Be Our Guest ... Claudia Wrightson

Today it is with great pleasure that I announce our guest poster today, Claudia Wrightson. I couldn’t say ‘introduce’ to you because many of you already know Claudia. She, along with Terri and me, was one of the founders here at Focusing on Life. As with so many of you, I first met Claudia in Tracey Clark’s ‘Picture’ classes, following which she and I, then ultimately, Terri, collaborated in a Flickr prompt group. From that collaboration came FOL. Sadly, Claudia had to leave the team late in 2012. But we’re delighted to have her back on our pages today. I know you’ll love her post and give her a warm FOL ‘welcome home’.

~ Dotti

N O W H E R E

Have you ever had a moment in your life that seemed to be showing up over and over?

Some call it Déjà vu...

Long before I was diagnosed with dyslexia, I was in 3rd grade with Mrs. Gold; I knew I was one of the worst readers in my class. Even though I was in the blue group, I knew red and yellow were much smarter than the blue. (Isn't it amazing how smart kids are early on?) I hated "reading circle!" Each one of us took our turn reading a page. I tried sitting in what I thought was the middle of the circle so that when the first reader began, I could quickly count ahead to determine which was my page. I would frantically practice it enough to hopefully not embarrass myself; to no avail.

Too soon it was my turn. Slowly I began to read. The word nowhere showed up on the page numerous times. The first time I came upon it I read, "The boy was NOW here to be found." There were a few giggles, but no correction from my teacher. Then the second time I read NOW HERE more began to giggle. I quickly looked at the sentence and was certain I was reading it correctly... I continued on. By the time the word showed up a third time, even my teacher began to laugh. I looked to her as tears began to well up in my eyes and she said, "Claudia the word is noWHERE... not Now HERE."

To this very day... every single time I see that word, it stops me in my tracks and reminds me of the embarrassment. I am no longer embarrassed and actually can smile when this special word pops up for me. 

It's funny how the Universe tries to help us along the way. Like many, my life was full of family and work and other things keeping me completely busy. Yet it wasn't until I realized that my word, NOW here, though spelled "special" for me, was my reminder to stop ... pay attention and see and look and live in the moment. NOW.

Focusing on my photography has helped me to start that process deliberately. Intentionally living has helped me to realize that I was missing the details that I so love. I had a necklace made with the words NOW Here engraved as a reminder.

I have enjoyed my relationship with "my friends on FOL" and I'm grateful for this opportunity to visit you with a guest post. This community has helped me to be present and appreciate detailed moments and remember to be NOW HERE.

The Color of Winter

"The color of springtime is in the flowers; the color of winter is in the imagination."

-Terri Guillemets-

Christmas Traditions

Can you drive by any neighborhood street and not see the Christmas lights?

Or go into any department store and not see Christmas flashing everywhere?  To me, Thanksgiving often takes a back seat to the commercialism of Christmas... and that's sad to me. Because DARN it!! Thanks giving is a wonderful celebration.  (I love how Nostrum's has a sign posted in their windows saying something to the affect..."we like to celebrate EACH holiday ... so we will not be putting up our Christmas decorations until AFTER Thanksgiving." ... LOVE it!! Good for them!)

Remember the Sears Christmas catalogue?  How you thumbed through it by the hour?  Well, today every channel and every store are bombing our kids with Christmas and the newest gadget and toy... how could our children not be self centered around Christmas? And that LIST??? 

As a young mother I was very worried about that "all about me" syndrome... so I created a fun tradition that we did every year with our young kids.

We called it Santa's Elf.

We started this around the age when my kids probably knew that Santa had "helpers" (about 9 or 10)
We selected a family with very young children  and I created 12 Christmas bags.  Each Christmas bag held a small hand made Christmas ornament, a couple of pieces of candy and a Christmas story, printed out. (I love love love Christmas stories of all sorts, Check out an old personal blog story  )

This is where the fun came in... Each night at dark... my husband and one of the kids would quietly sneak off to place the bag of treats on the front door... RING the bell and run!!! The anticipation of the Elf delivery was a key component of our family nights 12 days before Christmas.  It kept them thinking of others and the spirit of Christmas rather than on themselves and what they would be getting from Santa. (Just a side note:  hahhah!  one night as my husband and son parked wayyyy down the road and snuck up to the house... the police stopped them! Apparently a neighbor saw this GUY sneaking up to a house then RUNNING!! A great story to tell forever huh?) On Christmas Eve we would all ring the door bell with the LAST Christmas bag and reveal who Santa's Elf was.

Traditionally I have collected over years Christmas stories. We read them nightly and at my sister's home on Christmas Eve.

I have to share at least one Christmas Story.

THE GIFT

The African boy listened carefully as the teacher explained why it is that Christians give presents to each other on Christmas day. “The gift is an expression of our joy over the birth of Jesus and our friendship of each other.” she said.

When Christmas day came, the boy brought the teacher a sea shell of lustrous beauty. “Where did you ever find such a beautiful shell?” the teacher asked as she gently fingered the gift.

The youth told her that there was only one spot where such extraordinary shells could be found. When he named the place, a certain bay several miles away, the teacher was left speechless.

“Why…why, it’s gorgeous… wonderful, but you shouldn’t have gone all that way to get a gift for me.”

His eyes brightening, the boy answered, “Long walk part of gift.”

By Gerald Horton Bath

~~~~

And lastly, Christmas just wouldn't be the same for me, if I didn't watch "It's a Wonderful life" at least a couple of times.  Or that irreverent "Christmas Story."

Traditions bring comfort. Traditions bind us together.  But perhaps your family isn't together during the holiday... and maybe those traditions of days of old are the one thing that brings you joy once again.

Here is wishing you all a lovely traditional Thanksgiving!!! I am so blessed to have you all in my life and thank you for being my inspiration always!!

Please be sure and add your traditional photos to our Flickr pool.

Hugs





Traditions

Traditions --  November's theme here at Focusing on Life.  I chose this topic about a year ago and suddenly it's here. Does that happen to you? Life seems to be in warp speed so often. Focusing on Life is exactly what we want our mission to be. A concerted effort to focus on the life that is going on and embrace the day to day beauty.



I have been pondering how to share this with everyone and I realized that honestly this is a pretty broad theme (much like my hinnie) that probably can be shared in numerous ways.

However, in just trying to decide on the images to present I found myself stuck.  So what I think perhaps will happen to many of you as you so wonderfully share your offerings with us in our flicker pool... you will need to open your hearts and share with us ABOUT your tradition. Give us a deeper insight to how and why your tradition is important to you.

For example:  My kids and their cousins didn't live near one another. Separate states kept them from knowing their silly personalities like I wish they could have... however, when they did get together we always tried to have the TRADITIONAL photo... the pyramid, that typically ended up with someone in tears, but the first couple of shots were always fun.



Aside from the fact it is Autumn where many of us live, our traditions don't have to be only about the month of November.

Share with us some Christmas, Easter, New Years, April fools day, Independence Day and Thanks Giving  traditions. Or how about how you celebrate different occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, or even deaths.(loved ones even pets!)  Traditionally we placed a train under the Christmas tree and always took Jammie  shots the evening we light the tree.


In our sharing our Traditions many of us may pick up a couple of wonderful ideas that we can start with our families and friends. But most importantly, by sharing your traditions perhaps it will get you thinking of traditions that have fallen to the wayside and you might need to dust off and re-implement?

I need to apologize for the quality of some of the photos above... they are my "oldie" but goodies from long long ago... and while part of me wants to photoshop them to fabulous... I like the older look and they feel more real to me.

What about your family traditions of breakfast? Bedtime? First day of school?

Father and daughter wedding dance?

I am looking forward to this month of fun images and stories!

Hugs

Something waits

Tucked up within a grove of trees, I was pleasantly surprised  to find a wonderful example of our Theme of the month-- Sunshine and Shadows. (be sure to add your offerings in our Flickr pool)

Andrew Wyeth said, "I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape – the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn’t show"

My breath is taken away as I simply stop and drink in all the beauty of Autumn.

 

Hugs!

Autumn Loves

What is it about our life? When the seasons settle into Fall, the days and months seem to go in warp speed. Our "Must Do list" seems very large. The expectations from family, jobs and friends seem non-ending.

Actually those "Must" Do's are probably really "Should" Do's.

The fabulous treats of Autumn, like leaf-crunching, applesauce making, soup savoring and scarf-wearing are just some of my cooler weather loves, yet often they go the way side when the "Do's" list weigh heavy on my mind.

My challenge to you this season is to get out from behind your computer, your car-pooling, your list on the fridge and daily enjoy one of your FALL loves. Put one of YOUR loves above the others'  expectations.

.

Make this FALL a season to remember with printed photos of your outings.

I am loving watching your contributions to our Flickr pool!

Share with us a couple of your FALL loves in our comment section.

Hugs,

History Connection

Connections.

Life connections.

Connections that never stop even when living does. 

With a technical explosion all around us, ask yourself a question:  What treasure will there be left if the great photo connection you captured on your Iphone stays only in that phone?  Technology changes and before we know it the ability to print that treasure is no longer available.

My challenge to you is PRINT those treasured connections. Don't wait until the "lights go out"  to regret what you didn't keep from your instagrams! Make sure that when your great, great grandchild asks her mother who she looks like, her mom has something to share that really connection all of your hearts.

Thanks to all of you for posting in our Flickr Group your connections.

Share with us what is your favorite way to print your keepsakes.

Hugs

Connections

Connections.

The anniversary of September 11 connects us all. Back to "THE" day. The question we similarly ask ourselves or in conversations, "where were you?"

Thinking how total strangers will be forever connected to a moment in time, or how this event connected and filled our hearts with patriotism.

As you all know by now, the theme of the month is "CONNECTIONS". This was a perfect choice. One that has put me thinking in ways that I haven't in some time.

Connections are simple and yet enormous and complex all at the same time.

As many of you know I have the opportunity to work in numerous hospitals photographing day old babies and often times their connected loves of their lives. The joy of the new born is palpable. The smiles the most sincere.

One neighbor planted these flowers so that passers by could connect with mother nature and see its beauty, yet if you will notice a small white ribbon on the young tree, you will see a subtle memorial to a young child who passed away just a block away. Nothing screaming or flamboyant, but a kind gesture that connected the hearts who moarn his loss.

Sweetly connected for ever...

And then I just couldn't resist.

Songwriters: WILLIAMS/ASCHER

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
and what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
and rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it.
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard
and answered when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that and someone believed it.
Look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us star gazing
and what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

All of us under its spell. We know that it's probably magic.

Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that called the young sailors.
The voice might be one and the same.
I've heard it too many times to ignore it.
It's something that I'm supposed to be.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Please share your connection photos with us in our FLICKR pool. Thank you so much for your connections in your comments and support! Our hearts are connected for certain.

The Rest of The Story

Silhouettes in photography are truly unlike any other type of photography. Why are silhouettes special?

They are special because silhouettes engage the viewer. No matter what your subject might be or who it is, the viewer of the photograph has the chance to imagine what is happening or unfolding. Depending on individual perspective, your audience can come up with a wide range of opinions as to what is revealed in the scene. 

The key is to focus on the different aspects of your silhouette. What questions are you answering, or asking? Follow your imagination and you will be amazed and surprised at your results.

Preparing to shoot a silhouette place your subject in front of your light source. (Let's use the sunset for an example, but any bright light can achieve this.)When the sun is just above the horizon meter your camera on the sky. Often times your exposure may need to be longer so a tripod is always good practice. Sometimes it may take several attempts to achieve that perfect shot. Ask your questions... who, what, where, how? The more questions asked or answered,  the more effective your silhouette will be.

Along with being photographers, many who read our blog as well as  my Focusing on life sisters, have blogs of our own. We are also writers. (Stop coughing :)

So, to challenge our writing skills today,  look once again at my silhouette I posted above and in the comment section tell a brief story of who that person is. Why are they there? What are they thinking, doing? How did they decide to sit in that spot? Use your writing skills to narrate the photo.
I'm looking forward to reading your creative thoughts. This past month, our FOL flickr pool has been rocking with barns of all sizes, shapes and colors. Thank you so much for sharing your passions. Keep it up!

Hugs,

Old and Tattered

BARNS
Just down the road... around the bend,
Stands an old empty barn; nearing the end.

It has sheltered no animals for many years;
No dairy cows, no horses, no sheep no steers.

The neigh of a horse; the low of a cow;
Those sounds have been absent for some time now.

There was a time when the loft was full of hay,
And the resounding echoes of children at play.

At one time the paint was a bold shade of red;
Gradually faded by weather and sun overhead.

The doors swing in the wind... the hinges are loose,
Windows and siding have taken a lot of abuse.

The fork, rope and pulleys lifted hay to the mow,
A task that always brought sweat to the brow.

But those days are gone; forever it seems,
And that old barn now stands with sagging beams.

It is now home to pigeons, rats and mice;
The interior is tattered and doesn't look very nice.

Old, abandoned barns have become a trend,
Just down the road... around the bend.




Vance Olipant, Cedar Rapids Iowa.

"I am 75 years old and find it heartbreaking to see what were once vibrant well-kept barns, slowly falling into ruin. I have tried to put my feelings to verse." 

..

Some of my best memories of my childhood were in an old Kansas Barn. I was so happy when Carol chose our Theme of the month, as I love barns, old and new.

Be sure and share your barns with us at our Flickr sight.

Light in the Dark

In the dark, it's difficult to find the light.

Starting this blog, the 10 of us were "on line" friends. We were woman who joined together to share our love of photography and our lives.

We didn't know that we would fast become life sisters, as we focused on our lives and shared.

Today, as I am struggling with some of the darkest times of my life, I receive 3 post cards from some of my "life sisters" who had participated in a post card swap. I had not joined that workshop yet I was blessed enough to receive 3 lovely postcards with a hand written note from each of them. Hand written notes are fast becoming a lost art.

Things just don't happen by chance. People don't come into our lives by chance.

I was amazed at the similarity of each of these cards. There was no instruction as to what the post cards were to be, only to print some of their favorite photos onto the cards, yet look how the colors of greens are almost spot on! All gorgeous. All of wonderful flowers.

Each card had a sweet note, each unique. But each signed...FOL life sister! This brought me to tears.

Words can not express how they touched my heart just at the time I needed them. Thank you!

Borrowing Leigh's quote from her post card:

                                                     "When words become unclear,
                                                        I shall focus with photographs.
                                                       When images become inadequate,
                                                        I shall be content with silence."
                                                                    ~Ansel Adams

Next Monday we will roll out a new monthly theme, so take your last chance to post to our Flickr pool with your WATER photos! If you don't have any to add stop by and just see the fabulous ones that have been shared! You all ROCK!

Heart Broken

I had just finished editing photos of 4 newborns babies.  Right before I starting finishing up the "paper work" portion for their individual account I decided to re-boot my computer.

I hit re-start and ran to refresh my ice-water.

Upon my return, nothing.

Nothing! what? nothing??

I unplugged, took out the battery, hit the power button and NOTHING!!!

Long story short, I called my dear friends and after apologizing for interrupting their Sunday HE suggested I bring the computer to his house. (5:30 pm)

By 10:30 pm my computer was in total parts all over his kitchen table. "Sorry Claudia it's fried."

Dead.
Done.
Gone.

I first I was sad then mad and now resolved.

For months, no, years I have promised myself to purchase an external hard drive to back up my photos. (Granted it wouldn't have helped my current situation) But I wouldn't have lost 3 years of edited work.

It seems I have become the poster child of what NOT to do!  Use my experience to RUN to the store and buy something for back-up. Whether it's a hard drive or burned discs or in the "cloud" back up.

(photo - Elijah Smithson)

Most recently here in Utah we have had devastating wildfires.

Fire fighters had to evacuate families in minutes! Dry summers such as ours this year have become ready fuel for Mother Natures storms or perhaps someones carelessness. As on lookers our hearts break and then the inevitable question comes to mind. What would you do in this situation?

What would you take if Firefighters pounded on your door telling you, you must abandon your home NOW!!

Reports have said that of course loved ones and pets would top the list with treasured photos next on the list of items that would be hurriedly fit into the car.

I had a dear photography friend in Colorado that didn't have the luxury of being home when her neighborhood was totally evacuated. Because she was at work she didn't get the chance to grab her cat or her grandmothers precious black and white photos or clients photos that she had backed up on several hard drives.

Both of these examples, mine not even remotely compared to my friends, reminds us to back up AND if there are treasures (and what photo isn't?) or your business is photography, back up and have copies in another location other than your home. Perhaps at your best friend's home across town or maybe a safe deposit box.

The word SAD doesn't begin to define the loss.

Hugs!

 PS. My friend brilliance breathed life back into my computer (phone call 12:30am) and I was able to provide new Moms and Dads with their baby's  first photos. BUT I really got a wake up call.

Please don't forget to add to our Flickr photo stream with your wonderful water photos!

Crackle and BAM!

To many, the fourth just wouldn't be the perfect celebration unless we had some fireworks! You know, the picnic with hot dogs, potato salad, watermelon and of course ants!! 

I had, what I thought was a major run in with a fire cracker when I was in 6th grade. My sisters and I made our way down to a local fire works stand and after pooling our pennies and managed to buy a package of "black jacks" and a punk. (The little item that kept on burning just enough to light our crackers without having to relight matches.) Of course our parents didn't know and certainly wouldn't have approved.

Being the oldest of 3 girls, I was the brave one. "you do it!!" I lit the first and tossed it so fast that it didn't hold the light. "You have to let it catch fire before you toss it!" my younger sister scolded... yet still letting me do the "work." So I held it, lit it and pulled my hand back to give it a grand toss when BAM!!!! it went off in my hand, right next to my ear! 

We all screamed and dropped the rest of the fire crackers and ran crying all the way home. It was about a mile. My mother was out to the store when we arrived home and still we were all in tears from the fright. Partially of the scare, a lot from the pain in my hand (blackened and singed), and no hearing in my right ear! But my biggest fear was that my mother would find out!  It was a story we held secret for decades and still to this day I have ringing in my ear. Yet every fourth of July I have a sweet memory of an adventure that was a little on the sinister side for three young girls who seldom, if ever, broke the rules.

Because you might be making plans to photograph some Fireworks display I thought I would share some quick tips on how to take some great shots!!

5 Tips for Fun Fireworks Photos

1- Use a tri-pod (or some stationary spot to prop your camera like the top of your car)

2- Use a cable release if you have one

3- Don’t just photograph the fireworks. Look at your surroundings and see what else you can include in the photo. People? Bridges? A significant landmark? Additional elements and identifiable scenery in the frame will add a lot of depth to your image.

4- Shoot in “manual” mode. Use a low ISO, set your aperture somewhere in the middle (usually between f/8 and f/16) and set your shutter speed to “bulb”. Then, as the fireworks go off, hold the shutter open for 5-10 seconds. Try a few different settings within the first minute of the show to get a good feel for the light and speed of the fireworks. Most displays last about 20 minutes so you have time to experiment. (The overall exposure values are going to vary depending on the amount of ambient light/fireworks/etc; there’s really no steadfast formula.)

5- Get creative! Getting good firework photographs consists of some planning, a lot of experimentation and a little bit of luck – there’s no way to predict what you are going to get! Just have fun with it and don’t take it too seriously; you’ll most likely end up having a really good time and will probably go home with some great photos, too.


Or a great article about shooting the works is HERE

I love our country! I feel very blessed to live in a place were are free.  The above photo was taken last year when we still had some snow in the mountains in July here in Utah! This year is just HOT! (but that's another blog post ha ha!)





Enjoy the fourth!  Don't blow up any fingers or ears! Take some fun,  fabulous,  photos (a little alliteration!)

Hugs!

 

PS! Remember to share your WATER photos with us in our Flickr pool! 

Weeds and Grasses

The other day I commented to my cute neighbors how lovely their yard was.

He paused a moment and said, "You know I have been working so hard on all the weeds that I haven't taken the time to enjoy the beauty. But people like you have been telling me how much they have enjoyed it."

Isn't that how too often our life is? Do we tend so much to the weeds that we forget to stop and see the beauty right in front of us?

I live in a sweet community that really enjoys their yards! They painstakingly plan and water and nurture until it is, just like Goldilocks says, "just right."   The common areas are very well tended.

When I was putting this post together I took a walk and realized there was a theme here.

I recall pulling and tugging  tons of grasses out of my yard when I lived in Montana. It was a weed to me...  but here in Utah, the gorgeous whispy grasses are used for texture and backgrounds to showcase the color pops in front. No longer a weed but a beauty alone or in combinations.

The lavender against the green grass is glorious!

The tall grasses almost look like spraying water.

The grasses sway with the breeze and if you pause a moment and listen,  you can hear it rustling.

 Side walks are designed with curves and twists to them.

Now this is urban planning at it's best!!

Have you been tending your garden? Or looking for your weeds?

Oh!! one last thought.  Regarding Abstraction.  Sometimes something wonderful just can happen. And while, typically this photo might have been deleted... Leigh's theme of Abstraction prompted me to save this fun one.

I think I accidentally clicked the shutter as I was driving by some trees-- fun to study huh?   :)