God sets the scene

I mentioned a couple months back that I felt God provided photographs for me to take. God sets the scene and puts me in place to snap the shutter. And I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I felt uninspired, that I had lost that connection. Well all it took was a ride through the eastern mountains. I’m headed to my daughter’s for Thanksgiving with a stop by my mother-in-law and I decided to make it a two day trip and get off 95. Some friends at artshow_photo@yahoogroups.com gave me a different route of picking up 26 in South Carolina, then to 77, then to 81. They said if I took this way I would never drive 95 again. They may be right, at least when my trip goes first to Charlottesville. Interstate 77 is breathtakingly beautiful in spots even with the trees not at their best because of the drought. Unfortunately, traffic was heavy and it was just too dangerous to pull off to the side on the interstate for a photograph. I did do a side trip looking for Lake Wateree State Park but I never did find the park or if I did it really wasn’t worth a mention on an interstate sign. I did find the lake but really didn’t find any good photographs there. So I was feeling inspired but frustrated.

I pulled out of a rest area and the truck wasn’t acting right. It could have been that it was not used to the kind of hills I was doing but it just didn’t feel right. So I took the next exit and stopped at a gas station just to turn it off for a few moments (and to get a Powerball ticket). While in the gas station I noticed that there was an antique store across the street with some cool looking stuff so I drove across the street. When I got out I saw the photograph above. I believe that coincidences are God choosing to remain anonymous and what coincidences had to transpire to put me in that place at that time. By the way, the truck worked fine after that.

Tonight I’m safely in a nice warm motel with an aching knee and tomorrow I head to Charlottesville via 11 and 64. My daughter has given me some directions to her place that send me through some of my favorite roads too. Hopefully there will be more photographs over the next few days.

I missed the mountains, especially in Fall. But if I were here all the time I would miss the warmth and birds of Florida. Snow flurries called for tomorrow. That part I don't miss!

Naples here I come

Well I have been heard to say lately that the west coast (of Florida) doesn’t seem to like me much, having gotten 5 rejections in the past two weeks, of which, all but one were the west coast. Well Bonita Springs, Tampa, and Ft. Myers may not like me but it appears that Naples does. I’m now in the Naples Invitational Art Festival and the Naples National Art Festival. I’m especially excited about getting into the Naples National because I’m going to take the time between St. Stephens and the Naples National to spend a week in the Everglades taking pictures. Hopefully my sister will join me and we can have an adventure together.

I’d planned on taking pictures all weekend but a change in plans for Thanksgiving has me preparing to leave for Virginia next weekend instead of the Monday after the weekend so I am Christmas shopping and getting my nails done and all that prep stuff. Tomorrow is free though and I intend to be out at dawn.

In my free time today I’ve been appeasing the photography bug by going through some of my older pictures and reworking them. Let me know what you think of the one above.

I probably won’t post again until after Thanksgiving so everyone remember that the key to having what you want is wanting what you have so be grateful for all the little things.

Lake Mary-Heathrow

Ahh, Lake Mary. I wish I could do that show every weekend. It’s close to home. I get to sleep in my own bed at night. And better yet, appreciative people who buy. And I had the wonderful experience of seeing previous buyers. It’s so nice to hear, “I bought a picture from you last year and it looks wonderful”. I can’t say enough nice things about the people who put on the show. They know me, come by and check on me, and really care how things are going. And I was awarded third place in photography. All in all, a pleasant weekend and a good end to the fall season.

No photographs this weekend. I chose to leave the camera at home and I regretted it. I’ll have to paint a word photograph – A beautiful calico cat sunning itself in the window across from my booth in a home with beige walls and black shutters which just match the colors of the cat, a tree just beside the window.

Since I didn’t get into Disney, I’m going to take next weekend to go take some new photographs. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. I think maybe I’ll go back to Ocala or maybe to Kissimmee and try to get some eagles in flight. Or do the boat ride on the Dora Canal. So many photographs to take, so little time.

Ocala

Well here I am sitting in Ocala on Saturday night. This is the lonely part of doing art shows. The show is going well, sold a few pieces, one piece selected for judging which is an honor considering the number of excellent artists present. The show is very nicely done, with nice, organized people and possibly the best artist dinner I have ever had. I used to dry chicken and potato salad not chicken marsala and red potatoes. But the show is over for the day, my husband just called to tell me he is feeling very sick, sounds like the flu, and I miss him more than usual this trip.

I came up a day early hoping to get some photo time in on Friday morning. Friday morning was drizzly and grey, not necessarily a bad thing for photos but not good traveling weather particularly in a fully loaded van. I found myself on a two lane dark road with no shoulders in the rain looking at the speed limit sign thinking “I do not feel safe at that speed”. Of course there is a long line of people behind me by the time I finally find somewhere to pull over. There was no sunrise to speak of, just a slowly growing lighter, grey sky. I did find a lovely place to take pictures but then the rain started again.

It’s hard sometimes to juggle this life with family time. I realized this morning that I have forgotten to send the Halloween cards I bought for my grandchildren two weeks ago. So much to do, so much I want to do, so little time. I did buy that lottery ticket though J

Anyway, tomorrow will be a better day. The weather report has changed from 60% chance of rain to 30% and it’s Sunday and Sundays are always the best days at a show. Then break down, go home, and give Clif an extra hug for putting up with the everyday hassles of my dream.

Photographer Spotlight and other musings

What a difference a week makes. Winter Park was a grand success. Beautiful weather, beautiful setting, large crowd, and last but not least enough purchases for a modest profit. Then this morning I got word that I have been accepted into the St. Stephens Art Show. Wow! I had said I was going to wait to hear from Coconut Grove but comparing booth fees and the chance to get a corner booth if I accepted right away… well, I’ll definitely be in Miami in February.

Then Greg Kiser wrote this great story about me in his Photographer Spotlight. You can also see Greg’s wonderful photography here. I also found this wonderful quote:

"Above all, it's hard learning to live with vivid mental images of scenes I cared for and failed to photograph. It is the edgy existence within me of these unmade images that is the only assurance that the best photographs are yet to be made." --Sam Abell

This time of year, in the midst of multiple back to back art shows I often feel my spirit slipping away. Too much setup, selling, break down, and do it again. Not enough photography. This quote really spoke to me. I remembered my multitude of Alaska photographs. To tell the truth I was ill-prepared to go to Alaska. So many great pictures missed, so many things I would do differently if I have the chance to go again. I skimmed through the pictures, pulled out the very best, and had to stop looking at them. Now a year and a half later, I am looking again and remembering that vast beauty and wilderness. If nothing else, they are wonderful memories. And there might be a few good ones in there after all.

I must remember to experience as well as photograph.

San Marco.....

Ahh, what a delightful weekend. Pouring rain during setup, pouring rain all day Saturday, threatening rain all day Sunday. Add a disorganized promoter who decided to inform us rather rudely at 6:30PM on Sunday breakdown that we needed to be off the street by 7PM or they would “move it onto the sidewalk”. Gee, how about moving it into the van instead. At least be polite about it, it’s not like they bothered to tell us beforehand. Obviously we were struggling – everything was soaking wet. Of all the information that would be important to put in the information packet about the show – that would probably rank among the most important. They did make sure they got my signed agreement – three times! And that wonderful volunteer who walked right up between me and a customer to ask for my critique. All in all, one of those weekends where I wonder why I do this.

The people were wonderful though. A neighborhood woman even brought us coffee and towels during setup. And a big thank you to my helper Michelle. I couldn’t have done it without her. And my boss let me work from home Monday so I had a chance to dry everything out. Did you know you can wash Velcro? Just stick it all together in the washing machine and dryer and it comes out nice and fresh.

This weekend looks like it really is going to be beautiful. Do I hear strains of a Jackson Browne song - “tear it down and set it up in another town”…….

A day off

What a beautiful day yesterday! I was sending an email out mentioning that it was my last day off until November and I realized – hey, this is my last day off until November, I’d better do something besides sit in front of the computer.

First I went for a motorcycle ride. The morning wasn’t as windy as the afternoon and as far as good days to ride a motorcycle on a scale of 1 -10 this one rated an 11. The air was not too cool and not too hot and clear from the rain the day before. I rode down Lakeshore Drive, a piece of old Florida with overhanging oaks and Spanish moss. Just curvy enough to get a nice rhythm going.

From there I went to 415. I really shouldn’t like to ride on 415. It’s a dangerous road, only two lanes with a lot of people who want to go considerably over the speed limit but apparently don’t like to pass so they try to push you down the road. But 415 and I have history. The first time Clif and I came down for Bike Week the only road we knew of to get from Deltona to Daytona was 415 or Tomoka Farms Road as I knew it. We came down from Virginia expecting (and getting) nice warm weather. But we hadn’t counted on the nights. I remember many evenings huddled behind Clif ( I didn’t ride my own then) , thinking this is one long dark road. I remember the night we missed the turn for Deltona and ended up in Sanford and the night we couldn’t go any further and stopped at one of the stands at the Cabbage Patch and bought winter gear. The following year Clif found I4 and it just wasn’t the same.

415 was also the first place where I went 60 mph on my own bike after weeks of riding through the neighborhood mumbling slow, look, press, roll. More on that in another blog.

I rode up 415 to 44 and back towards home. After the ride, I came home and relaxed in the pool and then watched the football game with Clif. All in all, a restful day in preparation for the weeks ahead.