Word for the Day Is....

Boo!

Spooks are about ... Watch out!

Photograph by Elisabeth Bacon All Rights Reserved

Today's Lesson

Lesson learned: Sharing everything one knows, or does, regarding one's craft is not a good idea. Keep some secrets.

Gold Stars--A Secret Ingredient

Creative people need praise and encouragement. Praise for a job well done. Encouragement to keep going and doing...to keep exploring...to continue succeeding. If noone is giving you the praise you need, do it yourself. SILENTLY PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK...AND...Give Yourself A Gold Star.

You are alive...give yourself a gold star. If you are momentarily down and make your bed, give yourself a gold star. Is there one thing you accomplished today? Even the smallest thing counts...One gold star coming up.

You are important...you are important to yourself...some days you are all you've got (especially if you are good at what you do).

You are here...that makes you important. You are someone. There is no one like you.

Bring on the Gold Stars!!!!!

Remember: Be good, Do good, then Strive to Be Better!

And...hand out gold stars, some praise and a kind word or two.

"There is no failure except in no longer trying." ~ Elbert Hubbard

Here's the deal: If there is something you want to do, something you love doing, then do it. Your unique, individual "style" will emerge. A secret: Follow where your interests take you--your path. Don't do for others...do for you. Experiment. Challenge yourself. Pay no attention to what is "in." What is "in" may soon be "out."

THE LADIES

A FIRST AWARD IMAGE

Photograph by Elisabeth Bacon 1997

All Rights Reserved

Goddess Images

I am enthralled with the Goddess Watercolors painted by Judith Heartsong. To me, they are reminiscent of archetypes (specifically The Muse) as part of the collective unconscious.

Printed with Permission from Judith Heartsong--©Judith Heartsong--All Rights Reserved

My Muse is an important invisible companion and inspirational partner. Every day I take a quiet time--a time out. Often I think in images during this quiet meditative time. It is my job to make these images real. After "seeing" an image, that image must come into being. It stays with me until I make the photograph. When nothing happens during a time out, I wait. Either now, or at another time, ideas will show up.

My Muse also visits when I am moving interesting objects around and playing with setups. After a few maneuvers, the composition looks "right." Then it is time to shoot. Over time, photographs find you. Your job is to recognize them when they show up.

Suggestion: Take a time out every once in a while and let ideas come to you.

To see more of Judith Heartsong's work click on the Goddess painting above or go to:

Collection: Art & Color.

To see her reference photographs go to Flickr: judith heartsong's Photostream.

Judith Heartsong's journal is at: Judith HeartSong

A draft of this article was written yesterday, edited (after receiving permission to use image) and posted Saturday, October 25, 2008.

Artists, Poets, Writers, Musicians, Etc., Etc.

"The poet is a bird of strange moods. He descends from his lofty domain to tarry among us, singing; if we do not honor him he will unfold his wings and fly back to his dwelling place." ~ Kahil Gibran

How Do You Do That?

Here is how to create a spiral from a landscape:



Choose landscape:








CROP image if desired.





Then...in Adobe Photoshop go to Filters > Distort > Twirl...Play with Twirl to get the effect you like.









Clean up edges using brush and fill tools and there you go...you have a spiral.