It’s almost been a year since we lost Sharon.

She was a wonderful mother, daughter, wife, friend and fabulous sister.

Words can not express the loss I feel on a daily basis.  And I can only imagine how her kids and husband and mother and friends all feel. The loss is palatable.

I hear her in my head and my heart. She was always my biggest cheerleader and she would not want us to not move forward and work at making our dreams come true. So I listen to her.

Just the other evening I attended a meeting where we got to see our top 10 favorite photos projected on a wall. My guess is that they were approximately 15 x 25′ tall.  It took my breath away to see my work that large. It was fun!

So, in not any particular order… my favorite of the year 2011

Sharon’s grand daughter

Laddy

Gateway Fountain

An Evening in Seattle

Artful endeavor

My favorite colors

Early Spring Snow – Can’t beat Utah’s beauty

Falling in leaves

Emma

Dear Dear Friend

Looking back is not something I do too often… but it’s been a hard year but I know I am moving in the right direction and I will continue to find the beauty in life and keep listening to my sister.

Hugs!

]]> http://www.dipityroad.com/photography/look-back/feed 16 http://www.dipityroad.com/photography/a-portrait-is-not-a-piece-of-paper http://www.dipityroad.com/photography/a-portrait-is-not-a-piece-of-paper#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 02:16:20 +0000 Claudia http://www.dipityroad.com/?p=2739 Like the link I am about to share… there will be no photo attached with today’s post.

This is REAL and so true.

There will be no portrait photos in this post.  This letter wasn’t mailed – it was at my doorstep when I got home a couple months ago.  I read it, I cried, and read it again – probably a hundred times by now.  It wasn’t easy to read – and honestly, as much as it validates what I do for a living – I wasn’t sure I was going to share it either – Until today, when a past client said that my print prices were too expensive.  If you choose to read through the letter, you will know why I’ve finally chosen to share it.

July 2nd, 2011

Jeanine -

Today I am writing for a couple of reasons.  I have some quiet time at the moment and need to get a couple of things off my mind.  I will leave this for my husband to deliver to you when he is ready.

You photographed my wedding, you photographed my first pregnancy and my first baby.  I contacted you awhile back to photograph my 2nd child and family.  After getting prices and realizing I would want all of the pictures as we love your work – I decided against spending $500+ – which is what I normally spend for portraits and prints with you..  Please know it is not because I don’t value your amazing eye, or how much we love the experience.

That week that I decided to NOT do a session with you, this is how I spent some money.

On Sunday I called and cancelled our session.  Monday I went out and got my hair cut ($39+tip), and colored ($65), Thursday I had my nails done ($24), my family went out to dinner at a somewhat expensive restaurant for no particular reason costing us $79 + tip.  This was just 4 days since canceling our session, already totaling over $200 for un necessary things.  My nails only lasted about 2 weeks, my hair is gone, and seven weeks passed when I got the phone call from our doctor.  It was not something I expected and the cancer has spread very quickly.  I will be leaving my husband, my 6 year old girl and my now 2 year old – not by choice.  It is very hard for me to talk about it which is why I need to write you.

I watch your Facebook page and your posts about the value of a photo and if I could give back all of those things that I purchased this few weeks after I cancelled my session with you, knowing what I know now, and have that session, well… I would do it in a heartbeat.

Now my time is done and there are no more chances for me.  The next time someone cancels a session – my wish is that you forward this letter to them.  Time is fragile, it is gone before you know you had it.  If you charged $200 for one print it wouldn’t be enough for what it is actually worth.  I cringe to think that my priorities were a manicure over a memory to pass onto my babies and husband.

My love and thanks for what you have given us from past photos.  I am so sorry that I did not see it as more than paper until now.

Karen L.

Click here to read all the comments and original –

Happy New Year

Claudia

I have become fascinated by light.  Light of all kinds, whether in the middle of the day (ugggh bad bad light for faces and shadows) or early morning, soft misty  light; or night lights.

There’s always a story to tell it seems when an image is taken in the dark. Something left untold.

Even a quiet whisper to it.

The lines and colors all seem to change in the dim light.

Moods change in the dark.

Leaves one to think…and think some more.

Find the beauty around you.

Hugs!

Last night I watched a short interview by Brian Williams with Annie Leibovitz  and then later with David Letterman. Both interviews were WAYYY too short for me. On my bucket “to do list” is to attend a workshop where she would be talking or TEACHING (better yet)! My guess would be that people like me would’ve really enjoyed listening about her life’s craft.

With her gruff voice and kindness to her interviewer, she resembled any ordinary woman who is passionate and loves what she does. She explained that when she reflected on particular images she realized that her photographs held power and told a story beyond what she initially felt.

I know it sounds cliche` to want to capture moments in time, but from the very deepest creative squiggly parts of me, that’s how I feel.  In particular the last 5 years, I have set myself on a path to thoughtfully be in the moment and really soak in the beauty of the day (or night– see above photo); examine the ordinary and realize it was extraordinary or celebrate the imperfect. Night images have an eerie feel to them don’t they?

When bad bad things have come into my life I try to asking myself what am I suppose to be learning or paying attention to?  Photographing people, animals or nature helps me review that far too fleeting moment and say “ooooh that’s what I saw.”  Revisiting an image shows something entirely new I might not have seen in the beginning.  And best of all, photography allows me to revisit special moments again and again.

Like most photographers, we are not comfortable in front of the camera. I joke how my children probably didn’t really know what I looked like without a camera in front of my face. Even Annie Leibovitz was uncomfortable when David Letterman wanted to take her photo.

My wonderful photography friends that I “play” with weekly (Prompt Addicts), encouraged us this past week to break out of our comfort zone and get in the photo.  I was horrified!  Really… I moaned and groaned out loud.  Then I grabbed my camera and took way too many photos of the floor, ceiling or parts of my head or hands, trying to get a “selfie”. I finally settled on one and posted it in our group.

This was a big step for me.

After reuniting with my camera 5 years ago, I realized there have been many BIG steps for me.  And while I am still on my journey pursuing the “Happy Accident– called Serendipity”. That’s joy rising!

(thanks to Jason Eiting for this photo) Yes, that is moi in that silly purple rain coat. *sigh*

During the past couple of weeks I have been on a “heavenly” photographic  adventure.  Seattle changed my life.

 2 days flew by in warp speed. I could not slow it down, no matter how hard I tried.  Our time was spent with people who have the same passion as mine.  They love searching for beauty. They love their art.  They inspired and taught me. Words fall very flat when I try to express how we connected and blessed I felt; their hearts spoke to mine. I look forward to more time with them soon! But in the mean time I am thankful for a new connection with them via a small thing called the internet

Be sure and find the beauty in your every day life.

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change!”  Wayne Dyer

Hugs!

For FOREVER I have wanted to photograph a Humming Bird.

Try as I might, they always proved illusive  UNTIL last evening.

I spotted one out of the corner of my eye and because it was farther away than I wanted,  I hurriedly changed to my telephoto lens — even then it must have heard me trying to sneak up on it, or maybe it heard me GASP at the thrill, but this was the only shot I got off successfully.

Humming Birds amaze me.

This summer has been HOT but especially windy.

Several gardeners have been heart sick at the toll the wind has taken on their summer blooms.

However, visiting one of my favorite local gardens, they have managed to keep much of the color and splendor.

.

Tucked inside a grove of Evergreens, this field of Hollyhocks and Sunflowers took my breath away.

I hope your summer days are taking your breath away.

Hugs!

PS– Visit Beverly at Pink Saturday

According to the calendar it is officially summer.

Last night the weather couldn’t have been more perfect. No wind mid 80′s … ahhh.

After my photography class at the U of U (now now BYU fans dont get cranky) I stopped down town where we have a fabulous shopping center and some wonderful eateries.

The in ground fountain is so fun to watch, as families with children run a muck trying to guess when the fountain will spurt water next.

Last night the lighting was perfect — everything stopped and children waited… I love how this photo almost seems like a painting I have seen of Parisian streets.

I’m sharing a couple of photos that were taken this week.  Near a pond these fun “pink” ferns bordered the walking path.

Near my work is a wonderful huge water park.  The kid in me really thinks this would be a blast.  The scared of heights me says — um No thanks!

Assignment: capture action.

What crazier place is there to stop action than the local skate board park?  These boys know no fear and when they saw me with my camera couldn’t wait to put on a show.

The only thing I kept hearing myself say … “where is your helmet???”

I could only stand to watch for 5 minutes or so.  They were crashing all over the place and I couldn’t watch.  (crazy boys!)

His name was Mike and he thought he was pretty cute.  (he was right)

The snow is retreating leaving in its place a beautiful lushness of green.

Stop by Beverly’s this week (friday) and Mary’s on Monday.

Enjoy the beauty around you.

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Hugss!

Often the most simple of things are the most beautiful.

This weeks prompt was, “The Gift of Simplicity”

So I set off to find some simple beauty.

I was in a field looking down and around when over head I heard a bird screeching. When I looked up  he swooped and dashed and darted as if saying, “Look at me silly, I am Simply Beautiful!”

And he was.

Simple Hydrangea — yet look at all the detail amidst ONE flower.

Airy and Simple

A simple blade of grass — on a windy day

Ok    not so simple — This handsome guy was preening himself in the sun.  Wow the colors.

Hope you enjoy the SIMPLE beauty around you.

Grab a camera and start looking!

Have the best week!

PS..

NOTE: Comments are so much appreciated!
I love hearing from my visitors.
Simply put your first name (if you wish, your full name)
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Hugss!

About a week or so ago, a dear friend called me to tell me there was Mama Fox and 3 babies across the creek from her place.

I dashed over (thank heavens for a day off) and found that only one pup was lounging near the opening of the den.

When my kids were small I remember one of our favorite movies was THE FOX and the HOUND.  Disney has the most remarkable way of giving human characteristics to animals.

This week at Prompt Addicts, we had a guest Prompter.  Deanna Swauger (click here to view her blog) was our Guest  and she was the one who chose the topic of Animals of all sorts.

We had a record number of participation and then as a group we vote and select the top 5 vote “getters” as BEST of SHOW.

Using one of Deanna’s wonderful photos (she is exempt from winning) we create the BEST of SHOW button to award our top 5.

Below find our winners for the week… ENJOY!

This cool creature was by Susan Case — be sure and check out her wonderful photography by clicking on her name.

Then there is “Monster” by Jolanda Boekhout  (click HERE to check out her fab photos) No way does he look like a monster– does he?

Valerie Lemieux’s baby Owls were killer great– don’t you agree?  (Click HERE for her wonderful work)

My little friend was such a great model that he helped me win for this week.  So tickled to be selected out of the wonderful shots selected this week.

This photo was entered into the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com

In the mean time: visit Beverly at Pink Saturday of course as well as Mary for Mosaic Monday.

Ps…

NOTE: Any comments are so very welcome!
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Simply put your first name (if you wish, your full name)
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Hugss!

This week for fun I am following a photo assignment with Pioneer Woman — Ree is one of the most popular bloggers; with a best selling cookbook and now a movie on its way!

This weeks assignment — Four Legged creatures!

I loved attending this event!  I just wish I had had my better lens then!

Remember this tongue?

Cuddling up with this cutie would not be fun!

This is a VERY old photo — but one of my most beloved friends — Sarah, the Old English Sheepdog!

Keep watching for the beauty in your life!

Claudia

After Winter’s  cold and frost, we  look forward to Spring with each little bud that raises it’s head; bringing new hope as all Springs do. I have always thought that Spring and Fall were my favorite seasons; but this year’s Summer, because of a very very rainy Spring, was particularly green and abundant with fantastic color blasts. I love living so close to the pulse of the seasons.

Mother Nature delights us with each flower that grows to it’s fullest potential. Spring metamorphosis‘ into Summer with excitement. (join others at Susan’s Metamorphosis Monday)

Here is a little Metamorphosis example- SOOC (straight out of camera)

With a little help from Picnik - Add some “Boost” and Vignette”  (little darker edges) — don’t forget to SAVE AS.

In my creative dreams, this is how I would like to water color. 

Summer time helps bring out our Funky sides — don’t you think? I’m LOVIN these pots!

As I took a drive late one over cast evening… I came upon this bounty of daisies! I often perform dangerous dashings from my car just to get a shot. One of these days someone is going to run me over; but I could not pass this  by with out capturing this lovingly tended yard. Yes, some times I am a fool for beauty.

Do you supose the owner of this tire swing would mind if I took it for a Summer evening ride?

I can imagine that perhaps an 8 year old little darling could probably kick my butt if i tried.

Susan at Southern Daydreamer is throwing her usual Out Door Wednesday party; come see who is showing up.

Waving goodbye to sweet HOT August 2009!! Even though the days are long, some how Summer is too short.

TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥