What Color is Your Soul Painted?

I'm blue - but in a good way! And blue just happens to be my favorite color :-D

What color is your soul painted? Blue Your soul is painted the color blue, which embodies the characteristics of peace, patience, understanding, health, tranquility, protection, spiritual awareness, unity, harmony, calmness, coolness, confidence, dependability, loyalty, idealism, tackiness, and wisdom. Blue is the color of the element Water, and is symbolic of the ocean, sleep, twilight, and the sky. Click Here to Take This Quiz

Quizzes and Personality Tests

Wabi Sabi

I learned about wabi sabi (pr. WAH-bee-SAH-bee) from one of my photography teachers, Tom Lamb. He suggested we buy the book, "Wabi-Sabi: for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers" by Leonard Koren. I got an inexpensive copy on Amazon.com and I love it! Here's what the author writes about wabi sabi.

"Wabi-sabi is the quintessential Japanese aesthetic. It is a beauty of things imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete," wrote Leonard Koren in his book . It is a beauty of things modest and humble, and of "things unconventional." Peripherally associated with Zen Buddhism, wabi-sabi values characteristics that are rustic, earthy, and unpretentious, involving natural materials which are used neither representationally nor symbolically.

The following piece of mine is called "The Turquoise Door." I love the texture, colors, and transformation these steps are taking in their cycle of existence. It was taken in Laguna Beach.

Dana Point Harbor

Dana Point Harbor is a really nice place to spend a Sunday. There are great places to eat and shop, or just sit around and people-watch. The cool thing about Dana Point Harbor is that there are so many different little "harbor worlds" there. Shopping and restaurants at the main center of the harbor (fine dining to casual snacks. Our fav is Jon's Fish Market - great fish & chips).

Then there's Doheny Beach. This is one of the very few beaches open for camping. There are firepits there (awesome!) and they hold the Doheny Blues Festival there in the May.

Going to the opposite end of the harbor you can visit the Ocean Institute and see the tall ships. Oh, speaking of the tall ships, you really should try to make it to the Tall Ship Festival in September every year. They sail the ships at various times (ooh, and they fire the canons!!), and the sunset sailing is really a sight to behold!

Don't like crowds? Then cut through the center of the harbor and there are really quiet little park areas with BBQ's.

So there's really something for everyone at Dana Point Harbor. Whenever people come to visit the locals, you can bet that Dana Point Harbor is on the agenda.

Best vantage points for panoramic views of the harbor:

Cannons Seafood Grill
(awesome food, awesome view - click link for photos)

View from Lantern Bay Park

My Internet Epiphany...

I was going through several blogging sites this morning, just seeing what's out there, and it suddenly struck me how important the Internet is. Oh, sure, there are all the obvious reasons; research, shopping, email, but one thing really struck me. How about the fact that it has virtually changed the lives of many people who would have otherwise been horridly lonely or isolated for one reason or another? I'm sure everyone has known or read of someone who doesn't blend well into their surroundings. Not blending in can be caused by many things, such as extreme shyness, physical issues, health issues, socio-economic differences, location - whatever. The Internet has now bridged the gap for these people, and given them a resource for connecting.

Okay, I know you're saying that it's not really a connection, since you really don't know who's at the other end of your screen, but I disagree. As long as you surf safely (don't give out a bunch of personal info) you now have at your fingertips millions of opportunities to connect with people who have similar interests. I mean, literally, there is a site, group, forum or blog out there that you feel totally aligned with. Drop a comment or two, and you start building these little cyberfriendships. Voila! Friends.

When the Internet was first becoming a household tool I thought Internet dating was the absolute height of recklesness and desperation (read: loser). I couldn't have been more wrong. It's accepted and normal now, and I know of several happily-together couples, some married, some "not-married-but-we're-still-a-solid-couple," from all different walks of life, who found each other over the Internet.

So, all in all, I would say that the Internet has become a lifesaver to some people, and I'm glad it's here. Everyone deserves to be happy and connected (ooh, pun!).

Okay, here's my Orange County image for today:

This is the Newport Beach Pier during a beautiful pink sunset.

CSUF (Cal State Fullerton) & Michelangelo

If you're interested in great art a good place to find it is at universities.
Cal State Fullerton has a really cool display of Michelango's David, only the twist is that it is "Fallen." By "fallen," they mean literally, it fell and it broke.


The pieces were donated to CSUF by Forest Lawn Memorial Park, and are now presented in such a way that you can get close up and personal. I highly recommend this, because you will certainly be amazed at the anatomical detail in this famous work of art.



Just the lines of the fingers alone are amazingly accurate. I felt they could come alive at any moment, and reach out. It really gives you a new perspective and appreciation for the talent of the great Michelangelo.






Staring this closely into David's face is haunting in a way, and he seems to have an air of sadness to him.









(That reminds me. Maybe a trip to Forest Lawn is in order...)

It's Friday!!

Huell Howser's Road Trip

I just love that guy. I think this is partly due to the fact that he travels all over MY state and shows me cool things to photograph. The other day I caught an episode on the City of Orange, of all places. I lived there many, many moons ago (but not near the Circle) and never knew any of the details shown on "Road Trip." I'm now planning to spend some time there soon and photograph some of the very cool areas he showed me -- er, um, everyone.

While thinking about following my heart (photographically) I mentioned that I would be taking, and posting, more beach and coastal images. I've expanded this goal and have now decided to try and post an Orange County image every day. I want people everywhere to see why Orange County is such a perfect place to live. I mean, I know we have the most beautiful beaches in the world, but there are so many more diverse, and very cool, things to see here.

So, stand by, and check back often for lots of Orange County images! (And, yes, especially the beaches!)

Here are two from Laguna Beach to get MY show on the road! :-D

Good Morning!

Got a little wild with the creamer this morning...

Idle Ramblings

So, today I feel like sharing some idle ramblings with you all...

I went to breakfast with my friend, Rita, yesterday. It was great spending some time with her after barely seeing her for months. She's really a nice person.

My husband laid down a great lead track over a rhythmn recording he got from one of his guitar-player friends.

I wrote a poem! Okay, it was a dark, gloomy, tragic thing, but it was for a contest and the moodiness felt appropriate. No comments, however, so maybe it was too dark.

My friend, Gayle, won tickets to Scary Disneyland and is taking me! Yay! She's trying to swap them for Knott's Scary Farm, but -fingers crossed- I'm hoping that doesn't work out.

I'm going to start funneling more photographic attention on Orange County and Southern California beaches. My first love in photography is the beach, so I'm going to follow my heart.

I heard from my friend, Vicki, today. She's got lots of photos on Flikr, and linked to me. I gave her my blog link. I'm hoping we keep closer tabs on each other. Long term goal: Visit her. (She just moved to the East Coast, so it's definitely a "long term" goal...)

I love my dog. I mean, I LOVE my dog!

That's it for now.

Remember to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Getting Out There :-D

I'm really starting to get my items set up for sales. I've got a few things listed in my Etsy Shop. Etsy is a great site and the people are really helpful. It's such a good shop, that there's another website devoted to those who love to sell there - it's called We Love Etsy. That should tell you something!

MY ETSY SHOP

barbaragordon

I'll be adding items continually,

Please vote for my picture!

I'm trying to get this picture published in a magazine, so please vote for me - there's a box on the right side of this blog that will take you right to it. THANKS!

TTV [Vintage Style Beach Photos]

TTV is a style of photography where you use a digital camera, but you actually shoot through a vintage viewfinder camera (I use a Duoflex from the early 1950's). I love the old look to the final product. Here are some of my beach scenes I took in Laguna Beach a couple weeks ago...

Vegas, Baby!

Photoshop World came to Las Vegas, and I WAS THERE! I caravaned with a couple friends of mine. Sara rode with me, and we followed Bob. It's fun to travel with friends, and we had a good, fast trip there. A little too fast, since we didn't get to stop and take pictures, but Vegas is close, so I can go again. We saw some pretty cool abandoned buildings along the way. Once there I saw another member of my First Impressions group, Mike, who had come with his wife. It's always cool to see someone you know when you're out of town.

The conference was exhausting - in a good way. We got there early Wednesday and went to our first class/session/seminar from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The next few days were a continuous flow of classes by the top experts in the world.

Got lots of free stuff (ooh, my fav!!) and came home exhausted and happy.








Photoshop World Las Vegas was awesome!!!

A Little Something Different...

Here's a little something different. I've been doing more digital art lately, and came up with this today. It's called "Fallen David" - a larger image can be seen on my website.

Long Time, No See!

Well, it's been awhile since I last updated my blog - a bad habit I do not intend to become comfortable with.

First, let me catch you up on my not-so-recent comings and goings, and then I'll fill you in on current events.

In February I photographed Amber and Jeremy's wedding in L.A. It was small, but lovely, and the bride and groom looked fabulous.






I was also very pleased to be asked to photograph the promotion ceremony of 1st Sgt. Bryan Jackway. It was a bright, sunny day, and along with his beautiful wife and daughters, many of his friends and family were there to help celebrate his career advancement.





March came along, and my friend Karen, and her husband, Paul (you remember them) had a local speaking engagement, so I was able to see her again. They are fabulous speakers, and I highly recommend her book, "If You Don't Die to Self, I May Have to Kill You" It's a riot, but has a great message, and is a must for all married couples. You can read more about her and the book on her MySpace site here:

www.myspace.com/karenlongbooks

or

www.karenclong.com

Her book is also available on Amazon.com

She has a really great family photo on her site, too! {wink-wink} It's the shot I took at my photo exhibition. I emailed it to her and she liked it enough to use on her site. :-D




April rolled around and I had my birthday. Naturally, my birthday was a Canon event - got a fantastic new lens. I also won the Saddleback Art Show! Unfortunately, someone decided to make a bomb threat on the same day that the art show reception and awards were to be given out, so my moment of glory wasn't to be. I still won, got a certificate and prize money, so all in all - it was GREAT!



I entered three pictures into the Orange County Fair. Got all three juried in, and won honorable mention for my Winter Ascent picture.



Okay, that covers the major events (that I can recall right now). I'm sure I've forgotten something, I always do, but if/when it comes to mind, I'll make a new posting.

Third Time's a Charm!

Last night was our third, and final, reception for the first First Impressions photography exhibit, which was held at the Kornelius Schorle Gallery in Irvine. We had a very good response, and it seemed that everyone had friends, family or guests come to support them. I was especially happy to see my friends, Carol, Arleene and Sara enjoy the exhibit, and to be able to spend some time with them.

Bacchus Secret Cellar Wine Shoppe & Bar in Irvine sponsored a wine tasting and appetizers, which allowed the artists to mingle and chat with the guests, without worrying about hosting details.



I was very blessed this evening to have some very special guests come to our show. I thought I would fall over when I turned and saw my friend, Karen Long, whom I've been friends with since the age of three, and her husband Paul, and beautiful daughter, Katherine, standing to my side. I sent her an invitation, but did not expect to see her, since she lives a good distance away, and if you know anything about L.A.-to-O.C Friday night traffic, you would not wish this on your worst enemy, much less a dear friend.

In addition to the logistics issue, she is one of those whirlwinds that should have at least 5 personal assistants, or 2 clones, as she is a mother of three, wife to one, devoted sister, to Lori, whom I also love dearly, caretaker to her aging mother, an Emmy-nominated ex-news reporter, successful author and lecturer, co-owner with her husband, Paul, of a very successful post-production studio for some very A-list movies and television shows, and, I'm sure, oodles of other things I've forgotten. Whew!

But there she stood, in all her glory (and more than her fair share of beauty!), honoring me at my exhibition. I was thrilled, to say the least, and I will always be grateful to her for taking the time out of her very busy schedule to simply be my friend.

After knowing her husband only through shared photos all these years, (cliche coming...) I felt I already knew him. He's a very nice and friendly guy, and I'm so happy I finally got to spend some time with him.

We had another silent auction offering the second portfolio box of 18 original signed prints, one by each artist in exhibit. We had some vigorous bidding, and ended up selling the box for double the price of the first.



After the bidding, and just before Tom thanked everyone, we surprised him with an engraved thank you gift from the First Impressions group. He has gone way above and beyond for us, and we wanted to give him something to remember us by.

This is Heather, showcasing some of her art. Heather is a fantastic artist who has been focused on botanicals for awhile now. Her usual medium is black and white film, but she displayed some of her digital work at this gallery.

This is Mike and Rita. Rita is an artist whose area of interest is architectural photography. She had a very good series from a visit to North Carolina. Mike is her husband, and No. 1 fan.

This is my crazy friend, Sara. There is enough life in this girl for two people. She's one of those people who fills a room with her personality, and is a great artist and "Photosculptress" in her own right. She was not part of the First Impressions exhibit, but came as my friend and guest. Sara's art is very bold, shocking and thought/emotion-provoking. Whether or not it is your style, you can never view it without its affecting you. Stay tuned for more from this one!

All in all, it has been a fantastic run, and I am grateful to everyone who helped guide us, accommodate us, support us, encourage us, and bought from us. We have all enjoyed this experience and plan to keep our group together and exhibit together in the future.

It has been a gift from us, and for us.

Two Shows Down, One to Go!

Our shows to date have had truly great responses, and the turnout both times was wonderful. Our first show in January had hundreds (yes, hundreds!) of people, and the gallery filled quickly to maximum occupancy.

The guests seemed to be really impressed with our work, and I heard from one couple, Dr. and Mrs. Teel, that "the caliber of work was exemplary" and way above their expectations. That was wonderful to hear, and seemed to be the general consensus. I'm happy about that, not only for myself, but also for all the others in our group. We all worked very hard on our series, and to know that others appreciated the quality and enjoyed their time at the gallery truly made it worthwhile.



The first reception (First Impressions exhibit) was a madhouse, In a very good way, with wall-to-wall friends, family and locals. The second reception (First Fridays) had fewer people, but it was still a very good turnout, and the artists were able to spend more quality time with the guests, and host the various art series present.



I was able to meet and mingle with some of the friends and families of the artists. Even though you know some people already, once you meet their friends and family it gives you more insight into their lives, and brings you closer to them.



The variety of subject matter was really interesting. Something for everybody, from very proper florals, to tattoo art.



Toward the end of the evening at our First Impressions reception, we had a silent auction for a portfolio box containing one original signed print from each artist, including our leader, Tom Lamb. It was a great evening for everyone.