Drawing the Line

“you should always stop eating before you feel completely full

‘

Yasutani Roshi

 in these last few years i have pretty much learned to see the world as a photoshoot.  when i started doing photography, i had some kind of vague feeling that there was a limit to the great shots i would get.  that i would  eventually run out of subjects or ideas for interesting pics.  

well, just the opposite has proven to be true!  the more i tune my eye, the more opportunities i see all around me.  and the more i share my pics and see what others are sharing, the more ideas i have for new subjects or treatments.  just about anything can be visually interesting if you approach it in the right way!

but i’ve decided that there has to be limits.  a cut-off point.  sometimes i find myself in situations where everywhere i look there is something to be captured with my camera(s).  so i have to draw the line.  just stop.  because sometimes the obsession to get the pics can start to interfere with the experience of being there.  i have seen it happen....

this i believe:

some things are meant just to be experienced – not shared, photographed or documented.  because doing that adds a different dimension to the experience.  a dimension of thinking, planning, rehearsing…. all of which can detract from the true zen of being there.

 personally, i find the trend of sharing and documenting every tiny and intimate detail of our personal lives on social media to be over the top.  there are no limits to it and, taken to the extreme, i feel it’s an unhealthy trend.  it takes us out of the moment.  and we need to be spending more time in the moment…. not less (thanks for listening....)

i spent a couple of days hiking in the mountains this week and this was one of the things i was thinking about.  when i was thinking....

 

Venturing Revisited (part 2 - the Lavender Farm!)

friends, back in January i wrote a post about how i had just finished putting together a presentation for a future contemplative photography workshop and about how i was convinced that, despite my efforts, i was afraid that no one would likely ever come to such a class.  i was blown away by all of the insightful and supportive comments on that post and i let the ideas for the workshop slowly simmer on the back burner….

 well, as you know,  i have been doing some VENTURING this year, in small but consistent ways.  when i had the opportunity to visit the local lavender farm in may, the thought occurred to me that that would be the ideal location for my intended workshop.  in a moment of bravery, i sent an email to the gals at the farm and was shocked to get a positive response back regarding the idea of the class.

we agreed to get together and discuss it, but their busy season was just beginning on the farm and the ball got dropped.  which of course i interpreted as “they changed their mind – they don’t really want to do it after all….”

 friends, it took me 6 months to re-approach the idea and send another email.  imagine my surprise when i got an immediate and positive response!!  i met with the activity coordinator and found out that my class is in line with the healing focus they want to promote at the farm.   the workshop is now scheduled for april 20!!  i still can hardly believe it!!

 of course it still will not happen if i do not have enough participants, but i move forward on faith, taking one step at a time…. oh, i will also be teaching the class in a 3-part series at my local artbeat on main street and alta vista gardens in january.  you can read about it here.  

this venturing thing??  it’s good.  really good. (but it wouldn't be as good without all of you out there cheering me on.  that's for sure!!  THANK YOU!!!)

Here, Now....

here

now

this

awake

breathe

breeze

 bird song

flutter

twirl

emotion

clouds

calm

memories….

balm

joy

breathe

the morning speaks to me of possibility….

(can you tell i am having fun with the morning light and dew drops??)

(all photos taken with iphone and the amazing and inexpensive ollocip lens)

Step by Step...

i’ve been busy in my studio of late….creating lots of new pieces to display in the gallery.  it’s not very often that i remember to photograph the different steps of my process as they happen, but for this piece, i did.

here is the original unedited photo:

Mohawk Stamp Mill - Plumas Eureka State Park in Northern CA

here are some of the textures – i create them in my studio from paints and papers, scan them and then combine them digitally with the photo

the resulting textured image is printed on 190gsm archival fine art rag paper:

now for the background.... starting with a blank canvas:

 first layer of paint – combines some of the hues from the photo, applied with a brayer

 choosing papers to collage onto the canvas

 collaged layers with some paint added

(here is different piece collaged before the paint is applied: )

many more layers of paint are applied - usually with a sponge or other implement... until i get the look that i like.  each piece probably has about 20 colors in it!

the photo is attached, bordered with suede strips (each piece has different borders) and bits of burlap, rope and rust are attached.

voila!  i love doing this so much....

i just want to add that the whole process is extremely intuitive.... i have no idea where it's going when i start but i usually like where it ends up.  i'm learning to trust..... 8)

p.s.  (good thing i went back to the gallery to take the photo of the finished product because this one SOLD over the weekend.  yay!!)