Finally Friday

'Finally Friday, Image 1'

Thank God it’s Friday!  Or “It’s Finally Friday!” There are also: I can’t wait until Friday, Friday is in two days from now, tomorrow’s Friday, and is it Friday yet?  In addition to the many statements about Friday that we use on a regular basis there are themes that we associate Friday with like Dress Down Friday, or Dress Up Friday, or Happy Friday.  Some companies allow their employees to make their own schedule on this day, while others let their employees leave at noon.  There are also the people who allow themselves to do whatever they please on this day, aka P.O.E.T.S or Piss Off Early Tomorrow’s Saturday.

Why do we have so much invested in this one day of the week?  We allow ourselves to relax more, be more happy, have more fun and be more free, and we do this all because it is Friday.  What is it about this one day that gives us all this cause for celebration and relief?

Spring II

<This is where you’re thinking “well, duh, it’s because tomorrow is the weekend and I don’t have to come to this dumb job that I hate and deal with my jerk boss who is less qualified then an ant to…”>

I know the reasons why people celebrate this day.  What I am really after here is this: why can’t we treat every day like it was a Friday?  Think about how much happier we would be if we found a reason to be happy and to live life as we wanted to EVERY day.

Monday we could celebrate seeing our friends at work or getting start our week off exactly as we want.  Tuesdays we could allow ourselves a little treat for making it that far through the week.  Wednesday we could do something special or different for ourselves (like getting a pedicure or wearing some bright color to wake everyone up around you).  Thursdays we could celebrate how thankful we are for everyone and everything in our lives.  And Fridays are just another fabulous day where you find another reason to celebrate and experience life exactly as you want to.

"Walking Down the Beach One Day I Ran Into an Old Friend"

Think about how different the world would be if we found a reason to enjoy and look forward to every day.  What day of the week would you celebrate and why?

<By the way, last year I created a photo project called “Finally Friday” where I allowed myself one day to do whatever I wanted to and go wherever I wanted and take pictures along the way or not.  These images in this post were all from those excursions.  Recently I’ve been finding it hard to get out on this day because of various reasons or responsibilities.  So this post is really lecturing myself to snap out of it and make every day what I want it to be.  We’re all a work in progress – right?>

 

"Spring I"

News and a Contest

I have had so much to say to you over the last few weeks… and no time to write it all down.  I think it’s something in the air around this time because all of a sudden there is so much going on – from get togethers with friends, to business, to projects, and other demands on our time and energy.  And no, this isn’t a good excuse for why I haven’t written to you but it does give me a lot to talk about right now.

From my various framing projects and art show escapades I have saved up a large collection of scraps of plexi-glass scraps.  I always figured I would find a use for them and, well, I have…

New Necklaces and a Contest to Win One

These new photo pendants have two layers of images mounted with acrylic paint and varnish onto small pieces of plexi-glass.  I have been “forced” to test them out in the market (which means wear them on a near daily basis) and the results are in.  I love them – and so do most other people who have seen them.  And if my daughter doesn’t claim them all for herself then I will have plenty for sale through the holiday season.

My friend at A La Mode is now having a contest for her readers and what you win is this necklace pictured above (my current favorite).  The stairs look like they are leading to your heart – it may sound a bit dorky but I think it is really cool.  Go to her website – go now – and get entered to win the contest.

In other news… I just agreed to do an art show at the Santa Rosa Golf and Country Club in early December.  This is a classic case of agreeing to do something before realizing the scope of what I am getting myself into.  I agreed on the phone, and then went and met with them and saw the VERY large space they have dedicated to showing art.  Needless to say, I have my work cut out for me.

There are more new products and projects to discuss but those will have to wait because I hear a miter saw calling my name (I build all of my own picture frames).   I will share more soon and in the meantime go and get entered in that contest.  The link one more time is: http://www.alamodestuffblog.com/2009/11/novembers-picture-perfect-giveaway.html

What Are You Thankful For?

"Heading Home", Portrait of the Golden Gate Bridge

My message today is simple yet relevant…

Today, I am thankful for bridges – especially those that stay together and don’t fall apart.

 

C L O S E D

February at South Goat Rock Beach

This beach, the one above, will be C-L-O-S-E-D for the next 7 months.  Just announced today in the local newspaper: due to budget cuts the State of California will be closing a number of my favorite beaches from this Monday, November 2nd, until June 30th, 2010.  The sensitive part of me is crying ‘foul’ and the spunky part of me is digging my heels in and vowing to visit these exquisite places no matter what. 

To give a little background, I have loved the Pacific Ocean for as long as I can remember.  I currently live about 35 minutes away from the beach but still make the trip out at least once per week.  Feeling the sand between my toes, the breeze in my hair, hearing the waves crashing and breaking on the shore, smelling the salty air – it all makes me feel so alive.  This is my personal therapy - my time - the time I get to leave the complexities of life behind and enjoy the moment.  The State of California, however, does not seem to respect that these beaches are essential to my mental health!  Or perhaps they don’t care for my personal photographic style.  Or perhaps they have a huge deficit in the budget and are trying whatever they can to remedy the situation.  Whatever the reason, they have made big cuts to the State Park system and that means closing my beaches (yes they are MY beaches!). The real question though that has taken over my brain is…

"Ocean Rock"

How the <@$#%> do you close a public beach? 

Sure, you can redirect cars by not allowing them to park nearby but you can’t stop people from walking in.  Being the adventuresome sort, I tend to break the rules when I am photographing.  I go where I am inspired to go at the time of the best light for the subject I am capturing.  I will continue to visit and photograph these beaches that I love so dearly.  So that brings me to my next point… walking.

With these closures I will most likely have to park my car further away and have to lug my 50 lbs of camera gear through longer distances of sandy beach to catch the location and light that I am after.  I can either: a) give up and shoot something closer, b) get in REALLY good shape with all of that physical exercise, or c) find an unemployed sherpa willing to work for next to nothing all in the name of creating fabulous art.  I haven’t yet decided which is most feasible but if you know any unemployed sherpas please forward their contact information to me.

Read more about the park closures (and the new fees being initiated at other state parks) here: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20091027/NEWS/910279925

Blind Beach on January 1st, 2007

Above Goat Rock, captured in March 2008

 

Welcome to My World

"On My Way To..."

I sometimes find it difficult these days to come from a place of total truth and say I am so grateful to be living my dream, being an artist and photographer in Northern California.  It seems like everything I try is harder than I thought it would be and, more often than not, the results are not what I expected. I know that life is perfect just as it is and that every difficulty I am confronted with is a key to making me stronger and wiser, but come on now. How do you keep your focus and determination when it seems like everything is a challenge?

Coming from this place of frustration I have to ask myself: WHY am I a photographer? What is this drive in me to create art and beauty? And am I truly living the life I dreamed or should I just get a job?

“Double Love”

There are few things in life that bring me completely out of my shell to play fully as the person I was meant to be. One at the top of that list is my five year-old daughter. No one else has ever been able to get me to laugh or live so fully as she has.  Another is working behind a camera.

When I am in ”photographer-mode” I am fully present and aware of everything around me – the light, the colors, the place, the people, and so on. From a person’s smile to a dramatic sunset, capturing that moment of beauty is like pure bliss. I often find myself applauding a sunset or dancing with my camera because of the joy that I get from doing this “job” that I love. Bringing the completed images that I capture into people’s lives and getting to brighten up their days with this beauty that I so deeply appreciate, well this is the frosting on my photography cake.  This is why I am a photographer and the motivating force behind what I do.

Like many others, I dream “big”.  I see a discrepancy between where I am and where I think I want to be and get disheartened by the difference.  Then, rather than coming from a place of joy and inspiration to decide what my next steps are, I find myself in that “should” place – I should get a job, I should go to school, I should do more cold calls, I should…  Taking a minute to remember WHY I do what I do and being thankful for what I do have will take me further than any of the “shoulds” ever would.  Appreciating this journey and loving the wonderful surprises that come my way, no matter if they are challenges or accomplishments – these are the true keys to success.

Think about it:

How are you living your dreams?  What do you appreciate in your life? Respond to these questions by commenting here, on my Facebook page, or by sending me an email and get entered to win a free 8×10” print. Drawing will be held on November 4th, 2009. Good luck!

“In a Dream”