Week 3 - Picture Inspiration - Motif

So, this week's word prompt is Motif.  Part of the definition, and a guide to our assignment are these words: A distinctive and recurring form, shape, figure, etc, in a design, as in a painting or on wallpaper.


While neither wallpaper nor a painting, what you see below is an item that represents so many things to me.  As you can probably tell, it's an afghan.  What you don't know is that it was made by my Grandma Meg, who passed away almost 9 years ago. That doesn't really seem possible and I miss her more than I could ever express.  This one was originally given to my mom.  My mom then gave it to me and now it's one more memory I have of my Grandma in my house.  I also have a blue one which was made for me, but it's much smaller as I was a far littler person when she crocheted it.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I absolutely DETEST being cold. It can almost top the list of things I can't stand to feel.  So, blankets of any sort make me very, very happy.  Afghans made by family members - even better and definitely more meaningful.


I love the pattern of this afghan along with the colors. I'm a warm color junkie so browns are always attractive to me.  When I look closely at the repeating pattern and details, I honestly have no idea how my grandma had the patience to create this large amazing piece of love. Because that's what it is. Something that she created with her own hands, out of love, for the people in her family.


So this is my motif. A recurring pattern of brown and white, that represents warmth and love, held close to my heart.


  

New experiences

One of the most fun things about having traveled this photography path for the last few years is that everyone I know is used to seeing me with a camera everywhere I go.   And when I say everywhere, that's not much of an exaggeration. It gives me the opportunity to capture moments and experiences on a regular basis, especially those involving my children and those times that are truly extra special.  I like the every day stuff, too, but I make an extra effort for the "first time" events.

My mom called yesterday and asked if we had plans for that evening. We did not. She suggested going out to dinner to use a fabulous coupon she bought from Living Social for Shinto.  Shinto is both a sushi and hibachi restaurant. While I couldn't imagine my kids enjoying sushi (although, I do think my daughter could get into it) I had great visions of their faces during an hibachi dinner. Plans were made and we met at 6pm.

While we were waiting for dinner to get underway, we began to explain how it all worked. As they got the idea of what was going to happen, their anticipation and excitement grew.  We had drinks and salads and lesson in how to use chopsticks was conducted by my mom and followed closely by my little guy.

Our hibachi chef was Victor.  He was full of fun and energy and was great with my kids.   The dinner began to get underway and the excellent food started to sizzle on the grill.  While things were heating up, Victor poured us all a little bit of what he called "yum yum" sauce.  I can assure you that no other dipping sauce has ever been so aptly named! Holy mackerel was that ever yummy!

Next came the main entrees and my all time favorite, the flaming volcano!  I had built this up to the kids and I'm pretty confident that the final result didn't disappoint.  Every time another volcano went up in flames at another table, my kids were heard shouting, "Volanco!!!"

In the end, it was truly a fantastic night. I walked out of Shinto, pretty sure I wouldn't eat again for another full 24 hours.  (I had my leftovers for lunch today, so I guess I wasn't accurate in that thought).  Victor was kind enough to pose for a photo with each of my little people after the cooking was done.

What didn't occur to me as we made the plans on that evening, is now that my kids got a taste of this kind of dining experience, how often they would be asking to come back.  Oops!  That's okay, though, they know that this is a special occasion restaurant ... though they did both mention that this is where they'd like for their birthday dinner to be.   Fine by me - I want more of that yum yum sauce!

Picture Inspiration - Week 2 - Rhythm

This week, our assignment was to take a photo that reflected rhythm. While rhythm can be defined in a myriad of ways, this is the definition we were given to work from: a harmonious sequence or pattern of masses alternating with voids, of light alternating with shade, of alternating colors, etc.

I must admit, this one challenged me a bit. While there is rhythm all around, I wanted to take an image that was different than ones I've taken before. And, while I have some images in my arsenal that fit the bill, I thought it was only right to take a new image. After all, this class is for learning and if I'm using old stuff, then it's cheating. Or laziness. Neither of which I want to participate in. 

It took me about 5 tries to find an image that made me happy. First, I tried the railroad tracks. How perfect is that, I thought! But, when I arrived, there was very little differential between each railroad tie and the stones in between them. Next, I tried the front of my dresser. I know that may sound funny, but it's a light wood dresser with dark blacks rings as the handles. When the light hits it just right, the patterns are really cool. But, given that it was such a skinny area, I couldn't get the image framed without getting too much else of the dresser. Next, I hopped in my car and when to an area where there is an old train car parked next to the train tracks. (still on the railroad theme as you can tell). But, my memory of the wheels that were there must have been created in my mind as there were far fewer than I remembered.

Next, I ended up in the high school parking lot. Close to our house are electrical towers. Sometimes I notice them, sometimes I don't. When I do, they are all I can see. I've been wanting to photograph them for awhile and it struck me that this assignment was the perfect reason to do so. I took a few images with different compositions.

Finally, I headed to the park. I snapped a few shots of some of the playground equipment and I felt I had some interesting patterns and got a couple of photos that made me happy as well.

In the end I decided to go with the towers for my class. But, I'm including a few additional images here that I feel fit the bill too.

I see multiple patterns of rhythm here from the design of the towers themselves, to the repeating structures to the wires that come from each of the towers.

I liked the repeated pattern of swings with the poles. And, I can hear the rhythm in my head and see the kids on these in the summer as they go back and forth with squeals of happiness!

This last one is a repeat from the last blog post but fits the bill for rhythm, both in image and movement so I wanted to include it was well.

I wonder what challenge next week will bring.  I can't wait!

Funny where life takes you

For those of you who have only known me in the past 10 years or less, you may not know that I used to be a dancer.  I danced for 24 years.  For more than the first half of my life, that's how people identified me - as a dancer.  I made a decision to stop dancing over 12 years ago now and my life has taken me on a very different path. Being a dancer is something I miss, but not enough to regret the decision I made. It was an amazing experience and taught me more than I could ever express.

Now I'm on this amazing journey called photography.  It's wonderful to still be able to have a creative aspect to my life.  I love everything about it.  I must admit, I think I love it more than I ever loved dancing. I was a good dancer, but not an amazing dancer. It's much easier to be realistic about my abilities now that I've gotten quite a bit older.  I held my own, had some great performances, made some extraordinary friends and memories and then it was time to move it.

In high school and for a short stint in college, I danced with Salt Creek Ballet. Later on I became the advanced jazz teacher.  Now, I sit on the Board of Directors. Had you asked me when I was 16 if I would still be involved with SCB at this point in my life, I would have said no. But, here I am, still getting to enjoy this beautiful art form called dance and support it from a different place.

Last Saturday, I got to combine these 2 artistic endeavors I've been involved in during the course of my life.  Each year, Salt Creek Ballet participates in the Regional Dance Association Festival. Around this time every year, an adjudicator comes out to observe the girls, give feedback and decide which, if any, of the pieces they've shown that day will be included in the various performances that happen during the course of the festival.  I remember what it felt like. We worked harder than we ever did with this person sitting in front of us evaluating our individual performances and the company as a whole. For the past few years, I've been an observer, watching in support of the girls who make up the company now and representing the company as a Board Member. There is such strength, effort, determination and pride these dancers have for this art form and for Salt Creek.  This time, I brought my camera with me and took over 100 photos.  Below is a sampling of some of the beauty these young women posses doing this most exquisite art form.

I've chosen to edit these images in a variety of ways to create a different feel in each one.  But, that's a topic for a completely different blog post.  Enjoy the photos.

Good luck at this year's festival. I know you will be amazing!

Picture Inspiration - Week 1 - Self Portrait

I'm excited to embark upon this journey of my first online photography class called Picture Inspiration. The assignment for Week 1 was a Self Portrait. I haven't done many of these and the ones I have done, have all been taken in the mirror.  So, this challenge encouraged me to try something new, along with giving me a reason to break out my new wireless remote I bought almost a month ago. (No, I have no idea why I haven't played with it prior to this).
I positioned myself in the front room where I knew I'd have the best light, set up my camera and started clicking away.  Okay, well, I clicked once and then crawled over the camera to check the image.  I made some adjustments and did it again.   I changed lenses, changed positions and crawled back and forth to my camera no less than 53 times.  And, I thought photographing OTHER people could be workout!

In the end, I'm rather happy with the result.  I had a bunch of photos that weren't good at all, a few that were almost there and a couple I was happy with.  Here is the final image.

Inspiration

The farther I go into this amazing journey of photography, the more resources and inspiration I find. I have just signed up for my first online photography class.  It's 52 weeks of inspiration. I can hardly wait to get started!

Sneak Peek - Ashley

Ashley and I have known each other for a long time. Much longer than either one of us would like to admit, as it means we have to admit our actual age (which I'm not sharing here!)  :)  We met in college and have run into each other in the most random places since we graduated.  Recently, Ashley reached out me via Facebook to ask me to do some headshot photos for  her.  It's not the type of shooting that I normally do, but I always welcome the opportunity for a new challenge. So, we set up a date and off I went to her house to take some photographs and catch up with an old friend.  What an enjoyable day - two things I truly love to do!

Ashley plans to use a black and white image.  However, I love the color version of this one as well and just had to share it. She is so beautiful!

Thanks for a great day, Ashley! More photos to come soon.