Mobile Art Monday No. 37

The struggle continues among some as to whether to post images taken with dslrs to Instagram. Yes, it started out as a mobile platform but has morphed into 'big business'. If you teach classes and sell products, you can grab a lot of customers there. As a result more people are posting high quality photos. Sometimes it's hard to compete with such. Especially since I have one foot in the 'regular mobile' world and another in the 'still life' world (although that one has been on hold for several weeks as I've focused on my art for the November show).

One thing I like to do however, is a bit of a compromise. I'll load a few raw files from my camera to my iPad then edit them in favorites such as Mextures or Stackables. You can also transfer photos from your computer via Dropbox to get them onto your iPad. I have to admit, this is more fun than Photoshop (I hate to say). Here are a few from last week. 

The monarchs were migrating through town.

Edited in Mextures. (Canon7D)

The Mextures edit with Stackables. (Canon7D)

I took a detour out through the Slaton Canyon on the way to pick up hubby and found this Woodpecker munching away. I was very glad I had my camera with the 70-300 on it.

Edited in Snapseed and Mextures. (Canon7D)

Edited in Snapseed and Mextures. (Canon7D)

As I write this, I realize I haven't transferred these from my camera to my computer. In fact I'm at an all time low on the number of photos I've taken for October. Fall never arrives before November so I'm sure I'll make up for it this month.

Have a great week and if you haven't backed up your images from your phone or iPad lately.... go do it NOW!

Mobile Art Monday No. 10

Lubbock is home to The Buddy Holly Museum which has juried art shows and occasional invitational shows. I had the pleasure of getting into one in 2013 and actually getting first place. But then you know how are judges are. If it had been a male judge there is no way he would have picked mine. But I must admit it was a huge boost to my confidence level at the time.

But confidence never lasts long it seems. This month an invitational show (anyone could participate) with the theme The Semi-Arid Landscape would be on exhibit. The day before the email deadline I finally checked to see if they were full and promptly emailed in a photo with dimensions and price attached.

By the time I got around to printing and framing self-doubt had crept in. Whenever I talked about it to others I was fighting hard not to make excuses for it. I had done a black and white version edited in Stackables because I only had my iPhone with me when I had taken this photo. My print was 'ok' but I was wishing I had done it in color. Oh well, too late.

Friday night we went to the opening…. My photo was first one on the right as you walked through the door. Meaning it would also be the last one you see as you leave. I thought that was nice. It was grouped with three other black and white photos that complimented each other nicely. The show was good. It included all media, from painting, drawing, to mixed media collage. 

The day after the show I had a message from a fellow photographer, David Pike, whose work I believe is fabulous. He said mine was in his top five favorites and wanted to buy a print for his friend that loved it. David said he is an aspiring photographer and is trying to encourage him to enter some shows. 

Well, how do I feel about my photo now? Better than I did before. It always helps to know someone else likes your work. The self critic really needs to take a back seat more often.

"Tangled Boundries" (Stackables, birds are real, added in Superimpose)

One of my creative friends, Michelle at Knee Deep in Dandelions has written some great words of wisdom on sharing your art with the world. So I (and she) encourage you to put yourself out there.

Linking up with Kim for Texture Tuesday. It's about texture…

A Prayer for 2015

As I photographed from the car window on the long drive from North Dakota to Texas I began to hear these words…
For you my friends…

May your faith be strong.

May your shelter be adequate.

May you find provision on every path.

May the majority of your battles be downhill.

When you find yourself in the lowest of valleys, may you see the beauty hidden there.

May you keep the company of like-minded souls and have much support on your journey.

May confusion and the opinions of others not distract you from your intentions.

May you never lose sight of your goals.

May you not be afraid to stand out in the crowd.

May the mountains before you part as you move forward.

May closed doors open in due season.

May you find strength and power.

May no boundaries keep you from achieving your dreams.

And remember, however you get there,

...enjoy the journey.

Linking up with Kim for Friday Finds.

Friday Finds Oct 3

What a week!
This has been a pivotal week in my life.
This week I found:
Challenge:
The Vision Mapping fairy has hit me over the head, I met up with some resistance (internal and external), and came out on the other side with a renewed hope and direction. Now to put some action behind all those words I wrote down…
The pleasure of a most gorgeous sky:

Delight:
A drying field of sunflowers.

And Peace:
I found myself in a little town 20 miles from here because I had to take hubby out to pick up his plane from it's annual check up. My brain obviously was not engaged because I didn't even take my Canon. The place I had to drop him off was near the 'canyons' of this flat old desert. Since we had a monsoon last month it was greener than ever. Yellow wildflowers and little sunflowers were everywhere and it was close to sunset.
I braved the ditches and looked for snakes.
I grabbed a few fence shots with my iPhone.
Mostly I just breathed and soaked it in after the hectic day I'd had. If you are curious you can read about it here. I was so glad I didn't just go home and made a mental note to revisit soon.

One for the purist, the artist, and one for me. I am partial to the B & W this time.

Come on over to Kim's and see what everyone has inked up for Friday Finds.