Through a system of muscles, bones, arteries and nerve pathways, this ring leads to the gentlest and warmest heart that I have had the privilege to know. She is the definition of a kind soul and my world, at least, is much better for her being even a small part of it.
In any art form, it is important for you the artist to know who it is that you are performing for. This fact is just as important for photographers as it is for singers, dancers and comedians. These are the people that will be consuming your art and these are the people that you need to please.
Pleasing your audience becomes all the more difficult when the art itself is personal to you the artist. Therein lies the delima. Which audience do you ultimately need to please? Is it more important to please yourself or those consuming your work?
If your livelihood depends on selling your work, then you have no choice but to please your consumers. You need to make an income and consumers won't buy something that they don't like. However, you need to be aware that tastes change over time and that your audience may change as well. Are you willing to change with your audience or, on the flip side, are you willing to remain stagnant as an artist because your market demands that you do?
Our ultimate audience has to be ourselves. We have to take joy in the work that we create with our hands, bodies and voices. If our creations do not allow us to grow or do not bring us joy, everybody will suffer… including our audience.
If you feel the need to grow as an artist, then allow yourself to do so. If necessary, start a side project as an outlet for your new form. Just don't sit still as an artist because you fear your consumer may not change with you. Grow! Try out new techniques, explore new avenues for your work. You just might discover a new audience is out there waiting for you.
Today, I really had a great day. I attended the dress rehearsal for a children's dance recital. I took quite a few pictures of the young dancers in their adorable little costumes. However, this image is my favorite of the day. She is a young ballet dancer and daughter of one of our good friends.
Every once in a while, you know you have a fantastic image even as your finger presses down on the shutter release button. This is one of those images. I just knew how it would look when printed out.
The actual recital is tomorrow and we will be back in attendance. I've printed out the image and had it matted in a deep gold so that we can give it to her as a small gift. I'm sure she will be surprised and excited to see her picture.
I was at lunch today when I overheard the following conversation between two big, burly, and mean looking bikers:
Biker 1: If you want the best, you need to watch "Barefoot Contessa", she has the best short ribs.
Biker 2: I don't like her as much as I like Paula Dean. That woman knows how to cook.
Biker 1: She's ok, but she's no Contessa.
Biker 2: That reminds me I need to stop and get potting soil on the way home.
What has this world come to?
In my visit to the farm today, I found Sue singing a lullaby to her little girl, Lilly. What do you bet it was Hey-diddle-diddle?
Daisy is a stubborn cow and when it came time to be moved to a new pasture, she just wasn't interested in going. The old Milker just dug in her hooves and said no, I won't go.
What the girl hadn't counted on was the persistence and ingenuity of Jimmy and Lee the farmers. They hitched up the two new mules, Kit and Kate, to the hay wagon and pulled it over to Daisy.
A few moments later and they were off with Jimmy driving. A quick jog and Lee caught up and joined Jimmy on the wagon.
Off they went with Daisy in tow. It seems that mule power will beat stubborn cow power every time. Remember that the next time you have to move a recalcitrant cow to a new pasture. That's why you read this blog isn't it? The life lessons?
Dear Miss Manners,
I recently found myself behind a young couple and their newborn baby while riding the escallator at Macy's. The poor young man was wearing his pants down around his knees with his boxers displayed for the world to see from his waist down to his lowered pants. I felt sorry for the lad as he was visibly struggling to keep his trousers from falling to his ankles while walking. What should I do Miss manners? How can I help the poor boy/man?
A. Should I offer to buy the lad a belt as he is probably too poor to buy one?
B. Should I pull up his pants and staple them to his waistline for him?
C. Should I point and laugh loudly at his predicament?
D. Should I shake my head and worry that he is obviously breeding and multiplying?
I would appreciate knowing what you would do so that I can respond properly the next time I find myself in the same predicament. You know me, I just like to do the right thing.
Yours truly,
Shaking His Head in Springfield
Remember number nine? The poor little guy has gone viral. Kat Sloma has featured Number Nine on her website. That's my second feature in less than a month. I swear that I have not paid her a dime. I like Kat's site because she issues challenges to her readers on a regular basis and sets up their efforts with well written tutorials on what they should be attempting and how it will improve their photography.
In the case of Number Nine, Kat assigned us the task of exploring visual contrast in our images. Here, I captured the contrasting textures and shapes between the curving brass number and the linear brick wall behind.
Participating in online challenges and contests is a fantastic way to improve your photography skills and to have your work become better known. Most online photography communities have them and I encourage you to participate. Who knows, you could become a two time champion and micro celebrity like me! Are my fifteen minutes of fame up all ready? Sorry folks, reality says I have to get back to the real world.
Yeah, say that one five times fast! I dare you, go on… try it. While you untie your tongue, I will just let you know that the sheep at Carriage hill farm are all out to pasture. If you are fast enough to dodge rain squalls, you can see them out and about chomping spring grass. Even the new born kids are getting in on the act.
How is your tongue doing? Ooooh, that doesn't look good. Let me get the WD40 for you.
I found this dried plant on a walk through the prairie at Buck Creek state park. At the time that I captured the image, I did not know what it was. However, subsequently, my good friend and bpf Renee has informed me that this is Wild Artichoke Thistle. I trust her learned opinion on this matter without question. Renee is the worlds foremost expert in coming up with answers to things that I do not know.
You would be lucky to have such a person in your life.
Update: Oh, how we were wrong. I have since been told and it has been confirmed that our poor misidentified plant is in all actuality a variety of Teasels.
tim mcmurdo 