summer shots

I can't believe it's been almost six months since my last post. But when I think about all that's happened, it feels even longer. First, Raymond and I bought a house here in Seattle that needed a good bit of work. (Maybe taking a kitchen down to the studs qualifies as more than a "bit" of work...) So doing all that took an amazing amount of energy. And then I applied for a six-week intensive class (called the EDGE Program) for artists through The Artist Trust that I half-hoped I wouldn't get accepted into, simply because the summer was already packed. But thankfully, I did get in and the class rocked. Was soooo worth it. I used the time to reinvent my business but more importantly, to reinvent myself as an artist. More to come in that vein soon.

But for now, I wanted to share a few of my favorite images from the summer. (I honestly can't say if I would have even been inspired to pick up the camera if not for the EDGE class. The other thirteen artists in the class were inspiring for me as well. I had strayed so far from my art making...)

These lovely rocks were submerged by the waters flowing into Snow Lake, which after hiking for two hours, was a welcome temperature for the feet. But not for long. I am repeatedly drawn to water as a subject, or as a filter for a subject, like it is here. It has a very transformative effect physically, as well as symbolically.


I call this image "moon rock" for obvious reasons. I wasn't setting out to make this rock look lunar, but in playing with the focus, that's what happened. I'd like to see this huge on a wall.

There is a Japanese word for these circles of light -- it's "bokeh." If I tell you where I shot this it may ruin some of the romance and magic of the image...

All right, I'll tell you -- it was the sun coming through the screen on the window. I did quite a number of these that I will post as a series when I get my site redone.

The site redo is now fall's project. The house is about 85% done, and we'll keep chipping away. But the kids are going back to school and I am going back to work. It feels great. It was a needed sabbatical, and I'm happy to be back in sharing mode with you all.

More when I get the site done! Thanks for your support.

Karen

through the funky glass

Oooh weeee, did I have some fun today! This photo is my favorite from all the images I took of a pink camellia blossom (props to the obliging bush by the front door) created by shooting through different types of textured glass.

Here is my original subject:


Thanks to Fern at White Center Glass for all the cool samples! She hooked me up with different patterns, some of which I was sure would work yet didn't, and some I thought certainly would not but did. I am grateful she was so generous or I wouldn't have gotten my favorite shot of all (at the top).




It's fun to see what the bending of light will render. I'm not sure I'd want some of these on my walls, but it's all about experimenting, right? As an artist, I must kill my need to create perfection right off the bat or I won't grow.





So what do you think? Do the effects speak to you? Which is your favorite?

Mixing it up

I seem to have entered a blogapathetic state (made up word alert) and am simply unwilling to rewrite all the lovely details and insight about these images which I'm actually quite excited about. That's kinda weird. I've really been enjoying what I've been up to so if you would like to read more about it (and I hope you do) please go to my site and check out all the back story on these new images. Please accept my apology for being lazy.

Mental Margarita - Agua para ti!

I just want to dive right into these images.


It's probably a good thing that I like a lot of the work I do (duh) but these are the first in a while I really want to print on huge canvasses for my own house.


There is something so soothing and luscious for me about the play of light and color on water.


And I love the accidental contrast that got created when I posted the images from Seattle's waters on my site. (See fotos de karina - new to check it out.)


In looking at these Salish Sea water images, I have been struck by the patterns reminding me of the flow in the Native American art up here. I thought maybe I was imagining it but look!


Sigh. I love it here.

Oh, by the way... Need a 2010 wall calendar? I got 'em! Please support your friendly artist at fotos de karina calendar.
Enter the code CALENDAR25 for 25% off for one week only!

Mental Margarita - iPhone Pictures

I wouldn't say that my many many flower pictures mean I'm in a rut, but I do seem to be attracted to the same type of imagery in nature again and again. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

So I'm loving this app I got for my iPhone called Best Camera because it's giving me some new tools. Plus my iPhone has nowhere near the macro (close up) capacity of my camera, so I can't rely on my usual methods. I'm having to step back a bit.

I feel like some of the shots I've taken with the iPhone are very Photo 101 but that's ok. You start where you're at.

Here are some of my faves (the rest are on my site)...

Mental Margarita - Sweet Pea

Skip damn howdy, summer was simply immense this year. Blistering at times (for Seattle), long (also for Seattle -- it went from May to September) and so very full. We had a great staycation, visitors from AZ, fun, and lots of work. It left little time for photography, which was tragic.

But I'm delighted to be back in the game again, and sharing images with you. What I really like about this batch is that they all say "late summer" to me. Dahlias, sweet peas, and corn husks. Everything on my site's new page was growing within a stone's throw of the house.

So summer is most definitely over but these images celebrate it. Welcome, Fall!

Mental Margarita - Red Columbine

I'm really pleased I bought the light tent. My neighbor was highly suspicious when I asked if I could snip this bloom to bring it home to take picture of it, but I'm glad I overcame his weirdness to get it. This is one of those subjects that is so funky on its own, that to have any kind of distraction in the background would be, um, distracting.

This, by the way, is a columbine. My relationship with this flower was limited to the massacre. Until this year, I had no idea that a columbine was such a space-age, trippy looking bloom. So I'm glad I have a new association. (BTW, Wally Lamb's new book on the subject, The Hour I First Believed, is brutal but worth reading if you don't mind getting your a bit heart bruised.)

These are my two other favorites from the bunch:





Peonies are so riotous. I love their disorderliness.

Please check out my fotos site for the rest of the newbies.

Happy July!