My online “journal” is where I record my musings, stories, adventures, discoveries, and capture moments of gratitude.
Since Margaret Bourke-White is the featured artist for the Artist Spotlight this month, I thought it would be fun to see if any movies have been made about her. I found a 1980's era television movie, starring Farrah Fawcett; BUT, since it is only available on VHS tape, I chose a "runner-up". I thought I would share a movie about a female war photographer which might tie-in nicely with our Margaret Burke-White "theme" this month.
Read MoreOur Artist Spotlight for May is American photographer, Richard Avedon. I have shared a few blog posts about Avedon this month (Featured below), but now it is time to bring it full circle with our book for the month. I searched for biographies and books that somehow related to Avedon and/or his work. I finally settled on Avedon at Work by Laura Wilson. While this book is not our typical “read”, I think it is an important glimpse behind the scenes that, in many ways, makes it more important than reading a 400-page biography.
Read More“Just This Moment” is intended to be a collection of those small moments in which you are truly present in your life - at just that moment. The images may not be frame-worthy, but are moments that fill you with joy, allow you to experience a moment of gratitude, make you smile, touch your heart, and/or make your soul sing. I encourage you to share your “moment” here with me, but I will get us started with this…
Read MoreIn April, we discussed Eadweard Muybridge and his contribution to photography and cinema. Now, after what we learned about Muybridge and his photography experiments, doesn't this quote have more meaning?
Read MoreHappy birthday to American photographer, Dorothea Lange (05/26/1895-10/11/1965)! Lange traveled the country documenting rural America after the Great Depression as part of the Farm Security Administration (FSA) project. Her most famous photograph from this time is sometimes referred to as "Migrant Mother". I am sure you have all seen this haunting image of a woman, with three of her children "framing" her. Personally, I find this image both beautiful and heart-wrenching at the same time. That image is what I consider “catching lightning in a bottle”.
Read MoreI have been planning a series of blog posts to share studies of design, light,… you know, those fundamental subjects that you will always be learning and relearning. Each month I post something else in their place because I am never sure if this would be something a reader would enjoy... Well, this month, I decided everyone might benefit from a study (or refresher) in composition. It seems like everyone is taking photos in some form these days, so why not know the “rules”.
Read MoreWe are overdue a Wednesday Wanderings travel that is close to home, don’t you think? Well, how about Mason, Texas? I am rather smitten with Mason, and have been ever since my husband surprised me years ago with a day trip to see fields of yellow flowers. There were fields that were a sea of yellow like I had never seen before, or since.
Mason is a small Texas town on the edge of the Texas Hill Country, and is the county seat of Mason County. The current Courthouse was built of granite in 1909 and is the centerpiece of the square which was recognized by Texas Monthly as one of the best town squares in Texas.
Mason is also known as the “Gem of the Hill Country” because the largest blue topaz found in North America was discovered in Mason County.
Mason has many things to offer the traveler, but, I am going to go out on a limb here, and bet that most of us have a greater familiarity with the literary work of one of Mason’s residents, Fred Gipson, than we have for his hometown.
Read MoreOur Artist Spotlight this month is Richard Avedon. As I began reading more about him, I found several references and articles about his connection to the 1957 movie, “Funny Face”. Surprised? So was I.
It has been a long time since I watched the movie that starred a very young Audrey Hepburn, Fred Astaire, Kay Thompson, and a bevy of Hubert de Givenchy designed costumes. But, that is a whole blog post in and of itself. Let’s talk about the Avedon “connection”, shall we? You know how I compile trivia lists for you as my contribution to your “cocktail party conversation” repertoire, well here you go:
Read MoreToday is the birthday of American photographer, Richard Avedon, so I thought I would give you a brief overview of Richard Avedon just in case you are not familiar with his work.
I admit, I never really paid attention to fashion photography, until recently. Naturally, as part of this “discovery”, I began seeking out Avedon’s images to study. Avedon is highly regarded for his work in the fashion industry. He was a photographer for Harper’s Bazaar (1945-1965)and Vogue (1966-1990) so you can readily find his work if you search. I find myself appreciating his clean, elegant compositions, rich tonal range, but, usually, his images include a surprising twist. The iconic photograph, “Dovima with Elephants” comes to mind. (Click HERE to see the image on MoMA’s website.) Who would think of featuring a famous model, wearing a Dior evening gown, positioned between two elephants? Richard Avedon, that’s who.
Read MoreI realize this is not my usual blog post, but this is special sighting I want to share with you. On a recent trip to far west Texas, there was a little critter who blended in with the soil and rocks so well that only his/her movement gave him/her away. This guy is classified as a reptile, and he/she was tiny - maybe the size of a quarter excluding the tail. Do you want to take a look and maybe make a guess? Well, here you go:
Read More
