Building Community

I found this great banner on Liz Kuball's Blog.

Photography tends to be a very competitive world. We get secretive about our business, our work, we don't want others to know how we did this or that. All of that comes from a place of fear, and of feeling threatened.

I've definitely gone through phases of it myself. What I find is that the outcome is isolating, lonely, and stressful. I'd rather enjoy my life, my friends, and remember that there is enough for everyone. It takes practice to really know this. But it is worth the trouble to be more open, more friendly, more helpful.

I find when I am helpful, I receive so much more then I thought possible.

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Quote for the day:

Being Generous: Give away some form of supply ( money, food, clothing, time, etc. )to someone, remembering money or supply doesn't go anywhere and releasing-receiving are ONE and the same.

Page 96 The Abounding River by Matthew and Terces Engelhart

Teotihuacan, Mexico

We've moved the dates of the
Power Journey To Teotihuacan, Mexico.
New dates are: September 4th - 9th 2008

Teotihuacan is called the "Place where man becomes God"

Come join us on this photography adventure.

We will use our time to get even more focused on our creativity, vision, and the connection between ourselves and what we see through the viewfinder. We will use the sacred sites of Teotihuacan to merge more closely with our own unique point of view and creative expression. Through photo exercises, journaling, discussion and more we will have the opportunity to work on a new body of images, meet other like minded people, and get away from our routine schedules to allow ourselves the freedom to pay attention to what we see.

For more information and to sign up click here

(The dates might not yet be changes on that link, but they will be soon!)

Hope you can make it. It's going to be a powerful experience.
(photo courtesy of sacredsights.com)

Vote for My Image!

Go to this link and vote for my image.

JPG Magazine will publish images that get enough votes!

the whole point

"White 1" ©Maria Luisa Morando

quote for the day:
"The making of art has nothing at all to do with Knowledge, education, technique, style, concept, process, the judgment of others, your age or your background. The single most important attribute to art, all art literature, music, cinema, photography is to make people feel""

-Mario Giacomelli



I heard this on Monday by a very talented photographer who shared her work with us.
her name is Maria Luisa Morando.

She is a very thoughtful photographer and her work is really elegant and soothing.
I'm so glad I got the chance to meet her.

dreaming

Another view of the tree.

clarity

Happy Monday to you.
Here is one of the photos I took yesterday of the tree. The tree project "the 20th year" has really evolved for me. I can't believe that it will be over in 3 months.
Well, at that point it will be time to start printing which will be an entirely new project to dive into. Still considering encaustic wax for these babies. but we will see how things play out. One thing that happened while working on this project - is a series within the series. There is a new body of work of the tree - taken with my pinhole camera - with black and white polaroid- that has a completely different feel than these do. And equally important to the series.

I'm thinking again about the importance of living with clarity rather then vagueness.
When I am vague it is a little like being drunk. I don't really know what it will take to create the project I have in mind, I am just acting on emotions and doing things because I feel I have to.

When I am living in clarity, I know exactly what it is going to take, I have a plan and I take one step at a time and don't worry about getting to the finish line in a certain period of time. It isn't a race.

quote for the day:

" Resistance outwits the amateur with the oldest trick in the book: It uses his own enthusiasm against him. Resistance gets us to plunge into a project with an overambitious and unrealistic timetable for its completion. It knows we can't sustain that level of intensity. We will hit a wall. We will crash.
The Professional, on the other hand, understands delayed gratification. He is the ant, not the grasshopper; the tortoise, not the hare."....

..." The professional arms himself with patience, not only to give the stars time to align in his career, but to keep himself from flaming out in each individual work. he knows that any job, whether it's a novel or a kitchen remodel, takes twice as long as he thinks and costs twice as much. He accepts that. He recognizes it as reality. "
-Steven Pressman, The War of Art page 75

The heART project

Photo by Mark Mauer - artwork by Man One

last night I had the privilege to attend the 16th annual heART project art auction.

"The heArt Project creatively links overlooked teenagers in alternative high schools with professional artists, cultural centers, and communities to imagine, produce and present new work."

The photo above is of Man One. A graffiti Artist who gives his time and energy to teach the youth. He was one of the people being honored last night and he was very inspiring to me. I loved hearing his story and how the arts really helped him to express what was not getting expressed when he was in school. I could really relate.

I was so impressed with the event, the mission of the heART project, and the high school students who spoke and shared their stories of transformation.

There was so much amazing artwork in the auction. A few pieces from new friends of mine that I met in that class I took. When I heard about the opportunity to help out, I jumped at it and donated a photograph to the cause. If you are interested - get in touch with them to find out when the next auction is so you can donate your work too!

If you are looking to give back - this is a great place to consider!
It really touched me to be there last night and to witness the community of people who give of their time and energy to help the youth that usually go unnoticed.


***
Quote for the day

"Do not fear mistakes-there are none." - Miles Davis

"What's a Lady to Do"

This is a blog post by photographer Cara Phillips. Please take the time to read it. It's very powerful. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

***
Quote for the day:

"I am a reflection photographing other reflections within reflections. It is melancholy truth that I must always fail. To photograph reality is to photograph nothing." -Duane Michals, A Failed Attempt to Photograph Reality (1976)

One on One Photography Coaching

I just updated my website. Go check it out. catherinejust.com. I'm available for one on one photography coaching sessions. This is a way for you to have individual attention around areas of photography that you are still wanting to learn and grow.
We can cover anything from f/stops and depth of field
to
Pinhole cameras
learning digital or film
self portraits
lighting
editing a series of work for an upcoming gallery show
how to download your images to your computer
or you just want some photo exercises to get your creativity flowing


I can custom design our coaching sessions to fit your needs.

This way you don't have to sit in the back of a photography workshop and feel afraid to ask questions in front of the class. It's just me and you and we work on anything that limits you from your fullest potential with your photography work.

e-mail me for more information!!


***

Quote for the day:

"Concerning all acts of initiative ( and creation ) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would not otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man would have dreamed would come his way. I have learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets: " Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now."
-W.H. Murray, The Scottish Himalayan Expedition

Melanie Pullen

The image here is ©Melanie Pullen.
I just went to Julia Dean to listen to Photographer Melanie Pullen talk about her work and show us new work of hers. She is best known for her series called " High Fashion Crime Scenes ".
You MUST go to her website to find out more about her. She is really amazing and I love the idea behind these images. Basically she is researching actual crime scenes and then re-creating them based on that information, and the photos from the scenes.
There is MUCH more to it then that. It is very layered and smart. I remember seeing her work at PhotoLA a few years ago and it stuck with me more then most of the work I saw that day. It is haunting.

I'm so glad Aline Smithson is hosting these photography talks. And that a few friends of mine were kind enough to pass on her name to me.

I'm working on a new series. It started last night, but the image didn't turn out. Another one is going to be taken tonight. Wish me luck. Jerry is being a good sport and is ok with what I am up to. It's similar to the "Sacrament" series that I have on my website - Pinhole images, long exposures, Polaroid, and we are both in the images.
Now that the images have been taken of the honeymoon we are moving into married land.
More to be revealed as I work on this series.
Melanie talked a little bit tonight about series within the series, and this new body of work is along the same idea. It fits in with the "Sacrament" series and is I think another paragraph along the same lines.
I actually am so inspired lately that ideas are coming out of my pores. I had to write out a list of them all this afternoon because they are coming to me at lightening speed and I know that if I don't write them down I will forget them. It is like a song is coming to me in bits and pieces and I have to capture the floating melodies as fast as I can - in the moment - or the song will slip through the cracks....
ok it's late.....

Sacred Sight

Here is the info on my upcoming workshop. Take a look. Pass it on to anyone who you might think would benefit from a weekend of creativity and community.

We will meet Friday May 16th from 7-9pm
Saturday from 9-5
Sunday from 10-3

Any photographic experience is welcome, although we are not focusing much on the technical stuff. A good working understanding of how your camera works is helpful so you can just jump in and create. But I am always available to answer any of those questions as well.

Breathe new life into your photography!

***

Quotes for the day:

" We propose that ego and scarcity are synonymous. Both are birthed by the illusion of separation."
- The Abounding River by Matthew & Terces Engelhart pg.10

" Whenever you are angered about someone else beating you out, remember this: the footrace mentality is always the ego's demand to be not just good but also first and best. It is the ego's demand that our work be original - as if such a thing were possible. All work is influenced by other work. All people are influenced by other people. No man is an island and no piece of art is a continent unto itself."
-The Artists Way by Julia Cameron pg 174

The Next Step

Last night I started a new class at Julia Dean called the Next Step. Aline Smithson is the instructor. I am a huge fan of hers and excited about the class. I already feel inspired to make new work, update my website, get back into the darkroom ( yes the darkroom ) and make prints of the "Sacrament" series. I can tell this class is going to be good!

On another note, I just started teaching one on one photography instruction and it has been really rewarding for me. On Thursday I had the privilege to go out to Rancho Mirage and meet with someone who wanted to understand f/stops. I could see her struggling to get depth of field and then at one point the "light bulb" went off and she got it. Both of us got goose bumps. It was thrilling. I am looking forward to teaching her shutter speeds next.

My Sacred Sight workshop is coming up May 16th-18th here in Los Angeles. There are still spaces open. Come join us! We are coming together to get more focused on our authentic point of view, rather then on the technical stuff, so if you want to give yourself the gift of a weekend to explore the world with your camera - we would love to have you along!

You can find out more about it on my website

***
Quote for the day:

" The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel."
- Piet Mondrian


" the kabbalah describes angels as bundles of light, meaning intelligence, consciousness. Kabbalists believe that above every blade of grass is an angel crying " Grow! Grow!" I'll go even further. I believe that above the entire human race is one super-angel, crying "Evolve! Evolve!"
- Steven Pressfield - The War of Art page 123.
( ps. get this book! )