Posted in photography, travel, vacation

THE REALITY OF VACATIONS

Posted on by sassysheisme

Vacations are a doorway to an alternate reality, at least they are for me.  Vacations are a glimpse of what my life could be like if I could ever woke up and was a (paid) creatively-driven photojournalist or had married a younger, more chiseled (former navy seal or hot photojournalist) clone of Rick Steves or someone who works for him. For 7-10 days or so, I get to live that fantasy, traveling via plane or car hopping from city to city, gratefully accepting the hospitality of others so I can live at least as a creatively-driven traveling  photographer, even for a short time.

Morning fisherman, Hermosa Beach, CA
I photographed nearly everything I could.  I practiced my street photography, I took postcard-esque photos, I recorded events and places, and I shot my life as it was happening.  I was so relaxed and content and just soaked in all the different things, places and people as much as I could.
Murphys, CA
It’s strange what goes through my head when I see what most would ignore as plain or mundane. For example, the above shutter was a random object that I couldn’t walk past until I took this picture.  It turned out better than I had imagined.  I will look at this picture and I will think of that tiny town and the slow pace.

I came back Sunday and was attacked by a thick coating of pollen, quite a bit of which came from this tree:

The pollen-related headache and opening the door and walking back into my apartment quickly snapped me back to reality, the reality where I work a day job, I pay have and pay bills, and photography is just a hobby (and I’m not married to a chiseled former navy seal traveling photojournalist).  I cherish each vacation I get, because the alternate reality helps me enjoy my current reality, but not only that, those short bursts of alternate reality show me that life is possible and maybe not as far out of my reach as I think.

The reality of vacations is just a preview for my retirement into full time photography, whatever that looks like.

Here are some other random photos from the trip.  Will post more later.
Candy Store in Murphys, CA
Sidewalk Snail, Hermosa Beach, CA
Near Rancho Palo Verde, CA
 Near Rancho Palo Verde, CA
Near Rancho Palo Verde, CA
Posted in Ocean

CALIFORNIA VACATION

Posted on by sassysheisme
I have been back about a week from my California vacation.  I experienced the extremes of weather and some beautiful scenery.  Here is a taste:
Pine Valley, CA
Pine Valley, CA
Downtown Los Angeles, CA
Hermosa Beach, CA
Hermosa Beach, CA
Painting in Yak & Yeti, Hermosa Beach, CA
Hermosa Beach, CA
Near Rancho Palo Verde, CA
Near Rancho Palo Verde, CA
Near Rancho Palo Verde, CA
Near Rancho Palo Verde, CA
Hermosa Beach, CA
Posted in creativity, music, Yahweh's fingerprints

THE ELUSIVE, YET STUNNING BEAUTY WITHIN SUCH MALADY

Posted on by sassysheisme

I enjoy reading the Owl City Blog.   Even though Adam is my mirror age (24), I can identify with so much of what he writes, especially his recent entry about his struggles with insomnia. 

It’s a funny thing. Even now I often find myself wide awake staring at the ceiling, and when the Ambien runs out, it seems as though all I do is toss and turn. However, a wry irony lurks within such sleepless nights by which my restlessness ultimately becomes the fuel for all sorts of dreams — consciously wakeful though they may be.

Adam does what I cannot seem to do – use that curse of too much awake time to be productive and turn my sleep deprived dreams into reality. Even as young as he is, he has learned to harness the power of that which keeps his eyelids glued open and uses it to bring his dreams to life.

Despite any such treatment, the ailment is altogether chronic and incurable BUT it may be the very reason by which I’ve unearthed such elusive, yet stunning beauty within such malady.

The elusive, yet stunning beauty within such malady.  


To have such insight and vision to see the beauty in the very thing we feel is a curse is a gift.  Embracing this gift may not lead to restful sleep, but it may bring me to a place where I can accept my normal and learn to work within it.

By the same idea, the alluring light at the end of the tunnel can often flicker and burst forth into a hideous freight train hurtling in my direction.

Been there, many times.  The freight train is the reminder that my beautiful malady has a dark side that I must deal with on a daily basis. The creative dreamer must make the freight train, the insomnia, the oddity, the malady work together.

However, I delight in the mere fact that being a dreamer often exempts me from the rules of reality and her consequences, be they good or bad — and I love how dreams propel the mind of an artist into imagining what the world might be like if such dreams were in fact reality. It’s a compelling thought and it keeps me on my toes. I love that.

Adam often says that “reality is a lovely place but I wouldn’t live there.”  I know exactly how he feels.

Posted in photographers, storytelling

VIVIAN MAIER, STREET PHOTOGRAPHER

Posted on by sassysheisme

I stumbled across this photographer recently after becoming obsessed with street photography.  Vivian Maier died a couple of years ago, unaware that her photography would become an important thread in the fabric of photography in general.  She left behind hundreds of thousands of negatives, prints, and film that were discovered at a storage auction. She never sought notoriety, she was just passionate about taking photographs of the world that surrounded her.

The most inspiring aspect of her photography to me is that each photograph tells a story.  While I love doing abstract, nature and fine art photography, portrait/posed photography is probably my least favorite style. Street photography appeals to me because those pictures are “life as it happens,” which is my mantra when I take event photography. I pose subjects as little as possible and focus on candid interactions between people.

Today, I saw this video about the man who found her photographs and has taken on the job of restoring and showing her work. As my own style comes into focus, I am so grateful to have discovered Vivian and her legacy.  Vivian was a storyteller, and that’s what I strive to be with my creative skills.

Posted in January Challenge, pic a day

A PIC A DAY: JANUARY 25

Posted on by sassysheisme

Ok, so I totally missed yesterday. I do think, despite that, this challenge has been very productive. I plan on reducing it slightly to a pic a week after January 31st, but I believe that will be enough.

As I was leaving HEB tonight, this was what I saw. The sky was gorgeous! It was a much needed reminder that the world is a beautiful place and I need to keep pressing on.