Alcatraz Prison, CA

Here it is another week gone by before I've made my next post!!  That's crazy!  Pretty soon it's going to be Thanksgiving, then Christmas holidays!  Life just goes by, just like missed photo ops!!

I was driving down the canyon road this morning into town, and I had my camera in the back seat.  I wanted to take some shots as the fog was creeping in making for some sweet views, and then in the misty rain the fall colors of the live oaks really stood out in shades of orange and yellow!!  But it was raining - I missed the opportunity.  So now I'm hoping I'll find it again tomorrow morning.  It's still raining now.

I have been working and re-writing on my new web site.  Added my photography history with galleries and shows I've done, as well as, adding some helpful links.  I plan on adding more links.  Don't know if it's that necessary now that the internet is so THERE!  All you have to do is type in a description of what you're looking for and two seconds later it's there.  Added another gallery the other day:  Alcatraz Prison, CA!!  You might want to check it out for yourself.  Here's one of the images from that gallery:

When I was there standing on the first floor of the prison, I looked up through the grate to the second floor.  And it was eerily drawing me in.  That place can be creepy, but also pretty awesome.  I know it takes your mind back to when the prisoners were there under the surveillance of the guards.  The building was cold, wet, dark and dingy, but made for some awesome black and whites.  I love old historical places.

One thing I'm struggling with is whether or not I want to make a Facebook page of my photography only.  I don't know.  But then if I did, my blog could be posted there too and draw in more viewers to the website.  I'm still thinking.  Beyond that I need to make a decision as to "if" or "when" I put up my prints for e-commerce.

WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING!!!

I got my new website up and running today - with just a little assistance - powered by Redframe.  I uploaded three galleries for now and will continue adding galleries as I go along.  Later, too, I will add the e-commerce - we'll see how my public responds! ; )  I love the new look and I can change the layout from time-to-time too.

I'm going to send out an email to my friends and family members to let them know of my new website and maybe hear what they have to say too.  I'm always up for improvements, and believe me there is always room for improvement.  Thank you for those who have continued to read my blog, and maybe now there will be an even larger following.  I'm learning on a daily basis of the importance of SEO:  Search Engine Optimization!  I had to look that up! ; P

I'm in a good place right now and am going on a photo shoot.  Hope to have some new images from the bay area real soon!  Check back again!

Here is another black and white Getty Museum image for your enjoyment!

 

Black and White Images of Getty Museum in Los Angeles

It's been a hectic summer with family injuries, losing loved ones, and ending it with a newborn.  Life is sad and yet amazing at times.  Now we're rolling into fall.  I love fall with all the changing colors of the leaves of the trees.  I guess I'm trying to ease into the fact that I haven't written much lately.  So much going on.

This past Thursday night was Auburn's last Artwalk of the 2013 season.  I am showing at the local Naturopathic business in Auburn.  We had great weather this year (last year it was storming with lightening and rain!)  A lot of traffic and visitors coming in to check out my European images.  Finally I was able to show them all in one place!  Received numerous positive comments.  And lucky for me, Naturopathic wants to keep my artwork in their business thru April of next year!!  Awesome.  This will give me longer exposure to the community for possible sales!

I've been printing out images from Bodie Ghost Town (2012 Series) onto Museo Silver Rag.  Then matted and framed them and they are hanging in High Hand Gallery thru the end of this month.  In the meantime, I've been printing out even newer images I took at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles this summer.  Since they are an architectural series with stark contrasts, I've printed them on metallic paper to enhance the image even more.  Next step is to mat and buy frames for this series.  Here's one of them.

Yesterday and today I've been spending many hours on the computer looking up various websites for photographers.  I've been watching tutorials and almost falling sleep at it too!  My website will no longer be, as my current hosting company is updating their servers and my website will not survive!  I need to create a new one, on my own I might add!  Ugh!  Learn new things!  It's hard! ; )  But it has to be done.  So that's where I'm at.  I'm hoping I can transfer my Blog over to the new website so I don't have to start from scratch!

High Hand Gallery's Artstock Show!

I know it's been quite awhile since I wrote on my blog.  This summer has been crazy with trips to various places and for various reasons.  But I am here now and busy back in the studio.

Getting ready for High Hand Gallery's Artstock 2013.  It is a large format show with artwork at least 3' in one direction and larger.  I'm working today at the gallery, and several artists are in the shed putting up the artwork for this show right now.  My contribution to the show are three 2'x3' black and white gallery wraps of Bodie Ghost Town.  Here's one titled, "Bodie Beast".  It's a car as you can see, but I have had so many people try to tell me what 'make' it is, and I've gotten everything from Ford, to Chevy, to GMC, to Pontiac.  So I'm calling it:  BODIE BEAST!  It is a close up and the first thing you notice is the right fender with the black hole where the headlight used to be!

High Hand Gallery is also getting ready for the new re-hang inside the gallery for September and October, which means I need to print out a couple more prints of Bodie Ghost Town.  Color prints definitely; at least two large prints of 13x19, and then some smaller 8x10s of what I will have hanging.  Need to print now in order to give them time to dry before I frame them this weekend.

I've been on trips travelling around, but not necessarily for art's sake!  In October I will be on the Auburn Artwalk in Naturopathic next to Roper's Jewelry on Lincoln Street in downtown Auburn.  I will be having my artwork from Europe and I will be able to leave it there all winter until the first Artwalk next year in April I believe.  So that's a great opportunity to be able to hang there during the holidays and have greater exposure!!

Black and White on Metallic Paper

I ordered my paper products and other supplies from Freestyle Photographic Supplies on Friday.  They should be arriving either today or tomorrow!  I've been thinking about which images I'll try first on the bamboo papers:  trees!  Some of the ones from Point Lobos would be great as they are in a misty setting.

I worked at High Hand Gallery on Thursday and Saturday, and then spent Sunday cutting mats and framing three new pieces that I had to deliver yesterday by 5:00!  I got there around 3:00 p.m.  Whew!  And while I was there removing some of my pieces, some folks were looking at my photography.  I spoke with them and explained some of the processes and the papers.  The guy already had one print in is hand, and they ended up buying it!!  Nice!  Last month was one of my best months at High Hand.

In regards to the Art Deco Show at the Blue Line, the results will be announced on this Friday.  My next outing will be the Arts in the Park in Auburn on May 18th, which means loading up the panels and table and framed images.  It's just a one day gig - I don't think I could do a two-day one!  Then of course, the Artful Bra Show on the 25th.  I will be going in on Wednesday and Thursday to photograph the entries and start working on the bid sheets, etc.  May's a busy month to say the least!    

Today is kind of a down day - no running around to do, so I'll be printing the black and white images out that I took last week for the 30th Jubilee project so I can give them to my artist friend who will incorporate them into her painting for that show.  I need to come up with one more image for the KVIE Art Auction.  That deadline is May 19th.

Here is one of the images I took into High Hand Gallery.  It's called Trinaczia (which I couldn't find a translation for, so I'm thinking it was a family name).  It is the front of a restaurant in Taormina, Sicily in black and white (digital) and printed on metallic paper.

Family Photoshoot

Today I picked up the proofs - all 170+ - and put them in an album for my daughter-in-law and family. Later I printed out an 8x10 color family pose and it came out rather nicely. It's really hard to get a family of five all looking the same direction when the children are all under the age of 5! Then I changed some of the ones I thought might look good in B&W to give them an idea of what could be done with these. That's the main reason I used the digital because of my short time frame to get this done, so that I could change them easily, even though that's not my gig to do it that way! ; ) If I don't run out of time I may develop the one roll of B&W film - but really, I AM running out of time!

So here's a couple you can see for yourself!

Canyon de Chelly and Satellite

Well, setting goals really keeps you on your toes that's all I gotta say! I posted a new website gallery: Canyon de Chelly for your viewing enjoyment. This was a great excursion and we met some wonderful Dine - Navajo people. My husband purchased a handmade silver 'story bracelet' for me from a Navajo artist who was at the North Rim route. Beautiful people I have to say - kind, sincere, gentle, and just beautiful! The bracelet of course tells a story of the Navajo: the canyon, the hogan, the cottonwoods, the wagons, the canyon varnish, and White House, are all represented in figures on this bracelet made of silver and brass. It's exquisite! The artist and his wife invited us back sometime and said they would give us a personal tour of the canyon floor. So, needless to say, we are going back one day!

Getting the new gallery up was no easy feat, as living up here in the hills, our internet connection choices are: satellite and satellite! So, if it's a cloudy day or there's a sunburst or space junk decides to float in front of our satellite's view - it can be as bad as 'snail mail'. But I got it up after several hours and it's there for you to enjoy!

Stuck in a Roll of Film & Loving It!

I've had several people mention to me lately the fact that Kodak was no longer making kodachrome. However, not to worry for all you film photographers, as Fuji will continue to make film, and they do make excellent professional color film products. But you'll just have to find an upscale camera store to purchase from, as the local drug stores - at least where I'm at - won't be carrying film. I have found two camera/photography stores 35 miles away that carry Kodak B&W film at a reasonable price.

If newcomers to the digital world take classes at a college, the coursework requires them to start out in film and the darkroom, and then they can move on up the scale to digital courses. So B&W film will always be 'in style' as it is an old artform.

Right now my process is to have my B&W film developed by a lab, it is then scanned to CD, and I print from my Epson R2400 printer - and the prints come out beautiful. The prints are usually good the first time around, however, I have on occasion lightened them - but no touch up. One photographer told me it's the best of "both worlds" this type of process. But I'm holding out for my darkroom. I can hardly wait. I could develop my film myself in a lab - but I would have to travel 45 miles one way, as I live out in the foothills where deer and little critters are our neighbors so to speak!

Black & White v. Color

It's funny what one sees out there in our vast world...some people look but don't see for being caught up in their own thoughts. What catches one's eye could be anything from as minute as an object's shadow that creates something totally different, an insect trudging along with his little bit of cracker, two people engrossed in a conversation that creates a scene of mystery, but it's Mother Nature just being her natural self that usually catches my eye. I've been lucky enough to be able to visit many places - I'd love to go wandering some more in Europe and check out China too - and when I've been out there photographing I have to say I see mostly in Black and White. However, I will admit there are times when color just HAS to be the medium to photograph a scene. Carrying two cameras and going from B&W to color is not always an easy task and takes a bit of an eye-to-mind changing sequence. But first and foremost I do see in B&W.