“When a documentary filmmaker, working in the style that I do, suggests that there has been a shooting ratio of 40 hours to every one hour of finished film, that doesn't mean that the other 39 are bad.”

--Ken Burns

Oi. Me-oh-my, ladies. I’m having such thoughts lately. CRAZY thoughts. Mind you, they are not recent; they have been simmering for several years now. My annual pilgrimage to SXSW, where I marinate my brain in brilliant documentaries, have certainly added fuel to the fire. Over and over again, I ask myself and Universe in general:

What kind of ball/ovaries does it take to jump in and make a documentary?

I’ve started to pick the well-packed brain of Gena Haskett, who gave a swell session on videoblogging at BlogHer Con earlier this year. (After about a dozen phone calls from me, she might start to regret her inspiring performance.) Since then, I’ve got the sense that I could do it. Or rather, that I MUST.

I’ve been adequately warned that there is much sacrifice along the way. Mike Mills, the director of "Thumbsucker" and “Does Your Soul Have a Cold?” – a documentary about depression in Japanese society – told me that the latter film took seven years to make and that the audience I’d been in was the first to see it. (Such pressure!) In speaking with other doc directors, I realized this was fairly normal. Thats a helluva long road, I thought to myself. "It helps to be obsessive," he added helpfully.

Theresa Ala Mode, a filmmaker who made “Maybe Baby”, a documentary that follows six single women and their quest to become mothers, also gave me some dire insight. I’d asked her if she had wanted kids herself. “Yes, I did,” she sighed, “but I’m a documentary filmmaker.” Her statement just hung in the air, inferring that I’d have to pick one or the other. Damn! Am I the last women in my generation to discover that we ladies can't have it all? I did not get this memo.

Furthermore, after asking the same question over and over again - “How many hours of film did you shoot to end up with your two-hour doc?” - I have an average number that roughly reveals a nightmarish editing effort. More or less, I hear “500 hours.” For the luv-a God, that’s 99.6% of your shots – to borrow an outdated visual - down on the editing floor!

Cripes. I already have a twitchy finger and the whole digital thing has just made it worse – like I suddenly have the power to be invisible and therefore, be naked all the time. I was used to having perimeters like the end of the block and up the street but now it's more like the Canadian and Mexico borders. Okay, enough careless metaphors but you get the idea. I’m somewhat crazed.

Indeed, Gena had to essentially talk me out of my creative tree the other night. “Let’s start small,” she said. “Before you take on the world, just focus on a mini-documentary or a photo narrative. Focus on yourself or maybe someone in your life, maybe a Day in the Life or something simple. Let’s pull back now.” Thank Goddess, somebody is in control.

And speaking of helpful sane types …

As a photographer, especially an amateur, it never hurts to have a lawyer watching your back. Meet Carolyn Wright, an attorney who specializes in photographer’s rights. Based in Decatur, Georgia, Carolyn pens a helpful blog, PhotoAttorney, in addition to running her website. With educational postings such as “Three Excellent Copyright Sources” and “The Fine Print,” I quickly realized how much I do not know. Bottom line, your images can be lifted and exploited six ways to Sunday and you’d best be armed.

I stumbled across some gorgeous stuff from the talented lady behind Captured Spirits. I think her name is Maritza and judging from her deeply powerful shots and the zap magic shooting out of her eyes, I'd say she's someone worth keeping an eye on.

"I started taking photographs in 2002 as a means of saving myself. I had hit a rock bottom and decided I need something to rescue me. A good friend of mine bought me my first film camera (a Minolta) and my obsession began. I took classes and learned dark room techniques but it wasnt until I discovered digital photography that the world just unfolded before me. I have been hooked ever since."

--Maritza, Captured Spirits Photography

Okay, so I know I did the wedding post last week (and even managed to bump into fellow ShutterGal, Tracey Clark, amidst my snapping) but I've got just one more. Heather Fowler's photography makes me want to get married. Right now. To anyone. (You there, on the couch, you're breathing, right? Take a shower, get dressed. Let's go!) Either she agrees to only photograph extremely happy people who exude joy or she has a special lens and she's talented. Okay, so maybe it's all three. She resides in Philly and "specializes in fine art portraiture with a journalistic flare." I'll say. Plus, I've a soft spot for other Heathers who keep it real, it's like being cool by proxy.

Hmmmm, maybe I can make a documentary about a bunch of women named Heather ... can anyone think of a good title?