Choices

Choices

I Choose Joy!

This evening we played for a Fun Raiser (Yes I spelled it right) for Heifer International. It is such a wonderful concept, and I really appreciate the work that has been done by them since the 1940’s to help people help themselves. It really takes such a little bit to make a big difference. It is, like everything else we do, a choice that one makes. Today I choose the highest good. That is always joy, at some level. I think there is a mathmatical formula for it. I think it goes something like this: Gratitude+Heart+Service=JOY!

This evening we played for a Fun Raiser (Yes I spelled it right) for Heifer International. It is such a wonderful concept, and I really appreciate the work that has been done by them since the 1940’s to help people help themselves. It really takes such a little bit to make a big difference. It is, like everything else we do, a choice that one makes. Today I choose the highest good. That is always joy, at some level. I think there is a mathmatical formula for it. I think it goes something like this: Gratitude+Heart+Service=JOY!

Old Pixie Portrait

Old Pixie Portrait

Leaf Me Alone to My Own Devices

 

Today’s image was the result of a prompt in Melissa Dinwiddie’s “Creative Sandbox 101: Kickstart Your Creativity With the Power of Play” which I’m doing in her Creative Ignition Club.

I did two separate 15 minute sessions: one photographing myself and one playing with those images in Photoshop. I was strict with myself on the timing. I took 103 images of myself, playing with props, lighting, indoors-outdoors, making faces, looking all different directions.

I have needed a more updated image of myself, yet have been reluctant because I am not fond of how old I look right now (I suspect I’ll have to get used to it!), so I was hoping the camera would secretly do some kind of time warp thing and take a photo of me about 20 years ago. No such luck!

Of the 103 images, I gleaned 44 worth looking at twice, which I narrowed down to an even dozen to play with. This was the winner. It playfully expresses a true bit of me without making me look like Methusilah’s mother. Since I spent so much time ( a full half hour plus comment time) on this today, I am posting it on my blog as my daily image.

Thanks Melissa for the fun project, and the new way of approaching image making! I always enjoy your way of inspiring me to raise the bar on my creativity.

Etched in Pixels

Etched in Pixels

Sunrise and sunset are my favorites…

(except, maybe,  for Day and Night)

It was a long day. I just got home and realized I had not completed preparing an image for today. I’m consciously deciding that this is one of those occasions that “Anything worth doing is worth doing mediocre.” Otherwise, I would not post an image this evening. There is a quality about this image that really speaks to me, yet I am certain that I could spend several more hours futzing with it to get it closer to some unknown ideal.  Really, I don’t need to bludgeon it to death.

Rainbow Dancer

Rainbow Dancer

Originally I did this mixed media piece by hand years ago. It became water damaged and tattered. Tonight I decided to rejuvenate it. It relates to my willingness to stand in who I am and live up to my full potential and I feel empowered by it. I actually did bellydance in Hollywood, by the way… and Cucamonga!

Springing Spring

Springing Spring

Speaking with Tulips

I headed out for my daily 20 minute walk with camera in hand. It was an hour before I got back home. I was certain that it was only 15 or 20 minutes. I fell in love with the gardens in the neighborhood. I fell head over heels.