Creative Quotes

For your consideration:
"Creativity is taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary." Chris Orwig in "Visual Poetry." That's what makes great photography an art.

"Doc was at ease with himself and that put him at ease with the world." John Steinbeck in Cannery Row. This evening, with ease, I print.

"What I am saying is that you need to begin to define what inspires you.  Then you need to dedicate time to that endeavor."  Chris Orwig.

As I'm printing some of my latest "Tango" photographs, I'm reading Orwig's "Visual Poetry" and getting inspired to photography, print and share.  And to focus on my creative side in the way I do best - photography.

Travel Writing and Photography at its Best

I'm beginning to plan a trip this fall to India (yea!) and in looking through back issues of travel magazines (yes, the printed kind), I came across Pico Iyer's article on Varanasi entitled "Maximum India."  Superb prose, accompanied by just awesome (not a word I use very ofter) photography by Peter Bialobrzeski. Makes me want to go all the more or maybe just stay away in the comfort of my own home.  That's the call of India.  http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/503351

Tango 2011

One of my favorite photo subjects is of the Tango.  A sensual, stylistic dance, accompanied by amazing music (accordion and all!), the Tango is a visual treat.  And so, one again, I attended the Tango Dance at Northwest Folklife Festival over Memorial Day Weekend.  And, one again, watched some amazing dancing, especially the Tango demonstrations by the "professionals."  The lighting in the Seattle Center House changes by the moment, with sun streaming through the skylights one minute and then blocked by clouds the next.  Shadows on the floor one moment coupled with bright sun on the dancers.  And of course, there are the crowds all around that encroach more and more each year, limiting what I view as the "perfect" shot.  But its all part of festival shooting. 

One of my favorite photos this year was of this couple - her teal dress and shoes played off well against his dark suit, and the dance floor just washed out, creating what I think allows the dances to "pop." I then decided to take it one step further and "wash out" the dancers themselves a bit - it becomes more of a drawing - using "fill flash" and some color saturation adjustment in Adobe Lightroom. Such are the possibilities of "fine art" photography!

Don't Let This Happen To You

Veering off the normal topics just a tad, I want to share with you this blogpost on the top five regrets that people have when near death.  It just might make you want to pick up that camera, book that next trip or call that friend. http://thenextweb.com/lifehacks/2011/05/31/the-top-5-regrets-people-make-on-their-deathbeds/.

Slow Travel

You may have heard of the Slow Food movement - locally grown, cooked to order, the opposite of fast food chain restaurants or even the TV dinner (or should I say the Hulu-dinner) at home.  The current edition of Verge Magazine (a volunteer- and youth-oriented quarterly published in Canada, has 7 tips on "Slow Travel," taking your time while traveling to experience the local culture on local terms.  Among the tips are:

Thou Shalt Have No Other Gadgets Before Thy Flip-Flops.
Thou Shalt Not Make Lonely Planet Your Idol, and
Remember the Meaning of Adventure, and Keep it Holy.

Worth checking out.  http://www.vergemagazine.com/news/86-contributing/569-ten-ways-to-travel-slower.html

Some More Quotes for Inspiration

The first is from Paul Theroux, author of some great travel narratives, as quoted in the NY Times: "...the fact that a place is out of fashion, forgotten or not yet on the map doesn't make it less interesting, just more itself, and any visit perhaps more of a challenge." 

The second is from my friend Betsy who is traveling around the world with her husband for some indeterminate amount of time, as quoted on their website http://www.marriedwithluggage.com/: "Life is short.  Live your dream." 

A quote from k.d. lang: "To be happy, you have to make that decision."
And finally a quote from an obit of a person I didn't know but spoke the truth: "She did what she needed to do to find her own fulfillment, and she succeeded."
Inspiration is where you find it or read it.  These 4 quotes struck me as well worth reading and remembering.

Travel's Special Moments

Travel is at it's best when it results in great stories!  I've blogged about this before, but Stanley Diamond just posted a reinforcing piece on his blog about those special unplanned moments while traveling: http://www.travelblogexchange.com/profiles/blogs/those-special-unplanned-days.