Life Distractions

Admittly, I am distracted by a WalMart deveopment in my neighborhood. I am all for cleaning up a blighted corner, but not if the choice is poor growth management. I am confused about why my city council felt it necessary to speed through the paper work process for approval. Who gets a bonus for this? Yes, who is getting a kick back for this development? The other three strip plazas one of which has over 200 vacant units of store front and the other two have large scale supermarkets less than 2 miles away.  This choice is shameful. Worst of all, I am allowing my emotional reaction to effect my productivity. I am hoping that by sharing this speed bump in my road that I can return to my world of marketing, updating my websites, and actually photographing.

I began to battle this distraction by writing; for a more calming meditative moment, I painted with watercolors. I have lost that center balance. My normal 15 minutes in the morning needed something more intense. This morning I have returned to writing admitting that this bump in the road is really bothering me.  Why do those that claim they represent us or our best interests make wrong choices? What is it that motivates the self fulfilling greed that prompts these paradoxical choices? Is it the remaining good ole' boy group or my idealism that proper representation actually means constituents are represented? I could eat the other half of the brownies I made last night. No wonder my undergrad college history professor drank vodka from a flask. History repeating over and over broke his heart.

So, when we love something that melds or just evolves, the metamorphosis can be disappointing. I am disappointed that "the elders" who are maintaining watch over the community have become what those before them declared opposition to. Each politician claims to be better than the past, but really just ends up being the same. Our children will learn this disappointment soon enough for they will be responsible for the consequences of our poor decisions. I am disheartened by the shadowy future my son must prepare to battle. I want to skate away with Joni Mitchell on her pond; I want to hide in an artist colony protected from all that is tainted and non-art; I want my mother.

Perhaps, that is the lesson learned: the people that we share life with that makes any road traveled worth it. I will think about this some more and. for now, call some friends that make me smile.

Marketing and Strategizing for 2010

My quiet times seem to come when South Florida becomes cold. I always joke that I hibernate in the summer time, but this winter I am retreating from cooler weather. With business is a strange space, I have been pro-actively engaging in face to face marketing techniques to stimulate print sales and interest. I ignore some of the desire to hibernate. As my blog may be quiet these days, I am out there in the flow talking and displaying like a personal advertisement. South Florida is not a mecca of galleries; therefore, my target audience is geared more towards conservation works, local municipalities, groups, and those that continue to have support through the not so great economy.

Do I sound like an artist or a business person? Is there a line that is drawn between the two?
My personal feeling is this is a grey zone in which the talent and drive are balanced by the business side. I will continue to discuss this topic as I am rewriting my own business plan. For now, I need a cup of coffee.

Working on New Projects and Ideas

I admittedly have not had time to write in my blog. Fortunately, this usually means I am out in the field photographing or having some sort of adventure. And yes I have...

Following the Everglades Conference, I was already preparing up for FotoFusion 2010 put on by the Palm Beach Photographic Center in their new location in West Palm Beach. Out of nowhere, a cold and double ear infection had me in bed without mercy. I only made it to a little bit of the Fusion, but my favorite part by far is reuniting with friends. Although I saw just a few folks, I was glad to head out to the local wetlands for some time with the birds. I had a day out on Lake okeechobee with my buddies Chris and Boots. This time another archeologist joined us, and made the day great fun.

I keep applying for funding to expand and further the photographing of Lake Okeechobee. Anyone who has seen the horizon line of infinite can understand this crazy undertaking, but oh the artistic obsession is relentless. Or maybe the airboat rides are just that much fun!

I meet up with some photo friends this week to refresh my brain on all my flash is capable of and how to make my lighting more efficient.

In the thick of all this going ons and on goings....I am working on a new book of landscapes that will incorporate the birds and scrub lands too. Also, some new marketing promotions and ideas in the next posting. 2010 is the year of marketing...

The Everglades Coalition Conference 2010

I had a great time this year and have feeling that I will continue to return like so many other activists, scientists, and naturalists alike. The energy that stirred in the sessions and speakers was a great reprieve from the usual hum drum of conferences. Everyone there was energized and filled with information.
2010 is indeed the Year of the Everglades. Since there was so much information I would like to share, I am going to have short profiles throughout the next few postings profiling people and organizations that really WOWed me.

I'll start off with Rob Clift, with the National Parks Conservation Ass. and  Eco-Mariner: www.ecomariner.org
Rob showed me how quick and easy (literally 2 minutes to register) it was to sign up on the site for a FREE online course to make boating more environmentally friendly. His project is specific to Florida Bay, but really can be applied to almost any boating environment. I enjoyed the information about Florida Bay too. The course is an hour long and can be broken up in segments. Check it out!!!

The other WOWer is the Paper Folding art that is a permanent collection at the Morikami Museum in Delray Beach. The display at the conference comprised a collection of birds, reptiles, and other Florida animals. The hand made paper and sculptures are beautiful.
Their Link: www.morikami.org

Everglades Coalition Conference 2010

I am packing up and getting ready for the Conference as I type. I will be one of 300 exhibitors all coming together for positive solutions to sustaining Florida's future (water issues, right?) and the Everglades.


Here's the link:     www.evergladescoalition.org

And I will be reporting back to you all on what I see, hear, and anticipate.

Goin' Local with My Personal Work

As a photographer, you could drop me just about anywhere and I could start photographing something that catches my interest. This is a symptom of my obsession to share what I see with anyone willing to look. My personal agenda or intention is moving viewers to generate change, recycle, start a dream, take a walk, mentor, or whatever moves them. I try to separate my ego from the image making. My most recent personal project photographing Florida's native lands is no exception. I grew up just a few miles east of the Everglades, but never truly understood the significance of her ecosystem until I began to photograph the omnipotent landscape.  The history of Florida's development is imprinted on the Everglades and Scrub lands. Even the ancient Lake Okeechobee, with dams circling the perimeter,  is right in South Florida's backyard.

As a resident, I felt a responsibility to learn and understand the environment where I call home. As a photographer, I have a responsibility to share not only what I see and create with the camera, but contribute to the greater good. During my recent visit to Clyde Butcher's gallery and studio for a swamp walk, Clyde told me,"Sarah, the world is round." He reiterates the reciprocal nature of our universe. Feeling the cold water in the swamp really penetrated the significance of Florida's environment. Only 1% of the population visits Big Cypress. Big Cypress meets the Everglades in a space few have ever seen. The most significant photographic work I can produce is about the land I call home; for the gifts of living in this paradise, I use my passion of photography and nature to share of Florida's native ecosystems. I encourage other photographers to contribute to their communities by giving back with their talents and passions. Going Local is where the heart is...

Cypress Equivalence is now showing at the Elliot Museum's Florida Reflections exhibit until January 17th, 2010

Happy New Year and January News

Happy New Year!
As January approaches, I have a lot of news to share.

• Cypress Equivalence is showing at the Elliott Museum until January 17th
• www.elliottmuseumfl.org/index.php?main=1&nav=209
  

The Everglades Coalition Confrence: Jan. 7,8,9th- Thurs, Friday, and Saturday

I will be a part of the exhibitors and the auction.

Check it out:   www.evergladescoalition.org

Palm Beach Photographic Center's annual FOTOFUSION FESTIVAL.....Jan. 19th-23rd in downtown West Palm Beach: www.fotofusion.org
This year is going to be a blast!!!!