Chasing Sunflowers....

Many times when I am out photographing I don't always realize what I have truly captured until I see it through the process of culling and editing. It is during this process that photographs really speak to my soul. Nearly every time I’m editing I am moved to tears as I see what the Creator has allowed me to capture. Creation has always, for me, spoken of the existence of Christ. Even before I came to know Him the sound of the wind blowing, the blue of the sky, the beauty in a flowers, the moon and the stars...all of it moved me. 

Tonight I ended my evening in Davis and stopped just before sunset at the sunflower field off of Pedrick Road. Oh so many sunflowers all blowing in the wind. Some with large faces, some with medium faces, some with dried up faces, some tall, some small, some short and some just beginning to get ready to open. What I was struck by was how all of them....in each stage of  growth was encouraging the other to grow, to dance, to sprout. I know it seems funny but that is what I saw...it is this beautiful dance of encouragement......to shine their faces on all of the different stages and say..."Come on...you can do it" "You are so beautiful...just keep growing!". Oh how lovely are the faces of those sunflowers. The comfort even of knowing that even the ones that are dying are going to be used for a greater purpose. It was really lovely. 

It made think of each of us....what stage of growth are we in? Can you call out with your beautiful face and be like these sunflowers? Come on...you can do it!! 

"Cafe Terrace at Night" Wedding

I had the pleasure and honor of capturing the wedding of Matt and Leandra Freese. Leandra's love for color and sunflowers with Matt's attention to detail was a beautiful combination for this lovely outdoor wedding on the cusp of summer solstice and the full moon. Expressions of Van Gogh's famous art could be seen on each table and the backdrop of china blue sheers with twinkle light made the evening magical for these two. Matt and Leandra made a point to stop at every table to greet their guests. It was a special touch the I know made everyone feel honored. Dancing and singing ended the evening on a high note as the couple left through a line of friends and family sending them on their way to their new home.

Putting Your Art Out There...The Story Continues.

So after much encouragement from friends and family, I placed some of my photos in several art shows.  Those shows are the California State Fair, The Juried Art Show at the Vacaville Art Gallery and The Mother Lode Art Exhibition in Placerville. I wasn't sure it was something I wanted to do, as I had shared in a previous blog post before about Putting Your Art Out There..... it is somewhat of a vulnerable place for artists and it is also a bit of a task as you have to decide what pieces you have and what will be show worthy. So I did that and found I had about 16 photos that after talking it through with an online group I felt good about the choices and how they inspired the type of emotion that made me along with others enjoy them....I entered a few landscapes, a few portraits of others, some event photos and just a few with no specific designation other then they were photos that friends had enjoyed.

The first show I was suppose to hear from was the California State Fair. To make a long story short I did not hear from the coordinator on the designated day that was given to me so I thought I did not get into the Fair. As this was my first time putting art pieces in a show I didn't realizing that a formal email would be sent if you were accepted or rejected. I was a little....no a lot discouraged. Fortunately, for me, I was able to process with an online group of friends who had helped me decide the photos that I should place in these shows. They encouraged me and I pressed on to go out that evening and photograph sunflowers. (I LOVE Sunflowers) Then two day later I got this email "Welcome Exhibitors" which informed me that my photo "So Many Things to Ponder" got accepted into the California State Fair. In addition to finding out about the California State Fair. this last weekend I also found out that four of my photos had been accepted to the Juried Art Show in Vacaville and two accepted to the Mother Lode Art Exhibition. To say that this has been challenging would be an under statement. I have felt the sting of rejection but also the overwhelming joy of having something I have created be appreciated. So many thanks to all of my friends and family who encouraged me and helped me get to this point. You are my inspiration!! Thank you!! 

Capitola

Ventura Highway

Spring Poppies

Vacaville Sunset

Iris at Park Winters

Peaches on the Farm

This photo has been one of the most popular of my collection. It was chosen for the Juried Art Show and for the Mother Lode Art Exhibition. This photo was taken at an event at Cloverleaf Farm in Davis. Special thanks to Slow Food Yolo and Cloverleaf Farm.

Wings

This photo I had printed on a metallic photo paper which gives it a bit of a shimmer. This photo was chosen for the Juried Art Show in Vacaville. Captured on a fall day in Vacaville.

Main Street Herbs

I was doing a senior photo shoot in Winters and noticed these lovely planters with herbs outside of Putah Creek Cafe. This photo was accepted to the Juried Art Show in Vacaville, and the Mother Lode Art Exhibition. 

Welcome

This photo was taken while I was at a horse show with my family in Aptos. I loved this bench so much and really loved the colors of this front porch welcome. This photo was accepted to the Juried Art Show in Vacaville.

Solano Sunflowers

Geraniums on Main

Sunflowers at Twilight

So Many Things to Ponder (Self-Portrait)

This photo was a self portrait I took near an open field in Woodland. This has already placed 4th in the "Self-Portrait" division in the California State Fair.

Strawberry Moon 2016

Today marks not only the beginning of summer but a rare occurrence that hasn't happened since 1967. Two astronomical phenomena will occur at the same time. This evening's "strawberry" full moon will occur at the same time as the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. EarthSky.org said that a full moon on a summer solstice is a rare event, and we will not see another until June 21, 2062. As I will not be here in June of 2062...I have left this gallery here for those who will come after me. Enjoy!

The photos are a little fuzzy as there was so much heat rising from the earth. 

Ben 2016

I had the pleasure of snapping a few photos with this young man, who in just a few days, will be graduating from High School. The days that passed from kindergarten to high school seem like eons but when your child graduates from high school those eons turn into fractions of a second. You almost can't catch your breath cause you want to be able to stop time from advancing. I was grateful to have been able to spend time with Ben and for just a brief moment to capture this time in his life for his folks. Best Wishes and Congratulations to the Class of 2016!! 

The Flag and Memorial Day

I love the American flag..... not just because it makes me feel patriotic but also because it gives me that heart soaring feeling you get when you hear the national anthem or when you say the pledge of allegiance. The flag makes me smile. It makes me proud to be American.

My husband and I took a road trip recently leading up to the Memorial Day weekend. We traveled down the coast and ended up in the LA area. During our travels back up the coast I tried to capture photos of the American flag in each city we traveled through and with it being Memorial Day weekend coming up there was an abundance of American flags. While on my way to the Getty Center I happened upon the Los Angeles National Cemetery which was adorned with flags from every state in the U.S. plus many American flags. I was greeted by a lovely gentleman who explained to me that they were preparing for the Memorial Day service they would be doing on Monday so the pathways were adorned with American flags. It filled me with pride to see so many beautiful flags flying in honor of those who gave their lives for my freedom and as I walked through the many gravestones it was a somber reminder that Freedom isn't free. I am grateful for the many brave men and women who gave their lives for my freedom. 

So on this Memorial Day take a moment to remember.....

Memorial Day 2016

The American Flag flying at half staff at Los Angeles National Cemetery

The State Flags

Some of the Grave Markers

More Grave Markers

A Flag at Hermosa Beach

A Flag Belt Buckle at Reagan Library

The Flag on the Tail of Air Force One at The Reagan Library

A Tattered Flag in Guadalupe, CA.

A Flag Banner in Old Town Santa Barbara

The American Flag in San Juan Bautista

Oh the emotions you will feel....

Babies make me smile and weep and giggle...and talk in a high voice. They make me feel so many emotions it's hard to capture them all. The parents of babies do the same thing as I look through my lens and I see such love, care and just a depth that not always is something that can be put into words but that the camera always captures. Yesterday all of those emotions that a person can feel were felt by me as I had the blessing of capturing this sweet baby girl. Happy Birthday! 

Putting Your Art Out There.....

This week has been full of preparations for an art show I am doing this weekend. It has been exciting, creative, at moments challenging and most certainly a process of learning. Photography has become a passion for me....from capturing the moment~composing the shot~editing the photo~printing it~enjoying it. The photography art show will be at a local seasonal and pet store. They have a lovely nursery that they have opened up for me to display my art and invite people to enjoy it. It is such a perfect spot for my floral and landscape photos. I am grateful that they enjoy my art and are willing to let me display it to the public. 

This last weekend was Mother's Day and my kids took the opportunity to take me out to do the thing that I love and that is photograph. That adventure I will have to blog about at another time.  It really was one of the best Mother's Day.  Each of my sons wrote me a lovely sentiment expressing to me something that they had noticed or seen in me over the last year. One of the things they both mentioned was photography. They said that you put your art out for people to see and it really places you in a vulnerable position. You lay it out for all to see and some may not feel the feels you do about what you've created. Both of my sons spoke of my growth and my ability to persevere even in the midst of my vulnerability.  They see that I work very hard to capture the truth in the moments I capture. Their words really meant a lot and it gave me that extra boost of confidence to push through.

So with excitement and a bit of vunerability...I am jumping into the world of art. I thought I was just putting my toes in the water but I realize that I am knee deep and going in deeper. If you are near Sweet Pea's this Saturday evening I invite you to come see my photography art show. This Saturday May 14th, 5pm at Sweet Pea's Boutique ~ 891 Alamo Drive ~ Vacaville, CA.

Walking in the Garden

I have been visiting my folks once a year since they moved to South Carolina almost 10 years ago. It has become more frequent in the last 4 years as their health has declined. I especially love to visit in the Spring as it is so beautiful. The flowers are blooming and everything looks green and lush. Although that is pretty much how it is in the Summer too, the only difference is you can't be outside for more them 10 minutes without melting from the humidity. Just this last week my kids came to visit for the first time in 5 years. It was great to have them visit and truly it is all that my parents have talked about since they left. We had a short visit and during that time they were here we went to The Daniel Stow Botanical Gardens in North Carolina. We lucked out cause it was opening weekend and the place was busy and I think they had a wedding happening as well. We pushed my folks around and they got to enjoy being outside when it wasn't too hot. If you are ever in the area stop by and walk the gardens....you won't be disappointed.