Sunset at Naples

About a month or so ago we went to Naples, FL and stayed a couple of nights enjoying the coastal city.  It was a really nice getaway, that brought with it one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen.

Waving back at you...

Wishing you had a good start of your week... My Monday was hectic and kind of crazy at work...

Wall Decoration Ideas

Pinterest has been my latest decoration go-to page.  I know I'm not alone in this :)  I have a good collection of art and photography waiting for me to come up with a brilliant idea on how to display them.  We will be moving to a new apartment next month so I think I need to start figuring out what to do with my new walls.

What lured me back to writing... Hair Jewelry

It's been a while since I stop and write.  Real life has taken over my cyber life, and I know this is not a bad thing at all.  On the contrary, I have come back to the land of the living (and the land of taxes too!) taking it all in.  But somehow, I think about you every single day.  My reader, that one cyber friend that somehow liked it and stayed.

In an effort to preserve our relationship, I will come to you and share what's tickling my senses.  What have I read or seen today, that made me stop and stare.  And this is today's finding...

Luxxor

Etsy's Blog showcased a morbid but fascinating post on Hair Jewelry.  This doesn't come as new to me, since my grandmother used to keep locks of our hair as personal tokens.  What struck me as fascinating was that there is actually people collecting these types of heirlooms. As creepy as it may sound, it is quite interesting to even begin to wonder who the hair belonged to, and what stories lie behind it.

Speed Painting: Inspiration

A friend of mine shared this with me and I was blown away by it.

I've been having all sorts of technical problems but the past couple of months but I have a new computer! yay! and most of those problems are gone.  I plan on coming back to blogging sooner that you can blink an eye.

In the meantime, enjoy this and be inspired...

An Adventure...

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Hmmm, made me think about my current inconveniences.  Pretty interesting point of view.

Will be back soon.  I've had to retreat for a while.

A video worthy of an Oscar night...

I appreciate good acting and brilliant performances.  Time magazine posted this fantastic little video/interview featuring some of the nominee's on tonight's Oscars awards that is totally worth sharing...

By the way, I LOVED the lighting and the black and white.  Mmmm it made me crave studio portraits :)

Inspiration: Believe

Good reminder.... we take ourselves for granted sometimes.  

Believe you can and you will.

Pink Sunrise

We've been having the most wonderful pink sunrises and sunsets lately in this side of the world.  It makes me very happy to witness such a beautiful spectacle.  I took this shot today, while doing my morning run.  It made my day a little brighter :)

Of Love and Milk... huh?

Hello my lovelies!! I wish you all a wonderful Valentines Day!!!

This may not be your typical love story, but it's a good one... and don't forget to Recycle! LOL!

The remains of the season...

New York rendezvous....

Handmade Dolls: odd looking beauties

Handmade Portraits: Black-eyed Suzie from Etsy on Vimeo.

Straight from Etsy's Blog, this is a beautiful little video on the art of doll making.  The shop is called blackeyedsuzie, and the artist mainly sells photography prints of her dolls.   I thought they were so beautiful and perfect, that I had to share it.  Enjoy!

The quest for photographic vision

More often than not, I find myself going through some other photographer's work and saying out loud, " I wish I had his/her eyes!".  Of course, this is not a literal statement, but more of an intellectual desire to transcend with my own imagery.  The photographer's skill to choose the subject, to discern the right timing, to edit the final picture into a work of art... that's the eye I am talking about.  I am constantly challenging my skills, and do not wish to settle with the easy shot.

I am an amateur photographer, that's what I am.  The professionals earn a living from their work, and in my experience, that proved to be more difficult than I ever imagined.  I understand that like with everything else, practice and commitment are fundamentals for growth.  But I feel there's more.  

I have been looking for informative photography reads.  Not the technical stuff, but more on the art of seeing. This is such a subjective subject, and it took me a while to find an author that could teach me something.

Michael Freeman is a world class photographer and writer.  He wrote The Photographer's Vision and this is my current reading.  I am really enjoying it and learning a lot from it.  He writes on topics such as purpose and composition, the right stuff that makes for compelling images.  If you look up his stuff, you'll see he's got many other books, including The Photographer's Eye, which expands on some of the topics I am reading now.

If any of you have any suggestions on books and authors, please feel free to share.  

Speeding Around the World in Under 5 Mins: a Video

This is the kind of imagery that makes me want to pack my bags and run to the airport.... simply breathtaking!

Life-n-Reflections: Your one stop source for High Quality Textures

When it comes to photo editing, one must be careful on the decisions taken.  Each little tweak brings its own flavor to the mix, adding a different dimension to the image.   Adding texture to a photograph is just one of the many options one has, and when employed correctly, it will transform a simple shot into a great photograph.

I fell in love with textures after discovering Wazari's work.  I understood right away the endless possibilities one has with this technique, and went on to discover one very important thing: quality is the key.  Textures come as key players in your composition, and quality is highly important.

I met Kristy while networking around Etsy.  We are both bloggers, and roam the virtual halls of Etsy along the same circles.  I found her work as a Texture designer, and was immediately interested in her art.  We've been talking a little bit about her work, and I want to share it with you all.

Q: Kristy, I am curious.... when did you start making textures?

A: I started creating textures in the fall of 2010.  When it comes to arts and crafts, I dabble in it about everything.  Photography has always been my best subject, and  when I saw the idea of photo textures popping up all over the internet, I thought , " I can make that!".  So, I combined many things I already learned - like oil painting, hand-making paper, tea staining fabrics, and metallic stamping.  Then I scanned in my "works of art" and applied my Photoshop skills to design high quality textures.

Q: How do you describe your work?

Modern meets ephemera or Vintage Urban Country

Q: In your experience, which images are better suited for texture application?

A: It really depends on the light and subject.  Landscape photographs can turn into a fine art painting with texture or the textures can be lost in a busy background.  The same goes for still life and portraiture.  I think allowing for a neutral space around the subject is best.  This gives you place to really play with light, hues, and textures!

Q: What inspires your work?

A: I am an artist inspired by aging structures, thunderstorms, letters from the past, fields of rolled hay, rusting tractors, patterns of perfection imprinted on leaves, everyday items of yesterday, and the wild tangling branches of old oak trees.

Q: Where can we find your High Quality Textures:

A:  You can find my work by visiting any of these places:

Life-n-Reflections Etsy store -   http://lifenreflection.etsy.com

Life-n-Reflection Graphic Design Boutique - http://lifenreflection.bigcartel.com/

Kristy has given us an easy to follow recipe, as well as a coupon to use at her store and a FREE high resolution texture.  Here it goes...

To apply the same texture finish as the picture above, follow the following steps:

1. Bleach your images with the antique cool texture blended on linear burn with a 60% opacity.

2. Add song to the wind with the windsong texture, blended on soft light.

3. warm your edges with the worn paper texture, blended on soft light at 50% opacity.

If you wish to buy any of these textures, you can use coupon code "rustika" to receive a 20% discount.

And here you can find the FREE high resolution texture.  This is the Windsong Texture.

A skeleton key collection for a rustic decor

I produced a series of skeleton key photographs that carry the same rustic feeling these beauties portray.  I am a collector by nature, and I've had these on my treasure chest for a while now.  The allure of their past drew me to them.  Where have they been.  What kind of secret they guarded.  Their old, rusty texture.  My kind of collectibles.

I sell these prints in my Etsy store.

You can check the link below to browse all the listings...

Skeleton Key Photography Collection by Rustika Photography

The Bohemian Within

1. I'll rise, 2. Some biology book, 3. setting season, 4. Mexican mini dress off shoulder Marino, 5. white dress, 6. .gypsy eyes

Good morning and happy Friday!! Sharing with you what has been my long week visual stimulation.

Peace!

We made it to the New Year!

(*)

The new year has come with all the passion and all the love that you could imagine.  I have tons of ideas and inspiration, and I am gathering my strengths for all the changes my photography and my art are going going through.  2011 was a year full of trials and tests, and I feel I have passed with good grades.  I am truly thankful to all of you who have stayed, to all of you that read my posts and always have something positive to add.  It is incredible how we connect, and somehow share the same passions and tribulations.  In the end, we are all sharing the wonderful experience of LIFE.

Breathe joy.

Set your eyes to the future.

AND KEEP ON GOING....