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Archive for the ‘Photography’ Category

Pink has been on my mind of late.  It is not a color I normally wear or buy in any form.  But as I perused my photos as part of creating a new photo book, I noticed that in nature, I am drawn toward the color, from rosy clouds in the sky to pink petals, leaves and blossoms on earth.

Oddly enough, as I researched the color, I learned that Pantone has announced its 2011 Color of the Year as a Honeysuckle Pink.  My pink book is still very much a work in progress.  My goal:  to produce a quality product ready in time for spring open studios.  We’ll see!

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I now have a free Words + Images  iphone app.  Yes, I am a well acknowledged technophobe, but good friends at Applaud Mobile LLC showed me what is possible.  For those of you out there with iPhone or iPads, I hope you enjoy.

 

Download using this link.

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First up, Japan!  As mentioned in last month’s update, I had the unique opportunity to travel to Japan where I spent three days in Kobe and three days in Kyoto.  View images here. Food was a highlight.  While there, I was indeed introduced to takoyaki, also known as Octopus Balls.  While I admired the satisfied looks on peoples’ faces as they popped the delicacies into their mouths, I decided to abstain until my next trip.

I did indulge in some of the best and freshest sushi I have ever eaten.  Just before departing Japan, I saw a Michelin man dancing in front of a bookstore.  Here’s why. My favorite food discovery was the art of preparing food for display.

An unexpected visual treat was to stumble upon the Festival of Ages, and to trek to Kurama outside of Kyoto to attend the annual Fire Festival. More pictures forthcoming.

Special thanks to recent guest contributors, friends and family who shared their images, including Lorraine’s Rainbow, Keith’s Sunrise and Frank’s Rose (below).

Publication Updates

  • A Boston-based nonprofit serving the homeless has selected one of my photos for its walls, Harbor Rocks.
  • Steve’s Kitchen Window appears in the November/December issue of Orion Magazine, in bookstores now.
  • Monday, November 1st, visit the Evolving Critic for a guest blog about my photographic adventures along the Charles River.

 

Upcoming

  • Inspired by his years of traveling in Japan, guest contributor Steve will write about sake.
  • Photos of New England in autumn.
  • Updates on winter sales events, silent auction participation, and other upcoming exhibits before year’s end.

And that’s the scoop, folks.  Thanks for reading!

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When I first spied these illuminated leaves in the Middlesex Fells, I was stopped in my tracks.  At first, I thought the leaves were monarch butterflies — they so resembled the pictures I’d seen of monarchs dripping orangely from the trees along their migration routes. There were many such sights in the Fells this past Sunday.  Such a journey, with the sunlight so golden and falling at that end-of-summer low angle … it was a definite highlight of the month. Following are a few other highlights of the month, as well as a some plans and prospects for September.

For those of you new to my blog, these more or less monthly updates are my attempt to regularly share with friends, family and colleagues my creative activities. These updates also help me put a public stake in the ground about what I am planning to do in the near future … so that (ahem) my friends, family and colleagues can help hold me accountable and keep me honest! Even if you regularly visit my blog, I think you might find a few new items of interest … especially if you like chocolate. 😉

Where Inspiration Found Me

Inspiration appeared in unexpected places in August. For both words and images, Steve’s Kitchen, was a source of inspiration. The images are below. As for the words, you can read the recent short that appears here in Orion Magazine’s online Places Where You Live. FYI, the picture you see in the online story will be appearing in the magazine’s November/December print issue.

And maybe being in Steve’s kitchen set the tone for the month, because food in general inspired me. I sent off poems about food. I’ve been reading books about food. Heck, I may even watch Babette’s Feast tonight. I do know that in August I spent a lot of time photographing food … first at the farmer’s market, and then … in Steve’s kitchen.

Additional images can be found here.

Though it is darn toasty now where I live, earlier this month there were heavy, steady rains and the air was so chill, people had pulled out sweaters and scarves. On my way into work one day I was captured by the pools that had formed on the sidewalks. And floating in the pools were fallen leaves.

More images like these can be found here.

Leaves in general have been inspiring me.

A leaf at the Middlesex Fells. You can view more Fells images here.

Okay, that’s a snapshot of the past month. What’s on tap for September?

* continuing to send off submissions for both the writing and the photography

* investigating what it would take to publish a book of my photos

* following up on some really cool story leads that people have been sending my way

* keeping better track of the arts events taking place in my area, especially those coming up for the holidays

* assessing and investing in the tools of my trade, from pen and paper to camera equipment

I think that’s it for now.  Here’s hoping we all have a good September! 😉


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A nice surprise today when I checked email today and saw the latest Orion Magazine newsletter.  At the bottom of the page, in the “Places Where You Live” area, there was a link to “a couple of our favorites.”  Well, one of the favorites was a link for Somerville, Massachusetts.  Since I live in Somerville, I clicked on the link and what did I see?  Well, you can see for yourself.  I hope you enjoy.

http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/place_where_you_live/view/somerville_ma_5820/

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Six cards, six images.  I’ve been  having a lot of fun with Moo, producing unique and collectible business cards to promote my writing and photography. Below is Set 1.  Would you like to collect these six images taken in and around Boston?  I’ll drop a set in the mail to you, no charge, so long as supplies last.  Just email me at photographybycynthia[at]gmail.com.

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I’m honored to have the following photo appearing in the latest issue of Diverse Voices Quarterly.  The publication is well-presented with great written and visual content.  Enjoy. 😉

Boy and Bird in the Public Garden

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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.

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Hi, all. I’ve been struggling with writing this month’s update. Not sure if that’s because I’ve got too much going on or too little. In any case …

Ordinary Beauty

Lately, I’ve been enjoying photographing the mundane. The absolutely ordinary. The every day items surrounding me at home. Like a stamp or a ball of yarn. How beautiful it has been!

Upcoming Exhibits

  • Riverside Gallery @ the Cambridge Community Center: I”m honored to be exhibiting at the Cambridge Community Center, located in the historic Riverside neighborhood of Cambridge, MA. Gallery curators seek to use the space to serve and connect the community. Opening reception is Saturday, March 6 from 4:00-6:00 pm. More details to follow.
  • Somerville Open Studios 2010: Preparations for SOS 2010 are heating up. Organizers are seeking volunteers. If you’re interested, you can find out more information here.
  • I’m seriously contemplating submitting an application to ArtBeat 2010 which takes place in Davis Square, Somerville, MA in mid-July. The event theme is Water and if you’ve perused my website at all, you know how much I love water images. The deadline is end of the month, so I’ll let you know in April if I get the paperwork in on time. 😉

New Opportunities

Based on a young friend’s suggestion, I’ve created a Just Postcards section on my photo website. Fairly unique postcards available for purchase for just $2.25. As the title suggests, they are images only available as postcards. My goal is to continue adding new images to this section, approximately once a month.

Submit!

Well, this past month I hunkered down and identified a bunch of online and print literary and consumer magazines open to freelance photography. I’ve sent off over a dozen new submissions and received only two rejections so far and one “maybe.” The list for March is just as long so … we’ll see. 😉

Write, Write, Write

I think it’s helped that it’s been so cold that I needed to stay inside. I’ve dusted off some old manuscripts and begun to rework them. I’ve pitched a few new article ideas to magazines and literary magazines. Most have to do with my family and close friends, aka the people who inspire and support me most.

My Current Inspirations are slave narratives, bookcases, kitchen tables, magazines I can’t really afford and cacti.  What’s inspiring you right now?

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In response to friends’ queries about what I’ve been up to creatively, following are a few beginning of the year updates.  I’ll do my best to post something like this monthly.  Enjoy and have a good day!

***

Motivated by a friend’s generous and delicious gift of persimmon butter, I went in search of a whole persimmon and came home with a bag of different fruits and inspiration to launch a new gallery of food-related images.

http://photosbycynthia.smugmug.com/Arts-and-Crafts/Food-2010/10856699_roeYa#757419223_fhcWE

I work near Edmands Park, a 33-acre green space in Newton, MA.  Every chance I get, I grab my camera and go for a walk in the woods.  I’ve begun a new gallery to highlight my favorite features.  The Newton Conservators has been nice enough to post some of my pictures on its website as well.

http://photosbycynthia.smugmug.com/Nature/Edmands-Park/

http://www.newtonconservators.org/5edmands.htm

Upcoming …

I’m working to gather photos and information of blood oranges.  Blood oranges are primarily available during the winter months.  Sicilian in origin, they are now grown in Texas and Florida as well.  They are good for you and beautiful to photograph. 😉

I keep hearing that January is National Letter Writing Month.  So, I’m going to focus this month on putting pen to paper to reconnect with old friends and to make professional connections with regard to my photography and creative writing.  Setting goals is easy.  Carrying them out … much harder.  I’ll let you know how it goes.

Last year I had great fun taking short photographic expeditions with my boyfriend and hope to do more trips this year.  Mostly we venture to local nature areas.  We have different shooting styles and techniques and we certainly use very different camera equipment.  We’re both very good at directing the other to get some perfect shot… usually without argument.  😉  Who knows?  We may do a joint show some day.  I’ll keep you posted!

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