Perseverance

It's just a grimey, ugly, to-the-bone cold day in N.E. Pa.  Hurricane Sandy made it's way through just 2 days ago and by now there really aren't any leaves left on the trees.  As I was driving to the studio this morning my eye was caught by this bright colored tree. It wow'd me, at the thought that it looked like it was trying hard to hang on to those leaves. I drove another 1/2 mile or so and decided that there was some metaphor in that tree.  It seemed to stand for great perseverance. How that tree hung on to its leaves through the storm! It stood it's ground, refused to give in to the forces around it and came out the other side standing beautiful among all the other trees around it. What is different about that particular tree that there isn't a single one around it like it? I'm not eloquent with this kind of thing but I have thought about that tree all day. It made me think how each of us needs to also stand strong, and hang on to our family/dreams/beliefs/goals (you can fill any word in there) and if we have that, we can weather any storm and will come out of it better and more beautiful. I'm sure you see my point (again, I'm not as eloquent as I'd like to be but I'm sure you understand). But it really makes you think doesn't it?

Sweet 16

Bill and I were excited...our friends Tom and Kathy, who we have known forever, were coming out from NJ to their summer house for a weekend and we were going to join them for dinner. We do this as often as possible (which is actually never as often as we would like). So we arrived and sat chatting for a few minutes and Kathy handed us what looked like a polaroid photo or something - the two of them grinning ear to ear. When we looked closer - we realized it was a sonogram!!!  I don't know how long they were married at this point, my guess was maybe 9 or 10 years or so but this was a humongous cause to celebrate!!!  Megan came into the world 9 months later.

So let's fast foward to this September. Kathy calls me randomly in the middle of the day. Hmm, interesting, something must be up. We talked for quite a while because we definately don't see each other much   anymore - it's probably been 2 years (the guys see each other more often).  So the next question she has floors me.  "Can we make an appointment to come out to have Megan's portraits done? She just had her Sweet 16 party and we want to have portraits done of her and us as a family." (I should mention that Tommy joined their family several years after Megan to make their family of 4). It was my honor. They came a week or so ago and we spent the afternoon and evening making portraits and going to dininer.

Finally the point....Of course the point of my rambling little story is ....wasn't it just last summer that they showed us the sonogram?  I haven't seen Megan in several years either so in such instances time should have stood still right? Wrong.  It was such an honor and so much fun doing her portraits and getting to know her again, now as a beautiful an d mature teenager. We did very formal poses and we did some sassy fun poses and we even went out in the middle of the road for some with an urban flavor.

It was a blast....It's a good thing we don't get any older, only the kids do!

Stunning....

Emma came to model for me today for my new line of classic oil painted portraits. These images are right out of the camera - no retouching or anything at all, I was so excited at the results I couldn't wait to post them.  The hardest part will be going through all the images and deciding which one becomes a painting!! Thank you Emma for being such a great model and letting me "play" for 2 hours!!

 This was Emma's idea for a pose - LOVE IT!!

Not your ordinary day

It was a fantastic day. Not like any other! First, Dante came for his birthday portraits. We made our way around downtown where he did a great job looking tough, smiling nicely, looking cool and brandishing his pirate sword as he clung to a lamp post in the park. Then we spotted Chief Brennan and the fire truck watering the planters in the park. Well I found out that Dante wants to be a fireman. So with Chief's permission I showed him around the truck a bit, opening compartment doors, explaining about the ladder and how the air packs go on etc. But he wouldn't take the nozzle to water the planters. He wouldn't go over to the firehouse either. But finally as we decided to head back to the studio Dante decided he wanted to hold the nozzle.  So here he is helping to water the planters in Memorial Park in Carbondale. Thanks Chief!!

Then the Black family came for portraits.  Addison is 6 months and we decided to do portraits outdoors in our courtyard. From out of now where, this rather young cat appears. Now, she has been around before and more than friendly. Always wants to come into the studio. It also appears she recently had kittens. So anyway, we are photographing Addison and this cat takes notice of her and then won't leaver her alone. This cat actually became part of their family pose because I couldn't keep her away!! I've never seen anything like it before, she knew that Addison was a baby and wouldn't stay away...

Nope, not your average day - it was Awesome!

Determination

We had to laugh. After an entire garden and our patio flower boxes were removed to put in sewers we noticed this sprout. It's a crab apple tree that was part of the garden. The funny part is, we have tried several times to cut it down so it would just go away. Finally we just let one of the sucker shoots grow. Well when the sewer came in we thought "finally" this thing is fine gone for good. But the tree is determined to regrow! It is becoming something reminiscent of the movie "Christine". It is meeting with a saw and shovel in an hour. Let's see who is more determined!

Oil Painting

I'm absolutely thrilled! Ya know how sometimes you have something on your mind you want to do but either don't know where to start or how to do it? Well after seeing a webinar on digital oil painting, and knowing the photoshop 5 has the capabilities. I spent some time this afternoon practicing and have created my first digital oil painting. What a blast, I'm hooked. Now, once I am satisfied with my technique, I will have an artist add a layer of actual oil paint on the canvas to finish it. Now to find some of my favorite landscapes to work on!

Spring at the studio

Wow, where does the time go. I seem to go through phases of blogging well and then thinking I didn't have anything interesting and retreat into a shell of sorts. But with the sunshine (and apparently the heat) I have found some new-found inspirations. These are some views taken last Thursday right here in the studio courtyard. What a great time to have outdoor portraits made - but these flowers don't last long. New plantings are coming soon and we usually have flowers all summer long.

The upper back yard at the studio

Beautiful iris at stone wall and steps

The saturation on the rose bush is beautiful!

Cheryl Kaiser earns Blue Ribbon

Cheryl Kaiser earns Blue Ribbon

You just have to love a baby!

Most of our moms use headbands and tutus when it's their style, but this little cutie pie was like a model for the new strawberry hat and a couple headbands that were just too cute for mom to pass up! Baby portraits that really touch the heart.

A Bolt of Lightning

Have you ever had something move your thoughts to a point that it feels like you were hit by a bolt of lightning? It causes you to reflect back over time, trying to make sense of it all, and realize that there have been several signs for you that you just haven't acted on? It really makes you realize perhaps a direction for your career or your life or maybe for some element of your day. This is exactly what happened to me last week. An employee from The Fold, a teen Christian outreach school in Vermont spoke at church. Emily had attended our church and was back for a visit and talk about the school.

My mind was flooded immediately with how can I use what I do for a living to help make a difference in these kids' lives? Then I thought back over the last couple years. Various people who have come into my life for different reasons, programs and projects I've been excited to help with or support, and conversations I've had. I realized that all these different things came together to show me how yes, I do have an impact on people's lives, especially teens and now it's time for me to move foward. So after a brief conversation with Emily after the service, and again the other day on the telephone, I will be putting together a program for The Fold's students. It will encompass not just taking photographs but to help the students see and appreciate God's beauty in nature, themselves and in each other.

I'm so excited about this because I have a feeling it will take on a life of it's own. It's the overwhelming feeling that I must use the talent I've been blessed with to help others that is driving me. Over the next several weeks I will be working on the content of the program and then will be taking it to Vermont. I also forsee this program being something I will offer closer to home too.

While this whole concept is in its infancy, I'm very excited about it and all that it promises! I'm open to ideas and thoughts and of course, prayers.  Thank you for reading this...it's something from my heart.

More about The Fold
http://www.thefoldfamily.com/

Family Heirlooms

Im thrilled to be part of the March issue of Happenings magazine. The feature article is about our restorations and new Hand Tinting services!

See the whole magazine here http://happeningsmagazinepa.com/currentmagfiles.html

Palms

This blog has been kind of quiet the last week or so. I just returned from a vacation in Puerto Plata. It was beautiful there. Unlike many other vacations, I took some better camera equipment and decided to take time for myself to just play. I walked all over taking different angles of anything that captured my eye. I did what I also recommend to anyone who says they love to take pictures - I would take several images from different angles or levels of the same subject. It was wonderful. I tend to see the patterns and textures in nature, almost moreso than the traditional tourist things. In those cases I see an image and know that I'm going to finish it one way or another. Black and white is my favorite, always has been. So here are a couple images I've finished and thought I'd share. Enjoy

Time off

Folks, Im taking a little time off. I will be posting again next week. Stay tuned for some good stories and Photographs!

Pure Joy

This little girl was so comfortable once we got rolling during her photo session that she was just posing and posing and was a joy to watch and laugh with! Makes you wish that as adults we can be so uninhibited.

Baby Giggles

When baby Kali came in today with Mom to pick up her 1 year portrait order, she was so cute and giggly. As I talked to Mom about things Kali just started to laugh and giggle. Of course how can you help but turn your attention away from whatever the discussion was and toward the bright-eyed giggling. The giggles continued as we tickled her tummy and talked to her. Mom said she woke up on the "right side of the bed" from her nap and was taking full advantage of that! She is so sweet.

Just playing

Every once in a while, ok, fairly often, I'm easily distracted and find myself playing. I found this image from our trip to Rochester, NY and then found myself seeing what I can do with it. I always seem to find myself creating abstracts and graphic photographs from parts of scenes and buildings I come across.

This morning, as I do every morning, I spend some quiet time enjoying my coffee, my two cats and some reading. Anyway, this morning as I was reading a little bit from one paticular book, I had an "ah-ha" moment (I just love those!).  I realized that my new tagline "Legacy Portraits of the Heart" that came to me to use, was no coincidence. This phrase which came to MY heart, really speaks volumes. I just reaized this morning that I strive to know each client so the art I produce from MY heart will speak to and have a place in THEIR heart as well as the hearts of their future generations. I want to provide them a Legacy to pass down.

This may sound so simple or maybe too deep, I don't know, but it caused me to just stop in my tracks and dwell on while I finished my coffee. It suddently took on a life meaning for me and seemed to help me define what I have done until now and add some clarity to the things I want to do.  For starters, I think this blog should not just be a theme of inspiration but thoughts and other things OF THE HEART. From there - we will see where my heart leads me! How about you?

Inspiration in a Christening

Meet Sophia Ann Estelle and her mom. My husband and I were asked to be part of their family today for this very special occasion. This is the only photograph I was allowed to take. It was a nice service and dinner. As a photographer it doesn't get any better than being part of a family like this. Sophia's older brother has come for portraits since he too was a newborn. What a blessing.

Just a thought

"As the blossom can't tell what becomes of its fragrance, we can't tell what becomes of our influence."

A different inspiration.

This time of year many of us suffer from winter blues. For me this is the hardest part of the winter. Snow or no snow, just the dreary days can cause mood swings. I found this link and hope it helps! http://www.wikihow.com/Fight-Winter-Blues

Inspiration in fellow photographers

Tonight I had an opportunity to talk to the Northeast Photo Club about our visual journey. Even though I wrote the program it was also what I needed to hear. To pay more attention to my own visual journey and nourish it. I also was part of their competition and found it wonderful to see so much great work. Very inspiring! Next is to refresh my knowledge of my favorite artists.

Inspiration in Humor

I just returned from a girls night out at the Terrace Gardens in Clarks Summit. My friend Jeannine Luby has been producing a comedy tour and tonight the tour came to Clarks Summit. Comedian, Liz opened and got the audience laughing and loosened up. Jeannine came to the mic had everyone laughing. many people, myself included, crying laughing. It's amazing that life happening is so funny because life happens to you too and you can totally appreciate the jokes because they are so true! It was a great evening and there's nothing like laughing to relieve stress!

Inspiration in color

Hello! Well, today I needed to reach a little deeper for inspiration. This image caught my eye simply because of the contrast in color and the harsh stucco look contrasted by the organic shapes of the plant which actually repeat some of the shape in the stucco itself. I took this photograph in October in Rehoboth Beach.

Happenings Magazine has asked me to discuss in an editorial about my Hand Tinting on not just restorations (shown) but about our new Oil Hand Tinted portraits. It will be in the March issue along with some photographs! About the photograph. While I have done many restorations with hand or digital tinting, the original goes to the client. In the photograph above I created a sample for the article, this is my aunt and uncle.

Inspiration soars

So this is how the day started out. With the promise of spring right in my windowsill as I sipped my morning coffee. The paper daffodils my mom gave me for Christmas have sprouted and bloomed rather quickly. So even in spite of the dreary day outside, it was a little ray of sunshine.  THEN it got better!

I decided a month ago that 2012 was going to totally rock. Although I have grand plans every year, I was determined to get out of my own way and accomplish what I set out to do with God's guidance and occasional kicks in the butt from my friends.  So today while I was working on all the things I had to do, the phone rang. I was asked to be part of an editorial for Happenings Magazine next month. I will be showcasing restorations and the oil hand tinting I've begun to do. Wow! So now I have to work diligently to get that information to the editor. THEN another call came in and it was the N.E. Pa. Business Journal letting me know that I was selected as one of the Top 25 Women in Business that they honor each year. WOW WOW! And let's not forget the opportunity to speak to the Northeast Photography Club next Wednesday. They asked about a specific topic and I'm excited about preparing that talk also!  Thank goodness it's Friday, I'm not sure I could handle more excitement!  Have a great weekend!

Inspiring quotes

I love reading various books and magazines for inspiration. First would be my various devotionals but also on my bookshelf is Success magazine and a variety of dare to dream kind of positive books. These quotes I thought were nice. I have so many great plans for this year and see it as a year of transition that I felt these were fitting. Enjoy.

"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem imporbably, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable."

Christopher Reeve

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."

Walt Disney

"Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity."

Investor's Business Daily

Just a thought

Each day I try to find a nugget of inspiration that will be my thought for the day. Today was a big one one that I am going to work on being a new habit. It amounts to Stop-Look-Listen. For me this means to stop and think through things before acting or reacting. Look around at the blessings I have and the people that were brought onto my life and what they mean to me and Listen for that internal voice for guidance before moving foward. All to avoid acting on impulse which usually won't yield the best result to the decision or circumstance at hand. It stayed with me today and I am working to make sure I remember to use that technique going foward. It just seems to fit every kind of situation from losing weight to making purchases to dealing with less than desirable situations.

Who would have thought...

Who would have thought that one would see this kind of scene on a bustling, lively Bourbon Street? It was kind of interesting though. This sad lonely building even in its current state had character and color. It made me wonder. Why was it abandoned? Did something happen to the owner of the building? Did they just give up? Why don't they sell it or rent it out? I kind of felt sorry for the building...almost as if it had its own personality and it was sad. It makes you wonder...

My morning inspiration

Each morning I spend a little time by myself in reflection and prayer. Here is one of my favorite Sites to learn and listen - www.joycemeyer.org. I encourage you to check out her broadcasts and books

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in determination." 

Tommy Lasorda, Sportsman

About the photograph - I took this image during (obviously) a blazing snowstorm, a couple years ago in East Benton. It is one of my favorites. Cheryl

And what do you do with that inspiration?

Well, I arrived home happily from my New Orleans trip to the Professional Photographers of America national convention. My luggage followed by about 9 hours (woo hoo! we women all know how we don't want to appear in public without our cosmetics!).

This morning I arrived at the studio and spent several hours going over all sorts of things with Stephanie, my part time employee and idea bouncer-off'r. Might I add that I also warned her that I'd be coming home with lots of news! So much information that we had to take a break and I took her to lunch to continue the conversation. All my inspiration came bubbling to the surface....New lab to service us personally, new management software that we both have to learn...together, as well as lots of new ideas for custom backgrounds, newly purchased props, and books for fiuture ideas.

As I talked about the classes and people, I told her about how inspiration came bubbling forth in the form of offering to help with the Professional Photographers Certification Commission. I personally expressed my interest in helping on a national level to encourage photographers to become Certified.

As if that wasn't enough... Ten years ago I wanted to prove myself to me and the world, my capabilites and comittment by earning the Certified Professional Photographer designation. NOW I've made the next (and overdue) comitment to myself and my friends and clients that I now seek the PPA Masters degree. This is obtained through continued education and earning merits through print competion. My goal is that by the Imaging convetion 2015, I will stand before my family and peers as I earn this coveted designation.  I find this inspiration in my family, friends and you, my clients. I will earn my competition print merits on tthe images I make for you, my clients.

That is what I do with my inspiration....what do you do?

3 days of inspiration

As I sit waiting for my return flight from the national convention of the Prof. Photographers of America in New Orleans, I reflect on three very full but rather exhausting days of seeing friends from other parts of the country, classes, vendors, an early morning meeting, and evening gatherings. As expected I'm overflowing with ideas and insprations. The trick now is to return to the studio and put my new great ideas into play. I'm hoping that the flight home will give me the "downtime" I need to process some things. I made some major back-office decisions that will be implemented soon as well as have some great ideas that my clients will enjoy in the form of new types of products and sessions and new props. During the 3 days I had an opportunity to view the International Print Competition where hundreds of beautiful images were displayed - some of the finest in our industry. This convention also offered a few classes only offered to Certified Professional Photographers. The class last night revealed new details about being Certified (I have been a Certified Professional Photographer since 1999). It was very enlightening and I volunteered to be on a national committee for the Certification Commission that oversees all Professional Photographer certifications. I'm excited about being able to give back to my industry in this capacity even if I'm not 100% sure what the duties will entail. So full of inspiration, I return home. See you soon! my apologies for no images in this post, the ipad doesn't seem to want to load any :(

Inspiration as motivation

Inspiration can be the catalyst for motivation. As I prepared for my trip to New Orleans I needed the inspiration of things to come...the inspiration of the classes and instructors,the anticipation of seeing friends from around the country, and excitement over the parties and networking that are on the schedule...to motivate me to get all the things done yesterday in order to leave. I have my friend Jeannine Luby of Laugh to Live for her being there at a moments notice to give me direction on the newsletter that needed to get done. She was great and after going home and packing, the newsletter was uploaded at 1 a.m. I'm looking foward to this trip and to sharing some of my inspirations with you!

Pumped to be inspired

On Saturday I leave for New Orleans for the PPA national convention and I am PUMPED! Not nearly as pumped as I will be when I arrive home ready to take on the world! I will have a chance to not only learn from some of the "greats" of our industry but I'm looking forward to saying hello to my vendors that provide all the products that you enjoy in your home (and all take very good care of our studio) but I will have an opportunity to network also.  And let's not mention that I'll get to see friends that I don't see very often and be able to check out Bourbon St. again!  (The photo above is a scene from a previous convention presentation).  It will be 3 days of total inspiration!!!

Inspiration through playing

I've always been attracted to the graphic side of life. Many of my college projects included various forms of design in my photography. Photographing chrome (back when cars had chrome bumpers) and printing the images in black and white and then photographing buildings. Not the whole building but just certain elements using the building's architecture and the light and shadows to create design. Here are a couple images I took while in Rochester in August. Today I allowed my mind to wander and take a few moments to look at the images I had taken. These two jumped out from the folder full of landscapes of Lake Ontario and a butterfly garden at the zoo and some animals.

The one building that obviously is being demolished. I was taken by the textures and colors and how it's kind of tower-like. I finished it as a black and white for the graphic effect of the textures and patterns. This image makes me wonder who the last people were that walked those floors. Notice the top window is open.  Guess someone needed some air.

This image is a light fixture at a train station. I love the round shape agains the angled beams. I finished this as a "lith", or lithograph to flatten it out to its basic shapes. That makes an image (or the negative, originally) with blacks and whites, no shades of gray. I can't wait to dive in to the rest of the images and see what I can do! I love to play!  What have you done with your favorite images?

Inspiration in age

Back in October I had the priveledge of photographing a family on their farm. The property has been in the family for years. All the generations live on bordering properties along this country road. What a beautiful area. When you step onto the property it's like you are transformed to a day long ago when life was much simpler and you leave behind, even for a while, the craziness of the day to day thing we all do. I thoroughly enjoyed photographing the family. "Gram" was wonderful to talk to, I could have sat and chatted with her all day, she had so much character and you could tell she had great wisdom. She is in her 90's and very much part of the day to day family activities and "goings on" and is actually a great-great grandmother. It was my job to take her arm and escort her from the house while her chair was carried outside for her. Tucked under her arm was a book she was reading. An old book that has probably been on her bookshelf for 60 years. I love the contrast of the old book and the brightly colored bookmark in the one portrait below. It has been a priveledge to photograph different aspects of this family's life for years but it was a true blessing to record their moments on their generations-old farm. In the portraits below you see Gram interacting with her great-great grandson. How often do we come across these precious moments?

Today's Ah Ha

So for a while now I've been wrestling with what to do that would create a one of a kind product. Now as a matter of background, in my deep dark past I did years of craft shows, selling my photographs and one of a kind hand tinted photographs. As my business grew I gave up craft shows - probably 10 years ago. Many may remember seeing me at the Moscow Fair for the 9 years I displayed there. Anyway, last June when Carbondale had their Art Walk, my friend Donna (owner of Art Strands Jewelry and Gifts) basically shamed me into displaying my work on the sidewalk outside her store for the evening. Heck, that's not what I've done for years. My work is stored in totes in the studio basement...why now. Well, I displayed only my hand tinted work. Funny how thing happen. I did some demos of tinting - like I did back in the day. Then as people admired my work I found myself using the dialog of days gone by..."these are hand printed by me in my darkroom and hand tinted using brush and dyes.." BAM there it was. Hand printed....hand tinted... Wow, hadn't thought of that in years. I was actually asked if I'd be interested in exhibiting in a gallery!!! That was the bolt of lightning that I needed. Sort of.

Well, since then I've learned to oil paint too. My goal was to offer oil painted portraits as a one of a kind portrait product to my families but having some issues getting exactly what I wanted. THEN this morning...I was looking at a newsletter from a mentor and an image I saw rekindled something inside me that reminded me that   1. I love, love, love hand tinting. 2. I'm not as good at painting and don't want to rely on a computer for a truly artistic product. 3. With my hand tinting experience and newly formed oil painting techniques - oil based, hand tinted portraits are what I'm meant to do as a one of a kind product. Gee, why didn't I see this all along? I've posted some photos here showing well, not the most ideal prints for tinting but I was totally in my element creating them. I tried one at my desk at the studio - not the ideal lighting. Where did I end up working? Well, my old darkroom-turned-art room! The place where I have spent 20 years creating either by light or safelight. It's not a darkroom anymore, but I'm working on that.

What's next? Well, some trial and error with particular labs to find the perfect paper to create the perfect final piece. The plan is these one of a kind pieces will be available 16x20 and up, matted and framed. My goal is to be able to offer this by April. What do you think?

My working oil tinting pallat 

 the couple different portraits I sampled. The large one is actually printed a little too dark for proper tinting but I had to try!



This cute little guy...the small print is tinted, the larger one is an original. This doesn't do it justice. I'm so pumped and feel the artistry just flowing! More test prints to be uploaded tomorrow!!

Past inspiration helps with new

I painted this a couple months ago as I took oil painting lessons. Taking these one-on-one lessons with my friend Mary Lou Chibirka (a wonferfully talented painter)refreshed my eye to color and detail in what I was seeing. This freshed vision has helped in so many ways including my photography. In November, I took a break from my Monday morning lessons for holiday season. I promised to paint on my own and have a finished piece when I returned in January. Well here it is, January and no painting. But by having this piece hanging in my dining room im constantly reminded how much I enjoy oils and to call to restart my lessons and pick up my brushes tomorrow...

new life in winter

It's wonderful and inspiring to see some signs of new life popping up from the bulbs I planted after Christmas! It was a kit I received from my mother and soon they will be paper white daffodils. (my apologies for the sideways photo)

January 6 - A different Point of View

Sometimes it just takes simply sitting in a different place with a slightly different view to give you some inspiration. You see the world around you from a different perspective. You may even notice things you didn't before. Working on my 2012 planning, I set up at a table only about 5' from my desk and computer. That's all it took to keep me focused.