Happy New Year!

May health, happiness and prosperity be yours in the New Year.

Sunrise

Finally, on the last morning of this year, an attention grabbing sunrise.

Fog

Fog rolled in.  It was as if a cloud settled over the land.

Sweeps of Color

The amazing artistry of Mother Nature.

SUNSET--WINTER TWILIGHT

Sometimes Santa Drives a Tow Truck

This morning…with high winds a-blowing...I hopped in my car (at the Post Office).  And…it wouldn’t start. Key not turning. Ignition locked up. No amount of pumping, wiggling, kicking ,or jumping up and down, worked. Stuck, stuck, stuck.


Did you know? Auto mechanics don't work on the Saturday before Christmas?  Or, if some are working, I couldn't find them.

Finally, located a working tow truck.  Hooray!

While waiting, the Post Office closed and the tow truck arrived to an empty parking lot (except for me and my little car). A scruffily-bearded man hopped into the car.  He hit the inserted key with all his might.  And...BAM! Eureka! The car started.  Wow! 

“What do I owe you?”

“Nothing.”

NOTHING!?!?!!!!!

“Nothing.”

Another WOW! 

So…my dear friends, if you ever wonder where Santa is, he is alive, well and may occasionally be driving a tow truck in NC.

* * * * * * * *
Merry Christmas one and all.....and...a very Merry Christmas to Santa! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Thank You Note Image

What a lovely gift....thank you very much.  Your thoughfulness brightens our holiday and our home.

 

From the Porch

Straight from the camera...VanGogh revisited?  Surprise!  It is what it is...strange...that is what was out there.  What we see is what we get, or should I rephrase that and say...how we see is what we get?  If this was a Polaroid shot, I would swear someone had fooled with the emulsions. 

 

Deeply Saddened By Tragedy

My heart is breaking.  I reach out to those grieving in Connecticut and send them love and healing.

Happy Holiday!

Merry Christmas Everyone!  Hope you have a fabulous holiday season.

 

Portfolio Arrived

A draft copy of the printed Portfolio arrived last week; made revisions and re-submitted. I am extremely happy with the draft and looking forward to receiving the final product.


Antique and Estate Purchases

What a week!  Went to an estate sale last Friday and stumbled across this tin in the basement.  It is in excellent condition and I was drawn to its Renaissance style.  The border design around the sides appears to have been taken from a woodcut and the image on the top is a scenic including early European architecture.

LAMBERTZ COOKIE TIN 1996



GERMAN COOKIE TIN --LAMBERTZ 1996

Then, yesterday I acquired a horse box from Needful Things.  A few months ago, I saw this horse in a cabinet near the checkout counter and was interested in it.  I had never seen anything like it before.  It seems, at that time, the horse was homeless.   The owners did not know which dealer owned the horse.  It had lost its tags.  Yesterday, I stopped in and asked about the horse...lo and behold, they had found its owner and it was still there waiting to be sold.   So.............of course I bought it.  I suspect this is something super nice (a museum-quality piece) but beyond intuition, I don't have a clue.  If anyone has any information about this box, or knows of something similar for comparison, please let me know.

Update:  Found a similar (similar but quite different in the decoration details) item listed on eBay as an antique trinket, or snuff box.  I suspect this may be a medieval item handcrafted by one craftsman with each horse being unique.  I could be wrong, but hope not.  Will continue researching.  The research (the hunt for information) is half the fun. 

ANTIQUE BRONZE HORSE BOX



Drafts for Card

Bear is BEAR LANCELOT from the Boyds Collection, Ltd., Gettysburg, PA (©1990-1995)

and the Santa candle was purchased for my parent's first Christmas.  To see Boyd's Bears:  http://www.boydsstuff.com/

 

BEAR LANCELOT--A BOYD BEAR ©1990-1995

FINAL

Third Draft

 

 

Random Thoughts on Creativity and Technology

Technology today is amazing.  I do not know how I would navigate through each day without my iPhone (which is my super mini-iPad) or my new Kindle Fire (an entertainment and reading center).  And...of course...I don't want to overlook computers. They are the core of advancing technology.  I do everything using them...financial statements, photography, writing, reading and social banter.   Fabulous!

Software must be included in any praise of technology. Without the software, we would have products without a brain.

With all of these advancements, thinking is still necessary.  This morning I was considering creativity:  something from nothing.  Within the photographic process, which has become a click and print phenomena, there is the need for creative thinking.  So many are shooting and clicking with no thought.  To truly create anything worthwhile, one must think about what they are doing and the goal they wish to achieve.  What mood?  What message, etc.?  Without thinking, all we end up with is an image...nothing more.  Creating an image does not make that image good.  Before all else, we have to decide what we want to say?  What story do we want to tell?   Then, tell it.

My camera has a double exposure mode which I have never used.  I wonder what would happen.  The hands I shot last week involved a lot of running between camera and a table.  It was taken using the timer for self portraits and those family shots where the photographer is included.  I may try out that double exposure feature today, although I realize using Photoshop will produce the same thing and most undeniably more exact.  Using Photoshop layers, one can end up with exactly what is desired.

On that note, I will close thrilled to be living in this age where creativity thrives

Today's Project:  Try using double exposure and see what happens.

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving...Many Blessings to you and yours!



PRAYERFUL  MEMORIES  (Thanksgiving)

Joyfully Posted on My Computer Screen

I am a believer in giving thanks every day--for every thing! :-)

Saw this posted on Facebook and loved it.

  Right On!

http://www.MrNeverGiveUp.com

 Published with permission.

Painting



My horoscope said, "do nothing today," so...

 

FERN (Beginning of Digital Painting)

Sunset Colors

The clouds started out moving and swirling across the sky, then on the way home from town, their mood changed and they began glowing with wonderful gold and peach backed by a cerulean sky...was amazing!

 

SUNSET

Will Be Back Blogging Soon

The WORD for Today is: Vote! 

Real life interrupts blogging occasionally and such is the case right now.  Sorry folks, I haven't forgotten you.  I will get back to posting soon.  Thank you for bearing with me.   :-)

And the Clouds Roll In

We have cloud drama this afternoon! 

CLOUDS

SPROUTS

HERBS

Things Just Keep Getting Better and Better

 

CLOSED

The Door

Finally was able to shoot "The Door."  This door was found at a local flea market. It weighs a ton.  When we brought it home, it was water logged, but now is all dried out.  The sign was a "miracle' find.   I have never seen one like this before and was really excited over discovering it.  It took some negotiating to purchase it, but mission accomplished. 

 



 

CLOSED

©2012 Elisabeth Bacon

All Rights Reserved

Website Is Up and Running

New Website:

www.elisabethbacon.com

Finally, have enough images there to start things rolling and will be adding more.  Am looking forward to using this site to report upcoming events, etc., as well as develop one-on-one contacts with galleries and clients.  Have to have a website for promoting book soon too.  Lots of work, but well worth the effort.

BE-ing and Having Fun

Oh such fun--I love Illuminated Manuscripts and woodcut prints.  Have had these letters for years waiting to play with them.   Today's the day!   I am cleaning up these early block letters.  This is like being a kid again because I am coloring!  Yea!

The Colors of White

 

THE PAPER PROJECT (CONTINUED)

More From Jump Off Rock

 

SNAPSHOT

Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

Bob is recuperating nicely after surgery.  Now I can return to photography and give it my full (or almost full) attention.  Saturday's outing was like picking up a camera for the first time.  It took a while for the "how to's" of photography to return.  Amazing, time away from shooting or processing can make a huge difference.  It is so important to shoot as often as possible...preferably every day.

More Floral Finds From Saturday's Outing

 

 

 

Helen's Hands

 Three  Wishes 

A Day Out

More images will be posted soon.

 

 

Addition to Last Entry

 

BALLS



You Gotta Have......

What does it take to be creative?   There may be thousands of answers to that question. However, a friend said it all when he said, "You've got balls!"  In response, I roared with laughter. He is right...balls it is.  One must have that certain something needed to push forward, to create with total abandon.  Today I am sticking a bright neon-colored sticky note on my laptop.  "You Gotta Have Balls!"  

It takes guts to be creative.  Risks are necessary.  We have to push ourselves on many levels:  First, to follow an idea.  Next, to manifest what we see in our minds.  Then, sharing.  Once an idea has come to fruition, it cannot hide.  It must come out. It has to be nurtured and born.  Ideas have a life of their own and the artist is the vehicle.  The artist hones what he sees, then makes it real.

Be advised:  The more you want to do something--the more you want to create--the more obstacles appear.  The job of the artist is to go around those roadblocks and do it anyway!

So, today go Do It!

Remember:  "Be Good, Do Good, Share Good."  "Excellence Wins." --EB

Artist's Day In

Today is an Artist's Day In for play.   This morning I purchased a journaling book for my Kindle and immediately dove into it.  Such fun it is reading about different approaches to journal creating.  I used to grab everything about journaling available, then that obsessive exploring stopped.  Today I am re-entering that world and am pulling out brushes, paint, pencils and pens.  Swirls of color on paper...  Light and dark...thick and thin lines emerge. Whenever I experiment with opening my subconscious I am amazed at what surfaces. Close your eyes...what do you see?  Sometimes I see colors and sometimes I see images.  What do you see?  Put what you see on paper...try it, you might like it.  I know when I see images, I have to do a setup sharing what I have seen.  When I delay, that image stays with me until I release it through a photograph, or drawing.



Lately when looking at photographs I see much lacking in what is being shown out there.  Perhaps the technical side of photography has taken over.  I don't know what is happening, but I am not seeing many meaningful images. People are not delving deeply into their thoughts and feelings and sharing them through their craft..  When you rip yourself open and express your feelings, you connect with others.  Without that exposure, photographs fall flat....what are you saying?   Something or nothing?  Too often I am seeing expressions of nothing--a snapshot...a brief moment in time perhaps, but where is the feeling?  Where is the message?  What do you want to say?

While working creatively keep these things in mind:  What do you want to say and what are you seeing and shooting to express those thoughts? 

Seeing Things Differently

Different? Interesting?  Had fun shooting this one.

 

UNDER COVER

Approaching Storm

Photo was taken using iPhone.

ON THE WAY TO TOWN (Phase 2)

 

Paper Project and Cameo

NO. 2

 

CAMEO

Paper Project

NO. 1

Elisabeth Bacon--All Rights Reserved

Hat with Peaches

END OF THE DAY

Working in Photoshop CS6

My little netbook bit the dust.  Very sad.  So...now I am trying to put together something to post and hopefully figure out what the heck I am doing in Windows 7.  At the moment, am totally confused, however, in spite of that, I managed to get this far and post.  Hooray!

 

Photograph by Elisabeth Bacon--All Rights Reserved

Oranges in Tissue with Old Spectacles

This morning I have been looking at old images (some taken using film and a Hasselblad) and this image  originally in color now is a digital bromoil.  The blur is intentional.What began as an image hunting expedition turned into a fun, image changing morning.  Now, I am looking forward to scanning and changing more of my older photographs.  Click to enlarge.  The spectacles will show up better when image is enlarged.

ORANGES IN TISSUE WITH OLD  SPECTACLES

(Digital Bromoil)

© 2012 Elisabeth Bacon

All Rights Reserved

Changes

Currently I am constructing a new website and revamping my blogs.  It is time for a fresh start--a change in direction.  All things old will be made new.

Looking for Time

There are not enough hours in the day.  Making lists might be the way to go.

1.  Work on new website.
2.  Watch webinar repeat broadcasts.
3.  Read.
4.  Learn CS6 and Lightroom.

All of the above should keep me busy until next spring.

Raindrops on House Leeks

Company off and on all week.  Helen picked up the recliner; Marcia and Darrell stopped by for veggies.  Our garden is over flowing with produce.  Everyone, including me, loves the living room.  Letting go of the old is truly a freeing experience!

Instead of seeing life interrupting art, I am focusing on images as they spontaneously show up during each  day's routine, then clicking away.  (Simply a matter of turning things around and thinking differently.  Sometimes it is fun to put the cart before the horse.)

Last night it rained.  Some raindrops stayed on the House Leeks. 

RAINDROPS RESTING ON HOUSE LEEKS

Decided to crop this image into a square for symmetry and cohesiveness.  Years of using a Hasselblad may be why I like square format so much.  Steve Gosling mentioned this in his webinar presentation, "Photographing From the Heart."

Light and Mood

Experiment:   Sit and watch light move around a room.  Pay attention to colors and how the mood changes from moment to moment.

FOLLOWING THE LIGHT