Okay, so it all started years and years ago (how dare you ask how many, even in your own head!). What started at first as a fun way to capture summer memories soon turned into a tried and true hobby. With disposable cameras and playing with light and shadow I was able to sell a couple of pictures of a nearby landscape to a mortuary company for their brochures. I thought, “This is IT! I’m a photographer!” but then that was it. I wasn’t selling any more and stopped even taking pics for awhile.

Planning our honeymoon meant buying a digital camera (with lots of memory) with all of the bells and whistles because I had no idea (and still don’t) if I’d ever go to Europe again. I got a Sony Cyber Shot and loved the hell out of it. I’d still be using it if it hadn’t completely died on me a couple months ago. It took quality video (w/sound) and great pics! We even blew up a pic from another vacation in Maui and it looks gorgeous!

Now I have a new baby. I’ve only had it a couple weeks, but it’s lovely! I got the Olympus Fe-47! She’s candy-apple red and comes with art filters and more! I haven’t had time to play with all of those features, but I know we’ll be together for a long time, so I’m not worries. She’s got 14 mega pixels, VGA video and 5X optical zoom! REAL ZOOM! WOW! And I got her for only $89! Oh yeah, you forgot I’m the bargain huntress! Ha! I got it on Amazon with an 8gig SD card. Super easy to use and light as a…small cell phone? It’s light!

So I was thinking that with summer here I should share not only my inspiration for taking said pics, but the tools of the trade (as they say) that I will be using to accomplish the task at hand. I don’t have an actual theme or specific project in mind yet, I figure inspiration will grab me when it’s ready, but here’s what I’ll be taking along for the ride (links at end of post):

My camera, my case, my tripod, my photo printer and I gotta ave one of these little clutch photo albums (will buy one soon, for sure!). I should be all set to take any shot I like, anywhere I like! WOOT! And all of these items are relatively inexpensive. And if you’re savvy, very cheap, even! Try eBay, y’all! And Amazon! Research & read up on the stuff you want and decide for yourself if they’re right for you or if they miss the mark. You’ll be surprised what just ten minutes of research can find ya!

What are you hobby’s tools? I wanna know! Thanks guys & happy snapping!

Olympus Fe-47: http://www.amazon.com/Olympus-FE-47-Digital-2-7-inch-Red/dp/B0031RGEOA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1277141999&sr=8-3

Paperchase Happy Noodle media case (I bought mine at Borders): http://www.paperchase.co.uk/p/469332/media-case-happy-noodle-design.html

Gorilla tripod: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=tripod+gorilla&tag=mh0b-20&index=aps&hvadid=21052615&ref=pd_sl_76eq158fju_b&msclkid=ced3152e3d76714995da70f2b71bb60d&mscbg=0

Polaroid PoGo Instant mobile Printer: http://www.amazon.com/Polaroid-CZA-10011B-Instant-Mobile-Printer/dp/B0019UGCLG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1277142120&sr=8-1

Photo clutch: http://www.amazon.com/Tapestry-Inch-Photo-Clutch-Album/dp/B003SDY016/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1UOA77SRXEUJB&colid=2QTOHNHT3NX70

I was mesmerized! I had no idea that art could look like this! I hadn’t seen anything like it ever! This was no Monet, or Van Gough or anyone else at all…This was Adriana Varejao!!!

Wiki: Adriana Varejão is a Brazilian artist who works in various disciplines including painting, sculpture, installation and photography. Born in 1964, she lives and works in Rio de Janeiro and is one of Brazil’s leading contemporary artists.^[1] References to the effects of colonialism are apparent in her work as well as art history and illusion.^[2] Her work is included in numerous collections worldwide, including the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York; The Tate Modern in London; and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego , among others. Her work alludes to expansion and transformation designed to address the complex constructions of cultural identity.^[3]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adriana_Varejao

Here are two that we saw at that specific exhibit:

For more pictures of her art, please go here: http://www.adrianavarejao.net/site#/eng/works/paintings

I wish I could have found more, but these give an idea of what she can do. I had no idea that a painting could be 3-D so to speak. I had no idea that the grisly could be beautiful and captivating. She changed my life and my views and inspired me to no end. In fact, seeing these again after so many years, well…I am suddenly wanting to paint again!

What inspires YOU?

Literary drama? Family dysfunction & squabbles? Stranger in town? Tension? Suspense? Oh yeah! And then some! At first I found myself suspicious of this “Henry Fool” character, but then I grew to love him even as the other characters began to suspect or distrust him. I don’t want to give too much away, so here’s the deal:

IMDB plot description: Socially inept garbage man Simon is befriended by Henry Fool, a witty roguish, but talent-less novelist. Henry opens a magical world of literature to Simon who turns his hand to writing the ‘great American poem’. As Simon begins his controversial ascent to the dizzying heights of Nobel Prize winning poet, Henry sinks to a life of drinking in low-life bars. The two friends fall out and lose touch until Henry’s criminal past catches up with him.

And the moment the credits roll, you cannot wait to find out what happens next…

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this sequel, but I was dazzled further and well…

IMDB plot description: A ten-years-later continuation of Hal Hartley’s “Henry Fool”, where Fay Grim (Posey) is coerced by a CIA agent (Goldblum) to try and locate notebooks that belonged to her fugitive ex-husband (Ryan). Published in them is information that could compromises the security of the U.S., causing Fay to first head to Paris to fetch them.

Again, when the credits rolled my husband and I looked at each other and agreed, they need to make the third installment NOW!!! Ha-ha! While I did feel that the first film felt much longer than it was, I was never bored. I was tired, though, so that didn’t help. These films are filled with passion and witty dialogue, great acting and some heart wrenching moments that will stick with you for awhile.  I was amazed that they were able to reassemble the original cast for this, fantastic! You feel as though you know these characters and you want to help them with their struggles.

You will not be disappointed by “Henry Fool” & “Fay Grim” and you’ll be wanting more, too!

To celebrate this lovely day and the color Red, I did a bit of web diving and wanted to share some things that come up with this lovely and luscious colour.

Of course you’ve got the Cincinatti Reds, the Boston Red Sox and all of that. Also, there’s Red Robin, Red Lobster, etc. Don’t forget the Red Cross. But what else?

This link goes into meanings, pairings, uses and so much more, all to do with RED: http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/colorselection/p/red.htm

Here’s another called, “All About The Color Red: http://www.squidoo.com/allaboutred

And for my needling pals, there’s Red Heart yarns! http://www.shopredheart.com/ (I could not find any actual Red colored yarn, weird!)

If you’re into the gothic scene, or just love the clothing, check out Heavy Red : http://heavyred.com/

The ever tasty & popular Red Vines! http://www.redvines.com/

The wikipedia page for Red: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red

Then there’s the whole Red campaign where your purchases benefit those with AIDS in Africa: http://www.joinred.com/

Here’s a link about Red hair and it’s various myths, etc: http://www.answers.com/topic/red-hair

And just some images I liked:

Enjoy your day and your weekend and your life. See what colors pop out at you and let me know all about it!

It’s the simplest of things that can sweep us off our feet.

WOOT!