Understanding Oneness

The Foreword from “What the Road Passes By” by Dewitt Jones

 " There are times in my life, sometimes with a camera, sometimes without, when the world is so achingly beautiful, when everything holds such meaning, that I am incapable of any expression except tears of joy. The boundaries of my being begin to blur, whatever separates one thing from another begins to dissolve, and in that confluence of light and line and law, lies an experience for which I have no words."

A friend, who happens to be a Zen Buddhist, sent this forward to me. I have found no better description of what oneness and mindfulness are. I do read a fair amount of Zen text to gather a better understanding of oneness and how to apply to my everyday life. I feel the significance of mindfulness leads to a greater understanding of present reality and how to live as a part of it while seeing the wholeness of our individual experiences. I repeat or recall this feeling again and again while working in my photography studio-people, still life's, or even my son. As simple as the steps appear, the complexity of being can be challenging. I waiver between this is simple am I really getting this to frustration repeating the oneness. Yes, I practice again and again. Even when I feel the success, I continue to practice. My goal is to innately tune into myself and permit that blurring of boundaries; I want to feel the limitless possibilities and the peaceful balance. This is an exercise in trusting yourself. 

For today and the ones that follow join me in sitting, walking, or whatever is asked of you, let go and breathe. The stress and demands of you (self-imposed or not) will not disappear, but perhaps the breathing will allow for these things to just be. For it is our attitude and presence that can evolve, not the thing causing our stress. Once we (or I) continue to practice the breathing of mindfulness, no limits will be self-imposed. Possibilities and ideas have room to peculate into actual acts of being. 

                                       Banana Leaf Abstraction from the yard next door....

For Ourselves-nurturing the artist within

I just found a new blog that I just love. http://rebirthworkshops.com/blog/

These 2 photographers/writers also write about the life of a photographer incorporating small video clips that really make the experience and read well worth the extra few minutes. I am thinking about adding on some short clips too. One of their clips is about taking time for yourself; something we all need to be more proactive about!  I have work in every area of my studio that needs attention. Bookkeeping, one on one marketing calls, some promo postcards, that tax file (groan), a new still life waiting for attention, and printing for a new art show coming up in a week! I am not so sure that fun can be placed with all of these tasks, but thus is the life of a self made artist. I am passionate about photography, and even more so, when I am buried in my studio creating. A lot more goes into the entire process than just the creating aspect. As I have said, talent is the basic ingredient for success and fortunately we all have talents that fuel us. When our fuel force is down or slow because of whatever reason, we need to take time to reboot. With so much to do, how can we make this kind of time?

I ask myself this question all the time. With a household to run on a trim budget, errands, kids, the daily chores, my business laundry lists to to do's, and personal creation time, I am always challenged by time. Only a Mary Popins could zen me away! I have found that my productivity and multitasking abilities are infused by taking a break to walk, photograph, paint, or meditate. If I take an extra 30 minutes for myself, I am more relaxed and ready to face all the things needed to be done in a day. More importantly, I feel more comfortable rather than inadequate accomplishing only a few things over a hundred. So, today, I took 30 minutes for meditating. Emails, paperwork, and some phone calls later, I still have some printing to fit in, but overall I have already had a productive day.

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.