PHOTOCRAFT

I just got a new book and I'm so excited and inspired!!

PHOTOCRAFT Cool Things to Do with the Pictures You Love

Over the next few days I'll be absorbing the wonderful ideas in this book. I can't wait to try out these projects!!

Pretty in Pink

Last weekend my mom and I spent a day wandering Balboa Park, cameras in hand. We spent a lot of time inside the botanical gardens photographing all sorts of beautiful flowers.  Today I'd like to share a few of my favorites, all in shades of pink. The first shot is also my Photo of the Week (hosted by Jessica Rogers Photography).

Reflections

I have a few more photos from that day to sort through - I think I found Alice's Wonderland in the botanical gardens. Curious? Check back soon! I hope to have those photos ready to share in the next couple of days. Until then, have a great Friday and fun-filled weekend!

San Diego: Tattoo Town

Last night Les & I went to the POP Thursday event at the San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts. The event was entitled San Diego: Tattoo Town which included a screening of  Ed Hardy: Tattoo the World, directed by Emiko Omori.  Although I have no desire to get a tattoo myself, it is art form I appreciate. Until last night I really had no idea the depth of artistic ability it takes to do tattoos and do them well.  It was truly an eye opening experience.

This week's Photo of the Week was taken last night.  I was a bit intimidated to ask random people in a busy room if I could take their photo, but I was able to click a few on the sly.

Although this photo is not technically perfect I love the shoes, the tattoo on the lady's foot, and the movement.

That is it for today.  Have a great weekend & Happy Father's Day to all of the dads out there!

June Gloom

Most people, when they think about San Diego, they picture sunny days at the beach. However, those who visit during June are often a bit disappointed to find that the fog often lingers through the day and the cool breeze sometime necessitates a sweatshirt. Its called June Gloom - and I love it!

California beach fog is awesome.  Anywhere else in the world (at least those places I've visited) fog is just visible humidity. I recall waking up one morning during the early Fall in Sicily and seeing a blanket of fog covering the valley where I lived.  I was ecstatic, especially after the scorching summer.  I ran around and opened the windows and waited for the cool breeze to hit.  Instead, within minutes I could feel my feet sticking to the tile floor because of the moisture in the air.  Not fog, just visible humidity. Yuck.

I remember feeling the same way when I lived in Florida - no cool breeze, just humidity. I can't tell you how happy I was to get back to California, roll down the windows on the car and feel the cool breeze coming off of the ocean!

I love California beach fog - cool enough for a sweatshirt, warm enough for flip-flops. It doesn't get much better.  Today I took a drive up through Encinitas to Swami's Park overlooking the beach. I relished the cool breeze, the sounds of the crashing waves and the calls of the seagulls. It was anything but gloomy.

As much as I miss Italy I sure do love California and its beach fog!

Art Around Adams

Last weekend the local art community was showcased with a two mile art walk along Adams Avenue. Art Around Adams had everything from visual to performing art and beautiful to bizarre. I spent the better part of an afternoon and evening wandering through art galleries and various businesses who had opened their doors to let local artists exhibit their work.  There were performers of music and dance and of course, abundant food - the entire experience a treat for the senses.

This week's Photo of the Week (hosted by Jessica Rogers Photography) was taken on Adams Avenue of a building that I walk and drive by frequently. Murals are becoming more and more common in my neighborhood and this building is a great example.

Fire

The sides of this building are just as interesting:

Another mural in the making on the side wall of Art Lab:

More art in progress:

Musicians:

A few other sights around my neighborhood:

Painted Utility Box

And one of my favorite sights around San Diego - the neighborhood signs.  I love them!

Mostly photos in this post, but wanted to take a moment to share some of the things I saw during the Art Around Adams festival and around my neighborhood. Have a great weekend!

Becoming a Better Photographer

Earlier this week I read an article entitled "3 Stupidly Simple Reasons Why Mot People's Photography Does Not Improve." Reason #1 was "you don't take your camera with you." As my mom so aptly said "ouch, finger in the chest."

In Italy I took my camera almost everywhere with me - it was, after all, Italy. Since I've been back in the States I've fallen out of the habit.  Certainly the sights here are different, but are they any less photo-worthy? Probably not.  I just need to slow down and look (Reason #2). Additionally, I feel a bit conspicuous walking down the street with my DSLR slung around my neck. People don't carry big cameras around like they do in Europe - or perhaps in Europe I didn't mind looking like a tourist because I was one (Reason #3).

With these reasons in mind it isn't surprising that coming up with an image for Photo of the Week (hosted by Jessica Rogers Photography) is a challenge. Earlier this week, the evening that the Photo of the Week was due, I was really upset with myself for not having an image to share. So, instead of sitting there being mad, I poured myself a glass of vino, set out a few objects on my dining table, and started playing with a few of the photo apps on my iPhone. Here is what I came up with:

This image was created and edited entire on the iPhone using TiltShift Generator.  This app allowed me to take an image, choose a focal point, blur the rest of the image, play with the exposure, saturation, contrast, and vignette.  I LOVE how it turned out! In case you are wondering what you are looking at this is a photo of napkin rings on a place mat.  So simple!

In the future I'm going to try and be more photographically aware - I WILL take my camera with me, I WILL slow down and actually look at what is around me, and I WILL not care so much about what other people think. And if push comes to shove - I almost always have my iPhone with me.  Its no DSLR, but I can still make good images with it. After all, the best camera is the one you have with you!