Vision

Photography can give any vision its voice.  

 By this I mean, any look you can imagine or envision, you can achieve with the medium of photography. 

 It may be soft impressionism, minute detail, minimalist design, vintage look, collage......

 dream it and it can be done.

Granted you may need a different lens, special technique, or editing software, but what an amazing medium!

These photos emulate the qualities that the French Impressionists captured in their paintings. 

 This look can be achieved with a hand-held shot taken in low light or by actually moving the camera while shooting. 

 Different movements - vertical, horizontal, circular - will create different looks. 

 Experiment and enjoy!

(And yes, we still have snow covering everything in northern Wisconsin. 

 I know, that's hard to believe!)

Process vs. Product

Today, I'm contributing an essay titled, Process vs. Product, to The Inspiration Studio.

It's all about how many artists are focused on the process of making art, 

while others have their hearts set on the finished piece.

Hope you can journey over there and 

check out the dimensional dragonfly that sports a pair of hand-sewn wings, 

like the ones above.

I'm also linking this photo into Kat's, Exploring with a Camera - Group of Three. 

 As always, she's got some great compositional information to share.

Snowy Pines

"To know what to leave out and what to put in; just where and just how, ah, that is to have been educated in knowledge of simplicity -

 toward ultimate freedom of expression."  ~ Frank Lloyd Wright

Another storm -

we are in the depths of winter again.

Amid nature's overwhelming detail, I like to find a simple abstract composition. 

 This capture fits the bill.

If you're looking for color, today I am contributing to The Inspiration Studio with a vibrant photo of my ribbon work. 

 It is our second week exploring the theme of color.  Enjoy!

Japan

"Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does."  ~ William James

Thinking

of

Japan

To help:

1000 cranes for Japan

For Japan with Love

World Vision

Red Cross

Unicef

Beading a Rainbow

Today, I'm contributing photos of my necklace, Radiance, to The Inspiration Studio. 

 Our theme is color and posts are all visuals, no text for two weeks.  

It's a gorgeous treat - a feast for the eyes!

We're also choosing a photo from the iStudio Flickr pool, each day.

So, add some of your best captures to the pool

 and you may be included.

Wishing you a colorful world!

Winter Necklace

I know, I know, most everyone is thoroughly sick of winter, but...

I have to share this bit of beauty.

When we went to pick up our daughter for her college Spring Break (definitely a misnomer, this year), 

I found Mother Nature showing off this amazing ice necklace. 

 She was wearing it shyly, in a back alley.

Keeping my eyes, mind, and heart wide open, 

as beauty often resides in unexpected places!

Everyday Beauty

"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished"  ~ Lao Tzu

Winter is in no hurry to leave.

In fact, winter seems a bit greedy - gripping onto more of its seasonal time slot than most folks feel is reasonable!

So, what shall we do......  I decided to humor winter and explore some of its everyday beauty.

I found a hedgerow with gnarly, wild child charm.

I looked to the heavens and spied a cathedral of sunlight and a zillion branches.

Finally, I turned around and saw jewel-like globes of brilliant color adorning our fruit trees.

Simplicity and Stillness

Simplicity is powerful.

This statement applies to just about everything - a sentence, photograph, floor plan, art quilt, speech, painting - the list goes on.
 The viewer, listener, reader is not confused because your intent is clearly conveyed.

Stillness, is one of my favorite winter captures.  It embraces simplicity in content, composition, and color harmony.
 It speaks to the stark beauty, stillness, and solitude of winter.

This photo accompanies my Inspiration Studio contribution titled, Winter's Rhythm, which you can read here.
 I'm also linking into Exploring with a Camera : Capture the Sky.

Yearning

I'm yearning for.....

blossoms

unfolding ferns

the first loon call

walking without a winter parka

expanse of lake water - instead of ice

grass paths through the woods

spawning giant musky in the shallows

kayaking

twin fawns

dragonflies

summer sunsets

and

twilight conversations on the dock.

Journey

Today, I'm contributing to Kim Klassen's Inspiration Studio. 

 My essay is titled, Grow your Mojo.  It's all about growing the elusive artists' mojo. 

 I hope you can journey over there with me (3:30 CST).