Wear comfortable shoes, hold on tight and enjoy the ride.

I took this photo seven years ago, but I still very much enjoy it.  I shot this on the vaparetto in Venice as I was trying desperately to get from one side of the town to the other find the right spot to photograph the sunset.  PS. I never got the "right" spot, but it was sure fun trying. I got to see the almost the whole city in the process.

I didn't think this was anything special when I took it, but now it has become one of my favorite in the shoe series.

I think it is appropriate now as I get ready to enter a time where all things come into this crazy convergence.  Work commitments, photography commitments, family reunions, friends'/ family/ boyfriend's schedules to juggle, garden kicking into high gear, end of summer, beginning of the school year. You get the idea.  This happens to me every year.  I've come to just go with it, because really. I have no choice.

So with that in mind this image speaks a great deal to me.  It reminds me,  "Keep your talisman close to you.  Wear comfortable shoes, hold on tight, and enjoy the ride Who knows? Perhaps your favorite moments will be the little ones that along the way to the big ones. "  :)

Happy Friday.

A sense of time and taste

Several years ago, I found myself on top of this bridge, overlooking the Grand Canal.

The night before I had stopped here to have a cannoli, and when I found myself up very, very early this is the spot I chose to have breakfast. It was before tourists arrived; before the shops even opened. I watched the restaurants receive their daily shipment of supplies all by boat instead of bus, which to me was a total novelty. There was nothing particularly special about this moment, but I was fascinated by it. How many visitors get to see this everyday occurrence? And here I was experiencing it almost all by myself.
I shared the bridge with two others. There was me, and a older man in a bright orange suit. (We didn't speak, but I was really curious about his story, and I could not figure out a way so sneak a photo.)

We both watched quietly as along with this guy.

I suppose he sees this sort of thing everyday. But not me, this was my little moment to remember, and I tried to take it all in while I munched on my chocolate hazelnut cookies.

The cookies were such a treat, and rarely have I found them here in the states. Tonight, on an ordinary trip to my neighborhood Big Lots, I found these. A sweet reminder of an extraordinarily "ordinary" moment.

August 20 --feeling famous

If you've looked through the past posts of this blog you already know I love this photo. I entered it in a contest on the Pioneer Woman website. PS I love Ree Drummond.

The theme of the contest is Love. I made it through the first round, and so many lovely people have said such sweet things about this little of photo of mind. It's a nice way end week.

Here's a link to the rest of today's photos. About 20 are chosen per day for a week. I'll keep you posted if I make it to the finals.

I haven't posted any serious photographs lately. This one isn't really serious. It is one of the fun things I on trips. Since I sometimes travel by myself, it is a little hard to do the "I was here" self-portrait. So instead I do "My shoes were here," and you can presume, I was with my shoes.

In a training exercise yesterday, I had to plan a vacation with a group of fellow UK employees. My particularly easy-going group agreed to go anywhere that anyone wanted to go. A spontaneous trip around the world....why not?

So this makes me ponder...what is the next travel destination?

The story Behind the Image - Couples

My "couples" image is one included in the previous post for the calendars.  This is the image I get the most comments about.  It was completely a serendipity moment. Again I was wondering Venice, and I came across the older couple walking quite a ways off.   Instantly I thought they were perfect.  I love the fact that he seems to be helping her along.  (Did you see her walking with a cane?)  I wondered what they had been doing...perhaps shopping in the market nearby or maybe he was playing bocci ball.  Anyway,  I was walking very quickly to catch up with them. I had the camera up to my face focusing away, when I heard the footsteps of the other couple passing along side of me.   Without really getting a good look at them I swung the lens to wide angle and snapped the shutter. I was thrilled  when the film came back and I saw the image.  Some of my friends say it reminds them of the "a diamond is forever" commercial.  

Anyway it's a fun little image.  I've made several cards from it. It's great for anniversaries.

happily,

-crys

Calendars!

2008 is just around the corner. Here's a sample of some of my custom calendars. I premiered them at the show in Yellow Springs, and the response was favorable. They retail for $28, and can be customized. For example I have two different versions specifically for Rome and Venice. For some reason not all months loaded here. Feel free to check back to view all 12.

I think they are very fun.

-c

The Story Behind the Image - Rainstorm at the Colosseum

This was probably my favorite image taken in Rome. It rained everyday in Rome. Often the rainstorms were quick showers that didn't last long. Eventually, I came to welcome the rain as a break from the blazing sun and heat. This particular day was extremely hot. I had wandered through the Roman Forum saving the Colosseum for the later afternoon. I awestruck at he magnitude of the building. To think that something like this could be built at the time it was constructed.
I was trying to imagine how in the world the center of the arena could be flooded for naval battles, when I looked up and saw the dark clouds looming. Within a few minutes it began to rain. No, rain would be an understatement. It stormed. It even hailed.
Like many others I ducked into one of the many archways to ride out the storm. It was amazing watching the storm pass over the structure. It was almost as if Mother Nature was trying to say, "Ha! You think man can accomplish great things, well let me remind you of what I can do." I was one of many huddled into the niches for shelter, but it was a solitary experience.
The storm last about 20 minutes or so. Eventually the rain slowed to a gentle shower. I stepped out of my archway and saw this man standing with the umbrella. He seemd to be uneffected by the rain.

I don't know. I guess I love this image because it's quiet, which seems odd to say considering it happened during a storm. But for me its a very solitary image which I guess reminds me of that experience of getting caught in the Colesseum in a hailstorm.

The Story Behind the Image -- Lady in the Red Dress

Lady in the Red Dress is a simple little image that I have a fondness for. I was wandering the back alleyways of Venice, which honestly was one of the favorite parts of my trip. Most of the time, I wandered the streets without consulting a map. I figured eventually I’d come to the lagoon, and I’d figure out where I was then. Anyway, I came upon this very dark, narrow passageway and was struck by the color of the building at the end of the alley. I love beautiful faded red color. I set up to take a photo, but people kept passing through the scene. After waiting several moments, I thought “It might be more interesting if a person is passing through.” I decided to try to catch the next person that walked by whoever they may be. I prepared for my shot as I heard the footsteps of someone approaching. As pure luck would have it, the woman was wearing a red dress that matched the building and the flowers. I quickly clicked the shutter and hoped that I caught her in before she passed behind the building. She was walking very quickly, as you can see by the blurring motion of her figure. I was completely thrilled when I had the film printed that I caught the moment perfectly.

Opening

Last night was the opening for my show at Village Artisans in Yellow Springs. It wasn’t a large affair. The size was just right. Thank you to all the friends and family that came to see my work. Your support is fantastic! It was a good night for me just to exhale. I feel like I’ve been running full tilt for months now. I was just able to relax, enjoy good company and relive some of the moments from a most amazing trip. It was a night of personal celebrations.

I hit so many roadblocks getting ready for this show, but in the end everything just worked itself out. I think it looks good. I hope others will too. The other members of the co-op only know me as a fiber artist. Only a few know that I’m a photographer as well. I loved seeing people’s reaction to the work. One man told me that he was born in Italy. Looking at my photographs was like stepping back to his childhood. Such a kind compliment means so much to me. Many people said so many nice things. I actually had to joke when someone told that I had a good eye. I’d say, “You mean I shouldn’t quit my day job. Oh Well too late.”

Big THANK YOU’s go out to everyone that helped set up and provided food.

Those of you that didn’t make it, the show will be running through the end of the month. Please stop by and see it.

I’ll be periodically posting “Stories Behind the Images” So many photographs have a personal story that goes with them. I thought that might be a fun way to share.

Gratefully,

-crystal

Finally....

It's been two years since my trip to Italy. This is one image that I was so excited about when I clicked the shutter. Then when the prints came back, I was underwhelmed. It lacked the vibrance of the moment. I knew if I played around with it. I could make the final image look like what I saw that day. Finally.... this IS what it was like to be there. This one is definately in the show.

The first post...

Alright, here it is....the first official post to my blog. It feels pretty weird putting this all out there for the world to read. What I have to say and share doesn't feel all that important. Then the whole world isn't going to be looking at my little blog either. Right now I think I'm the only one looking at it.


Lately, I've been really busy. Many irons in the fire as usual. One of the current big projects is putting together my photography show in Yellow Springs. It has been extremely difficult going back through all the photographs from my Italy trip and narrowing it all down. I thought I'd periodically put a preview on this site.


Today's photo is a personal favorite, although I don't imagine that it will make the final cut for the show. But, for anyone that knows me, they'll understand.

Enjoy.

-c