An outtake from yesterday's trip to The Good Earth. These tiny, daisy-like flowers are a kind of Brachyscome (in Asteraceae - the Aster/Daisy/Sunflower family).
Apr 30, 2009
Delicate Petals in Spring
Blue Zephyr
An outtake from yesterday's trip to The Good Earth. These tiny, daisy-like flowers are a kind of Brachyscome (in Asteraceae - the Aster/Daisy/Sunflower family).
An outtake from yesterday's trip to The Good Earth. These tiny, daisy-like flowers are a kind of Brachyscome (in Asteraceae - the Aster/Daisy/Sunflower family).
Latest Etsy Favorite #1
You've been to Etsy, right? (And if not get on over and check it out!) Amazingly talented artists, right? Yeah, I think so too.
I've been wanting to share some of my favorite artists, but couldn't think of a good way to go about it. In the past I've spontaneously come out with an "Oooh! Look at this!", but I want to have something more regular to keep the inspiration and excitement flowing.
So - I'm doing a trial run of a new series here on the blog: "Latest Etsy Favorite". We'll start out with a 4-week stint. If we like it, we'll keep it! Sound good? I'll post at least once a week, but I've gotta warn you that I might shift days here and there while I figure out what works.
Here goes... my first featured fav:
Forester's Wife scarf by EveldasNeverland
(Source of images: EveldasNeverland)
What made me pick this particular piece? Well, I spent a looong day today in wetlands, where the ferns are really starting to come up in abundance. I had swamps on the brain, and decided to browse Etsy to see which artists out there were inspired by wetlands. The moment I saw this piece I knew I had to feature it. So delicate and lovely - it really does look like a fern in fiber art form.
By the way, did you know you can eat ostrich fern fiddleheads? They're delicious - remind me of asparagus, actually. Read about how to select, handle, and cook them up here.
I've been wanting to share some of my favorite artists, but couldn't think of a good way to go about it. In the past I've spontaneously come out with an "Oooh! Look at this!", but I want to have something more regular to keep the inspiration and excitement flowing.
So - I'm doing a trial run of a new series here on the blog: "Latest Etsy Favorite". We'll start out with a 4-week stint. If we like it, we'll keep it! Sound good? I'll post at least once a week, but I've gotta warn you that I might shift days here and there while I figure out what works.
Here goes... my first featured fav:
Forester's Wife scarf by EveldasNeverland
(Source of images: EveldasNeverland)
What made me pick this particular piece? Well, I spent a looong day today in wetlands, where the ferns are really starting to come up in abundance. I had swamps on the brain, and decided to browse Etsy to see which artists out there were inspired by wetlands. The moment I saw this piece I knew I had to feature it. So delicate and lovely - it really does look like a fern in fiber art form.
By the way, did you know you can eat ostrich fern fiddleheads? They're delicious - remind me of asparagus, actually. Read about how to select, handle, and cook them up here.
Apr 29, 2009
Shop Tour - The Good Earth Organic Garden Center
I have a confession. I played hooky today. I was supposed to spend the afternoon in the basement, choosing which photos to use for an upcoming exhibit at my local library. Instead, I went to one of my favorite places to shop in Rhode Island - The Good Earth.
I hope you'll understand this weakness of mine when you see the photographs! (I tried to wait until tomorrow to share these but I couldn't help myself.)
The Good Earth is a beautiful organic gardening center in western Cranston, Rhode Island. The owners, Joyce and John Holscher, are kind and welcoming - the sort of people who get to know you right away and make you feel at home. They're also very good at what they do - growing beautiful plants, dosing out garden tips, and collecting lovely things for their nursery shop.
Let's start by browsing the plants, shall we? (Click the images to see larger versions.)
Their lovely shop is chock full of pretty things. Let's take a peek inside...
Can you see why this was more tempting than slaving away in my basement? Such a lovely place - I've already let them know that my snap-happy self will be back later in the season. I hope you've enjoyed this little tour!
You can visit The Good Earth's website here.
I hope you'll understand this weakness of mine when you see the photographs! (I tried to wait until tomorrow to share these but I couldn't help myself.)
The Good Earth is a beautiful organic gardening center in western Cranston, Rhode Island. The owners, Joyce and John Holscher, are kind and welcoming - the sort of people who get to know you right away and make you feel at home. They're also very good at what they do - growing beautiful plants, dosing out garden tips, and collecting lovely things for their nursery shop.
Let's start by browsing the plants, shall we? (Click the images to see larger versions.)
Their lovely shop is chock full of pretty things. Let's take a peek inside...
Can you see why this was more tempting than slaving away in my basement? Such a lovely place - I've already let them know that my snap-happy self will be back later in the season. I hope you've enjoyed this little tour!
You can visit The Good Earth's website here.
Hump Day Happiness
Are you ready for some good vibes? I am. I'm feeling great today. As always, feel free to join in and post some things you're grateful for in the comments section.
K, here goes...
Today, I'm grateful for:
1) Travel photographs from my archives - they always make me smile and bring back good memories.
2) Juicy red bell peppers (yeah, I just ate lunch...).
3) Knowing enough HTML code to squeak by on website/blog adaptations.
4) Tiny leaves starting to show on tree branches.
And last but definitely not least....
5) Warm enough weather that I can go barefoot all day!
Fundy National Park (from our 2007 vacation)
K, here goes...
Today, I'm grateful for:
1) Travel photographs from my archives - they always make me smile and bring back good memories.
2) Juicy red bell peppers (yeah, I just ate lunch...).
3) Knowing enough HTML code to squeak by on website/blog adaptations.
4) Tiny leaves starting to show on tree branches.
And last but definitely not least....
5) Warm enough weather that I can go barefoot all day!
Fundy National Park (from our 2007 vacation)
Putting on my Teaching Hat
Hello everyone! Yesterday on my poll post I got a great comment from fellow blogger Lady Ann de Borja of Visuals...
"...I would like to know what kind of light to use for someone who isn't a professional photographer and is not too expensive. What to look for when buying a camera...just to name a few."
In just a few sentences, she's hit upon some of the stuff I find hardest to answer! I almost never use artificial light, I simply prefer natural light, and so don't know a lot about studio lighting. And since everyone's camera needs are different, what I might look for in a camera might not work for you.
Me with my 15-pound camera bag on a hike in Cape Breton...
(Image credit: my hubby)
That said, I'll try to give you some tips and suggestions about these topics. It's a bit long, so click "Read more..." below to see the full post.
Lighting...
I always recommend that you use natural light whenever possible. I personally think it's the easiest thing to do. And hey, it's free! For product photography or still life work, you can set up a scene and background (say, some fabric or pretty paper) under a shady tree on a sunny day and you'll get nice diffuse light. Cloudy days are great for diffuse light too.
Obviously you can't always use natural light. For indoor shots, I'd say make yourself a light tent (at least for smaller items) and use whatever lighting you have on hand. The catch - you've gotta use the same *type* of lights all around. Incandescent bulbs + daylight = orange light on one side and blue light on the other. So stick with all incandescent, or all flourescent, or all daylight... you get the idea.
Third point - invest in a tripod! This is a crucial piece of equipment in low-light conditions and means you can get away with using your desk lamp instead of a high-powered professional flash setup or something.
Like I said - I do not use artificial light much. The tips above are the easy way out of the artificial light problem and I'm sure you could get even better results with a fancier light setup. If you want to go farther, I highly recommend reading through Strobist - they're a wealth of information.
Camera recommendations...
Ok, before I start I have to get one thing off my chest - megapixels DO NOT MATTER! Whew, that felt good. Honestly folks, any camera you can buy today will have way more than enough megapixels for your purposes. If you're posting online, you only need a very low resolution. If you're printing, what are the odds that you'll go bigger than an 8x10? I use a 6 megapixel Nikon D70 for almost all of my work and I've printed 34"x34" no problem.
Now - like I said above, a camera is a very personal choice and I find it very difficult to recommend one off the top of my head. I love my Nikon D70 & my Canon SX110, but they might not be the best bet for you. Do you want to lug around a huge camera bag? My D70 body, lenses, filters, etc. add up to almost 15 pounds. Likewise, will you be happy with a point and shoot that doesn't do well with "rapid fire" repeat shots? There's a decent delay between one shot and the next when using my SX110. That makes it tough to catch a good shot of a running toddler.
The thing is, when I research new cameras I look into the features I want. I almost never shoot in automatic mode, and I bought the SX110 because it has great manual control for a point & shoot. I don't really care if my cameras are user friendly, it doesn't bother me if they have a small LCD screen, etc. etc.
So - my advice is to think about the different features you need. How are you going to use the camera, what are you going to use it for? Then do some research online (I highly recommend Steve's Digicams for camera reviews) or go to your local camera shop and ask them to guide you.
I hope that was helpful!
Stay tuned - Hump Day Happiness is coming up later today!
"...I would like to know what kind of light to use for someone who isn't a professional photographer and is not too expensive. What to look for when buying a camera...just to name a few."
In just a few sentences, she's hit upon some of the stuff I find hardest to answer! I almost never use artificial light, I simply prefer natural light, and so don't know a lot about studio lighting. And since everyone's camera needs are different, what I might look for in a camera might not work for you.
Me with my 15-pound camera bag on a hike in Cape Breton...
(Image credit: my hubby)
That said, I'll try to give you some tips and suggestions about these topics. It's a bit long, so click "Read more..." below to see the full post.
Lighting...
I always recommend that you use natural light whenever possible. I personally think it's the easiest thing to do. And hey, it's free! For product photography or still life work, you can set up a scene and background (say, some fabric or pretty paper) under a shady tree on a sunny day and you'll get nice diffuse light. Cloudy days are great for diffuse light too.
Obviously you can't always use natural light. For indoor shots, I'd say make yourself a light tent (at least for smaller items) and use whatever lighting you have on hand. The catch - you've gotta use the same *type* of lights all around. Incandescent bulbs + daylight = orange light on one side and blue light on the other. So stick with all incandescent, or all flourescent, or all daylight... you get the idea.
Third point - invest in a tripod! This is a crucial piece of equipment in low-light conditions and means you can get away with using your desk lamp instead of a high-powered professional flash setup or something.
Like I said - I do not use artificial light much. The tips above are the easy way out of the artificial light problem and I'm sure you could get even better results with a fancier light setup. If you want to go farther, I highly recommend reading through Strobist - they're a wealth of information.
Camera recommendations...
Ok, before I start I have to get one thing off my chest - megapixels DO NOT MATTER! Whew, that felt good. Honestly folks, any camera you can buy today will have way more than enough megapixels for your purposes. If you're posting online, you only need a very low resolution. If you're printing, what are the odds that you'll go bigger than an 8x10? I use a 6 megapixel Nikon D70 for almost all of my work and I've printed 34"x34" no problem.
Now - like I said above, a camera is a very personal choice and I find it very difficult to recommend one off the top of my head. I love my Nikon D70 & my Canon SX110, but they might not be the best bet for you. Do you want to lug around a huge camera bag? My D70 body, lenses, filters, etc. add up to almost 15 pounds. Likewise, will you be happy with a point and shoot that doesn't do well with "rapid fire" repeat shots? There's a decent delay between one shot and the next when using my SX110. That makes it tough to catch a good shot of a running toddler.
The thing is, when I research new cameras I look into the features I want. I almost never shoot in automatic mode, and I bought the SX110 because it has great manual control for a point & shoot. I don't really care if my cameras are user friendly, it doesn't bother me if they have a small LCD screen, etc. etc.
So - my advice is to think about the different features you need. How are you going to use the camera, what are you going to use it for? Then do some research online (I highly recommend Steve's Digicams for camera reviews) or go to your local camera shop and ask them to guide you.
I hope that was helpful!
Stay tuned - Hump Day Happiness is coming up later today!
Apr 28, 2009
Camera Talk
Hello dear readers, I need your help! As I mentioned in my last post, I'm considering doing a podcast series to share with you some good photography facts, tips, and tricks.
Here's the thing - I can think of at least three series topics off the top of my head and, while I hope to eventually do all of them, I need to decide where to start.
That's where you come in! I've set up a poll below where you can vote on which topic you find the most interesting, and would like to listen to here on ye oulde blog. Feel free to suggest your own theme as well.
Let the voice of the people be heard! Thanks for your input!
Here's the thing - I can think of at least three series topics off the top of my head and, while I hope to eventually do all of them, I need to decide where to start.
That's where you come in! I've set up a poll below where you can vote on which topic you find the most interesting, and would like to listen to here on ye oulde blog. Feel free to suggest your own theme as well.
Let the voice of the people be heard! Thanks for your input!
Listening to the Birds
Ok, here goes folks, my first podcast! Let me know what you think. If I get some good vibes from this I might do a few photo tutorials - so much nicer to talk about the "rules" of photography than to type about them. Use the embedded player, or click the link below the image to listen!
Podcast 1: Birdsong
Thanks for listening! Hope you're all having a beautiful day.
Podcast 1: Birdsong
Thanks for listening! Hope you're all having a beautiful day.
Apr 27, 2009
Come on Over!
Hello and welcome! Kick of your shoes, wiggle your toes in the grass, and come with me on a little tour of my yard.
The robins are quite bold, hopping in the grass, but they still keep a wary eye out. I think this guy knows how good he looks perched in the forsythia.
Let's move into the shade garden. Last fall, my mother-in-law gave us some pretty phlox from her garden (a lot of plant swapping goes on in my family). It seems to have transplanted quite well. We even broke off another little piece to plant further upslope, along the stone wall.
Speaking of transplants, we are lucky enough that some of my neighbor's plants have scooted across the property line. This little black cherry isn't in our yard, but it sure is close enough to enjoy.
In the sunniest part of the yard, we're growing tulips along the road - a lot of road salt gets dumped there, but they still manage to bloom. They're starting to fade now, but spent tulips have their own beauty, don't you think?
Thanks so much for coming along on the tour! Now, let's set out a blanket on the lawn and have some ice cold lemonade. We can listen to the birds sing and daydream about the strawberries ripening. Yum!
To learn more about transplanting garden plants, click here.
The robins are quite bold, hopping in the grass, but they still keep a wary eye out. I think this guy knows how good he looks perched in the forsythia.
Let's move into the shade garden. Last fall, my mother-in-law gave us some pretty phlox from her garden (a lot of plant swapping goes on in my family). It seems to have transplanted quite well. We even broke off another little piece to plant further upslope, along the stone wall.
Speaking of transplants, we are lucky enough that some of my neighbor's plants have scooted across the property line. This little black cherry isn't in our yard, but it sure is close enough to enjoy.
In the sunniest part of the yard, we're growing tulips along the road - a lot of road salt gets dumped there, but they still manage to bloom. They're starting to fade now, but spent tulips have their own beauty, don't you think?
Thanks so much for coming along on the tour! Now, let's set out a blanket on the lawn and have some ice cold lemonade. We can listen to the birds sing and daydream about the strawberries ripening. Yum!
To learn more about transplanting garden plants, click here.
Spring Celebration Sale!
I was enjoying my time out in the garden in the hot, hot heat yesterday and thinking it won't be long until Summer arrives! It was 90 degrees yesterday. Can you believe it?! That's a bit too hot for April. My friend & fellow photographer Roberta of Uncommon Depth asked me to send some heat her way - I tried to send her 10-15 degrees, but it didn't work. Oh well. ;-)
Anyway, I got to thinking, how can I celebrate this lovely Spring season with you all? My conclusion: a Spring Celebration Sale!
During this last week of April, I'm offering a coupon code for 25% off any purchase from my Etsy shop. (Coupon code expires at midnight EDT on April 30. Shipping not included in 25% off promotion. Cannot be combined with other offers.)
Here's how it works:
I hope you decide to freshen up your home with some new art this Spring! Even if you decide not to participate in the sale, I'd love to hear your comments on which photographs you like best.
Now I'm off to capture some of the little flowers around my yard - I'll share some images with you later!
Anyway, I got to thinking, how can I celebrate this lovely Spring season with you all? My conclusion: a Spring Celebration Sale!
During this last week of April, I'm offering a coupon code for 25% off any purchase from my Etsy shop. (Coupon code expires at midnight EDT on April 30. Shipping not included in 25% off promotion. Cannot be combined with other offers.)
Here's how it works:
- Head over to my Etsy shop and pick some favorites. (Be sure to ask me if you don't see the size print you want - I'm happy to customize!)
- Place your order and enter coupon code violet09 in the "notes to seller".
- As soon as I receive notification of payment I will refund you 25% of your order total (excluding shipping) via PayPal.
- You're done! Sit back, relax, and keep an eye on the mailbox for your prints.
I hope you decide to freshen up your home with some new art this Spring! Even if you decide not to participate in the sale, I'd love to hear your comments on which photographs you like best.
Now I'm off to capture some of the little flowers around my yard - I'll share some images with you later!
Apr 25, 2009
Hot Hot Sunshine
Good evening all! Hope everyone had a lovely Saturday. I had a chance to get outside in the 80-ish degree April sunshine (80 degrees!!) and do some gardening. To be honest, my husband did most of the real work. I sat in the grass and pulled a few weeds and let the heat soak into my sore back. Yeah..... I hurt myself yesterday watering some plants. I always seem to injure myself in ridiculous ways - the night before my 6th birthday I broke a collarbone falling off my bed...
Ah well, the sunshine helped tremendously, as did the yummy dinner at my parents' house in celebration of my sisters' birthdays.
I've been too busy lately to take new photos, so I'm going to share some more from the archives. These seemed to fit the season - we're saying goodbye to the Canada Geese as they fly back north. Well, those that haven't decided to stay year-round.
And now, I'm off to bed. Have a great night all! I'm taking Sunday off from blogging, so I'll see you Monday! (Hopefully I'll have some new images to share.)
To learn more about some of the environmental and management problems associated with non-migratory Canada Geese, click here. (You may need to download Adobe Reader to view this pdf.)
Ah well, the sunshine helped tremendously, as did the yummy dinner at my parents' house in celebration of my sisters' birthdays.
I've been too busy lately to take new photos, so I'm going to share some more from the archives. These seemed to fit the season - we're saying goodbye to the Canada Geese as they fly back north. Well, those that haven't decided to stay year-round.
And now, I'm off to bed. Have a great night all! I'm taking Sunday off from blogging, so I'll see you Monday! (Hopefully I'll have some new images to share.)
To learn more about some of the environmental and management problems associated with non-migratory Canada Geese, click here. (You may need to download Adobe Reader to view this pdf.)
Apr 24, 2009
Polaroid-tastic!
Hi all! I'm getting back into the groove of "normal life" after the chaos of the past few weeks. This afternoon I'm going to do some gardening - partly for me, partly in tribute to my Grandpa, who loved to garden. We laid him to rest yesterday, holding my Grandma's ashes in his arms. Their tombstone will read "Together Forever". Isn't that beautiful?
*sigh*
Today I'm going to share with you some images from my archives. Lately I've really been digging the Polaroid look. I actually do own a Polaroid camera and I have a little expired film stashed away. I should pull it out and play some more at some point - you never do know what will happen with expired film!
But I digress. These shots were taken with new film, nearly two years ago. My best friend, my husband, and I had driven up to Rochester, NY for a wedding. I had recently purchased my $5 Polaroid camera at a discount/overstock store and was eager to try it out. We picked up some film at a local drugstore and I just played - paying very little attention to composition or light or anything. I love the impromptu "road trip" feeling the images capture (and the silliness of, say, a light pole sticking out of a friend's head).
Don't you just love road trips? I know I do. We always try and find a perfect small-town coffee shop or an ethnic restaurant along the way - makes even the most grueling drives through Southwest Connecticut bearable! I'm curious - how do you make the most of a road trip?
Getting back on subject - did you know that, even though Polaroid is discontinuing their film, you can still get compatible substitutes for some film types from Fujifilm?
Learn more about efforts to "Save Polaroid" here.
*sigh*
Today I'm going to share with you some images from my archives. Lately I've really been digging the Polaroid look. I actually do own a Polaroid camera and I have a little expired film stashed away. I should pull it out and play some more at some point - you never do know what will happen with expired film!
But I digress. These shots were taken with new film, nearly two years ago. My best friend, my husband, and I had driven up to Rochester, NY for a wedding. I had recently purchased my $5 Polaroid camera at a discount/overstock store and was eager to try it out. We picked up some film at a local drugstore and I just played - paying very little attention to composition or light or anything. I love the impromptu "road trip" feeling the images capture (and the silliness of, say, a light pole sticking out of a friend's head).
Don't you just love road trips? I know I do. We always try and find a perfect small-town coffee shop or an ethnic restaurant along the way - makes even the most grueling drives through Southwest Connecticut bearable! I'm curious - how do you make the most of a road trip?
Getting back on subject - did you know that, even though Polaroid is discontinuing their film, you can still get compatible substitutes for some film types from Fujifilm?
Learn more about efforts to "Save Polaroid" here.
Apr 22, 2009
Hump Day Happiness
Happy Earth Day everyone! Does anyone have special plans to give a little back to the Earth today? I'm going to do some little things today at least: pick up litter if I see it in a parking lot, use reusable shopping bags (or ask for no bag at all), and ask if I can get my travel mug filled up at Dunkin Donuts instead of a styrofoam cup. There are so many little things we can do to make a difference. Of course big events are great too - and there are sure to be some this weekend as well as today.
I'm going to do something a little different for Hump Day Happiness this week, and give it an Earth Day theme. As always, please join in and post some of the things you're grateful for in the comments! I so enjoyed reading everyone's lists last week.
Ok, here goes... I am grateful for:
1) The birds singing on this cloudy morning.
2) The warm rain soaking my garden.
3) The delicate beauty of red maple blossoms.
4) Frogs singing in the vernal pools.
So, how about you?
To learn more about what's going on this Earth Day, click here.
I'm going to do something a little different for Hump Day Happiness this week, and give it an Earth Day theme. As always, please join in and post some of the things you're grateful for in the comments! I so enjoyed reading everyone's lists last week.
Ok, here goes... I am grateful for:
1) The birds singing on this cloudy morning.
2) The warm rain soaking my garden.
3) The delicate beauty of red maple blossoms.
4) Frogs singing in the vernal pools.
So, how about you?
To learn more about what's going on this Earth Day, click here.
Apr 21, 2009
Grandparents
My sister asked that I share this poem. She wrote it as a Christmas gift to my Grandparents a few years ago. I think it's a lovely tribute now.
I know I've been a bit wrapped up in my own life for the past few days, thanks for bearing with me. I've been touched by the support I've been getting - thank you all. Please feel free to share some of your own memories or family stories in the comments section, if you'd like.
I know I've been a bit wrapped up in my own life for the past few days, thanks for bearing with me. I've been touched by the support I've been getting - thank you all. Please feel free to share some of your own memories or family stories in the comments section, if you'd like.
GRANDPARENTS
by Patricia Brennan
by Patricia Brennan
Grandparents spoil you rotten when you are a kid
But never let you go bad.
Grandparents never yell at you
But they tell you when you’re wrong.
Grandparents can live far away
But they are always near your heart.
Grandparents pay attention to the little things.
They always show they care.
Grandparents always listen
Even if you have nothing to say.
Grandparents always kiss you goodnight
Even if you stay up late.
I love you Grandma.
I love you Grandpa.
I always will.
I'll Remember You
I'll remember...
...hanging on your arms in the swimming pool, they were strong from your life as a carpenter.
...going to the paddleball court with you to roller skate.
...learning that you loved taking photographs too, and that you thought black and white was best.
...watching you laugh at your 90th birthday party while the family debated the best way to make gnocchi.
...seeing you smile when you saw Grandma's photograph.
I'll remember how much you loved us.
I'll miss you Grandpa.
...hanging on your arms in the swimming pool, they were strong from your life as a carpenter.
...going to the paddleball court with you to roller skate.
...learning that you loved taking photographs too, and that you thought black and white was best.
...watching you laugh at your 90th birthday party while the family debated the best way to make gnocchi.
...seeing you smile when you saw Grandma's photograph.
I'll remember how much you loved us.
I'll miss you Grandpa.
Apr 20, 2009
A Touch of Gold
Breathing
The photo title was inspired by Ingrid Michaelson's song, "Keep Breathing". An excerpt from the lyrics:
"The storm is coming but I don't mind.
People are dying, I close my blinds.
All that I know is I'm breathing now. "
We found these balloons on the beach at Island Beach State Park, printed with "Feliz Pascua" - Spanish for Happy Easter.
I really wish they had camping at this park, I could easily spend a few days there (in the off-season, at least). I'd like to go back and explore the Maritime Forest nature trail.
To learn more about New Jersey's Pine Barrens, click here.
The photo title was inspired by Ingrid Michaelson's song, "Keep Breathing". An excerpt from the lyrics:
"The storm is coming but I don't mind.
People are dying, I close my blinds.
All that I know is I'm breathing now. "
We found these balloons on the beach at Island Beach State Park, printed with "Feliz Pascua" - Spanish for Happy Easter.
I really wish they had camping at this park, I could easily spend a few days there (in the off-season, at least). I'd like to go back and explore the Maritime Forest nature trail.
To learn more about New Jersey's Pine Barrens, click here.
Sand in My Hair
Hi all. I'm back from NJ, we'll see if I need to go back there again this week. I'm not sure why I've been so reluctant to share this, but the bad news I've spoken of is that my Grandpa is not doing well.
It was a stressful weekend, but we're a strong family, and we were almost all there. Saturday morning we woke up early after a fretful night's sleep, and some of us went to the hospital to be with Grandpa when they took him off the respirator. Against all expectations, he's been breathing on his own since then. Things could change at any moment, and none of us really knows what to expect or how to feel. He's been through a lot for a 90-year old.
After getting back to the house Saturday morning, I needed an escape. Several of us headed down to the shore. We went to Island Beach State Park - it felt like the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Soft blue colors, diffuse morning light, empty sand and sea stretched out as far as we could see. I ran until I was gasping for breath, I took photographs, and I just lay in the sand feeling the weight of the earth supporting me, with the sound of the waves drowning out all of the worry and exhaustion.
I felt like I could stay there forever. But life goes on, so I stood up, brushed the sand out of my hair, and we walked back toward reality.
Check out the Island Beach State Park website here.
Learn more about barrier island ecosystems here.
It was a stressful weekend, but we're a strong family, and we were almost all there. Saturday morning we woke up early after a fretful night's sleep, and some of us went to the hospital to be with Grandpa when they took him off the respirator. Against all expectations, he's been breathing on his own since then. Things could change at any moment, and none of us really knows what to expect or how to feel. He's been through a lot for a 90-year old.
After getting back to the house Saturday morning, I needed an escape. Several of us headed down to the shore. We went to Island Beach State Park - it felt like the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Soft blue colors, diffuse morning light, empty sand and sea stretched out as far as we could see. I ran until I was gasping for breath, I took photographs, and I just lay in the sand feeling the weight of the earth supporting me, with the sound of the waves drowning out all of the worry and exhaustion.
I felt like I could stay there forever. But life goes on, so I stood up, brushed the sand out of my hair, and we walked back toward reality.
Check out the Island Beach State Park website here.
Learn more about barrier island ecosystems here.
Apr 17, 2009
Sometimes I Do Like Pink
Hi all. I'll be heading to New Jersey this weekend to be with family, and I'll be away from an internet connection while there. I'm not 100% sure when I'll be back (this trip has to do with the bad news I mentioned on Wednesday)... I should be home again sometime next week though.
I wanted to leave you all with something bright and cheery. I've mentioned before that one of the perks of being a photographer is buying cut flowers when things aren't blooming outside. You know, for a photo subject... ;-) Well, this Easter I didn't even need to buy my own, my lovely sister-in-law brought some as a hostess gift. She's so thoughtful. Every time I see the flowers I think of her, not only because she gave them, but because they capture a little piece of her personality: bright, cheerful, stylish, and fun.
Heather
An added bonus - Heather is hardy in my region, so I can plant it in my yard when we're done enjoying it indoors!
See you all next week - hope you enjoy the weekend!
I wanted to leave you all with something bright and cheery. I've mentioned before that one of the perks of being a photographer is buying cut flowers when things aren't blooming outside. You know, for a photo subject... ;-) Well, this Easter I didn't even need to buy my own, my lovely sister-in-law brought some as a hostess gift. She's so thoughtful. Every time I see the flowers I think of her, not only because she gave them, but because they capture a little piece of her personality: bright, cheerful, stylish, and fun.
Heather
An added bonus - Heather is hardy in my region, so I can plant it in my yard when we're done enjoying it indoors!
See you all next week - hope you enjoy the weekend!
Apr 16, 2009
Bogslogging
Hi all! Did you have a good day today? If the weather where you live was as beautiful as it was in Southern New England today, I hope you got outside to enjoy it. I spent most of my day flagging wetlands near Borderland State Park.
Wetland
I've found that, though I keep my "day job" in order to help pay the bills, it also provides me with balance. As a wetland biologist, I go to an office (granted, an office with stacks of maps and plant specimens and the occasional pet turtle) or out in the field with a specific task, and I work with people. As a photographer, I've got a lot more freedom in what I choose to do and where I choose to go, and I often am alone. The balance between structured and "unstructured" and between social and solitary are good for me, I think.
Painted Turtle
Through my day job I also get to see some pretty cool places that most people don't get a chance too - perhaps they're on private property, or maybe folks just don't think of crashing through tick-ridden brush and thorny bull brier to reach the edge of a particularly dramatic marsh. Getting to see this hidden natural world is really inspiring. Both wetland science and photography hone the eye and teach me to notice things I may have otherwise passed by. I hope my concentration and observation come across in my photography, they sure are useful when marking the edge of a wetland!
To learn more about wetlands in Massachusetts, visit the Department of Environmental Protection's website, here.
Wetland
I've found that, though I keep my "day job" in order to help pay the bills, it also provides me with balance. As a wetland biologist, I go to an office (granted, an office with stacks of maps and plant specimens and the occasional pet turtle) or out in the field with a specific task, and I work with people. As a photographer, I've got a lot more freedom in what I choose to do and where I choose to go, and I often am alone. The balance between structured and "unstructured" and between social and solitary are good for me, I think.
Painted Turtle
Through my day job I also get to see some pretty cool places that most people don't get a chance too - perhaps they're on private property, or maybe folks just don't think of crashing through tick-ridden brush and thorny bull brier to reach the edge of a particularly dramatic marsh. Getting to see this hidden natural world is really inspiring. Both wetland science and photography hone the eye and teach me to notice things I may have otherwise passed by. I hope my concentration and observation come across in my photography, they sure are useful when marking the edge of a wetland!
To learn more about wetlands in Massachusetts, visit the Department of Environmental Protection's website, here.
Apr 15, 2009
Hump Day Happiness
I've had some good times and some bad news this week, but I think it's important to remember what we're grateful for no matter what is going on in our lives. It gives us perspective and reminds us of all the great reasons we have to keep making the most of every day.
I'd like to encourage you all to post some things you're grateful for today, either a full five or even just one or two. You could post your "happinesses" in a comment (I love getting comments, and read them all), on your own blog (please share a link), or even in a private journal. Let's create a really positive environment here in cyberspace today!
Five things I'm grateful for today:
1) The wonderful weekend I spent with family.
2) The precious memories of spending time with my grandparents.
3) Seeing the pure joy on my nephew's face as he watched his kite flying.
4) Being able to spend time in the garden yesterday.
5) The inspiration that comes from being a part of a supportive group of creative people.
I find that when I sit down and think about the things I'm grateful for, it makes me more observant of the precious moments in life. To me as a photographer, this is also another way of honing my perceptions and noticing things worth capturing.
So, what good things are you noticing in your life?
I'd like to encourage you all to post some things you're grateful for today, either a full five or even just one or two. You could post your "happinesses" in a comment (I love getting comments, and read them all), on your own blog (please share a link), or even in a private journal. Let's create a really positive environment here in cyberspace today!
Five things I'm grateful for today:
1) The wonderful weekend I spent with family.
2) The precious memories of spending time with my grandparents.
3) Seeing the pure joy on my nephew's face as he watched his kite flying.
4) Being able to spend time in the garden yesterday.
5) The inspiration that comes from being a part of a supportive group of creative people.
I find that when I sit down and think about the things I'm grateful for, it makes me more observant of the precious moments in life. To me as a photographer, this is also another way of honing my perceptions and noticing things worth capturing.
So, what good things are you noticing in your life?
Apr 14, 2009
A Beautiful Spring Day
Today is absolutely lovely! I had a fantastic holiday weekend, and just brought the last of my guests to the airport. I now have the house to myself, and I'm resisting the urge to run outside and weed the garden. I have lots of catching up to do, and need to stay on task! I feel a bit like a child kept in school when it's almost summer vacation, but I'll manage.
Dyeing Easter Eggs
I've been keeping myself busy - taking friends to see the botanical gardens at Roger Williams Park, travelling to Philly, hiding/stealing/re-hiding my husband's Easter basket (it's his family's tradition!), flying kites with my nephew at the beach...
Kite Flying
I've also been taking a blogging e-course taught by Holly Becker of decor8 - so far I've really been enjoying it. It is a bit ironic that I've been neglecting my blog somewhat during the first week of the course, but I hope you will forgive me! I've missed sharing new photos, or details about an exciting new technique. It's good to be back, even when it means vacation is over!
Blog Course Homework
Dyeing Easter Eggs
I've been keeping myself busy - taking friends to see the botanical gardens at Roger Williams Park, travelling to Philly, hiding/stealing/re-hiding my husband's Easter basket (it's his family's tradition!), flying kites with my nephew at the beach...
Kite Flying
I've also been taking a blogging e-course taught by Holly Becker of decor8 - so far I've really been enjoying it. It is a bit ironic that I've been neglecting my blog somewhat during the first week of the course, but I hope you will forgive me! I've missed sharing new photos, or details about an exciting new technique. It's good to be back, even when it means vacation is over!
Blog Course Homework
Apr 7, 2009
Better Late than Never!
I mentioned yesterday that I'd be posting some photos by the end of the day, but unfortunately some things came up and I wasn't able to. But I hope they are worth the wait!
A little background before I share the images... I spent this past weekend in Philadelphia at my sister-in-law's house. She's a successful (award-winning, even!) voiceover artist, and her success has been a huge inspiration to me in building my photography business. She's always been a good sounding board for my ideas, and has shared a lot of valuable advice on setting and reaching goals.
She also happens to be quite talented in the home decorating department! Wanting to build up my interior photography portfolio, I photographed a few corners of her home during my visit there. I'd love to hear your feedback!
Windowseat
Office Wall
I just love how she uses such rich color, but still keeps things soothing. I hope to have more time to capture her lovely home next time I visit!
A little background before I share the images... I spent this past weekend in Philadelphia at my sister-in-law's house. She's a successful (award-winning, even!) voiceover artist, and her success has been a huge inspiration to me in building my photography business. She's always been a good sounding board for my ideas, and has shared a lot of valuable advice on setting and reaching goals.
She also happens to be quite talented in the home decorating department! Wanting to build up my interior photography portfolio, I photographed a few corners of her home during my visit there. I'd love to hear your feedback!
Windowseat
Office Wall
I just love how she uses such rich color, but still keeps things soothing. I hope to have more time to capture her lovely home next time I visit!
Apr 6, 2009
Happy Monday
Hello friends! I've been in Philly for the weekend, away from my computer and unable to post any blog updates. I would have left a little note before briefly falling off the face of the earth, but that might have ruined the surprise engagement party I went down there for! I had a blast, got to spend some bonus time with my fantastic friends from Montana, and had a little "girl time" with my best friend and my sister-in-law.
I hope you all had an amazing weekend as well, with sunshine and warm breezes. I'll be posting some photographs later today!
I hope you all had an amazing weekend as well, with sunshine and warm breezes. I'll be posting some photographs later today!
Apr 3, 2009
Spring is in the AIR!
Hey all - looking for something to do this weekend? Don't forget, Arts in RI is holding its "Spring is in the AIR" show this Saturday at West Side Arts Gallery in Providence! This is such a talented group of artists, well worth checking out!
Apr 1, 2009
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