Hi there!  Hope you're doing well this first day of September---feels like fall.  We still have hot weather, but a nice
little breeze has crept in.  Are you ready for some football ??!!  Yep, and here's hoping the Jags will have a
winning season for a change.

    A lily pad from beautiful Balboa Park in San Diego.    

I hope you entry emailed to the National Cell Phone Exhibition in time.  I'll be interested in seeing their
on line gallery.  Just got a note from the Director saying they got  over 300 entries & they will be on line next week.   
I spent quite a while looking through my phone pix and trying to decide which 3 to send in for the show. 

I had quite a few that I liked, but some were from previous phones and the resolution was very weak...
so I decided to have my very own cell phone exhibit on the blog today.  Here are a few favorites:

                          

Nice late afternoon sunlight made the bell jellyfish glow.

      A bit of morning dew became jewels on a spiderweb.

  This was on the beach---free art created by the sea...

well, I guess you could say nature, if you're assuming seagulls or sand crabs ate the meat off the bones....
if, of course, the fish died of natural causes like being bitten by another fish, but then again if a human
caught the fish, injured it and threw it back into the ocean and then it was devoured it's not exactly just
nature anymore, is it ???!   Anyway, it makes a nice picture, but could use a bit of cropping.
 


Okay, I couldn't stand it.  I had to crop.  But, a lot of times it will improve the impact of an image.
Like the dressy black stoke?  Too bad the bones & jellyfish have too small a resolution to print. : - {
I'll share a few more next time.  Hopefully, I'll have info on the exhibit & we'll both check it out.

PHOTOTIP: Remember to take a picture with your phone, even if you have your camera along.
It's fun because you (almost) always have those along to share.  Whereas your real camera,
memory card, cd. dvd or computer aren't as easy to access away from home.  I have pix from my
trips to Italy, Portugal, Georgia, San Diego, the beach as well as family & friends.   

BLESSINGS!
See more work

  

  

        

Well, school is about to crank up & I've decided not to go back to Foundation.  Too many stressful things
going on in my life right now.  (I would like to keep teaching part time with home schoolers.)  Just found out
I need lots of expensive dental work which involve root canals & crowns,  (And I HATE sitting in a dental chair----
due to childhood dental trauma.   Then there are two doctors I need to see, get a mammogram, as well as
have a certain procedure involving GO LIGHTLY.  If you know what that is, you've obviously had it done to you.
So, basically I need about $10,000 for medical/health related expenses----and we haven't had health
insurance for many years.  Does anyone know where I can get a medical grant??????

We are also renovating much of the second story of our house. My office/shooting area/art space is in chaos
because a lot was moved from my office upstairs.  I confess I had already taken over two areas downstairs. So
far I haven't ended up with the soothing, inspirational, functional area I so desperately need.  (Have I been
watching too many HGTV designer shows?)  I may have to have help to organize, sort through everything,
get rid of junk by throwing it out, giving it away or putting it on Criag's list to sell.  Am I a hoarder, you might
begin to wonder, but I prefer the term "Indiscriminate Collector"it's much nicer.

Next, I will be overhauling & updating my website and completely reviewing my hundreds of thousands of
digital photos to store properly or delete--gasp---a scary thought. I do admit to being a digital hoarder---but
images don't really take up much floor space.  I also have few organizational skills. Lots of work ahead!
                            
Now back to our subject for today---The Southeastern Louisiana University's National Cell Phone
Photography Exhibit.  The deadline is fast approaching: August 30th. 
Here are some of the rules you must follow:
In appropriate subjects will not be shown. 
1. Photos must be taken with a cell phone
2. No computer manipulation of your images.  You may use software on your phone.
3. Include title, when & where taken, who took it, the photographer's info including name, address, phone, email &
website.
4. Submit entries by email to: dnewkirk@selu.edu with National Cell Phone Show in the subject
5. Images will be printed as 5x7's and should be of high resolution jpg files (180 - 336 ppi)
6. Label each file with number, last name & title   01SmithSunset.jpg
7. Three entries max

You still have a day or two left, so get out there and look for something interesting---then send it in.  The works
will also be on line at the Southeastern Contemporary Art Gallery web page. Some times you get a pretty good
shot while riding in the car---can't say I've ever taken a good one while driving.

PHOTO TIP: Don't wait until the last minute, as email entries some times don't make it through if a
lot of people wait and the mailbox gets jammed.  This is true of any on line contest. 
BLESSINGS!
See more work  

        

Hi         from NFHS

I recently went to Atlanta to drop off artwork for the 7th Annual National Show held at the
Atlanta Artist Center in Buckhead .  I was excited to get into the show for several reasons...it's a national
show with entries from over 200 artists...my mom, who was an artist, was very involved with this group in
from it's beginning in the 60's....and lastly, it is right down the street from my old high school, which is now
Atlanta International School.  The place looks great & has expanded since my last visit about 15 years ago.

And since we were in the area, we decided to stop by the house I grew up in, about 3 miles away.  The
basic structure was the same, inside things were improved and changed around, the awful driveway we had to
back down all those years was gone, and the landscaping were very different.  It had been painted & a very
cool frosted glass garage door replaced the open carport.  Some of the exterior improvements would have
horrified my mother, since she helped design the Frank Lloyd Wright-ish house in the 50's with lots of glass
and flat roofs.  She loved the redwood siding upstairs, red brick downstairs & lots of trees.  It now looks very
modern, clean & neat while keeping the essence of the house.
 
We also attended a family reunion from my father's side in Palmetto, Georgia.  It's south of the Atlanta
airport, and parts of it haven't changed since my Dad grew up there in the 1920's & 30's.  Let's just say it was
never a boom town.  It's a gathering we look forward to---and I'm always sorry I didn't get to talk with more of
my cousins.  Just have to remember that next year!

PHOTO TIP:  When trying to capture a large group, look for the most light possible and some way to put people
on different levels so that you can see everyone.  Standing on a chair can definitely help....unless most of
your relatives are all over 6 feet tall....then  you need to find a ladder.

Blessings!

See more pix
Atlanta Artist Center

        

Greetings Peeps---hope you are doing okay this hot sweltering  week....even the crabs were miserable!

Got to see my homey Toni Ruppert, a fellow artist I met in an on line  class.  She came to Florida last week
with her family, so we met in person for the first time & we wandered around the St. Augustine/Vilano Beach
area.  Toni actually ate some Florida Gator at the Florida Cracker restaurant!  We had a great time visiting
instead of just being a voice on the phone, though an encouraging one, hundreds of miles away.  Great to
meet you in person & meet your fun family.
                                       
I'm about to make one more trip to the lake for some R & R before school starts up again.  There's a family
reunion with fantastic food, so I need to come up with something taste that I can make once I get there.
I'm currently leaning toward Jello Cake---it's a yummy & cool treat we used to make at summer camp.
Need something else....I'm contemplating the awesome Costco shrimp salad, which is welcome anywhere!

This week I am working on uploading a couple of videos from my phone to the web page.  I just
discovered that there is a button to link to You Tube...but I see now that it doesn't actually work.  SO,
I guess that's something you have to pay Go Daddy extra for  >: {

SO, I listed them below, but it didn't create a link.  Not sure why it doesn't work when you type it out.  SO,
I just decided to use the regular link and hopefully outsmart them.  I uploaded 3 phone videos, so don't expect
anything great.  This is my first try, after all.  They are definitely not compelling....but the good news is
that they are very short!  Check it out below---click on the highlighted words for a direct-connect.

Raccoons :  www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIXvMET1LCA /> La Jolla Beach :  www.youtube.com/watch?v=w59KdUsUkWU /> Mother & Baby Ducks :  www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpqAzQXzrRs />
PHOTIP:  When you're doing something fun, remember that you have a camera with you as long as you have
your phone----mine even has a video camera!  Don't be afraid to learn use it...

Blessings! 
Don't forget the phone photo contest!  
More pix

        

Hi!  Here we are at the beginning of August----and I'm wondering where the summer went....

Of course, you know part of it went to Lake Okonee, Georgia...San Diego...and most recently
TEXAS.  We flew into Houston & headed north toward San Antonio, but the rain followed us there.
It kept storming on & off for the next two days, delaying our plans to go to Schlitterbahn & Fiesta Texas
with the three grandkids.  Then everyone in the entire state went on Thursday & Friday.
                     
Wednesday we went to a once price all inclusive small park/arcade/rides named ZDT's. Since I didn't want
to get my Nikon D300 wet, I was relegated to phone photography again.  That's okay because I learned more
about it's capabilities....and non-capabilities, you might say. 

Rock climbing was easy because it was outside with plenty of light even though it was very cloudy.
Clouds are your friend when taking pix because they diffuse the sunlight & get rid of harsh shadows.
The silos on the property looked pretty cool & photographed well with the overcast skies.
                     
The sit in a circle with your feet hanging down, twirl around, swing out & try not to throw up ride
was kind of a challenge.  The trick here is to focus on something close to the subject & "snap the picture"
BEFORE it gets into position.  It may take a few tries, so hope for a long ride.  (Or make the kids get back
in line.)  I pre-focused on the green/yellow post just in front of the seats and it worked well.
                     

        

Greetings----it's still hot, but been visiting the beach a little.  The sweat is much less noticeable there.
This was taken back on the left coast of Florida at John's Pass. (See the blog about Tampa) The water is so
much prettier there...but the pelicans are just as ugly.  They kinda look like driftwood, don't they?

When photographing water birds, you need to choose a good location, plenty of light, patience & lots
of room on your memory card.  This was taken from a dock, looking down on the water.  And, obviously
birds that are sitting on the water are easier to capture than birds in flight.  (That shot was taken with my
Nikon D300 & my favorite 18 - 200 VR lens.)
                        
Here are three shots of Jacksonville Beach I took last week.  I'm still working on my phone photography. 
Most phones have very wide angle lenses----that's why you can take your own picture at arm's length. 
So, in order to get a good picture of something large, you have to move in closer that you think.  
I moved closer between the first two shots, but you can only tell by the number buildings in the background
or the sandals in the foreground.

For the last shot I was right under the lifeguard stand, holding my phone up in the air toward it. This one's
definitely an entry for the phone photo contest.  The hardest thing about taking a phone picture is not
being able to see what you got because of bright light.  Down here near the beach, that's all the time. 
I hope someone will invent a cure for that soon.     

PHOTIP: Don't forget to enter the phone photography contest: www.selu.edu  (look in the art gallery)
Then invent the screen cover that allows you to see a phone in bright light & take better pictures
.....& make millions.

Blessings!
Find your visual vacation

        

Hi---We're still sweatin' down here in Florida....but we did have a little, bitty, bit of rain recently.
If we want plants to survive the hot summer, we have to water---but only on the allotted TWO days
a week (which varies depending on your address) and not between 10am and 4pm.  They're always
telling us to protect the aquifer, YET they don't hesitate to sell 2 million gallons to a rich customer...
definitely a pet peeve of mine.
 
                   Almost a rainbow...

So it was early evening, but before sunset.  I had the sprinkler on the in backyard which looks out
on the marsh, so you have somewhat filter light because of the trees & moss.  I noticed the nice back light
streaming through the water and went out to capture it.

                     

I had fun, so here are some photo tips in case you want to try it. 
1.  Be very aware of the sprinkler pattern---where the water lands so you can keep the camera dry.
2.  Try holding the camera at different angles.
3.  Move around and see how the light plays on the water----streams, drops, streaks.
4.  Take lots of images using different exposures & shutter speeds.



This one is my favorite.  I like the lines created by the water.

PHOTIP:  Try this for yourself & have fun dodging the "rain drops".  Your shutter speed will have the
most effect creating streaks.

BLESSINGS!
See my artistic images

PS. Don't forget about the phone photo exhibit!
 
 

        

Hi---We're sweatin down here in the hi 90's......whew!  Make you wonder why you live in Florida when
you wake up in 85ª heat and go to bed at midnight in 84º heat.  Hope it's cooler where you are!
  Here's a cool snake skeleton....with attractive back lighting.
We got to visit the Zoo twice while in San Diego.  Once was in the evening and not nearly as crowded.
What I call "Werepigs" but not quite as good as a javelina---these tusks
just don't match up.  They actually look kinda sweet & cuddly.....wonder if they're tasty.  Would they be good on Twilight? 
Those funny meerkats....(Did you know they're a kind of mongoose?)
You'd swear someone has trained them to look at the camera....whenever somebody held out their camera they
 would look toward it.  Lots of people were taking pix, so they need to work on coordinating the head swivel.

Kinda sad black fellow with very cool long white hair.

PHOTIP:  This is shot through the wire cage.  You can still see a little of it against the black skin.  It almost disappears when you zoom in.  Look for the animals with the best and brightest lighting.

Blessings!
Visit my visual vacation from Italy

PS Almost forgot...What's the zoo without a panda?
  This one was amazing active---actually awake & munching on bamboo.         

        

           
Hi---hope you are doing well.  It's plenty hot here in NE Florida.  Just what you expect for July the 4th.
We got to enjoy church (and I got to wear my sparkling flag vest which I purchased from the 1996
Atlanta Olympics-----well, you don't get that many chances to wear it & I rarely throw anything out),
family, cooking out & fireworks all in one day.  Unfortunately, the dangerous, opps--I mean the most exciting ones
that takeoff & explode in the air aren't readily available any more...so we have to be content with fountains of color,
flashing lights & screamers.
  MEERKATS: Those cute little posers at the San Diego Zoo.
This was not as high quality because I zoomed in before taking the picture. 
Get your phones ready----there's a phone photo exhibit coming up at the end of the summer!
Your entry has to be in by September 30th.  You can email them in or print 5x7's and snail mail.  They are trying
to collect $10 for the email entries to cover printing.  NO ENTRY FEE---and that is rare for a show, believe me!
You can enter 3 shots.  No editing on your computer---only what is provided with your phone.

It's at the Southeastern Contemporary Art Gallery at Southeastern Louisiana University.  You can go on
their site for details---there are specifications for the file sizes, titles & info about each one.  Dale Newkirk
is the Director.  You can email him with questions: dnewkirk@selu.edu.  They hope to fill up the gallery with pix---
to show as many as possible---with the right to refuse any which are inappropriate.  At any rate, it'll be a
very interesting variety of pix.  It would be fun to look through them all. I think they plan to put it on line, too. 
Here the gallery address : href="http://http:www.selu.edu/acad_research/depts/vis_art/gallery/index.html">www.selu.edu/acad_research/depts/vis_art/gallery/index.html  
Look for info on entering the show.  (Sorry, couldn't get it to link for you.)
  PHOTIP:  When using your phone for the contest, the best pix are
taken with lots of good light.  Make sure the subject fills up most of the picture & can easily focus on your
main point of interest.  Save with the highest setting.  Email them to yourself if you can't download them directly.
Watch for your shadow when you are between the subject & the light.  Have fun & enter the contest!

BLESSINGS!
Visit my virtual show

        

Well, did you really expect a picture of flames, smoke,
screaming people and a devil with horns?  Sorry to disappoint you, but I am referring to the day I spent traveling from
my beloved, cool (in every way) San Diego to Jville.  (Now that I think about it, there were plenty of people screaming
on the inside.)  My day was about 12 hours long, and I'm still in the same country!  If you end up in another country,
at least you feel like it was worth the torture. The first 5 hours on the flight were fine, except that I got to the airport
two hours ahead of time----and though security was slow, it didn't take that long.

The plane was full, and fortunately I was by the window but had a little kid in the middle seat.  That gave us two
adults some extra room, except when he was flying his 5 inch, metal, United airplane around in every direction. 
Generally he was well behaved (Mom sat in front & Dad across the aisle----and it's true, as you may have surmised,
I wasn't nice enough to exchange my window seat for one of their middle ones...)  He was much nicer than
the ones crying fore & aft....

United charges $25 per bag & only gives you one beverage (non-alcoholic) during the entire 5 hours with
not even a peanut.  You can buy a "meal" or snack pack---but only certain options during certain flights. 
For instance my flight out was a "fresh breakfast" offering----which did not include eggs, bacon, sausage,
hash browns, grits or even cereal. What could possibly be called breakfast and not include some of the above? 
Here's what they offered: yogurt, fruit smoothie or a ham sandwich.  That's what I'm saying---WEAK!
Could I buy the cheese tray---not available on a flight that leaves before 11am.  Guess they're trying to
irritate their customer base. 

Arriving in Dulles (DC) airport it was sweltering & humid which I think is actually a part of being sweltering...
I have to rush to the shuttle to get to my connecting flight (much to the disapproving looks of people on the
plane I cut in front of to get out). Didn't get to take pix of the very cool colored glass blocks I had seen when
rushing through the previous trip :(

I got there in time at the farthest possible gate in the ghetto section of "express" (meaning very small, crowded,
probably recycled plane) only to hear that the Jax flight had no plane or crew yet.  We are talking 5 minutes from
scheduled boarding time. Just a slight delay.  HA!  LIARS! 
This was the gate where you walk out to the plane & can't take any luggage on it's so little.  We watched
lots of people rushing to catch flights & many people missing them.  What did they get---an insincere apology
and a point toward customer service.  Hence the people screaming on the inside...
Definitely wouldn't want the job in customer service!

No actual signs as to which flight was boarding or when---just an announcement by someone hard to
understand because of an accent.  Wouldn't surprise me if some passengers missed their flights because they
couldn't mentally translate the announcement into American English.

Finally ended up taking off 2 hours late.  Arrival: 1:15AM.  Fine, if that was unusual, but my husband went through
exactly the same thing a week ago.  I would never choose to fly United again----especially if Dulles was involved. 
That was Purgatory.

Hope your day was better than mine. 
PHOTIP: Find some pretty glass, shoot, download and crop to create abstracts from the colors or shapes...
and try not to think about the cool colored glass blocks you didn't get to take pictures of....

Blessings!
See my artistic images
Find your visual vacation