Lessons, Good Friends and the Hypnotic Lure of Sunshine on a Chilly Morning

This morning I wandered outside for my usual stroll through the garden to wake up and get some morning air. The air this morning was really brisk but the sun was so beautiful and golden. I pulled the kitchen door shut, but not tightly, just enough to keep the chilly air out of the house.

As usual, I grabbed my phone in case there was something out there worth photographing. I saw this beautiful blue watering can against the wall and the warm sunshine made it glow nicely. So, I snapped.

Next snap, these beautiful flowers. I loved these flowers. They reminded me of the end summer and the arrival of autumn.

The sunlight really was beautiful and I was enjoying the morning outside. My long list of things to do waiting for me at my desk didn't matter. The fact that I hadn't even eaten breakfast or had my morning coffee didn't matter. Look at this light! Glorious! I could spend all day out there. I realized that should have brought my Diana outside with me. So,I walked back to the house to grab my Diana and that's when I realized that the door that I pulled to keep out the chilly morning air had locked completely and I was locked out of the house, in my pajamas in the backyard. My nose had started to run and my toes were cold. Yes, the sunshine was gorgeous, but why do I do these things? I should know better than attempt to function before coffee. I got excited by the sunlight in the backyard and off I went like a magpie drawn to something shiny, again.

 

At least I had my phone with me. I called a friend with a key. She was able to leave work and come to my rescue. Thank goodness for that warm sunshine. My toes were nearing numbness. The warmest spot was by the back fence where the kids who live on the other side had smacked their baseball, again.

   

Here is a typical Northern California backyard view - tropical tree, citrus tree, fence and blue sky. Yes, I was pretty cold at this point and was trying to keep myself busy while waiting for my friend with the key to arrive.

My friend arrived just as I snapped this beautiful fuyu persimmon. I have been watching this fuyu ripen from a green and bitter fruit to a beautiful orange and sweet fruit. I think there is a Japanese Buddhist lesson about the persimmon changing from green and bitter to orange and sweet meaning how man is born ignorant but grows to be wise. I have learned my lesson today. Don't just carry my phone on my morning stroll through the garden - always carry my house key.

Cashmere Socks and Summer Berries

It was below 50F degrees when I woke up this morning - the first time this season. I had trouble getting out of bed; I even grumbled at the alarm clock. Autumn is on our doorstep and banging on the door.

As I wandered the garden drinking my morning coffee, I was greeted by these delicious gems of summer. They were smiling brightly and reminding me that while I was wearing my warmest cashmere socks on my frozen toes, the sun would get warmer by noon and that summer had not left us just yet.

Those little gems were delicious in my oatmeal.

They were perfect fuel for today's creative projects - more InDesign and some jewelry.

My Brain Hurts

During this year, I wanted to take the time to learn Adobe's InDesign. I have made a couple of books through Blurb.com with some success, but I have often thought that my books would be better with improved design skills. In an attempt to improve my skills, I registered for an on-line course. This is my first course that is entirely on-line and I am realizing that there are some subjects that I can consume and digest rapidly and some that take me much, much longer. I didn't expect it to be easy, but it has become quite a struggle. Maybe I am too old? Nah, I refuse to accept that excuse. Maybe I am too slow for something so technical? Perhaps. It is pretty technical. I am learning a new language and software while stretching myself artistically. Whatever it is, my brain is pretty exhausted. I can't wait until winter when I take a course in hand-made books.

Mission Santa Clara Cemetery

I have been playing with my Diana F quite a bit lately and trying to replicate some results. It might be tough to do as I am not terribly scientific in my approach and my camera is a plastic toy, not that I mean that as a negative statement, it is just slightly unpredictable, and my film is expired. But, I am persistent, I choose similar subjects, similar light and use the same film, Velvia 50. My subjects are all statues. One of the best places with plenty of statues near me is the Mission Santa Clara Cemetery. 


Today I brought my Diana F and shot off a roll. I also tossed my DSLR into my bag, just in case. Here are some photos from the cemetery. The film goes to the developer this weekend. I've got my fingers crossed that I have some success. I have also come to realize that cemeteries are really wonderful places to work when you need some peace and quiet.

Treasures

During this year of getting back to what is creative and what inspires me, I find myself wandering in San Francisco. Today I spent the better part of the afternoon with a friend walking along the Embarcadero, into Chinatown, North Beach, up to Coit Tower and back again. I love these long walks because I often find treasures. These treasures can be chance meetings of interesting strangers, new shops or restaurants or coming across, inspirational and heart-felt signs on lamp posts.

When you find treasures in the city I think that it's good to share them. Treasures don't necessarily mean riches. They can be simple things, like a park bench in the warm setting sun.

Where I Dream

I read once that if you can't make a beautiful picture in even the most seemingly mundane places then you can't expect to make a beautiful picture in the most fantastic. A bed can seem mundane, but this is where I dream.

Ghost of Summer

Lately I have been scanning images made with my Diana F+. It was a Christmas gift that I didn't use all that much when I first got it, but now I can't seem to put it down. Over the past couple of years friends and, oddly, random people have given me heaps of expired film. At the beginning of the summer I decided that it was time to give this plastic camera a whirl. I am in love.

This double exposure was taken in a field just below Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. I love this image even more now as summer is fading here in Northern California. The air is warm and dry but the sun is setting earlier and earlier. The autumn sunsets are glorious and remind us to enjoy the last few warm evenings we have before the rainy days start.

I'm not sure where to start really, but I told myself that I would try blogging. The past year or so has been pretty crazy for me personally. As a photographer and a creative person that can be good or bad. For me, it hasn't been that great. I have lost my way creatively. I am not really happy with what I make and inspiration does not come as easily as it once did.

So, I am finally taking the advice of some friends and committing myself to taking some time to focus on my photography, getting back into making jewelry and doing whatever else comes to me that is creative. I will try to do this for the next year. Since photography is my main artistic outlet, I will try to focus on a couple of key projects that I am most passionate about and experiment a little bit when the mood strikes.

This blog is to be a journal of sorts to keep me actively involved in my projects; to keep me accountable in a way. For discussion, I'll toss in whatever creative endeavors I have going at any moment - photos, jewelry, paper arts, even cooking. Photos all along the way, I promise.