Here are two more pages from my booklet inspired by Stefan Sagmeister’s book Things I have learned in my life so far. My life lesson: you don’t have to be like everybody else.

As I said in part one, all of the photographs were taken in and around home using only what I could find on site — using the ordinary and everyday to create something personal and unique. Because I’m not like everybody else and neither are you : )

Don’t is about turning negatives (!) into positives. In case you’re wondering, I didn’t harm any of our precious family negatives (that’s me and my older brother in the 1970s) to get this shot. I scanned them, printed them on transparency film and attached them to a string tied between two coathangers so that I could hold them in position while taking the photo using a tripod and a timer. Phew. And it was a very breezy day. Lots of patience required but worth it. It’s one of my favourite images.

The breezy conditions produced some rather interesting photos.

Have is about gifts (and I’m not just talking about brooches and necklaces). It also represents the acceptance of loss. Sometimes what you have is a result of what you don’t have. The word is made from jewellery I’ve inherited over recent years. The image is intentionally busy because grief and coming to terms with the absence of those you love is a very complicated thing.

I’ll post the remaining photos next week.