Moon-rise

 
    The moon-rise is caught in the clutch of trees before it floats free, clears the roof tops and sails into the darkening sky.

       I have trouble photographing the moon with my camera.  It's likely operator error and not the instrument, but I keep trying.

       There's something fascinating about seeing the first bit of moon appear behind the neighbour's roof and watching it hang in the branches, the tree tops. A fascination as old as time...

Perspective

When I think I have everything in my life figured out, I discover I have been examining too closely.  

I have looked at minute details, become too serious and forgotten the larger perspectives.  

I step back.  And suddenly, I see how varied, expansive and beautiful the world really is.

What is Actually There?

We release our expectations of what we think we should see, and then see what is actually there.

Time Out of Time

One of the great gifts of art-making is an experience of "forgetting" ourselves and our self-consciousness, and stepping into something much bigger.  Photography can connect us to time out of time. (Quote from Eyes of the Heart by Christine Valters Paintner)

Like photography, poetry is a tender process.  We forget ourselves and let go of expectations, experience light and shadow, storytelling and re-framing, experience something new or something familiar in a new way.

Both photography and poetry offer a fresh mirror back to us.


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See with Fresh Eyes

See with fresh eyes and be open to possibilities, ready to receive what is offered.  

Sit with the gifts, notice the seeds of photos and poetry. 

On Friday, the surprises were chickadees at the birdbath and a poem about reflections on glassy water.

The photography weekend continues to offer its lessons, the most wonderful being an increased awareness of the world inside me and the reflections outside me.

I am grateful for this attuned vision and for the delightful company of chickadees.  

Photography and Poetry

Photography can be a practice of cultivating the capacity to see things as they really are.  

Poetry, if written well, can be the same. 

Both offer new awareness, share the essence of truth, open the heart.

Allow a pathway inward to the a-ha moment.

Be Still: Contemplative Photography

Henry Miller said, "The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably significant world in itself."

Giving close attention, seeing beyond seeing, and walking while waiting for nature to reveal itself...these were exploration topics at last weekend's photography workshop offered at the Tatamagouche Centre in Nova Scotia.  

We spent enjoyable time learning that throwing away photos, with which we weren't quite happy was a form of "labeling" and doesn't respect our own abilities.  We found that dawn's rain and afternoon's drizzle offer up many lush photos, that Tatamagouche has a view of the bay, huge old maples, a river, rock walls, walking paths, stands of old pines and open fields, each an opportunity to be amazed, to make photographs and to learn about cropping, colour pushing, fill light, balance, rules to be followed and rules to be broken.

We were awed.  We marveled.  We saw the world with fresh eyes. 

We had fun, ate good home cooked meals, worked hard, then played and went to bed tired and happy.

Who could ask for anything different?

Words in colour will take you to another site with additional information, if you click on them.  Photos and words are copyright Carol Steel 2009-2014.

Art Across the Marsh 2014

Ghita's laneway

The busy weekend left us little time for one of my favourite treats, the "Art Across the Marsh" tour of artist studios in the Tantramar area.  (www.artacrossthemarsh.ca)  We made the most of the few hours we had on Sunday afternoon, enjoyed the company of family, the autumn colours and four of the nineteen venues.  

We squeezed in a quick visit to the Winegarden Estate Ltd. in Baie Verte NB  to pick up a bottle of raspberry wine.  Why not?  We were passing by anyway. (www.WinegardenEstate.com)

Ghita's nasturtiums

An artist's studio fascinates.  It is an intimate space of personal creativity which says so much about the artist, draws the visitor into their world and routines, disciplines and work. It is a serious place where the desire to be authentic and true to skills and gifts meets the slogging hard work of trial and error, of honing and expanding the craft, offering new ways to view the world. 

It was a privilege to watch Marilyn Cook working on a gorgeous silk painting in her cozy studio,  a rustic wooden building surrounded by heritage flowers and views out to the Shemogue Marsh.  (www.cooksilk.ca)   

Ghita Levin's property is sheltered from the road by a long lane that opens out into a yard with both a studio and gift shop.  Ghita's wood-fired pottery reflects the wild beauty that hugs her home and the herons, crows, owls, frogs and dragonflies which share those woods and marshes.  (www.ghitalevinpottery.ca)

In front of Ghita's studio

We stopped at the Tidnish Bridge Art Gallery and chatted with the painters, photographers and potters.  We couldn't visit their studios as they bring their creations to the gallery.  They explained, "Working as a co-operative allows us to have an affordable venue to show and sell our work."  Outside their building, we took photos of the river and marshes that edge the property.  It was such great weather and the light so inviting. (www.tidnishbridgeartgallery.com)

It would be a luxury to purchase something from each artist, to support their work and to bring their vibrant art back to our home, but we have neither the space here nor the funds to buy very much, other than a couple of small gifts for others.  Still, it is an enriching experience to walk around the shops and studios, to hear the artists' passion for their creations and to learn how they channel vision into tangible form.

Our time was nearly gone, when we arrived at the studio of Thaddeus Holownia, built on the site of the former home of the poet John Thompson.  Thaddeus, accompanied by his two well-behaved dogs, gave us a tour of the letterpress printers, chatted about his large format cameras, his photographs and graciously answered all our questions.  When we left, he gave us directions for going home another way, so our day ended with the impressive views from the High Marsh Road:  distant dark cows grazing on golden marshland spreading for miles, tinged with dusky clouds hanging low on the horizon.  Breathtaking!

I am humbled in the presence of someone who loves what they do so much they don't think of it as work.  They speak about their art as something irresistible, part of themselves, who they are and who they must be.  I am grateful to those artists who opened their lives this weekend so we too could be part of their worlds. And sorry that time didn't allow us to visit each one on the tour. Perhaps next year?

"Art Across the Marsh" reminded me, each of us has gifts to share; not all are visual artists or work in clay or silk, but we each have unique selves to offer to the world. 

And don't our personal passions and talents drive each one of us? Aren't we always more content when we recognize our own abilities and pursue them?

I think so.

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Monday's Snowfall

 

 

Monday's snowfall edged the winter branches in white.  I captured photos so early that despite photo adjustments, most of the pictures remained bluish.  I liked the contrast of snow on dark wood so decided to share them even with the early morning's blue-grey. 

The sun eventually turned the world a truer colour but it also melted away the snow.  For a brief time, all was fresh and soft and lovely.

Gulls at Parrsboro NS

Gulls wanted to be in the shots I took today at Parrsboro, Nova Scotia.

They weren't afraid of the car or me, as they sat 

on the stony beach...waiting.

These scavengers will have a long wait. 

The take-out restaurant next door

doesn't open until summer.

Or, perhaps, like me, they were enjoying the view

from the shoreline.

Photos are mine.

To learn more about Parrsboro NS, click on the words in red in the blog post.

Snow Shimmering

We opened the curtains this morning and saw drifts of snow shimmering.  I've hankered after photos of the snow glittering in early light, but have not succeeded in capturing one, the perfect one, yet. 

Let me explain.  Snow sparkles...on frigid days...in slanted light.  This means I have the opportunity to take these photos on bitter mornings.  There is a problem.  I cannot hold the camera without shivering, therefore moving...on cold mornings.  Shaky camera equals blurry photos.

Gary offered to go outside, as he didn't mind the cold as much.  For a half hour, he wandered the yard taking photos.  He was in and out of the house.  He came in to check on the results and to warm the camera, then back out.

We will have to try again as nothing he photographed did justice to the silvery shimmer of the morning.  He took pictures of our ducks, as they waited for him to stop fooling with the camera and bring out their food.

The ducks were patient and sat watching, while he meandered, snapping photos.  They were thinking, " Hey, it's cold, man is it cold.  Could you throw the food and forget about the sparkly snow?"  

He did.  We'll capture the perfect photo another day.  By "we", I mean Gary.  I'll be cheering for him from inside where it's warm.

Photos were taken by Gary.  Words are mine.

Photo Wall

It’s Christmas, time for the annual influx of updated photos from our grandchildren.  Always delightful!

And challenging!  We have photos of our grands displayed on a side wall of the stairway; a staggered showcase of children from 3 to 17 years.  This photo wall charts our family’s evolution.

It’s a recording of physical growth, emerging personalities, hair colours, hair cuts and hair styles, of baby teeth, teeth missing, permanent teeth and braces.  The wall shows dimples, and grins and lopsided smiles, kinky hair, curly hair, straight hair and hair that won’t behave.  Blue eyes, hazel eyes, green eyes and dark brown.  Each photo is a delightful reminder of a much loved grandchild.

The updated photos each year are a delight and a challenge.

The challenge is to arrange the photos on the slanting wall, using the nails that are in place, to form a cohesive format.  Some photos are vertical and some horizontal, some are smaller requiring mats. They are all framed with simple 8x10 black borders for continuity.

While rearranging the new crop of photos, I struggle with using the spaces and nails already there.  I can’t get them right, no matter what.  I’ll have to poke more holes in the stairway wall.  I’m certain the housekeeping gurus at Martha Stewart would be appalled.

After considerable fiddling, I’ve managed to arrange the photos (fairly) evenly – at least until the new ones arrive – either photos or babies.

Now to enjoy them!

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Faces of Tulips

My best friend sent me a link to Abbey of the Arts, a guide to transformative living through contemplative and expressive arts.   I was so stunned by the vibrant reds of the tulips contrasted with the ethereal blacks and whites of Christine Valters-Paintner’s photos that it has taken me a few days to want to share them.

Keeping them all to myself seemed necessary; I wanted to secretly enjoy them first.  How selfish!  But delightful!

Look at what she does with a camera; how she lets the photos speak.  Completely lovely!

She begins her Visual Meditation: “The faces of tulips” with a poetic excerpt from Mary Oliver, one of my favourite writers.

Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who made the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips

~Mary Oliver

Explore the website and enjoy Christine's photos and words.  These photos are Christine's.