Hope you are having a great day!  Choose to see the beauty around you.

Hugs

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

One of the things I love most about the Christmas season are the Light crazed people!  People who oft times risk life and limb climbing tall tall ladders to install their holiday Glow!  There always seems to be one of those houses that goes all out decorating their home in every neighborhood!

The ones that always bring a different spin to their Holiday charm.

It takes some “looking” to see the cold blue details of this home.

My thoughts always bring me to wonder… do they really know how much beauty they bring to their neighbors and passers by??  I for one, am thankful!

Take a stroll and enjoy the glow!

May you find the beauty right in front of you!!

It’s the time of year when signs everywhere point to the festivities — This week  our photography prompt group’s assignment was SIGNS …

“Believe” — I sure do — I believe that everything happens for a reason and that we will make our own happiness.

But I also believe — in the heart and spirit of Christmas!!

Santa is a sure fire sign that all parents have a little bit of added arsenal to their “better be nice” requests!

No way could Santa get all the requests filled without his wonderful Elves… no way!!

Its that time of year when the world falls in love … every song you hear seems to say… (every sight helps bring to mind a Christmas song)

And dreaming of a White Christmas may only be in your home…

Then there is the best sign — the REASON for the season…

May you find the beauty in your life, for it is simply right in front of you.

Merry Christmas!!

Be sure and visit Beverly for Pink Saturday celebrations.

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!

November is probably my most favorite month.  The weather typically is just right “sweater” weather and the colors are fabulous.

Watching Mother Nature turn her paint palette to these colors is like watching a painter in action.  The city of Ashville, North Carolina encouraged the art community to come out on that particular Sunday and paint at various locations.  There were over 100 participants.

Enjoy your week, as we embark on fabulous month of November. Where, for me it’s a month where few expectations push us and being THANKFUL is the month long theme.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Today I read the sweetest post on Facebook.

It really tugged at my heartstrings!

I just had to share.

.

Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away.

Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find. I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

 

 

I am in love with the person who took the time out of their busy day to make a family’s  heart feel better.

(and the cynic in me understands that this might be a made up story just for the internet– if it is– let’s have a few more like this!)

Find the beauty in life!

Hugs