Wise Words...

I'm tired of the gloom and doom that I've been getting from the media - it's wearing on me and my spirit. I'm going to do what I can do to lift my spirits and find the inspiration to help me create the life I want to live. I'll start with this quote from Teddy Roosevelt:

"The credit belongs to those who are actually in the arena, who strive valiantly; who know the great enthusiasm, the great devotions, and spend themselves in a worth cause; who, at the best, know the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if they fail, fail while daring greatly, so that their place shall never be with those cold and timid souls that know neither victory nor defeat."

I don't want to be one of those "cold and timid souls". This weekend I shall go out and take photographs and I will enjoy my time with my beloved woods, with my loyal canine companion (my husband will enjoy the comfort and warmth of having the bed all to himself).

Have a great weekend and keep up the good fight.

Hello.

Just thought I'd check in as it's been a while since I've posted anything. Life around the studio is pretty much at a stand still. I haven't taken any new photographs (too rainy and gray on the weekends - too dark when I get home from work). I'm really looking forward to spring.

I've opened a new shop on 1000markets and I've got my shop on Etsy - they've been pretty quiet (read: no sales - none whatsoever!). I've joined several networking groups and uploaded a lot of my photographs to their sites - received some constructive criticism and lots of great comments. I'm hoping to network with other photographers and polish my skills.

However, it's not all bleak and a couple of really nice things have happened to me. The first one being that Dragonfly Photography was accepted by Trunkt and I now have a portfolio with them (please check it out - I'm craving attention - more so than a sale right now). AND one of my photographs has been featured in a Treasury on Etsy. See, right below there's a screen capture of the Treasury. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Megzytred of Tredlight Photographs chose my lovely Poppy Bottoms photograph. I love her shop - and the concept she came up with to sell her photography. You'll have to check it out as it's "a whole different approach to art photography!".

And how could I forget to mention - my husband bought me a new camera for Christmas. I'm now the proud owner of a Nikon D40 - I love it! It's taken some getting used to - it's a little more complicated. I loved my point and shoot camera - a Fuji FinePix A900 - an amazing little jewel of a camera (and I still use her).

So, all in all, life isn't bad. It's pretty good - I've got so many nice things happening in my life and, most importantly, I'm gainfully employed, have lovely home (and reasonable mortgage), a supportive husband and good friends and pretty darn nice family. I'm blessed and feeling selfish because I want to make a sale or two.

All Set Up and Ready to Go!!!

Dragonfly Photography has, hopefully, established a presence on 1000markets. Last night I added some lovely photographs to shop (a fairly painless process). Created my banner. Sent my request to join the Trunkt Market (they accepted me). Now I'm just sitting here watiting for 1000markets to approve me.

I'm not very good at waiting but I have improved since I've started selling on-line. Matter of fact, it's becoming a skill that has served me well in other aspects of my life.

Still...I'd rather be doing something else other than wait. Like selling.

PS: As of 12:35pm my shop was approved

Pretty Pictures - Moments in Time Caught in a Photograph

Slide Show of the Week - January 28, 2009

My Father's Hands...

People's hands tell a story about what kind of lives they've lived. Are they smooth and unblemished like the hands of a banker? Or are the calloused and ragged looking like the hands of laborer?

For me, when I look at my father's hands, the story they tell me is that he's a tinkerer, a craftsman, builder of boats and go-karts for his children.

I can tell when he is in deep thought when he twiddles his thumbs - it helps with the thinking process. I also know when he's fully relaxed and content - he sits with his hands clasp and out front. I know he's fully present in the moment and ready to have one of those long meandering conversations that we like to have.

It drives me crazy when he picks and scratches at the skin graft that was the result of skin cancer. I'm always yelling at him "Quit Picking!!" It stops him for a nano second and then he's back to picking and scratching. I'll wait a few minutes before I tell him to "Stop Picking". Yes, I'm bossy but he's stubborn.

We both have the same sausage shaped fingers.

Paris

The Face Behind the Photographs...

This is me - it's a self portrait and I quite like it (despite the "Bad Hair Day"). My usual complaint is that I look very dour and without humor in any of my photographs. It might have something to do with the fact that I don't like having my photograph taken. So, now you have a face to put with the photographs.

The story behind the photograph:

My husband got me a new camera for Christmas - a Nikon D40 - my first digital SLR. Before I had been using a wonderful point and shoot camera - FujiFilm A900. Having had not so many opportunities to use my camera and because I'm a world class slacker, instead of cleaning the kitchen, cooking dinner, or doing some paperwork one night I decided to have some fun with the new camera. So, my priorities were not exactly in order - but I had fun.