In The Words Of A Child

It has been a difficult week for me, mainly because of my car repair woes. So, I haven't been in the best of moods lately. However, one of my students at school gave me the best gift today.

We had an assembly at the school were I work as a librarian. The children and school staff had gathered to see a presentation about character education and respect.

The presentation leader called a group of children up to the front of the assembly. He asked them to tell the audience about teachers who had taught them about respect. One of the fifth grade students said, "Our Librarian taught me that if you show love that others will love you back."

I had tears in my eyes as I listened to her speak before almost 500 children as well as the school faculty. Her thoughts were spontaneous and not rehearsed. I was so honored to think that she had chosen me!

I have worked with this child for six years in the Library. She is also part of my after school club that learns about digital photography. She really enjoys learning about photography and is the family photography at her house.

So, I am posting this photo of my niece and the dandelions in honor of my student as well as all those who bring joy into my life. And I am reminded of the following inspirational quote, "A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child." ~Forest E. Witcraft

A Child Learns About The Joys Of Photography

I really enjoy helping kids learn more about photography. Kay, my eight-year-old niece, is showing a keen interest in learning more about photography basics. She is such a natural with such things as composition and beautiful color selections.

Kay loves to follow me around when I am out and about with my camera. She spots objects that I miss. (This child actually spotted a garden snake and insisted that we take its picture!) Over time, she has proven to be a very helpful photography assistant.

Family members gave Kay a inexpensive film camera for kids, but we found that it wasn't the best way for her to learn photography basics. She became discouraged because she couldn't take as many photos as she liked and have them processed, too.

So, she uses my trusty Canon digital point-and-shoot camera. We save the ones she wants, and I get them printed out for her.

I also let her use my Canon DSLR(Rebel) camera, once in a while. (I help her by setting the correct ISO, aperture, and shutter speed.) I am right next to this budding photographer, of course. I was so proud of Kay when she created this portrait of her cousin Rachel. (Photo above.) I may have helped with the camera settings, but Kay was able to get this wonderful expression from her cousin. I know that I will cherish this photograph!

I know that it will be exciting to see Kay continue to learn about
the art of photography. (Photo of Kay below.) The important thing is that she enjoys
using the camera as a creative tool. I am reminded of one of my
favorite quotations by the Spanish artist Pablo Picasso, "All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."

Here Comes The Sun

I just wanted to post a colorful photo that reminds me of brighter days. First, I was so disappointed about not being able to go to New York City over the weekend. Now, I am trying to get my car repaired as soon as possible. I am fighting with the car dealership over the warranty.

Mare picked me up last night and we went to Barnes and Noble for coffee. That was certainly a treat. I heard the Beatles song "Here Comes The Sun" as I walked into the bookstore. The song lyrics cheered me up!

"Little darling, I feel the ice is slowly melting. Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear. Here comes the sun. Here comes the sun. And I say it's alright."

So, I am waiting for those brighter days to come again.

A Disappointing Day

I am so disappointed about my New York City trip. I had car trouble on my way to my friend's house, so I ended up staying here. Here is what happened:


I got in my car and started to Mare's house at 6:50 am. The car started all right, but I didn't get far when my car died right in the middle of the street. I was frantic! The car just wouldn't start.

So, I called my friend and told her to go without me. I was extremely disappointed. Mare didn't want to leave me in the middle of the street, but I told her to go. (She had to leave in order to drive to Albany, NY and catch the train there for New York City.)


Fortunately, my sweetheart came right over and push my car to the side of the road. I had the car towed to the car dealership. (Hopefully, they will be able to repair the car tomorrow. ) S was wonderful. He calmed me down, dealt with the tow truck driver, and then took me out for breakfast. What a morning!

Mare understood the situation and was worried about me. She called me on her cell phone from the train to see if I was all right. Mare even took me to do some errands today. We are going to try again and go to New York City at the end of February. Here is a photo of Mare that I took recently:

"There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship."( ~St. Thomas Aquinas) In the end, I am very fortunate to have people who really care about me in my life.

Birthday Wishes

Mare, my dear friend, is celebrating the big 5-0 today! I am so happy that I will be able to celebrate her birthday in New York City.
We have been friends for 17 years. Mare and I were hired as school librarians at the same time. I have to say that we have been friends from the first day we met at a library department meeting, and our friendship has grown over the years.
I truly cherish the friendship that I share with Mare. We are like sisters. I can always talk to her and she accepts me for who I am. Mare and I talk about good books, relationships, work, and hobbies. Some of our favorite things to do are working on sewing projects, watching movies, go for walks, and going to New York City.
Mare’s friendship is indeed a valuable gift. She has brought so much joy into my life. And so I offer her this quote to celebrate this special day, “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” (Marcel Proust)

So, I would like to wish her a very Happy Birthday! I hope that her birthday is a very special one. May she enjoy health, much happiness, and prosperity in the years to come. And here is to a very special friendship!

New York, New York

"Start spreading the news! I am leaving today. I want to be a part of it, New York, New York."

I am off to New York City tomorrow. My very dear friend (I will call her Mare) is celebrating a big milestone birthday. We are off for a day of fun in the City. First, we will see the play "Mary Poppins" on Broadway. Of course, we will go shopping and then go out to dinner.

Usually, I visit the Big Apple at least a few times a year. The City is an exiting place: art museums, the Empire State Building, sporting events, Broadway and much more. There is nothing like the hustle and bustle of the City. (The graffiti even looks artistic in New York City, even though it is vandalism.)

Graffiti~NY City Style (taken during my last NY City visit)

My NYC Itinerary for Jan. 27

7:30 am - Drive to the train station in Albany, NY

10:15 am - Train Departs for NYC

12:30 pm - Hopefully, the train will arrive on time at Penn Station, NYC

12:30 - 1:30 pm - Shop and sight see

2:00 pm - Mary Poppins play at the New Amsterdam Theater

5:00 - 8:00pm - More shopping and dinner

8:30pm - Board train for Albany, NY

We will then drive back from Albany to Utica and probably get back very late! I hope to post photos of our trip. I am going to bring my Canon point-and-shoot digital camera because I can't lug all the DSL camera equipment around with me for the day. So, I hope to at least get some photos for the scrapbook!

I hope that everyone has a good weekend, too!

A Thing Of Beauty

It has been a very cold and blustery day here in Central New York State. I have spend some time indoors this evening just looking at some of my favorite photographs.

"Gerber Daisy I" is one of my favorites because I remember the success I felt after I took this photo with my Canon digital point-and-shoot camera in 2005. It was the first time that I tried using two halogen shop lamps for lighting. I had to do a lot of experimenting to get the lighting right. I had my camera on a tripod, of course.

I felt that I was learning how to use the camera in an artistic way. In addition, I was learning to use the camera's controls.

Now, I can see some improvements that I could make. I would be sure that the flower petals toward the front were a bit sharper while shining some light toward the outer petals.

I enjoy making floral photos using natural indoor light or halogen lighting. I realize that some photographers do not care for this type of photography. However, I believe that each flower is a tiny miracle. The British poet John Keats wrote, "A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases; it will never pass into nothingness. "

As photographers, we can use our tools to showcase these small treasures. I know that I will continue to make floral photos, whether I shoot them inside using window light, through the use of halogen lighting or in nature.

Weathering Winter

It is almost the end of January, and I am trying to find something positive to say about winter. Our winters here in the middle of New York State can be long and cold. It isn't unusual for the snow to begin to fly at the end of October or the beginning of November. And sometimes we don't have any signs of spring until the beginning of May.

I really did love the snow when I was a child. The falling snow reminded me of one of those magical snow globes. I used to spend time with my brother and sister just playing in the snow. We used to go sledding in the nearby field, build snow forts and go ice skating.

But then I grew up. Now I have to drive on snowy and icy roads and that scares me. I have to shovel the white stuff and worry about if my car will start if I leave it in the parking lot all day.

I should get out more and take photographs of the snowy landscape. I posted an ordinary shot of an old piece of farm machinery in a snowy field. However, it is usually just too cold or slippery to go out with a camera here. (The high temperature on Friday is only suppose to be -12 degrees C. The wind chill will make it feel even colder.)

And so I take comfort in the words of the American poet Anne Bradstreet, "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome. "

Simple Things

Recently, I discovered a wonderful quotation written in the signature portion of a colleague's e-mail message. "Teach us to delight in simple things." (Rudyard Kipling)

Kipling's words immediately made me think about the art of photography. Our camera lenses allow us to really see the world around us. Photography provides us with so many opportunities to appreciate the world around us that may otherwise go unnoticed: a child's tiny fingers, a beautiful sunset, shadows from a tree, the light in an elderly person's eyes, or a colorful peacock feather. And the list goes on.

The photo above is entitled "Ice Princesses". I still remember the day I took it with my trusty Canon point-and- shoot digital camera. I was amazed by just how beautiful weeds could look with ice on them. I really liked the muted colors against the white background.

I have a list of simple things that I would like to photograph: berries encased in ice, my nephew's tiny fingers, an approaching thunderstorm, pumpkins in an autumn field, Nubble Lighthouse along the Maine coast, and snow covered trees lined up in a row.

"Teach us to delight in simple things." This is such a profound statement! Do you have a list of simple things that you would like to capture with your camera?

Focusing On Color

I recently received a quilting supply catalog in the mail. (Yes, the catalog was sent through the regular post!) The quilt store owner always writes a brief article in the front of her catalogs. In this catalog, she asked this very thought provoking question, "If you were a color, what color would you be?"

This is a good question to ask photographers, too. I have to say that my first response to this question was the color purple. There are so many different shades of this color: lilacs that bloom in June, delicious grapes, a Tanzanite ring, purple mums, and the purplish hues painted across the sky.

So, I am not surprised when this royal color appears in my photos. Here is one of the first photos that I took with my Canon point-and-shoot camera. The title is "Purple Rain".

Wouldn't it be fun to take a series of photos that focus on specific colors? I would like to try to do such a project. And nature offers us such a rich color palette to work with. Ralph Waldo Emerson described it best when he wrote, "Nature always wears the colors of the spirit."

And now I would like to ask you the same question, If you were a color, what color would you be?

When Fortune Smiles

It has been bitterly cold here in Central New York over the past few days. The snow returned, bringing howling winds and falling temperatures along with it. So, I spent the weekend looking for creative photography projects to do.

Yesterday, I thumbed through a pile of Rangefinder photography magazines. (Patz, thanks for telling me about this fantastic resource!) I found just the type of project that I was looking for in the October 2006 edition (the Fine Art issue.) This issue featured the work of photographer and artist Walter Nelson. (Here is a link to the article. http://www.rangefindermag.com/magazine/Oct06/showpage.taf?page=20]

I was fascinated by Nelson's still life photographs. He combines painting and photography to create these masterpieces.

Nelson's work inspired me to design my own still life photographs. However, I decided to work with fabric. I have done some quilting in the past, so I have a collection of hand-dyed fabrics that I thought would make colorful backgrounds. I also had fabrics in my "stash" that I thought I could use for the foregrounds or draped around the sides.

First, I attached the background fabric to foam core board. I purchased the lucky bamboo and ceramic pot at the grocery store. I worked on setting up the still life until I got it the way I liked it. I photographed the still life using window light with my camera on a tripod. I used some aluminum foil in order to bounce the light and avoid shadows. Finally, I used Paint Shop Pro to edit and create two symmetrical versions of the photo.

Walter Nelson's photos reminded me of some of the quilting techniques, so I decided to take a chance and create my own still life to photograph. The American photographer Duane Michals wrote, "Trust that little voice in your head that says "Wouldn't it be interesting if..." And then do it." More Joy of Photography

Now I have more ideas for still life photos that I would like to try using fabric and other objects. There are so many possibilities!

Go Digital!

I took my first digital photography course in January 2005. The course was offered through the Munson-Williams-Proctor Art Institute's School of Art. Keith, my instructor, is a professional photographer who now teaches on a full-time basis at the School of Art. He is originally from Chester, England.

This photography course was helpful because I began to understand such basic photography terms such as shutter speed, aperture, and exposure. Keith was always very supportive and never put anyone down. I also met other people who had been "bitten" by the photography bug.

We spend a lot of time learning about digital photo editing during these class session. The class members took photos outside of class and we learned about editing them using Photoshop CS and CS2 during class. It was fun as well as inspirational to see other people's work.

One day in class we went out to the museum grounds with our cameras. Keith helped us to take some artistic photos. (See above photo.) Many of the photos from this class photo shoot were displayed in our class exhibition at the museum. My photo entitled "Art and Architecture" was taken through glass windows. The windows are in the corridor that links the modern museum building with the Victorian museum building. I really liked the collage effect of the photograph.

Although I really enjoyed the three digital photography classes I have taken in the last two years, I really wish that I could have some photography instruction "on location" with an instructor there. I really did learn a lot about digital editing, but I would like to have more instruction on using the camera's controls using a "hands-on" approach.

I do believe that participating in the digital photography classes enabled me to continue to develop a critical eye. Again, I began to see the beauty of everyday objects: keys, flowers, feathers, and other objects that tend to go unnoticed. As the Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote, "The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance."

The Arts Are Alive And Well

Fortunately, I live in a community which values the Arts. There are many artistic and cultural events throughout the year: concerts and plays at our beautifully restored Stanley Theater, cultural events on Monday nights during the summer, numerous photography exhibitions as well as the annual Sidewalk Arts Festival (see the above photo.)

Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute is a valuable assest to local residents. (www.mwpai.org ) The Institute has the responsibility of maintaining the Museum of Art as well as offering various performing arts events. ( I enjoy going to the Museum of Art in order to be inspired by the different works of art displayed there.)

The Institute's School of Art offers colleges course (Pratt Institute) as well as community art education courses. I have taken several digital photography courses through the community art education division and I enjoyed participating in each one of them. (I will write more about the digital photography courses in my next entry.)

The School of Art also offers courses in drawing, painting, quilting, pottery, dance, jewerly/metal arts and paper/printmaking. I would love to have the time to take the jewelry/metal arts course as well as the paper/printmaking class. (I may have to wait years until I retire to be able to take more classes!)

I believe that the Arts are such an enriching part of life. As photographers, we can seek inspiration by learning about and appreciating other artistic forms. As Pablo Picasso said, "The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls. "

Twilight On Twin Ponds

I have to say that I have really been enjoying the process of creating as well as writing in my blog. My blog has given me the opportunity to write about the creative aspects of photography. I have also been inspired to take and post at least one new photo per week. (I have actually posted more than one new photo during the past week!)

In addition, I have been going back and looking at some of my photos. I vividly remember shooting "Twilight At Twin Ponds" with my Canon point-and-shoot camera. It was taken in November 2004. The leaves had been raked away, but the snow had not yet fallen here in Central New York. It was such a clear day and I just knew that the sunset would be breathtaking. Fortunately, I was not disappointed when I reached the local ponds. The ducks and geese were gathered there. My camera and equipment was set up just as the sun was sinking below the horizon. The sun's last rays were shining just over my shoulders when this gorgeous scene appeared in my view finder.

I knew then that I had to learn more about the art of photography. I began to appreciate the beauty of natural light. As the American poet Walt Whitman once wrote, "Every moment of light and dark is a miracle. "

The magic of photography has also given me an appreciation of nature. I have learned to really "see" those natural things that I had always taken for granted: frost on leaves, morning dew, flower buds just waiting to open, reflections on a pond, and awe-inspiring sunsets. "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. " (Albert Einstein)

Be At Peace

I often find it difficult to relax after a long day. My brain continues to race with thoughts and worries. Unfortunately, I seem to have very long lists in my mind at the end some trying days: work concerns, family obligations, weather-related woes, and lack of time to spend with friends.

One way that I use to slow down and just be at peace is to take some time to enjoy looking at my photos. I especially like to imagaine that I am back at the place that where I took a nature-related photos. I imagine myself setting on a bench by the lake, enjoying the cool breeze as well as a beautiful sunset. I look deeper into the lake and appreciate its mirror-like qualities. My breathing slows down and my mind stops racing. Soon, I remember what is important in my life. "Only in quiet waters do things mirror themselves undistorted. Only in a quiet mind is adequate perception of the world. "~Hans Margolius

And so I am grateful that I had the opportunity to take this photo of Skaneatles Lake (see above) on a chilly day, just before the snow came again. Hopefully, I will be able to make more photos that will help me to meditate on what is really important in my life.

Sweet!

As you can see, I have been working with the halogen light set-up again. This time I used candy that I purchased at the local grocery store. I liked the different colors, shapes and textures.

I was pleased with the way the light set-up worked out this time. I tried different ways of arranging the candy against different backgrounds. This was the shot that I think came out the best. I used Photo Shop to edit the photo. (Thank goodness for editing software!) The candy turned a bit soft underneath the halogen lights, so I used PS to smooth out the rough edges.

As I worked on editing the photo, I thought about all the things that help to smooth out the "rough edges" of my days. Here are just a few of my favorite things: eating rich, dark chocolate, listening to music, walking in the rain with my sweetheart, smelling a rose, drinking a perfect cup of coffee or tea, doing craft projects with my nieces, visiting the Maine seacoast, exploring a greenhouse, enjoying autumn in the Adirondacks, chatting with friends online, discussing favorite books with friends, and walking through a local nature trail.

This photo makes me recall and appreciate all of my favorite things. What are some of your favorite things? Perhaps A.A. Milne discribes this feeling best when he wrote the following in his classic children's book: "Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although eating honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called."

And so I wish you happy days filled with your favorite things!

Don't Let The Light Go Out!

Do you ever wonder about the time period into which you were born? I often do. I was born just four months after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so eloquently proclaimed his "I Have a Dream" speech to a quarter of a million people in Washington, DC. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated less than one month before I was born. Somehow, I think that those turbulent, yet life-affirming times provided me with inspiration for my own life's journey.

Today, here in the United States, we honored the life and achievements of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Although I was too young to recognize the contributions of this great man while he was alive, his legacy lives on and his words speak to me. Dr. King was a man who followed "the light" and demonstrated that each one of us has the goodness and power to change the world.

I believe that I decided to "follow the light" when I became a Librarian and started to work with children of all ages, backgrounds, and believe systems. My purpose is to show my students ways to better lives by helping them to appreciate and receive life lessons through literature. In addition, I chose to be a school librarian because, in my mind, education does make a difference. I strive to teach my students to live by the values that Dr. King gave to the world.

And, although it has been almost 40 since Dr. King's untimely death, his words, deeds, and legacy lives on. I offer the above photo of the peace lily in hopes that his words will continue to inspire others. Dr. King said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

I also believe that our art of photography can serve to bring us all together. As photographers from around the globe, we seek, use, and appreciate the light in symbolic ways. We can use our photographic talents to make the world a better place in which to live, work, and dream. Whether our photographs show the beauty of nature or the awe in a child's face, we can use them to make a difference in our world. The light will not go out if we do this. "Don't let the light go out! It's lasted for so many years. Don't let the light go out! Let it shine through our love and our tears.) (Lyrics from Peter, Paul, and Mary).

CJ And His Papa

My nephew CJ is six months old today. His Papa (my Dad) is celebrating his birthday today, too. So, I thought that I would post this recent photo of CJ.

CJ is so precious and a very good baby. (Please excuse the drool!) He looks a lot like my brother-in-law's family. However, we have been looking at my Dad's baby pictures, and CJ looks resembles his grandfather: dark hair, big brown eyes, and those chubby checks.

Although this photo is not a formal portrait, I really like the fact that I was able to capture his adorable expression. I am creating a scrapbook for CJ (just like am I doing for his big sister and cousins) and this one is definitely going to be included there.

Photography has enabled me to make photos that will hopefully become keepsakes. I may not have studio equipment, but I have learned more about such things as using the flash unit. (No red eye!) I am getting better results when taking this king of informal photo and that is a reward in itself.

I know that I will continue to take photos of CJ( as well as my family and friends) just for the sheer joy of it. Photography provides us with so many opportunities to make keepsakes of those special people in our lives. We may not always have the best lighting conditions, backgrounds, or the latest photographic equipment, but we have the desire to capture memories. As the Italian poet Cesare Pavese wrote, "We do not remember days, we remember moments. " Remember to take time to capture these moments through the art of photography.

An Apple For The Teacher; Practice For The Student

Today I decided to try some indoor photography using halogen lamps. I purchased two desk lamps with halogen bulbs at a local department store. (Thanks for the tip, AB!) I positioned the lamps on either side of the apple, and adjusted them as needed. I used an off-white background.

I used my tripod and the following camera settings: 1/100 sec., f7.1, ISO 400.

This was certainly an experiment! I repositioned these goose-neck style lamps many times. I finally decided that this would be my practice photo. I am definitely going to retake this photo and I have several options to try:

1) I may purchase a third desk lamp and place it in front of the apple in order to avoid the shadows.

2) I will shot the apple and leave a little more space on the right hand side.

3) I will continue to work with the lamps so that the highlights will look appealing.

4) I will photograph 3 apples and vary the composition.

My photo session today reminded me to have fun with the camera and not to give up. The beauty of this style of indoor photography using a digital camera is that I can always go back and redo it. "No one is perfect... that's why pencils have erasers. " (Anonymous) I will continue to use my "photographic erasers" and keep practising!

Thank you, my teachers, for reading my blog and commenting on my photos. Your support means so much to me! Here's an apple for you!

Color My World

It has been a grey and gloomy day here. The snow that we received during the middle of the week has turned to mud and slush. There is very little color during these mid-January days, so I thought that I would look back into my digital photo album for an image brimming with color.

One of the first things that I discovered when I purchased my Canon Powershot A80 digital point-and-shoot camera in June 2004 is that I could use the controls to capture nature's vibrant colors: lively peacock feathers, purple-pink mums, autumn's splendid leaves, or baby blue eyes. Nature's paint box became available to me through the use of the camera. I began to really see the nuances in color that only nature could create. "I try to apply colors like words that shape poems, like notes that shape music. " (Joan Miro).

"Laughter In The Rain" (above photo) was one of the first photographs I made with the Canon A80. I shot this photo just after the rain had stopped one July afternoon. These lovely day lilies were growing outside of a charming specialty food shop in York, Maine. (I love to visit Stonewell Kitchen store because of the gourmet food items they sell. There are also beautiful gardens there.) Although these ordinary flowers can be found anywhere, they remind me of finding beauty in the mist of a rainy Maine vacation.

This favorite photo also reminds me of another lesson that I learned about photography. I only needed diffused light from the overcast sky to bring out the gorgeous shades of yellow as well as the fine rain drops; too much summer sunlight would have cause the photo to be overexposed.

And now, when the color palette seems to be hidden, I can look back appreciate the fact that photograph has enabled me to use nature's paint brush to surround myself with deep, rich, vibrant colors.

Expressions In Light

One of the very first basic lessons about photography that I learned was about the quality and beauty of natural light. At first, I made mistakes by going out with my point-and-shoot digital camera when the sun was high in the sky. My first photographs were washed with too much light and lost their rich colors.

Fortunately, I learned the sunrise/sunset rule for outdoor photography. This made all of the difference. And what glorious colors are painted across the sky in the wee morning hours and again just before the sun dips below the horizon!

The sunset photo above is one that I took recently at beautiful Skaneatles Lake. This like is in my native Finger Lakes region of Central New York State. I took this photo just before the snow returned to the region. (I intend to somehow clone out the bench in the foreground.) Hopefully, I will return to the charming village of Skaneatles with my camera soon. This quaint town boasts many fine shops, restaurants, and historic homes.

The beauty of natural light is unmatched and its glorious rays always take my breath away. Photography and digital photo editing allow me to "paint with light". As the French artist Henri Matisse wrote, "A picture must possess a real power to generate light and for a long time now I've been conscious of expressing myself through light or rather in light."

The Joy of Achievement

My desire to learn more about photograpy actually began with a photo manipulation project. I discovered that I had a photo editing program on my computer called "Paint Shop Pro". The program came installed on the computer, so I thought that I would give it a try.

I didn't own a digital camera at the time, so I scanned in a photo that I had taken with my Kodak point-and-shoot film camera. (The camera used APS film.)

The photo was taken in the nearby village of Clinton, NY on an autumn day in 2003. This quaint college town has an esquite statue and fountain right in the middle of its village green. I captured the statue against a back drop of autumnal beauty in shades of reds, yellows, greens and gold.

However, the sky seemed a bit bland to me. (I now know that photographers say that the sky was "washed out".) So, I decided to use Paint Shop Pro to enhance the photo.

I found that this photo editing program was fairly easy to use. I taught my self the basics and began to experiement with this photo and Paint Shop Pro. My goal was to add vibrant colors and a sense of movement to the piece. Then I remembered a book that I had just read to my students in my school library. The illustrations in this children's book where in the style of Vincent Van Gogh. (The book is entitled Art Dog, by Thatcher Hurd.) That is how I decided to manipulate the colors of the leaves to add interest to the sky and other areas of the piece.

After I completed "Village Rhapsody" in the spring of 2004, I took a chance and submitted it to a local juried art show held at our local museum. I was thrilled when it was accepted! "Happiness... it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. " (Vincent Van Gogh) I decided that I wanted to learn more about photography basics so that could learn more about this art form. I also wanted to learn more about digital photography and photo editing. And that is where my creative journey began.

Waiting...

My wonderful niece K (who is very wise for her eight years) recently asked my why I "make" so many photos. I naturally explained that I take so many photos so that I can practice. However, her question proved to be a thought-provoking one which has prompted me to dig a little deeper. This blog has given me opportunities to explore the creative process and hopefully discover the inspirational factors behind the photographs.

Photography has enabled me to capture the beauty of each season. Today, winter's snowy bands of lake effect snow returned in full force. And while we all know just how much I love to drive through and shovel the white flakes, it did create a quiet winter scene. I took this photo of my neighbor's Adirondack chair. I like the contrasts in this photo: an Adirondack chair (a symbol of summer in this part of the country) covered with snow as well as the contrasting colors of red, green and white.

This simple chair seemed to whisper one word to me: "waiting". I am waiting to see just how much more snow we will receive tonight and tomorrow. Perhaps I am waiting for the splendor of spring to return as winter finally fades away. And I am definately waiting for the chance to create more summer memories.

And so I am able to appreciate God's handiwork through the camera's creative lens. This is one of the most important reasons why I "make" so many photographs. Whether I entralled by the glory of a crisp fall day, the beauty of a perfect spring flower, or a summer sunset, I am filled with gratitude for opportunities to capture such images using my camera. I am reminded of a passage from the Bible: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

I will try to enjoy this winter by taking photographs. I am going to practice getting the right exposure terms of the snow. (I actually overexposed this photo so that the snow would not look grey. I also hoped to keep some of the details of the snow.)

And I will continue to ponder why I "make" photographs.

Friendly Feline Vs. The Flash

Recently, I purchased the 580 EX Speedlite flash for my Canon Digital Rebel XT. Although I always prefer using natural light, I felt that I needed a way to capture images inside, especially during the winter months.

Here is one of my first attempts using the flash unit. I also purchased the Gary Fong light difuser system so that I could bounce the light. (This unit looks like a piece of Tupperware on the end of the flash unit!) I had my camera on a tripod.

I just love my cat, Belle. She is very loving and loyal. She will even go downstairs and checks things out if she hears something in the middle of the night. However, she does not like the camera! She will run away from me even before I get the camera out of the bag. So, I thought that this is a good photo of her.

Photography equipment lets me capture images from my everyday life in fun and creative ways. Now I try to look around me and look at my surroundings with "new eyes". Edward de Bono said, "Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way." How true!

So, I will continue to really "see" things around me. This is the joy of photography!

January Blues

Our winters here in Central New York State can be very long and harsh. The first snow fall can come just as the last of the fall leaves have been raked and cleared away. We seem to have snow on the ground from November until the end of March, courtesy of the Lake Ontario snow machine known as lake effect snow. We have endured days when the temperatures struggled to reach 0 degrees F as well as snowstorms that brought us two feet of snow at one time.

This winter, however, has been very different. It has been very mild. We have only had a few days when we only had a few inches of snow on the ground - no snow storms, ice storms, blizzards or days when the temperatures dipped below 10 degrees F. Amazing!

Actually, the midday temperature yesterday was 61 degrees F (16 C)! I didn't even mind the rain because I didn't have to wear my winter coat or boots. The neighbors were outside without coats taking down their Christmas lights.

Now freshly fallen snow can look lovely, but our harsh winters can wear my down. I do not like to drive in it or shovel it. The cold temperatures chill me to the bone. I tend to hibernate when the snow falls.

I would like to get out and make more photographs during the winter months. Winter skies can be breathtaking and the shadows can be fun to work with. The above photograph was taken just before sunset on a warmer January day. The hues of blues and purple remind me to try and take time to appreciate the beauty of each season, whether there is snow or not. As the French philospher Albert Camus once wrote, "In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer. "

Key to Creativity

Ansel Adams said, "You don't take a photograph, you make it." I have been keenly interested in photography for almost two years. Photography has provided me with a outlet to express my creative side. My goal has been to learn about the basics of photography so that I can manipulate light.

The photo posted here is one that I took last winter. I really felt that I "made" the photograph. It was a bright sunny day and the light was streaming in my window. I put a white piece of paper down. Then I used double sided tape to attach the key. The sunlight cast such a bold shadow and I loved the strong graphic design.

My goal this year is to "make" more photographs like this one. I will continue to learn how to take control of the camera and its settings as well as to study the beauty and power of light. Hopefully, I will be able to post my own Photo A Week here in my blog.