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RECENT POSTS

Strengthen Your Core


Strengthen Your Core
Several years ago I decided to change my physical condition. I had gained a lot of weight over the years and confronted it one Christmas visiting my brother -- and his bathroom scale ... ugh.

I took on a program of running and weight-lifting and changed my eating. However, after a year and a half of that, I had only managed to lose about fifteen pounds. I was healthier, sure -- probably gained more muscle weight and lost some fat -- but I was still frustrated at not being able to get to where I wanted to be.

Then ... my back went out on me like a faithless lover. I felt so betrayed. It was the first time anything that debilitating had ever happened to me. I couldn't move at all.

When I went to the doctor, he told me I had to do something like yoga or pilates (similar to yoga). I laughed to myself -- the last thing that I wanted to do was bend like that!! So, I ignored him.

Throughout the following year I was still unable to to break my plateau, but during that time I did a lot of reading on the subject from professional fitness experts. One of the key points that kept coming up was the concept of 'Core Strength'. Your core is the center of your body and the primary muscle groups there are the abdominals, back, butt and hips. The minor sit-ups I had been doing just weren't addressing that fundamental core.

One day, I was walking past a pile of DVD's on sale and one particular exercise video grabbed my attention. I had remembered my doctor's words -- "pilates". "Worth a try," I thought. Well, that step changed everything! Within mere months I had lost thirty-five more pounds. My speed and agility at running increased even! I finally had gained real control and capability with my body -- for the first time in my life.

I'm sure you are now asking "Um, Robin … what does pilates have to do with photography or art?!!"

STRENGTHEN YOUR CORE.

The Internet is a vast resource of tutorials for photography and art. As well, you probably already have applications loaded onto your systems that are applicable to your current goals, or you can get some for free or at low cost. Learn them! Learn the core of your tools and those applications. It's not the plug-ins and fancy new gadgets that will be there for you when the next 'newest, latest, greatest' hits the market. What will be there for you when the 'gotta have it' fades is your ability to work with the basic fundamentals of the tools and applications you use -- and your ability to grow and adapt, when the market need fluctuates.

If you are having difficulty fully grasping how the processes work and feel you need an add-on or fancy gadget to get a quality result, remember that the fundamentals of the tools that you are using are not unknowable. Do what you need to do to learn them thoroughly. Break out a dictionary and find out what the words mean, first in your own language, and then in the language of the application or the analog operations it represents. Experiment a bit with what is in front of you. Finally learn what all the dials on your camera are for. Then, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. (Read that as, PLAY, PLAY, PLAY ... ;o))

Strengthen your core -- and watch your speed and agility soar!


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#LandscapePhotography
#rgwoodpost #photography #googleplusphotos #hqsplandscape #BTPLandscapePro

"Lady, point that thing at my butt and you're gonna find out, tout desuite, what expensive glass feels like shattered into your eyeballs.


"Lady, point that thing at my butt and you're gonna find out, tout de suite, what expensive glass feels like shattered into your eyeballs.
An Epic Tale of an Epic #SeagullButtShot FAIL

It could happen to anyone … any #SeagullButtShooter, that is.

You see, we are trained to spot #seagullbuttsindisguise from a mile away!
However, even a WetWipe-carrying member of the #Gullarazzi has an off day.

This was mine.

Since this parrot was right next to the coast, it was perfectly logical for me to suspect that he was merely a #seagullbuttindisguise … granted, with an uncustomarily expensive costume. But, who knows, maybe the #seagullcontingent has started up a fund or something? What nefarious plots could they have cooked up to thwart our parodic antics on Saturdays?

I backed away quietly, with only this boring shot of my intended quarry's malignant mien.

sigh ...




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If you've made it this far, please know that there is NO such theme as #SeagullButtSaturday. The following people, sometimes posting to the #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus , possibly have had better luck than I:

Robin Griggs Wood Ursula Klepper Christin McLeod Sassi Sassmannshausen Lauri Novak Richard Ball Craig Szymanski Melissa Beagle Ellie Kennard Cora Triton Steve Savoie Pam Wolfe Jon Cassill Tom McGowan Annie Irving Diana Boyd Debby Moran Alex Lapidus Lou McCorkle Rob Lopes Kim Smith Bette Kauffman Liz C Darion Jackman Steven Kennard Sharon Stone Dawn Siadatan Sumit Sen Jasbir S. Randhawa Gazzaroonii T. John Wade Dave Bell Swee Oh Leo Deegan Nancy Battis Vita Patrick Kelly Marilyn Benham Mari Luukkonen Lora Lee Chapman Giselle Savoie Carin Bruce David Q. Cohen Gernot Glaeser Maureen Roberson Brian Grzelewski BJ Bolender Darcee McCutcheon Annelies Jansen Rachel Ferris Margaret Tompkins Jan Vermeulen

Real themes:
#birds4all curated by Walter Soestbergen Ricky L Jones & Birds4All
#birdloversandwildlife curated by Robert SKREINER  BIRD Lovers & WILDLIFE

#rgwoodpost #SeagullButtShots #SeagullButts #SeagullButtsInDisguise #notatheme #Gulluminati #Gullarazzi #FunniestNonthemeOnGplus
#googleplusphotos #hqspanimals #hqspbirds #birdsgallery #hqsplandscape