The phoenix dreamer

Summer evening

2011-09-03T19:07:00.000-04:00

I was restless today...even so, I took a few moments to enjoy the evening air and flowers and caught this little guy resting his wings and collecting some pollen. Incidently, I also decided to use this photo as the basis for my Sept. 6th assignment photo but when you see the result, you won't really recognize it. I just liked the way the flowers created a certain effect so you will have to wait and see what that is!

Paradise found

2011-09-02T14:30:00.001-04:00

There's something magical about New York City no matter what time of year you go. Yesterday, a hint of the lingering summer was still in the air, but a few leaves were drifting down into Central Park and the afternoon sun streamed through the leaves. I was drawn to the stairs by the soft inviting sound of cello, guitar and violin music gently wafting up from the dim tunnel below and the sound of the fountain drops serenely striking sun bathed marble stones. Descending below, I gazed in appreciation at the mosaic of the ceiling and the artistry of the pillars around me, when suddenly, I saw them. The two young lovers wrapped in each other: arms, hands, eyes. A new life beginning while the street musicians feet away played their gentle songs for a few dollars earned. They danced, they laughed, they twirled below the mosaic, lost in another world, oblivious to the change of seasons or the simple beauty of their shadows against the old hard stones benealth their feet, barely touching the ground. Their eyes were only for each other and I was completely lost in my own heart of hearts, enjoying a glimpse of their happiness, a moment when the world could stop and be still, when paradise could be found, when love could simply be.

Welcome home!

2011-08-01T16:50:00.000-04:00

My aunt was the one who said it best. In this moment, the world and everything in it was perfect. A husband, wife, and baby reunited for a brief time, a solider sacrficing his life and time in the pursuit of freedom, a hug that illustrates just how precious love is and how grateful we all should be when we have someone we love in our lives! Welcome home Jonathan. I hope 2 weeks goes by slowly and that you get all the time you possibly can to have more moments like this!

The post that speaks for itself~

2011-07-14T15:30:00.001-04:00

Another Palandro shot...just being a little creative with things. My mom, especially loves baby foot pics so she got a kick out of this one :)

I finally posted :)

2011-07-08T09:42:00.001-04:00

I was honored to do some newborn shots for my co worker yesterday morning. Little Alessandra (or Allie as they call her!) was pretty good although she got hungry about 45 minutes into our shoot :) These both have an old paper filter on them.

A boy and his pup

2011-02-08T18:02:00.001-05:00

Michael, my boyfriend's son, shares a tender moment with Rebel. It's so nice to see him smile :)

Welcome to the family!

2011-01-31T18:07:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, Mike and I got two little bundles of joy in my home...their names are Rebel and Scout! They are peekapoos, a pekinese/poodle mix, no shedding, and very sweet playful little guys! Here you see them posing with their beloved hedgehog :)

Scout is the black one and Rebel is the tan colored!

The face on Rebel is just toooo adorable!!!

Sheldon the Christmas turtle!

2010-12-21T16:26:00.001-05:00

I came home tonight to a much anticipated guest...a Christmas present for my boyfriend's daughter and my first "pet" since living here. It's Sheldon, the Christmas turtle!

Sheldon is a Texas Map turtle and came from Florida this afternoon. He is roughly 2 inches in length, slightly bigger than an Oreo cookie, and he seems to be acclimating well. Truth be told, I always wanted a pet turtle as a kid so even though this isn't a gift for me, I still feel like it's fulfilling one of those long lost childhood dreams :)

I'm with the band

2010-11-13T15:09:00.000-05:00

Several weeks ago when it was still warm and the fall had just started to bloom, Mike asked if I would take some shots of his son's band. The boys were very laid back about it but also seemed kind of excited to have a "photo shoot." My payment was being able to listen to them play in the garage, a true garage band :) I made some album covers for them which you see here. Michael is the shy seeming aloof drummer. I especially liked the second one since it was difficult to get him to look at the camera at all!

Last game of the season

2010-10-24T16:47:00.003-04:00

Mike's two youngest daughters both play soccer and I have had some fun the last few weekends going to their games. Both of them really enjoy playing and have very smiley personalities! These shots are of the youngest, Alyssa.

Lovely Fall

2010-10-16T15:30:00.001-04:00

Mom had a great little road she had been wanting to take me on to get some pictures. It was a dead end road up in the woods past her house. Turned out to be just lovely with the fallen leaves which still had some color to them. I love how in this shot the road is off to the side and the line of trees leaves is the focus.I also snagged this shot outside of my mom's house, wheelbarrow filled with apples from the backyard. Definitely reminds me of how blessed I am to live in a small beautiful town and how wonderful it was to grow up in the country!

Country Living

2010-10-09T14:09:00.001-04:00

Fire Sky

2010-10-03T19:35:00.002-04:00

Beauty is...

2010-10-01T19:01:00.001-04:00

Beauty is a cool autumn evening, with wisps of grey cloud and sun kissed skies. Beauty is the warmth of a hug and a shared hot meal. Beauty is a broken screen door and freshly hung curtains. Beauty is something simple and true and just within the reach of your heart!

Flowers

2010-09-25T17:06:00.000-04:00

Finally!

2010-09-19T16:52:00.002-04:00

Finally! Some furniture! I'm so excited I can hardly express in words! This is the dining room table, still waiting on a buffet for the dining room.

Two pictures of the livingroom sofa. There is a matching armchair as well!

Part of the master bedroom set and the newly finished master bedroom floor:
Last but not least, the downstairs hallway, which is being laid with oak to match the living room floor. In addition, my laundry room got a first coat of paint this weekend. In a few days, the floors will be basically finished and I will be moved into the master bedroom, and maybe have my laundry hooked up again! Plus, I finally got television service! It's like Christmas for me right now!!!

Possibilities

2010-09-15T17:50:00.000-04:00

I look at this chair in my upstairs hallway and think of the possibilities...will I sit here with my own children someday? Reading fairy tales and rocking them to sleep after bad dreams? Will I sit here as an old woman, sewing and watching the wind through the trees? What stories will this chair hold from my life?

How'd I do?

2010-09-06T19:25:00.001-04:00

I know it's silly, but I love entering the fair! This year all of my photos won a prize :) I dutifully write the date, subject of the photo and my name on the back of each ribbon so that someday, my great great grandkids might find them and know how much fun I had. Next year, I plan to enter the Altamont Fair as well. When the world seems so dark and lonely, there is still beauty in what we see and what is inside of us. We only need to share it with others!

Sunset and Storm

2010-09-04T15:07:00.000-04:00

My love for you is of sunset and storm
of night woven blankets and kisses so warm
of starlight and meadows that swim in your eyes
and fresh fallen raindrops that hide in the skies.

Variety is the spice of life!

2010-08-30T18:10:00.000-04:00

Mike's brother and a friend are refinishing several pieces of furniture for us, including this table that sat unused and rather dilapitated in my parent's backroom for some time. Look how truly beautiful it is! It has so much character and will go so nicely in an old colonial house. The next job after doing a few dressers will be my Great great grandmother's sewing machine table...I'm so excited to see how it will turn out!

These two shots are of my cousin, Sonja and her oldest daughter Madilyn. They are both so photogenic that I can't resist snapping some shots whenever we are together. Yesterday we celebrated my uncle's (Sonja's father's) birthday and enjoyed a beautiful day as well as great company.

Just for fun

2010-08-29T11:01:00.000-04:00

Here is a pic of a spider at my grandparen'ts house (eeewww!), and a few pics from the Altamont Fair. Nothing spectacular, just for fun!

The Dark Side

2010-08-25T16:13:00.001-04:00

Perhaps it's the cloudy overcast weather, but I've been feeling a little on the dark side when it comes to photography lately. Not that I enjoy seeing pictures of ruins and destruction; rather I would say I am seeing more beauty in certain darker aspects of life. These photos are the proof. As a former fire victim myself, I understand the heartache and despair one would feel from losing a home. These shots actually were not someone's home, but the ruin reminds me of the loss of my own home. In these shots, I see beauty and sorrow.

As for this shot, again, I see disrepair, but also a strong beauty. Something that has weathered decades of life and is still standing, determined, unafraid. Please let me know what you think of the tone of these images. I used an action on photoshop elements, something that is relatively new to me.

Sunset at the farm

2010-08-19T21:22:00.000-04:00

The barn may have fallen down, but its beauty is undiminished in my eyes!

A preview of things to come!

2010-08-17T14:59:00.001-04:00

I got some of my photos in the mail today. For anyone who is interested, I am now using Nations Photo Lab, which is a professional printing service and is online. I'm lately taken by their paper selection which includes metallic. I love the way the metallic paper makes my black and whites stand out. It just gives the photos an extra punch as well as a beautiful glow. This is a shot of a piece I plan to enter in the Fonda Fair: Breanna's wedding pictures :) The lighting is poor in this shot but I'm just giving you an idea of what I plan to enter. The frame is an el-cheapo from family dollar that just happened to perfectly compliment the sepia tones I went for!

Having fun with the new lens!

2010-08-14T16:25:00.000-04:00

I'm having lots of fun with the new lens and with photography in general the last few days. Today, I discovered that the NYS museum is having a photography exhibit beginning in September that is dedicated specifically to NYS landscapes. I hurriedly looked through my shots and submitted some, but thought, gee, I think I can find more out there somewhere. This first shot is sort of an accident. I actually just came upon this gorgeous field which I believe might be the same one "Zeezee" found a few days back. I shot in RAW and then changed my white balance to cloudy, uping the contrast just a hair.

This second shot I actually took last night. As the sun began to set, I traveled my vast yard in search of inspiration. I found it beneath my oak tree!

Who knows? Maybe one of my shots will be hanging on the wall of the museum in just a few weeks time! Definitely better than a first prize ribbon :)

Putting it all together

2010-08-13T19:08:00.000-04:00

Going through my photos, I am trying to choose what I am going to enter in the Fonda Fair this year and the upcoming Hagaman Art Show. The pressure is on as last year, I took home two first place ribbons from Fonda and a third place at the art show. I want to choose photos that people have trouble looking away from. I want my pictures to actually be good and not just be average. I'm still in my Eli Reed stage and so I'm doing a lot of contrast-y black and whites. I decided to put together this collage of some of my favorites. Several of them are in the running, but I'm not 100% sure on anything yet! Which do you like?

Freckles!

2010-08-12T19:20:00.000-04:00

Afternoon dreams

2010-08-10T16:41:00.000-04:00

I spent most of the day inside, organizing, cleaning, etc. avoiding the wicked allergens that seem to be creeping around these days. But I couldn't help going out in the late afternoon sunshine to look for something worthy. Here is what I came up with: nothing special, just simple and beautiful in my opinion. I call these my afternoon dreams because they both seem dreamy to me!

Father and Son

2010-08-07T16:49:00.000-04:00

Family reunions are a great place to capture relationships and my cousin Jonathan and his son, Xavier, look perfect to me perched on this tree branch!

Thanks Trish

2010-07-31T17:56:00.001-04:00

Got an opportunity to take photos at a retirement party tonight (thank you for the invite,Trish!) and while there, saw a beautiful bouquet with evening sunlight streaming in. Hope the rest of my shots turn out as nice as these flowers did!

Stacking...thanks Bridget!

2010-07-25T15:05:00.000-04:00

A while back, Bridget sent out an email about stacking, a technique where one takes several photos of an object, but uses different focal points in each shot. A free software then combines the images so that the object is in total focus and is sharp. The concept intrigued me and as I am trying to get back into taking more photos, I gave it a shot with this wooden bracelet. It required my tripod and 8 images to get this combination. I didn't get the whole bracelet in focus but definitely got much more in focus than I would have if I simply used the automatic focus feature. I think I need to experiment more with lighting as well. I will keep trying this out. The software is caled Helicon and is free for 30 day trial.

2 posts in one day :)

2010-07-24T09:41:00.000-04:00

Looking back through my photos from vacation, I tried to alter some to save them since my camera was broken at the time and screwing up all of my photos. I went back to black and white and high contrast in true Eli Reed fashion. The first two are shots of an old colored school, one of the first in North Carolina following the end of slavery in the southern states. It was a few miles away from the plantation I visited there.

This shot was inside the plantation, a writing desk with copies of the Collins Family personal and slave records. The Collins' actually were one of the few plantations that kept meticulous records and descendents of slaves from the Somerset Plantation can trace back their ancestry with great accuracy.

It's a step!

2010-07-24T08:40:00.000-04:00

Picture of the morning reflection of the bay window on my newly refinished livingroom floor. Now all I need is some furniture, right? BTW...the camera is back :)

A couple vacay pics and clouds

2010-07-18T16:59:00.003-04:00

I still don't have my camera, but here are a few pics from vacation, a picture of a slave kitchen at a southern plantation, and a picture from my cell phone which is of the beautiful clouds last night before the storm!

Getting Revenge

2010-06-02T18:56:00.004-04:00

This little guy is getting revenge. We ruined his home when we knocked down the barn and so he is making a lovely home in my front yard right next to the foundation of the house...not good!!! He will soon be evicted yet again...MWWWAHHHHH! (evil laughter echoing off in the distance...)

On a sweeter note, here is a picture of my newborn 2nd cousin, Ava, being held by Mike!

Here today....

2010-05-17T15:37:00.003-04:00

Original picture summer 2009

Latest picture May 2010

Which crop of the 2010 pictures do you like better?

Adirondack Cemetery

2010-05-02T15:45:00.003-04:00

I had a wonderful evening Saturday playing with Mike's two youngest daughters and a one of their friends. When was the last time you got to be part of an ancient tribe, play by a rippling creek, and tell ghost stories around a fire? :)
On the way to the cabin, I spotted a small cemetery with beautiful wild purple flowers growing among the tombstones. I went back today to get these shots. Also the last shot is a picture of one of my plum trees in blossom.

Speculator

2010-04-28T05:40:00.003-04:00

I was invited to a retreat in Speculator as a special guest over the weekend. I got to share my testimony with two great kids who are joining my former church. I also got to wake up early and sit by the lake. The lighting wasn't great but here is what I saw!

Emulating Eli Reed yet again

2010-04-21T20:09:00.003-04:00

Tonight I went to Dr. Fraser's VIP grand opening party of The Coffee Beanery on Rt. 30. Mostly it seemed to be friends and co workers who came to try to coffee and pastries. I have lots of pictures to sift through from the event, but there were two moments when, just after I snapped the pictures, I thought, "Oh, I think I got a good one there!" Both pictures feature children and since I don't get to shoot young children much, it was really a treat for me. Again, I'm emulating Eli Reed whose portraits of people fascinate me to no end. These are not up to his quality but I hope they again represent the real-ness and simplicity of the subjects. I was lucky to catch the first one of the little girl on tippy toes waiting for her specialty drink, but I am especially taken by the second picture which is of a little girl frighteningly clutching her mother's leg. I am definitely going to enter that one in some sort of contest this year!

Anxiety

2010-04-19T19:24:00.001-04:00

This is what I feel today so I think I captured pictures that in some way portray this. Also, my new inspiration, Eli Reed, takes a lot of black and whites of real subjects, many showing the flaws of the subject. I've done my best to try that as well!

Oscar does lunch!

2010-04-10T10:31:00.000-04:00

I haven't managed to kill Oscar yet, the Venus Fly Trap plant I bought at the Museum last week. In fact, he seems to be doing quite well and has caught a few flies on his own. He sure looks ferocious when pictures are taken up close!

A beautiful day in the city

2010-04-03T18:47:00.001-04:00

Our field trip for the month was to the NYS Museum where we saw an absolutely beautiful exhibit of photography that focused on life in America from the mid 1800's to modern times. I really enjoyed the exhibit and was amazed at how often breaking the rules actually produces a winning shot. We had a chance to view the city via the observation deck 40 stories up! Then we had lunch and walked around Albany, shooting anything that caught our interest. I found a couple of shots that I really liked and I even got some macros for our assignment, but I'm not sharing them until the next meeting :) Strangely enough, all of these photos to me center around the same theme or at least make me feel the same thing. Can you guess what that might be?

Peaceful Morning

2010-04-03T07:00:00.001-04:00

Macro-fied

2010-03-28T14:14:00.000-04:00

A couple more macro attempts... a fern in window and some rice for lunch!

A Secret Room

2010-03-24T06:07:00.005-04:00

In a kingdom far away, in a tall and crumbling castle, there once was a secret room. It held a young girl's dream and she longed to find the room and call it her own.

The girl believed that she would want nothing else out of life if she could just find the secret room and spend eternity inside of it. It was different than most rooms she knew; it had possibilities that she believed would make her happy. But one day, the girl saw a man who went into that room, someone who she knew and loved. The man, who had onced looked so handsome, and strong, was now worn and ragged. He was only a half a man, his face covered with anguish and age, his life traded away for the glories of the secret room.

The girl swore to herself that she would never become like the man, that she would never go to the secret room or desire it again.
Much later in life, the girl finally arrived at the secret room. But she was wiser than before. And though she saw old dreams floating before her eyes, she realized that they were not her dreams anymore. They were the dreams of others yet to come. And she was content because she found that the room was just one room in her castle. She would never become imprisoned there like the man had been. And she still had made rooms left to explore!

Macro time!

2010-03-15T19:22:00.000-04:00

Thought I'd bust out the macro rings and do some experimenting for the next assignment which is MACRO! I changed the tone of the image and added the shading at the bottom; otherwise this is how it really looks...Do you know what it is? If you guessed my knuckle, you are correct. Geez, I really have dry skin today, don't I? :)

People, not a direct hit

2010-03-11T18:19:00.001-05:00

The assignment was "people, not a direct hit" from Bridget. I figured I would post my pictures so that Linda could see them, but also to get myself back into the blogging mood. I took a few months ago but I would like to start getting back into my photography. So there they are! I'm really going to try to keep posting once a week if I can. I need the practice and I do miss taking shots!

Vulnerability

2009-12-02T05:11:00.002-05:00

There are so many pictures I wanted to try for this assignment, but I decided on this macro shot from a few weeks ago. This time of year always makes me feel vulnerable. One year ago Sunday, I lost one of my good friends to cancer. The holidays, while always full of family and cheer, also bring a remembrance of pain and loneliness. And so I find myself much like this snowflake, clinging to the glass, hopeful yet so vulnerable to the outside world. A single brush of a finger and the snowflake drifts away. Sometimes I feel like my soul is like a snowflake, delicate, tender, unique, always somehow standing on its own...scared of being brushed away.

Think this counts for Phil's assignment

2009-11-15T07:54:00.000-05:00

Breanna received this as a gift at her bridal shower yesterday. It was a beautiful gift in my opinon and reminded me of Phil's assignment.

Assignment two in one

2009-11-11T09:38:00.000-05:00

Bridget's assignment for last week was DOF so in this first picture the branches are representative of that part of the assignment. However, it also fits my assignment for this week which was lines. I like the lines of the branches in the background and the focal B/W filter to emphasize the leaves. Still a bit of fall color left there.

Also, this sunrise peeking through my curtains represents lines. Again I used the focal B/W filter here.

My first wedding as a photographer!

2009-10-25T15:49:00.003-04:00

Here are a few of my artsy shots from my cousin Sonja's wedding yesterday. Wow, I realized yesterday...it is such a demanding job to be a wedding photographer!

Did I post these already?

2009-10-22T18:43:00.000-04:00

Can't remember if I posted these or not...Taken on Sunday at my grandparent's. Used my new soft focus filter on both.

More fine art

2009-10-21T17:52:00.000-04:00

The picture is from last fall, and I have used two textures here...one beige colored with the scribbled like lines, the other a gray gravel like texture.

A huge rutabaga and another fine art attempt

2009-10-18T11:47:00.002-04:00

This rutabaga grew on its own at my grandfathers. WOW!

Another fine art attempt...took the leaves picture this morning after church and added a grunge textured background.

Another attempt at fine art texture

2009-10-17T17:50:00.001-04:00

I took the flower pic over the summer and tried another attempt at fine art texture. Only takes a few minutes really once you've found the right texture for the photo. I call this one, "Burning flower" (P/S see Trish's assignment below!)

Trish's assignment

2009-10-17T08:28:00.002-04:00

Our assignment for the week was to take a picture of something close up, then another shot a little farther back, then another even farther back until we had the whole room with the object inside of it. Using my macro rings, I took the first two shots up close, then I used my standard 80mm lens to take the rest of the pictures. I mixed them down into the gif file you see here!

Fine art texture and photography

2009-10-14T17:11:00.001-04:00

It's really Dr. Fraser I have to thank for this idea since he got me turned on to Jesh De Rox Photography. So now I am experimenting with fine art textures and overlaying them on to photographs. If you visit his site, jeshderox.com, you will see how he uses these types of overlays to create ethereal effects. I tried it out on this recent photo of Bre and Jonny, and I may try some out from my cousins wedding a a little over a week. Creates an interesting effect, does it? It like the second one better!

A light in the darkness

2009-10-13T17:04:00.003-04:00

These are recent pictures sent to me of the orphans in Kalomo, Zambia. My church generously gave a large sum of money earlier this year to provide food, clothing and blankets for the children during the rainy season. I'm thankful that God finds ways to provide for people in need and that people give when the need is great. The bags you see in the picture are filled with provisions and my gratitude can not be expressed. Jesus commands us to be a light to others (Matthew 5). Reminded of how these pictures show that light, I also took another macro shot of a burning candle wick. The first one is without noise ninja and the second is with. I really need to buy the license so that that watermark doesn't show up :)

Holding on or letting go

2009-10-11T16:18:00.000-04:00

Each of these photos could represent holding on or letting go...I'll let you be the judge as to how! P/S Jonny came home Friday for "96" (96 hours of leave) So good to see him and his fiance together and in love!

Macro fix

2009-10-10T08:03:00.000-04:00

You will notice a difference when enlarged between this picture and the one from yesterday. For some reason, my first shot was filled with a ton of noise. I downloaded noise ninja free trial and if you look at them both enlarged you will see how much of a difference noise ninja made. This image is watermarked because it is a trial, but I will probably buy the license eventually!

Macro fun

2009-10-09T15:34:00.002-04:00

I finally got a set of macro rings that works with my camera. The rings sit between the camera body and the lens, allowing the lens to get closer to a subject. These particular rings are the less expensive kind (about $7 on ebay) so the only real downside is that you have to use manual focus and if your hand slips, you could get some blurring (the automatic focusing type are around $60-100). However, they are a fun tool to use and I look forward to trying them out with things that have tiny details. My first shot is a normal shot of a piece of mini indian corn, about the size of a teaspoon.

Below is with two of the three macro rings on the camera. What I like the most about this shot is the tiny pieces of dried corn silk that are now visible between the individual kernels. I think that is cool!

Modified soccer games

2009-10-09T05:20:00.001-04:00

These are just pictures I took to practice photography. Can't let my skills get rusty!

A feeling of excitement

2009-10-05T15:54:00.000-04:00

I never really expected to win anything at the Hagaman art show this weekend. I didn't even really have much time to spend there, what with teaching all day Saturday, Mama's party, Church, etc. But having own this award was so very exciting to experience. It serves as a confirmation to me that maybe I really can do this photography thing. It's the same feeling I get when I write a good poem or song, but different in the sense that I am pouring myself into a different kind of medium. I still feel somewhat amazed and undeserving, especially after seeing the sheer amount of talent at the show and what was produced by other artists. All I can say is the confirmation feels so good and I hope I get the chance to experience it again. Strangely enough, this photograph was taken at a time when I was feeling a little lost and unsure, and now it is a source of elation and confidence.

Mama's 80th birthday

2009-10-04T15:06:00.001-04:00

A surprise party for my grandmother, Mama (accent on the second ma) was a wonderful time inwhich I was reminded how truly blessed I am to have the family I do. While my father was there, my mother was invited as well because she stayed close with her ex-inlaws over the years. Both my mother and my grandparents were unwilling to simply stop being family. It was something that my mom did for us kids that I still thank her for to this day. Below you will see my Tia Carmen (tia means aunt in spanish) and I, Tio Effie and Tia Miri, Mike and I at our dinner table, My mom and John dancing wonderfully to some salsa music and above left, the guest of honor, my Mama Velez!

The end of the road

2009-09-27T11:47:00.002-04:00

First, I'd like to say that there is an unspoken pressure on me to make this last posting full of the most amazing pictures ever. Of course, that is a self pressure and I'm going to start by saying these are far from my best. But since I love abstracts, here goes.
Unveiling my sight:
This journey started as a challenge between friends, a challenge to grow and learn and complete 365 days of seeing the world anew. It was a way to expose us to the wide open universe of the ordinary and the extraordinary. And it was a way for us to expose ourselves as real artists, eccentric visionaries, and deviant risk takers. It worked. While sometimes frustrating, the challenge caused me to see that not only can I take a good picture, I can reach people with my photography on an emotional level. I feel confident in my abilities to see things differently and I know that I can capture a moment, memory or mistake in a totally unique way that is all my own. Exposing that unique way was probably the most difficult part, but it has helped me see my growth and potential.

Opening or closing the door?
We don't really recognize the importance of the journey until the end. Am I closing the door on this challenge? Yes...but I'm also opening the door to something new or to the next stage, whatever that may be. The tendons of my wrist are taunt with both worry and excitement as to what that stage will be. And the light just beyond the door assures me that my hard work in this challenge was not for nothing.

A hole left behind.
Sometimes, when we leave something behind, an emptiness becomes apparent in our lives. I am sure that not seeking out a new photo everyday will be strange and feel wrong. But I'm just as sure that the next stage of my photography will build me up until that hole is filled with new learning and acheivements and a sense of purpose. Emerson said, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us". Journeys of the past and future will fade in time, but what we are deep down inside will never fade away. If anything, I've tried to make my "deep down inside" have a place in all my photos, so that someday maybe my great grandchildren can look back and understand what kind of person I was, what was important to me, why I fought for what I loved.

So I am officially signing off from this challenge. I may still post from time to time, but this journey is complete. I now take my first steps toward that which awaits me, a mystery and a blessing and a chance to use all that I have learned for good.

A great day

2009-09-26T15:55:00.001-04:00

I woke up feeling much better so when Mike invited me to go to Queensbury for his son's soccer game, I was very excited to go. It was a beautiful Saturday morning, cold and clear and a lovely drive to the game. Michael did pretty well seeing as how this is the first year he has played soccer and only their third game so far. They lost 2-0 and he almost had a shot on goal. The sunlight was so intense, I had a little trouble controlling the light for the shots, but these I liked fairly well. Also, I wasn't quite as recovered as I hoped; the game took quite a bit out of me. ONE DAY LEFT TO POST AND I WILL HAVE DONE 365 DAYS!

The shadow of sickness

2009-09-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm happy to report that I do not have a fever yet this morning! Still achy and all, but the lack of fever is a great lift. Hopefully, it is gone for good. I looked at Linda's shadow pose from yesterday and thought, hey that is cool. Then suddenly, I looked over at the floor and there was my sick shadow :) I know I look puffier than usual because I'm wrapped in a blanket and a huge sweater. So that's my shot for today. Incidently, I only have two more shots to take before I've officially completed the challenge. I'm really excited about that!

Sorry Phil!

2009-09-24T16:55:00.000-04:00

When one is stuck at home, one can not do the assignment properly. In fact, one spends the day trying to sleep, drinking an annoyingly high amount of fluids and watching the Indiana Jones triology!

Grr

2009-09-23T17:11:00.000-04:00

Well, I've got it all...the high fever, the congestion, the aches and pains, the on again off again chills and hot flashes. One second I was feeling pretty good and then in a span of a few hours, ick! This little mug is my saving grace today because it has held cool water numerous times. Best I can do, according to the doc. I hope this is the flu and that once I get rid of it, I'll be good for the rest of the fall and winter. In the meantime, I'm parking my sick self on the couch and praying for sleep!

Ghostly stairway

2009-09-22T06:02:00.000-04:00

Took this shot this morning because I know I have a busy afternoon and evening coming up. Mike, good luck in your class tonight:)

Morning mist with tungston light

2009-09-21T19:55:00.000-04:00

7 days left and I'm really reaching here!

2009-09-20T17:27:00.000-04:00

I know this photo stinks so no comments necessary. I'm just trying to find anything to fill these last 7 days of photos. I'm so ready for a blog break:)

Happy Birthday John

2009-09-19T19:23:00.000-04:00

Another memorable birthday dinner! This time it is John's birthday and it was nice to laugh and have a great home cooked meal and spend time talking about everything good stuff. I'm particularly thankful for John who has been such a blessing to my mom and our family...and to me as well! His work ethic, his unique view points on life, and his tender heart are all so amazing to me. Happy Birthday John!!!
P/S Check out the layer of butter cream frosting on my mom's piece of cake! Like she didn't do that on purpose :)

Ick!

2009-09-18T16:44:00.000-04:00

Feeling sort of ill this afternoon. Hope it's nothing major. Right now I just want to rest and stay still. No fancy pictures on a day like today.

We wear the mask- my assignment

2009-09-17T16:37:00.005-04:00

It's pretty hard to beat out the interesting and well placed elements that Steve came up with for my assignment, but here is my take. I gave the assignment, The Masks We Wear, thinking that it would be interesting if we all tried to take a picture of something that we hide behind, whether it be materials, other people, whatever...I wanted something symbolic, but what I ended up with was a literal mask, the mask of makeup. For thousands of years, females have worn makeup to enhance or cover features of their faces and bodies. As a pre teen and teenager, makeup begins to become something you must have because its in all the magazines and your friends are wearing it. The problem is not necessarily the makeup, but more of how the makeup makes you feel. It becomes something that if you suddenly don't have it on, you feel embarrassed or vulnerable somehow. Advertising makes women feel as though they have to look a certain way to be successful, worthy, loved, etc. It all comes back to what society tells us is "beautiful". Will I ever stop using makeup? Probably not. But it is not something that drives my life; if I forget the mascara, oh well! Besides, I'm too busy worrying about my inside imperfections to waste too much time on the outside ones. I do think a mask becomes dangerous if it consumes your life and you can't let it go.

More yard work!

2009-09-16T18:35:00.002-04:00

More mowing. This basket was made by the woman we visited yesterday. It is beautifully made and full of fall flavor!

Time-less

2009-09-15T20:30:00.000-04:00

School work, work out, mow the lawn, go to Mom's to go and visit an elderly friend. Somewhere in there I had some time to scarf down dinner!

Happy Birthday to you

2009-09-14T19:26:00.002-04:00

A willing model as the sun goes down! It was so much fun posing Mike for these photos...especially when he was making fun of my poses:) Today is his birthday so he really didn't have to let me boss him around the fields by the house or tell him how to stand. Luckily for me, he was and is a so easy going and a good sport. Plus, he really got a kick out of imitating my non-sensical demands! Happy birthday Mike. I cherish your laughter and your smile and more than anything, your heart.

Pretty in Bronze

2009-09-13T15:53:00.001-04:00

While mowing the lawn this afternoon, I got a good look at an apple tree that Mike had trimmed a bit last week. For the first time, I could see how beautifully bronze the tree limbs were, especially set against the green leaves and changing colors of fall. I added a soft focus filter to get this look. Incidently, I have recently stopped shooting in JPEG and now shoot completely in RAW format. After doing some research and trying it out, I've discovered I get a much better image in RAW and editing is much easier (i.e. the data I get is much richer and easier to adjust). What do you shoot in?

p/s I began this challenge on September 27th, 2008...that means I have two weeks left, only 14 more posts!!!!

The Gathering of His Body 2009

2009-09-12T17:51:00.003-04:00

Went to The Gathering of His Body in Amsterdam at the Riverlink Park in Amsterdam today. It's an all day praise and worship festival with many local and regional bands. It was a great time to just sit on the park bench and worship. You may recognize some faces from this shot.

And yes, the faces are purposely out of focus. I was actually focusing on the microphones.

I didn't take a lot of pictures. Number one it was kind of rainy and number two, I didn't want my focus to be on finding great pictures, but on God.

How I started my day...

2009-09-11T15:51:00.004-04:00

Alarm goes off, downstairs for breakfast and tea. When suddenly I notice a still damp paint roller and some things out of place. I think, oh, Mike must've come over and done some painting in the night (he always has trouble sleeping and does things until he's tired enough to sleep.) I head for the dining room, since I know he was planning to start that soon and I want to see how the paint looks. This was on the wall waiting for me:

What a great way to start my day:) Too bad it can't stay like that forever!

I see...September (Leslie's assignment)

2009-09-10T15:53:00.001-04:00

Distraction

2009-09-09T18:09:00.000-04:00

There is no time to think much about pictures today. I'm too excited about school and tomorrow when some real teaching begins and home and all the millions of things I have to do here. I love these old light fixtures though. Very medieval, leaves me with pictures of dungeons and knights in my already cramped head!

No time for pictures

2009-09-08T20:57:00.002-04:00

School, working out, dinner, bible study... no time to think about composing a good picture. Just a simple shot of Mom's flowers on the dinner table.

Salvation Army find

2009-09-07T17:30:00.003-04:00

I love the salvation army! Got this skirt there last week and it is so unique with these buttons sewn in one corner at the bottom. You never know what treasures you might find there.

With a litttle bit of luck and magic.

2009-09-06T11:07:00.005-04:00

This morning on the way to church, I was stunned to see a beautiful hawk resting gracefully on a hay bale. I've seen this before, but in a different place. I wonder if they like hay:) I couldn't get a good shot because my stopping the car startled him and made him fly to a farther hay bale so the resulting image is not sharp, but I still think it was a beautiful sight and with a little bit of luck and magic (photo editing) I came up with this:Also, I was practicing some shots at church and they were all coming up crummy. Lighting in there is awful and I really need to practice working with poor lighting conditions. But again, with some perseverance, I was able to conjure up this shot:

Everyone hopes to get that perfect shot, but sometimes it just doesn't happen. I love that photo editing can help you save some shots you think are worth saving. It's not was you saw when you were shooting, but it's just as special because you helped create it.

A beautiful morning

2009-09-05T13:39:00.011-04:00

Today, Mike woke me up at about 6:00am and we headed off to do some canoeing, which I love to do but haven't done in a while. What a perfect morning! Clear, crisp air met us at the shoreline along with calm, warm lake waters. The lake was an empty painting, nothing moving, no sound except the soft breath of our paddles. While fishing, we saw a beaver swimming nearby and watched the majestic flight and rest of a Blue Heron. The fish were definitely nibbling, but not really biting. We sat in silence, listening to the birds and occasionally, being startled by a jumping fish! Finally, Mike caught a small mouth bass, just a baby that he threw back in. He was determined that I would catch something before we left. Nestled by some lily pads and with his help, I reeled in a sun fish, again too small for much of a meal, but beautiful all the same. It was better than I had thought it would be, just the two of us, in a world all our own. I had promised myself that today would not be about taking pictures, but would be simply the two of us enjoying a quiet morning doing something we both enjoy. That being said, I shot these two pictures just before we got into the canoe.Too bad I didn't have the camera...I nearly tipped Mike into the lake while trying to pull the boat ashore!

Nature

2009-09-04T17:08:00.002-04:00

A proud day

2009-09-03T18:45:00.008-04:00

Today was a proud day because I won my very first "prize" in photography...two blue ribbons at the fair!!! Yes, I know the Fonda Fair is lame, but hey! It's nice to get my stuff out there and see how people feel about it. It definitely made me proud that 2 out of my 3 entries were chosen for this honor. It's an even better feeling than winning the trophy :) Here are the two prize winners. Bridget's assignment was to take one photo in color and one in black and white...but I was so wrapped up in my blue ribbons that I forgot to take the second picture in b/w, so I did this with photo editing: Sorry, Bridget! Hope it's acceptable :)

You never know what there is in store for you!

2009-09-02T19:56:00.005-04:00

I had an idea for a picture all day long and just knew that I would take it. No rush, I said, it is something I can take at any time of day. I took an brisk evening walk and then did some kick boxing which always makes me feel empowered. A good time to take a picture! I went to get the camera, which I had left in the car. Suddenly, there was a glorious moon in front of me. I toyed with the tripod for a bit, but couldn't get the moon picture I wanted. Turning to go back into the house for the real picture, I saw a tree in the backyard. Flashback: Yesterday, Mike and I did some yard work and he was pruning some trees and cutting down some others. It was wonderful to work together on the land which will someday be ours together. Seeing that simple little tree reminded me of yesterday and of us being together. So I took the picture. The tree, of course, is just a simple little ambiguous thing...but just behind it...

Just goes to show you that you never know what is in store for you and that we have to be thankful for the simple moments we share on this earth. I look forward to more of those days with Mike here.

Honoring two special men

2009-09-01T09:19:00.004-04:00

Today's post is to honor two special men in my life: My stepfather, John and my little brother, Jonathan. Jonathan is currently serving in the Marine Corps in North Carolina. He is waiting to be placed in the special school where he will learn his military job skills. John served in the United States Army in Vietnam. While I am honoring them for their chosen service to our country, I'm also honoring them as the men that they are. Both are caring, determined, and protective of their families and loved ones. Both are willing to give of themselves for others. And without both of them, I wouldn't be the person I am. I sewed these patches myself onto my camera bag so that every time I reach for my camera I will be reminded of the sacrifices of those in the service and of these two men who have greatly impacted my life and so many others!

A soft day

2009-08-31T12:40:00.004-04:00

Today seems like any other day, but also seems to be a day when I see and feel many soft things. Soft fragrant fields of wild flowers, small containers of soft, ripe fruits for sale, a gentle breeze, and the soft feeling of clean bedding that makes you want to sleep the day away. Alas, there is much to do yet. Here is a picture that reminds me of softness.

Logo

2009-08-30T14:16:00.003-04:00

School work, house work, boredom waiting for Mike to get back from Maine. I was able to keep myself occupied today. My cousin Sonja surprised me by asking me if I would take the pictures at her wedding in October. It is going to be a really low key affair, with them getting married at their house, casual dress for guests, simple and relatively small. I developed a questionaire for them and thought I'd develop a logo too, just in case anyone asks who did their photos. In keeping with the spirit of my blog, I kept the name, Phoenix Dreamer and added the bible verse which talks about faith and fire. I found the bird silhouette online, added a burning center, since the phoenix is a bird that bursts into flame and voila! My logo!

Always things to do with a new house

2009-08-29T13:32:00.004-04:00

have a list of things I've been trying to get done: painting, curtains for the downstairs, calling for floor refinishing estimates, laundry, etc. etc. etc. It never ends, but in a way I'm glad because this house will someday be beautiful!

Unfortunately for me, Mike is in Maine again and I wish I was there too. He'll be back soon and I hope I finish some painting before he gets here. I also have many pictures that have to be re-framed and hung so that is also on the above list and it is my picture for today. Also, a nice portrait of mom from the birthday party the other night

Fruit

2009-08-28T17:02:00.003-04:00

This summer I've been trying to cut down on diet pepsi (also known as liquid heroin for me). I've also been enjoying some local grow fruit, which I do like alot. Trying to replace caffene with a healthier choice is hard for me, but I do enjoy tea both hot and cold, water, and fruit juices. So that's my picture for today. I took the picture in the evening then added a soft glow filter which I really like. Two of my African bowls are also shown in the picture. I love to use them! Speaking of healthier choices, time to make dinner!

Clouds and a birthday

2009-08-27T15:24:00.008-04:00

I took this picture of the interesting clouds in the blue sky:
Then inverted the colors which caused the picture to transform to this:

Tomorrow is Uncle Charlie's 50th birthday and we celebrated tonight at my grandparents with a wonderful homecooked meal and cake and ice cream. Uncle Charlie was his typical self, he always purposely looks cross eyed whenever I take pictures. Here he is holding up a birthday present from my grandfather...his once favorite shirt!
After dinner, we all got VERY sleepy (Poppie for real, the rest of us are fakers)!

Thursday assignment a day early: Two things somehow connected

2009-08-26T12:05:00.008-04:00

Answer from yesterdays picture: My ivy plant with two cool filters:)

Linda's assignment was pretty cool this week: Come up with two things or people that are somehow connected and yet, are independent of each other. That was my take. Thankfully, there has been only one thing (or one person I should say) on my mind since last night. The two objects below are so different from each other, one might say they couldn't possibly be connected:

Trish gave me the idea for the stamp design from her earlier post this week. The fruit and bowl represent Africa, which is where the bowl came from. The paint is what I've been doing today in one of the upstairs bedrooms. Both of these things are connected to me because they represent two things I wish I was doing with Mike right now. Sometimes all you want to do is be with the person you love and do normal things, like paint a room, do laundry, watch a TV show. Other times, you want to share your adventures, like going to Africa, traveling, discovering something new. Either way, Mike is the only person I would like to do those things with, the normal things, the difficult things, the adventures and the trials. If we did them together, it would all, the good and the bad, be worth it. Mike: I love you. And that is the connection between those two pictures .

3 guesses

2009-08-25T15:30:00.004-04:00

Can you guess what this is? Look carefully! Tomorrow I will give you the answer!

More falls

2009-08-24T17:26:00.003-04:00

Chittenago Falls is about 160 feet high and looks just unbelievably large from the steep roadway. Unfortunately, Mike and I couldn't get into the state park for better pictures because the police had it closed down today, some type of investigation going on. So trusty Karen (the GPS) led us to Pratt's Falls a few miles away, about 130 feet tall and not quite as massive, but beautiful just the same. There was once a mill here, built in the late 1700's, but long gone now.

God's ability is bigger than my anxiety!

2009-08-23T12:10:00.005-04:00

Today I went to a church in Johnstown and heard a great sermon on worry. Not that I am a huge worrier. I tend to store it all up and then, boom! Anxiety central! But today I was reminded that worrying means I don't believe God will do what He has promised: fulfill all my needs. My fridge is the picture today (cruddy picture I know) but a silent reminder of some of my worries: A picture of my mom (represents my worries for my family), A father's day card for Mike (represents my worries for him), Bills (my August budget is on there), My sponsor child in Ethiopia (Ashenafi and also a reminder of my friends in Kalomo, Zambia), and my voting information (represents my concerns for our country). All of these are things I worry about from time to time. BUT today, I look at the fridge and remember God's promises to those who love Him:

A promise to sustain me: Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. " Isaiah 46:4

A promise to hear my prayers: Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." Jeremiah 29:12

A promise to protect me: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames willnot set you ablaze." Isaiah 43:1,2

A promise to give me unimaginable love and a home: No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." 1 Cor. 2:9

My worry fridge is now a reminder that God's ability is bigger than my anxiety! Amen to that!