Well, well, well. It appears that I can have my Edward Norton fix this weekend. The Illusionist starts tonight.

Actually, I haven't seen much of Edward Norton much lately. In fact, the last time I saw him was in an interview with Larry King and he was discussing his program in which he encouraged celebrities and others with money to buy into the whole solar power thing. Apparently, he was working with a company that gave equivalent amounts of solar technology to low income families when high income individuals purchased the same products. That was quite some time ago.

I expect that it will be quite an uneventful weekend and besides the quick trip to Vancouver, I don't want to do anything more strenuous than being a couch potato. For some reason, this last month has been so busy that I just want to be very low profile... It won't last long, I suppose, because I am finding my head full of creative projects and I'd like to get started on them before the school year starts and people get busy. Besides, I have to start using all of the film that I've managed to obtain over the past couple of months.

This morning, I was reading a story on the online version of the Japan Times and there was an article about a new exhibit in Osaka. The photographic exhibit is by a woman named Tomoko Sawada and it appears that she has a penchant for including many images of herself in her work. I remember discussing this kind of thing in my B&W photography class a couple of years ago. It's interesting that there are those who like to use themselves as subjects. Personally, I can't think of anything more ridiculous than having a whole lot of images of myself because I don't find myself that photogenic. However, Ms. Sawada's work does make me think? I mean what is it about me that makes me feel that I wouldn't want people to see who I am?

Why do I take pictures of others, yet I feel uncomfortable about having my photo taken. I had no problem when I was younger because I felt more presentable. Now, despite the feeling that I don't feel any older, I still feel like a middle-aged person. I mean am I falling for the belief that youth is beauty? I love to photograph all kinds of people and find that there are some older people that have amazing stories to tell. Not the verbal kind, but the one's where their life is reflected on their face. So, why don't I feel this way about myself.

Perhaps I just feel like I have nothing to tell. I feel that I am more able to show other people telling their stories...

I know this amazing woman from Iran who should write a book about her life. It is full of hardship and yet it is one of great strength and success. It is full of uncertainty yet full of promise. I am sure that she doesn't feel that it is a story worth telling but I beg to differ. It is an amazing journey that she has been on and I think it would inspire others like it inspires me.

Maybe I should listen to my own advice. Our own perceptions usually differ greatly from those of people around us. Maybe I should remember that my story has equal value despite not having the hardship of others. Hardship is different for everyone.

And if you're wondering if I am having a bad day, don't worry. These are just creative musings that accompany my creative nature. Have a great weekend and get out there and express yourselves!