Yikes - seems to me I did better when I first found the scribbler years ago, did they change it? Probably me only...

Snowy Drive

An Attempt to load a Scribbler Scribble

!http://www.zefrank.com/scribbler/scribblertoo/!

Interesting links for GVA Photographers

Feeling guilty about my lack of participation recently, yet having nothing too creative to share yet I thought to share some interesting links I found recently. The first is a young photographer from Iowa whose website I found last night and whose photography has kept me up till all hours. He is a storm chaser, so he has some awesome lightning and super cell photos on his site you might want to check out, but he also is into bird photography and he really likes to shoot at night. So there are very beautiful photos of places like the Badlands in South Dakota or Yellowstone Park. Very inspiring and despite his obvious talent this young man says he does not know what to do with his life yet - seems he is doing just fine with what he is doing presently!

http://extremeinstability.com/imagesbyyear.htm

Next comes a couple of links to a useful free application which allows photographers to calculate when the best time is to get those wonderful sunrise and sunset pics. It gives you this information for any location in the world plus it also informs you of the extended period beyond sunrise and sunset where you can see the stars as well. There is also an app for cellphone available, but this one will cost you about 9 bucks.

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/it%E2%80%99s-all-about-the-light-the-photographer%E2%80%99s-ephemeris

http://photoephemeris.com/

First link is to a short article about this program and then follows the link for the download. Btw, the first link is pretty cool to check out for those of you who would like to learn more about digital photography. You can sign up for free and then you will receive weekly newsletter with all kinds of information about different techniques as well as challenges using these techniques which you can publish on their forum for exposure, inspiration and constructive criticism.

While I was writing this it occurred to me that I have not been entirely without any artistic output and while here I may as well share it. It is a little exercise in digital art using several photographs Photoshop Elements and Gimp. Hope you like it!

Double Rainbow at Water Show Opening!

At precisely 5pm Friday November 5th, the view across the street from The Green Valley Artists Water Show at the FUSIT Gallery revealed a double rainbow! How appropriate for the exhibits theme! And symbolic of how dark storm rains pass, to welcome the return of the light with such intense beauty. It was the second double rainbow of the year for me, the last being sighted late summer.

Happy Halloween!

my kawaii hello kitty pumpkin

I was recalling the peak trick 'er treating of my late youth. It was fifth grade when my Dad took my little sister around, and I was freed at last to roam around with my buddy unattended. We eschewed the plastic pumpkin for a pillow case and set out to gather the sugar coated booty. In typical male fashion of quantity and accomplishment, we covered our own neighborhood in no time, then set off for the adjacent subdivision, a place where technically we weren't even allowed to ride bikes. The mischievous spirit of the evening possessed us. I returned dragging a heavy bag like a miniature santa, not a goblin. My parents were at first astonished, then admonished us for venturing so far afield. My sister and I munched that candy hoard until Christmas!

By junior high, we had relocated to a tiny rural village in upstate New York. Being a little Dungeons and Dragons geek, I reveled in the ability to dress up on this one night and not be considered a freak. Still, we had begun pushing the limits as people would comment as we departed their porches, "Wow, their getting bigger every year." Sometimes even directly confronting us, "Aren't you guys getting a little old?" as if this holiday was merely a cutesy toddler parade on their porch put on for their benefit. Trick 'er treating maximization had been raised to an art form. We carried a back up mask in our bags for changing up the look to hit houses again on the return trip that actually generously gave away full sized candy bars or some other rare confection, instead of the usual sweet tarts or milk duds.

It was my last trick 'er treating year ever, so we slogged it out in bitter cold and sleet. There was hardly anyone out at all. On the outskirts of the village was a large farmhouse. The front porch light was off, but a side porch was lit, so we investigated. An old woman came to the door and invited us in. My friend and I looked at each other, shrugged and went inside. A lifetime of "don't talk to strangers" made me enter with trepidation. But this was obviously a long lost grandmother that I never had. Inside it was a warm and hospitable kitchen, and we were treated to hot apple cider, and fresh homemade doughnuts. It was the most decadent treat I ever had! I didn't even know that you could make doughnuts at home. We munched our doughnut and warmed our wet cold fingers around the mug, waiting for it to cool enough to drink. The kind old lady was delighted to have company and provide us with hospitality and we chatted up about the nights inclement weather. By the time we finished, there was a knock on the door, we said our adieu as she welcomed in a clutch of tiny kinder and their mom. That was the last time I ever trick 'er treated and a perfect way to retire that childhood tradition.

From the book 365 Goddess by Patricia Telecso:
"Samhain is a time to rectify any matters causing dissent. Take a piece of white paper on which you've written the reason for anger in a relationship, then burn it in any hallowed fire source (the pumpkin candle, etc) As you do so ask Nicneven to destroy the negativity completely."

This is also an opportunity to work with Raven energy. Raven is about finding light in the darkness, and transforming dark into light. Its a chance to create some real magick and transform negative into positive.

Fall Commissions - Finals

Completed these a couple weeks ago and delivered them. The client was happy, and she recently surprised/presented them to her friends. I have yet to hear about their reactions, hopefully good ones.











I'm kicking into high gear before December rolls around...
I've got a lot of things on my list, and more things to share =)

Alone Again Naturally

This image was captured on an Evening GVA Photo Safari!