yellow

I love Summer.  I mean I L-O-V-E it, I really do.  Being a SoCal girl, we epitomize summer here and to me, nothing signifies summer more than the color yellow.  It's bright, cheery and exudes a summery warmth.  I've also been told that my aura color is yellow.  It is the color of awakening, inspiration, intelligence and action shared, creative, playful, optimistic, easy-going.  Obviously, those words totally describe me. (Well, if you know me, I'm sure you would agree! Heheh).  Face it, yellow is a happy color and happy it makes me.  :) 

Today, share your happy yellow photos with us.  

And don't forget to share your yellow images right here in the comment thread and in our Shutter Sisters OWP pool on Flickr.  Tag all your color shots this month #sscolormonth to be entered in the drawing at the end of June. 

 

Magenta

I never thought I would be a part of the Pink Sisterhood but on May 24 of 2011 diagnosed with Stage 3A breast cancer, I joined the club.  A sore left breast and a swollen lymph node led to 2 needle biopsies, a lumpectomy, 8 wicked chemo treatments, 5days a week for 7 weeks of radiation and a lot of photos.

I have been told many times that I am not your typical breast cancer patient and I think that’s true.  I didn’t let the word Cancer or being sick beat me. I attacked it head on with my camera in hand!  My camera has been my partner in crime since I was a child and it's always helped me through the ups and downs life throws at me. My passion for photography is what helped me through this journey and what will continue to help me. 

I never thought pink was my color until my diagnoses but since then, I have been wearing more pink and playing with pink in my images. The stencil art on 7th Avenue in Manhattan stated exactly what I feel; "Art is my Weapon".  Photography is my weapon. I added a pink color tint to it to really represent me right now. My photography has helped me heal and will continue to do so.  As long as I can continue to take photos I will do so as my weapon against the bad stuff in life.  

Let’s make a statement today with bright, bold, beautiful pink and shoot images featuring the brilliant shade called Magenta! Don't forget to tag your photos with #sscolormonth. and add them to the OWP pool on Flickr. 

Image and words by our guest blogger, the courageous Darlene Cannup. 

the six questions with Sarah Louette

We are delighted today to share some questions and answers from emerging French photographer Sarah Louette.  In her words her images “aim at mirroring the feelings and emotions that lie deep in ourselves. Bliss, innocence, greed, hope and despair.”  And her inspiration comes from her “readings” and her own “reveries.” Love that!

Her images are breathtaking and it’s an honor to share with you her answers to our burning questions:

1. What's the story behind this photo?
I was on a family day out. The weather was fine and I wanted to show a shooting session to my sons. I initially wanted to take a picture with lots of accessories and colors, but when I parked the car, I noticed the way in this green field that looked so photogenic! I took my camera and gave it a try with the timer and my umbrella.

There are many birds of prey in the fields of my region, and one of them chose to pay us a visit. I took a picture of it. Later, I layered the two pictures to re-create that magical atmosphere our daily walks can have.

2. What was it that lit your photography spark? Do you remember a particular camera, course, person, roll of film?
I've always been attracted to visual arts, but fine art photography seemed a bit out of the reach. Digital photography changed it all, because you could try new things, get it wrong and then try again without worrying about the price of the film. To me, this is an Art revolution that allowed everybody to open the doors of creativity. I remember I bought my first digital camera with a reverent bliss and I immediately used it as an artistic medium. This first camera was very basic but it became a marvelous companion.

3. What's your photo philosophy? Does it reflect your life philosophy?

This question is a good one because it makes me ponder my artwork. When I take a photo, I tend to recreate a dream. I visualize a kind of fairy-tale scene, something that can exist but that we barely do or see. It's not surrealistic nor realistic, it's a beautiful reality.

In my daily life, I want to live fully in the real world but without being held captive by my environment. I wouldn't define myself as a dreamer, but I'm a very idealistic person who believes in creating her own life.  My Art probably unveils my aspirations for creating beauty. 

4. Where do you look for inspiration? 
I think inspiration is a fascinating interaction between our dreams and reality. In my case, it comes like a vision. I see a picture and I try to recreate it in order to give it birth.

In my latest series though, I realized the power of the translation of my imagination. For instance, one of my images "the Shelter" was clearly inspired by Stephen King, and another one "Dancing in the Stains" by... Snow white!

5. What would you say is one of your 'signature' editing tricks, themes or style? What do you think makes an image recognizable and uniquely yours?

That's hard for me to be objective with my work.  I don't want to stick to a certain kind of picture, because creativity suffers from these artificial boxes.  Bur, our identity is always present, as long as we're true to ourselves.

At the moment, I'm quite obsessed by the silhouettes and the effects on colours and I can see painting is another one of my inspirations. If you, the viewer recognize that I have my own unique style, of course, that would be a wonderful compliment. 

6. What aspect of your photography are you constantly working on, trying to improve?

My initial focus tends to be on colours. What I am trying to improve on is my ability to sense pure and striking shapes. I think beauty is universal. It's a harmony that everyone can read. The real challenge is having the ability to write it.

7. If you could go anywhere in the world for an epic, weeklong photo excursion all by your luxuriously unhurried self - regardless of money, time or childcare issues - where would you go and why? 
I would go to South America. I have travelled in many countries in the world, but for me, it is the ultimate destination. Besides the fascinating cultures and landscapes, that's one of my very first child dreams. Being there would mean discovering a world apart and meeting an aspect of myself I would like to share again. That's how it goes, you also travel to meet your dreams. In travelling and creating, the process is often very similar.

8. Are there women out there that you consider your shutter sisters? Who, and why?

 I'd say the women of family. Without being artists, they all had a link to visual arts and they all are an inspiration to me. Each photo I take is a present I give them.

...........

If you'd like to share a dreamy image with us, or just share a comment with Sarah, we'd love to hear from you.

For more on the Sarah Louette and her exquisite work, visit her website, check out Subconscious Photography or say bon jour on facebook.

what you need to hear

Images inspire me. To see the world differently. To recognize beauty. To honor the moment that is right now and to also remember what once was.

Words can do the same thing. Whether in sequence or in solidarity, the right words can sooth, encourage, nudge, or stir up somehing within me. Some words bekon me to slow down while others activate something inside me. Whatever it is I most need to hear, I always seem to find somehow. The Universe is mysterious and wonderful like that; delivering messages at just the right time.

Sometimes I appreciate most those words that allow me to relax and sink into a way of being that's full of peace and contentment.

Exhale, savor, rest, be. 

Other times, I love soaking up the words that urge me to take action. Do something, activate something, set something within myself free.

Dance, dream, create, fly.

Have you stumbled across any words lately that reminded you of exactly what you needed to hear? Or was there a message that surprised and delighted you when you came across it? Share with us the words and images that remind you of something you want to carry with you.

And don't forget, it's Best Shot Monday so we'd love to see your favorite image from the week. Who knows, maybe it holds a hidden message as well.

blinded by the white

We talk a lot around here about inspiration. And muses. And a million other things that spark our creative spirits. There's no telling what might strike our photo fancys from one minute to the next and what we just might discover. Maybe it's a new lens, maybe a new action or preset. It could be mobile photography or a new app. Maybe it's a Polaroid camera or even film. Whatever it is, it tends to move us forward in our craft. We challenge ourselves, we lean into learning curves, we test and try and experiement. We find sisters who are sharing our love affair of the moment, we take classes, we join communities, we ask questions and we pick up our cameras and shoot.

Currently, I'm focusing on black and white photography and I'm watching others do the same. I'm excited by the collective energy and the challenge of communicating using a monochromatic pallet.  

A recent prompt in class was to try your photographic hand in creating a high key image. Norman Phillips said,  "High key is the term used to describe photographs with white or bright backgrounds and usually with bright lighting situations that render subjects in a light tone similiar to that of the background." Who knew that this kind of photography could be so much fun to try to capture? I'm not saying it's easy. But, like with all other types, styles, ways to photograph our subjects, the more you set your mind to cracking the code, the closer you'll get to cracking it.

I don't usually shoot to achieve such a specific outcome, but in the case of high key however, I am having so much fun with it, I can't help myself! It reminds me of when I got caught up in gathering bokeh. Once you start looking, you can't stop. Nothing better or more fun than finding inspiration through our lens.

Today, won't you join us in hitting the high notes of photos that blind us with the white in the best possible way?

And, don't forget it's Best Shot Monday. Got a great shot from this week? We'd love to see it.