Posts Tagged ‘flowers’
White Flowers in the Kitchen
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, tagged flowers, Photography, white on February 25, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Cut Flowers
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged floral inspiration, flowers, lillies, Photography, pink on February 22, 2011| Leave a Comment »
The Blooming Has Begun
Posted in Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, tagged floral art, flowers, paperwhites, Photography on February 16, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Like a Bit of Sunlight
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged flowers, Photography, yellow on February 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Orchids
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged flowers, orchid, Photography on February 2, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Across town, in hotel lobbies and mall (indoor) courtyards, orchids are brightening my day.
Guest Blog: A Fascination with the Toxic
Posted in Guest Contributor, Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged Calla Lillies, Diego Rivera, Dominican Republic, floral inspiration, flowers, Georgia O'Keefe, Imogen Cunningham, Robert Mapplethorpe, South African flower, Tina Modotti, visual art on December 30, 2010| 3 Comments »
Anulfo Baez writes The Evolving Critic, a Metro Boston Blog for Art, Architectural, Urban Planning and Community Explorations. It is clear when you meet him, or when you read his excellent blog, his passions for art and architecture and for all things that fall in the urban sphere. But what I did not know until I shared my photographs with him was his love for the calla lilly. He has consistently encouraged me to photograph this plant and finally I asked him, “Why? What is it with you and the calla lilly?” What he shared helps me better understand Anulfo, and reminds me of the powerful lingering influences of one’s childhood experiences.
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A Fascination with the Toxic
Image 1: Calla Group by Anulfo Baez
Growing up in a tiny rural town on the Southern coast of the Dominican Republic, meant that I was always surrounded by trees, shrubs and flowers. I grew up with my feet firmly planted on the ground (literally) anxiously looking after our banana, lime, pomegranate, cherry, guava and coconut trees. Flowers like hibiscus, passion flowers, fragrant white oleanders and calla lilies nurtured sweet and colorful memories of my homeland.
More than any of the tropical flowers I grew up knowing and caring after, calla lilies have always been my favorite. I’m fascinated by the elegant trumpet-like flower and their dark green leaves. Through my studies in the history of art and architecture, I’ve noticed that I have not been the only person fascinated with this toxic South African flower ( if ingested, the calla is known for causing oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing). Artists like Imogen Cunningham, Tina Modotti, Georgia O’Keefe, Diego Rivera and Robert Mapplethorpe among others, have all explored the infinite and awe inspiring beauty of the calla lily.
One of my all time favorite photographers Imogen Cunningham (1883-1976) allowed for a very intimate, almost scientific view of a calla. Often linked to the Precisionists, Cunningham’s later works are in sharp focus and often depict views of American industrialization and modernization. Yet Cunningham today is celebrated for her close-ups of plant forms and female nudes.
Image 2: Imogen Cunningham Calla Lily (1925)
Another photographer whose work I admired is Robert Mapplethorpe, who portrays the calla lily as an extension of the human body. His images of flowers are charged with eroticism, allowing for a deep personal connection between the photograph and those who experience it.
Image 3: Robert Mapplethorpe Calla Lily (1984)
Both Cunningham and Mapplethorpe proved that the possibilities are endless when it comes to photographing callas and as a person who grew up by callas, I can understand and relate to artists who seek to highlight the beauty of the calla lily.
Read more about Anulfo and his views in his own words.
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Sources
Image 1: Anulfo Baez
Image 2: The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation
Image 3: The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
Fallen Blossom in the Kitchen
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, tagged blossoms, flowers, fuschia, nuts, Photography on November 22, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Monthly Updates: Japan and More
Posted in Guest Contributor, Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, On the Road, Photography, Photography Exhibits, Publication Updates, tagged Charles River, Festival of Ages, Fire Festival, flowers, food, guest contributors, Japan, kimonos, Kobe, Kurama, Kyoto, octopus balls, Orion Magazine, Photography, sushi, takoyaki, temples on October 31, 2010| 1 Comment »
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!
Japan: Floral Delights
Posted in Inspiration, Nature Notes, On the Road, tagged flowers, Japan, Kyoto, Photography on October 26, 2010| Leave a Comment »
Monthly Update: As August Gives Way to September
Posted in Branches, Contributing Writer, Guest Contributor, Inspiration, Kitchen Inspirations, Nature Notes, Photography, Publication Updates, tagged blue, Branches, color, flowers, gold, green, leaves, nature, Photography, poetry, rain, sunlight, trees, water on August 31, 2010| 2 Comments »
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! 😉
Words + Images 