Brave Pansy

Brave Pansy...how's that for an oxymoron?  I find it so amazing that the most fragile of flowers can be the toughest.  Even in the coldest of winter they still find the strength to lift their heads to find the sun.

This picture is from our last little bit of snow week before last. The temperature was in the 20's.

These photos are from yesterday.  The temperature was in the 70's!  Notice the short sleeve shirts.

It's really amazing what a nice day does for us.  That good dose of Vitamin D is just what the doctor ordered.  I would estimate that 75% of my friends on facebook had something in their status on Saturday with regards to the beautiful weather.  Everyone was outside.  Everyone was at the park.  Everyone was out running errands.  It was just one of those picture perfect days.  Everyone was kind and quick to offer a smile and an appreciative nod to the great weather.  I love days like that.  Of course now we go from a 75 degree day to a predicted high of 25 on Tuesday.  Even with your crazy weather Oklahoma...I still love ya!  Check back with me on Wednesday....I'm hoping to have some cool ice/snow photos to share :)

Center of Attention

I've always wished I could sing, but I'm not that good.

~photography is that voice.

I've always wished I could paint, but I'm not that good.

~photography is that painting.

I've always wished I could write, but I'm not that good.

~photography is that story.

Love of nature.

Love of family.

Love of life.

Love of photography.

The heart is always at the center.

It's a Balancing Act...

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, 

order, rhythm and harmony.”

My photo assignment today was to capture balance in a photograph.  I really struggled with this.  I took at least 10 photos of various things that literally represented balance to me before almost giving up.  I decided to go through some of the photos I've taken in the last month and I came across this photo. 

 It is one of my favorites and I could never really pinpoint why it was my favorite.  I thought I must love it because there is lots of green and green is my favorite color, but no that wasn't quite it.  I thought I must love it because the negative space is so cool, but no that wasn't quite it either.  Then it hit me...like a ton of bricks.  It's totally in balance.  Some of the design principles that I learned in college finally came together in one photo.  

  

Asymmetry+complementary colors+contrasting textures=balance

This is what I love about photography, paintings, sculptures, drawings etc....  You can look at them once and immediately be drawn to them (this is design principles at play).  Then you can dive in deeper and find a meaning relevant to you.  Then you can look again and see that certain things....certain principles were in play that made that piece of art appealing to you.  Art can be seen on so many different levels and really keeps life interesting.

I think I struggled with this assignment at first because balance is such a sensitive subject to me.  I strive to find balance between having a career and being a mother.  I wage a daily battle between work and home life. I wanted to show this in my photograph.  But then with that one photo that was perfectly 

balanced, I was able to realize that photography is helping me to find some balance. It's another creative outlet that involves my family, my job, my friends, and my home life.  Instead of adding one more hobby to my list, 

I feel as though I've added some free therapy.  

Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop

"I wonder if I've been changed in the night?  Let me think.  Was I the same

when I got up this morning?  I almost think I can remember feeling a little

different.  But if I'm not the same, the next question is "who in the world am I?"  

Ah, that's the great puzzle!"  ~Alice in Wonderland

I've decided to start a 365, basically a photo everyday for a year.  I'm sure some of you are already thinking, sure Leigh.....you'll follow through on this one (dripping with sarcasm).  But I really feel like I can do this.  My camera is never far from my side and I've already been taking 30 day Big Picture Classes with Tracey Clark so I think I can do this.  

Here is today's prompt: "Promise and possibility might be intangibles, but you know that feeling you get when you see something that fills your heart to brimming. Be on the lookout today for something that speaks of promise or possibility - something hopeful, touching, soul stirring. Something that reminds you that anything is possible and we have everything to hope for."  

I knew as soon as she climbed up into the oversized chair at the Science Museum that this would be my photo today.  I wonder who she will grow up to be and I realize that every little thing I do and say is contributing to the person she is going to become.  Talk about pressure people!  If anyone wants to get me a gift please consider the huge, oversized chair.  It's one way to keep my kids looking little. 

The Best of Intentions

This arrived in my email inbox this morning for my last day of Picture The Holidays with Tracey Clark.

"It's hard to believe that the year is really coming to an end, but hasn't it been enchanting spending the past 30 days together collecting the last images of 2010? Today, let's shoot something that encompasses our 

intentions for the New Year. Consider what you want to set into motion for the next year and try to capture something that will keep your intentions fresh in your mind. An iconic symbol of something important to you is one way to keep yourself mindful of it. Try to visualize a mood, thought, intention, dream and/or wish and 

then "picture it" for today's prompt."

I like the idea of Intentions better than resolutions, don't you?  I intend to put the following ideas, thoughts, behavior into motion instead of resolving to change something about myself. Resolutions leave too much room for failure while intentions are striving towards something.  

Intentions for 2011

Strive to be the best mother I can be and to limit the following phrases-"In a minute", "maybe", "hold on a second"

Continue to find beauty in unexpected places-this helps me to slow down and take notice of the world around me

Focus on Mother Nature-not only as a muse for photography but as the inspiration for my career as a designer

Take lots and lots of photos and continue to learn as much as I can!

The intentions that I couldn't capture in my neat little collage above.

get healthy

make healthy choices

strive to eat pure, real food not processed crap

be a better friend

"Live with intention.  Walk to the edge.  Listen hard.  Practice wellness.  Play with abandon.  Laugh.  Choose with no regret.  Appreciate your friends.  Continue to learn.  Do what you love.  Live as if this is all there is."

~Mary Anne Radmacher

So what are your intentions for 2011?

The Shape of Things to Come

I've been taking a 30 day online photography class called "Picture the Holidays".  Everyday a nice little image and prompt arrive in my email detailing the days assignment.  I then take a slew of photos attempting to get THE shot and then I post it to an online gallery for comments from fellow classmates.  Today the email was entitled, "A Toast".  Instead of looking forward to the new year the prompt was encouraging a toast to the year that has passed.  I'm toasting my new found creative outlet!

I love to look for simplicity in lines and the negative space that can be created.

I wish I could have gotten more definition on the little sun flare where the stem meets the glass.

I am digging the bokeh in the background.   Don't know what bokeh is?  just ask....I love to talk all things photography.

Yes I do have a blog! Thanks for asking.

So I had planned out this big introduction to my new blog, DIG. But then I decided to scrap that and just bombard you with my favorite photos from this Christmas. I'm sure most of you (my non-existent-for-now followers) have seen all these photos either on Flickr (Flickr ) or on Facebook. I'm sure it is very evident by now that I am completely....100% obsessed with photography. Of course I love taking pictures of my kids (who by now, are very sick of me having a camera in their face 24-7) but my favorite is to photograph landscapes, flowers, nature....the unexpected beauty. Photography has been so rewarding because it has really helped me to take the time and take notice of everything around me. I'm there...with my trusty Nikon....looking for the next perfect shot and in the meantime slowing down to really be there, be here, be present.
I should also warn you that I'm very indecisive.  So when I say I'm posting my favorite photo....that will usually mean my top 10 favorite photos because I can't narrow it down.
So here it goes....favorite photos from the last week.  And please...if you feel so inclined....leave a comment.  It makes me feel loved.