Archive for the ‘Inspiration’ Category
Spring has sprung in New England.
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Arnold Arboretum, Photography, spring flowers on March 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Paying Attention to the Song of a Single Bird
Posted in Books I Love, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Barbara Brown Taylor, being present, book covers, paying attention on March 18, 2010| 1 Comment »
So when I first saw the book, Altar in the World, in hardback I didn’t even crack the spine. Then it came out in paperback, with the cover image of a blue bird on a blue branch set against a soft beige-cream background. And, in red scrolling text, the title of the book just off center. Kudos to the designers because quite frankly I am a sucker for packaging and I am so happy I opened the book.
There’s a quote on the cover from The Dallas Morning News that says, “Not a page turner, it is a page lingerer.” So true. It is a book about one woman’s journey dealing with faith. Whatever one’s beliefs, I think it is a beautiful read. Here is a passage that had me lingering this morning:
“The practice of paying attention is as simple as looking twice at people … To see takes time, like having a friend takes time. It is as simple as turning off the television to learn the song of a single bird.
I have yet to learn the song of a bird, but I did pay attention to the birds as I walked from the parking lot to my office building. I saw 5 pigeons, 3 robins, 2 blue jays, a rock dove and at least 1 starling. As I entered the building, behind me I did hear a beautiful song. Though I scanned the nearby tree branches and rooftops, I could not spy the bird. Next time.
Hot Off the Press: New Article at Creativity Portal
Posted in Contributing Writer, Inspiration, Nature Notes, Photography, Publication Updates, tagged butterflies, Creativity Portal, mother's gift, muse, seeds on March 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »
March is a big birthday month in my family. A grandmother, two brothers, a new nephew … and my mother. With spring coming she’s on my mind a lot, and served as the inspiration for this article appearing on the Creativity Portal website. Enjoy.
Pete’s Turtles
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged baby turtles on March 13, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Inspired by Ansel Adams …
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged black and white photography, edmands park, water images on March 11, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Nature in Black and White
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Ansel Adams, black and white, edmands park, Photography on March 10, 2010| Leave a Comment »
During lunch, on a bright sunny day, I went for a walk through Edmands Park with camera in hand. Inspired by Ansel Adams, I decided to shoot in black and white. I’m quite excited to see how the pictures come out. Mr. Adams was on my mind because of a recent blog post I’d read about some of his photos held at the National Archives. In 1941 he was commissioned by the National Park Service to create a mural that exemplified nature in the national parks. When the U.S. entered World War II, the project was halted. You can read more here on the National Archives website. The following picture in particular lit the creative spark in me.
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My Favorite Female Photographers I
Posted in Inspiration, tagged dorothea lange, female photographers, julia margaret cameron, margaret bourke white on March 10, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Given that March is Women’s History Month, I thought I’d highlight some of my favorite female photographers.
“Flag Making” Brooklyn, New York, July 24, 1940
Cameron portrait of Julia Prinsep Jackson, later Julia Stephen, Cameron’s niece, favourite subject, and mother of the author Virginia Woolf.
Mississippi Delta Children
With sunlight through the window, I see …
Posted in Inspiration, tagged african violet, file folders, moro oranges, musings, Photography, push pins, Sunday, sunlight on March 7, 2010| Leave a Comment »
The Next Great Cinematic Revolution: Silent 2D Black and White Films?
Posted in Inspiration, The Big Screen, tagged 3D, black and white movies, cinema, musings, silent movies on March 7, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Hmmm. I don’t think I’m being curmudgeonly or old-fashioned but … really … does every movie under the sun have to come out in 3D and be organ-rattlingly loud? Where does cinema and the entertainment world go from here? Perhaps back to the basics. Here’s my two cents: I think the next cinematic revolution will be silent, black and white films. Unless there’s such a thing as 4D programming. Is there?
I was surprised to see, after a cursory search, that there’s still quite a bit of activity around silent films. There’s Silent Movie Mondays taking place in Seattle, and there was a silent film festival in Kansas this past February. And here’s the blog for Ben Model a silent film music accompanist, and his 2010 road schedule. And here’s a neat blog called The Bioscope “reporting on the world of early and silent cinema.”
Some of my favorites: Son of the Sheik with Rudolf Valentino, The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Lon Chaney, anything with Charlie Chaplan and anything with Lillian Gish.
Want to know more? Here’s a good jumping off point: Silent Film Wikipedia entry
On the way home today …
Posted in Branches, Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged magnolia, orchid, squirrel on March 6, 2010| Leave a Comment »
An Orchid in Back Bay
A Magnolia Bud in Central Square
A Squirrel Along the Charles River
Words + Images 