Take a Moment....

Tonight, I saw the movie, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, with Steve Carell and Keira Knightley and was pleasantly surprised. There were as much laughter as there were poignant moments. I don't want to give much away, but if you knew you had only 17 days left on earth, how would you spend it?

I am not sure I would know how or with whom, but this looks like the perfect place to stop and take a moment to think about things. That is what this movie creates, it creates thought and finding out what really matters to you and if you are doing all you want. I know life gets in the way of our plans, but we need to interrupt life sometimes for things we want. I do know if the end of the world was happening in 17 days, I would be out there with my camera. I would take a picture of everything, everyone that mattered to me and then I would figure out a way to bury it all with the hopes that one day if found and the pictures were retrieved that it would show we all lived our lives to the fullest.

A Midsummer Eve's

Today, I celebrated this first day of summer outside by the beautiful sea. That is greatest part of living by on the coast, smelling the fresh salt air and hearing the roar of the waves. Just makes you believe that all is possible. Life gets in the way of things sometimes, but there are always moments likes this.

Wandering interrupted

Sometimes great plans are altered by life. Nothing major has happened to alter mine, just day to day things, new art gallery opening, getting a run or two in, and helping the niece with her class project. It all helps in the creativeness of my life, but frustrates me all the same. Having said all this and making a promise to myself that I would post weekly, I decided that I would pull from my favorite images and talk about them, my plan B when I am interrupted.

Last year, I created a series of 50 images from the Stairways in San Francisco. This was one of my favorites, simply because someone wrote "Take It Easy" on a stone bench half way up this flight of stairs. While walking Fort Mason, I came accross these amazing stairs. Yes, they were long and looking from the bottom to the top very daunting, but all you can do is take one step at a time. Finding the writing on the wall was the encouraging voice inside your head that is needed to give you the extra boost to keep walking up those stairs.

We rush and stress so much in life, when really, perhaps all we need to do is just "Take It Easy". I did stress when I wasn't on my plan for updating my blog. Than I just took a step back and realized there are other ways to update with out some grand theme. Life is all about the steps in order to get where we want to go.

An Instagram World

Many of you may already know about instagram, many of you may only know of it as the company Facebook just brought for a billion dollars and still some of you may still be thinking, huh?! Well, let me introduce you to my Instragram world!

While their relationship is just beginning, I have been seriously involved with them for sometime, it all began on Facebook, so I am glad that their success is ever changed by them because my world has been. I want an iPhone just to have this app, (for now and until my phone plan is up) I have my iPad and my Canon PowerShot A2200 with adaptor. It not as "insta" as I would love it to be, but still allows my creativity to soar.

For those of you not familiar, Instagram is a photo sharing app that allows the user to take an photo on their smartphone ( it also available for the Android market) or iPad and instantly share. Basically, creating a moment in the life series of images. Instagram gives us another outlet for expression, it can take old and mistaken photographs make them new, it can take a new picture and make it old, all by filters on this app and how you see things.

For me, personally, it is a way I get the little things I see and want to share with others out there, from a leaf on the ground, a sunset, a moon set or even just a way to say Happy St Patrick's Day to friends. The filters are an added treat; blurring the edges, changing to black & white and even recreating a 1977 film look it is all there in the palm of your hands. The images have beautiful imperfections that I feel make everything better.

I am a film lover and always will be, but these new digital innovations are creating new ways of expressing ourselves as photographers, enhancing how we see things. I am following some outstanding photographers like drsmoothdeath, greymatters, cryingjune and Sam Horine, along with so many others on instragram.  They allow me a glimpse of places I have never seen but long too, of new ideas to try someday and sometimes just that smile that is needed after a long day.

I am a proud user of Instagram, swirlphoto, in case you are looking for me and invite all of you, if you haven't already to download this app and get to exploring! A little added plus, it is FREE!

For the Love of the Wander

It is Valentines today, so what is it that YOU love? Not whom, but what do you crave for, lust after, wherever your passion lies. Mine is creating the perfect image to show how I see things. It can be found in the rocks that surround the beach or how a trail vanishes at the horizon or the exaggerated color the sun meeting the twilight create.

I love taking pictures, I love being a photographer - an artist. There are many times when I just don't have my camera (though I have been carrying my point and shoot camera with me now) or times when I just can't get out of my car (darn laws), but I am able to take a mental image of what I am seeing, storing it away in my minds photo album. And it stays there as my inspiration, sometimes all I need to do is just close my eyes to see the perfect image. It is this, this love that I have for the art of photography that keeps me motivated even when I am completely unable to pick up my camera.

This is my first entry in quite a while, but it doesn't mean I lost the love of it, the joys of sharing my art and thoughts with you.  It is the love of knowing that I would come back here one day. Life throws these obstacles at you; your job, family, lack of inspiration, but it is important to remember, don't give up on anything you love especially if it brings you happiness. It can only bring more love into your life, how amazing is that, no matter what detours you take.

Until next time, be kind to one another.

Wanderings of a new iPad user

I have been wandering much lately, so have not been posting at all. However this is my test run from my new tool in this media filled world. I am hoping that with this I will be able to get my wanderings out there.

Where will your wanderings take you?

A 50/50 Adventure

Imagine you were given 50 6x6 boards and 50 days to create art. It wouldn't matter what medium you had choosen; photography, painting, metal or paper. You just need to have the inspiration and determination to complete them in the given time. Could you do it?


Coastal Wanderings, 50/50 2010



Recently, I had to ask myself if I could do it again. Could I? Could I create 50 photographs in the 50 days as I had done last year? Could I choose a theme that was as challenging as the last one? It appears I CAN and WILL! I was accepted into the third annual 50/50 show at Sanchez Art Center. Being one of 72 from the 117 entries, I feel honored at the opportunity to work on it again. Dewitt Chang, an artist and curator, from San Francisco was the juror. He, alone, selected the artists and I thank him, because once I had my theme in mind I really wanted to pursue it. As like last years, Coastal Wanderings, once I get my mind set on something, I rarely faulter from it.





Mile Rock Stairway, 2011



Stairways - San Franciso Soul is my 50/50 and it has been a desire of mine for sometime to be able to photograph the many stairs we have in the city. You may ask why, being a Pacifican born and bred, that I would have chosen this; a while back I came across a book, called Stairways Walks in San Francisco by Adah Bakalinsky. She has written a book that maps out walks thoughout the city which highlights it amazing stairs. I can't remember why I purchased the book, I just knew one day I would have the chance to do this. I even located the author of the book and spoke to her the other day on the phone, she is such a sweet lady and is even eagar to see the final pieces. We may even plan a walk together. This is what the 50/50 is all about, finding something new about yourself, your art and even making some new friends along the way.

Beginning this past Monday the 13th and ending on August 1st, I will be wandering through San Francisco neighborhoods. So far it has been a challenge, I have been exposed to angry drivers, who chase you down and my poor lack of map reading, while walking about. But it is all an adventure and when I look through the camera and find something I didn't even know I was looking at, it is all worth

it.  I always like that I can surprise myself.  I also like that I will be seeing a side of San Francisco, most may not even know is there; including little beaches and water fountains. From time to time I will let you know how this adventure goes and on opening night, August 26th I hope all who are able will attend.







St Francis Upper Fountain

Stairway, 2011



Mile Rock Beach, 2011



St Francis Upper Fountain

2011