The Other Road

The Other Road

Part 2 of 3

Yesterday I left the blog with us walking down a road of preparedness.  We talked about study, being the expert in your field and, quite frankly, it sounded like a lot of work.

But sometimes the other road comes in, and when Inspiration crossed Preparation some magical things happen.  The universe (inside your mind and body mostly, but elsewhere as well) flips and turns so that things flow into your direction.  Suddenly the poem flows effortlessly from your pen.  Without notice the oils shape themselves on your canvas in a way that all you can do is stand back and stand amazed.  For one unbelievable day, or evening the Universe conspires to create something fantastic by your hand.

And the next morning, it is gone, and you return to your work and creating by sweat.

Have you experienced that crossroad marvel?  If you have, it is an experience that you are always trying to get back to.

Tomorrow I’ll share with you a map…

The Creative Intersection where we want to live. Part 1 of 3

The Essential Creative Intersection

Part 1 of 3

There is an intersection that we all want to get to, but to get to that intersection, there is a road we must travel.

The road is the road of preparedness.  We must be prepared in our field of creativity.  Learning, becoming an expert in our field, is essential.  We need to learn the past, where we are in the present, and hopefully where our field will be in the future.  We need to master the tools, and the techniques. We must learn the rules, why they are there, and learn when to break them.

Preparedness is work. It is hard.  But it is a required road to get to the intersection where we want to be.

At that intersection, the effort will be well worth it.

Tomorrow we will look at the other road of the intersection

See you then.

Don't Fade into the Sunset

Don’t fade into the Sunset!

Have you ever photographed a sunset, with all the rich colors only to view it on your computer (or print it later) to find all those beautiful colors have faded?

“I guess you just had to be there.” You told your friends. But there may be another reason your sunset faded.

Different lights have different colors to them. Normal light bulbs give a yellow light. Florescent bulbs give a green light, while daylight is bluish.  We don’t see the colors because our brains alter the colors that we see so they will “look normal”.  But the colors are there anyway.

Most digital cameras have an “auto color” selection where the camera selects the light source that it thinks is being used and adjusts accordingly.  That is why you can take a photo inside, and then outside and you will not see much of a color shift.

But when you photograph that sunset, if the camera is still on “auto color”, the camera will remove some of the red, yellows etc. that you were so impressed with so it will look (what the camera thinks is) normal. 

The next time the splendor and magnificence of a sunset makes you grab your camera to capture the moment, turn the “auto color” off and tell the camera that you are “outdoors daylight”, and you will be amazed at the colors you get in the photograph.

You will thank me for this!

My children are older.  They are all married and gone.  The house is quiet.

Some of my fondest treasures are the photographs of my children when they were younger.  I still have them.

It is the memories of our good times together, with family now passed on.  Such treasures.

If you are taking photos with your cell phones or store them on your computer.  I beg you to either print them or store them in an external source.  Sometime your cell phone will die, or get traded in for another one.  Your computer will crash.

Have you seen a news story about someone who lost their house to a hurricane or fire?  And what is one of the first things they say?  "I lost all our family photos..."

Don't wait for a tragic experience. Don't wish you had printed your priceless photographs, or stored them elsewhere.  Backup you images somewhere else than your computer.

You will thank me -  when three computers from now you still have your wonderful family images!

The Best Gift you will receive today!

What do you want to do with your life?  What is your big dream?  What is your passion?

Listen to a secret.  What you accomplish in your life will depend on what you do today.  You must live each day reaching for your dream, living your passion. The best gift you will receive today is today.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Mark Twain One day you will wake up and discover that opportunities are past – forever gone. Take hold of the day today and live.  Start your dream. Commit to your ambition.  Reach for the stars!

As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the things you didn't do.  ~Zachary Scott

Don’t waste the gift of today.

How to find better poses in your next photograph.

Better Poses in Photography

In art class I learned the rules of line.

·          A vertical line makes the viewer feel solid, firmness.

·         A Horizontal line gives the feeling of rest, stillness, stagnant

·         A diagonal line feels like action and activity; the steeper the diagonal, the faster and stronger the activity.

·         S curves in Greek and Roman art demonstrate and show the female figure

So, in your next photograph, watch the lines and use them to say what you want to say.  And when in doubt, action trumps inaction.

What are your thoughts?  I would love to hear your comments

Four ways to loose 10 Lbs. in your next photograph!

4 ways to lose 10 lbs in your next photograph

Here are 4 ways to lose 10 pounds for your next photograph.

1.   1.    Wear something dark. In a photograph dark cloths tend to look smaller and light clothes tend to look larger.  So, wear something dark.

2.   2.   Hide part of your body.  You can position yourself behind a desk, chair, or another person to reduce some of your size.  What is not seen in the photograph is not seen to be there.

3.     3.Turn your body from stand straight to the camera to turning to a 45 degree angle.  This 45 degree angle usually looks smaller than profile or straight on images.

4.   4.  Short or Rembrandt lighting. If you are facing to camera left, the main light should be placed also to the left of the camera with a fill light to the right.  This will make your face look lighter away from the camera and darker towards the camera which will help your face seem like it is smaller than it is.

5.  5.   If you are standing, place one foot in front of the other and place your weight on your rear leg. This will make you look slimmer.

Lots of luck, and look beautiful