Nature's Inspiration of Life a Success!

If you were unable to see the show "live" during the opening, here is a sneak peek! It really should be viewed "in person" for the full affect of a 26 x 16' wall of space.

I was able to hang 35 individual pieces of work - the main showcase was nine pieces so that makes for 43 total. It was quite an undertaking over the course of three days of hanging.

I am grateful for the friends, family, and fellow photography club members who came out to "see" the show in person. Wasn't it amazing that there was NO RAIN downtown that night!?!?!

The show is up for three weeks - if you would like to stop in and see the show, please call Studio 83 to make sure someone is there during business hours (615) 226-2003, (865) 898-1008. Or contact me 615-353-7271 or carla@acelebrityexperience.com.

La inspiración de la naturaleza de vida‏

Tuesday night out on the town...

Me, a new friend from Sedona, and my 1D MarkII...
It's amazing what a $1000 will buy...

Virginia

The colors keeping her warm were what originally attracted me to ask if I could take her photo... I didn't know she had Altzheimer's. Her son was navigating her wheel chair around; I asked him first for permission, then I asked her whether I could take her photo... She just looked at me a bit puzzled. I snapped a couple, and thanked her for letting me. I told her how beautiful she is... she just looked at me. I touched her hands; she kept "working" the end of the material on the cover. I stayed close by, she continued to look at me in wonderment. At one point I smiled at her, and she smiled back really BIG! Her daughter said that they hadn't seen her smile in a long time. What a gift to me!

After twelve children, maybe Atlzheimer's is the gift... I know that can't be easy for any of the children, I was just thinking out loud, not making a joke.

Addendum: This photograph won the THEMED contest for the Brentwood Camera Club monthly contest. The theme was to photograph a stranger.

the Joker Tween

I had a family portrait session today [or so I thought]. It started out normal... but it turned into something really surprising... Tomorrow my subject turns eleven. He wanted to do something in the vain of "the Joker" from "the Dark Knight" movie. We didn't have any make-up, but I have plenty of creativity and patience. I like this (about to turn eleven years old) young mans dramatic make-believe character. This part of the shoot took only ten minutes after the family stuff was done; it was fun to let this kid create. The affects I've applied in Photoshop took almost two hours... I think he is going to slightly freak out when he sees himself.

Get up and get moving for National Start! Walking Day Buzz up!

Today, April 8, is the American Heart Association's National Start! Walking Day. The association urges all employees to bring their sneakers to work and walk 30 minutes today, preferably with their coworkers. The AHA points out that walking is good for your heart, blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and sense of well-being.

A recent study found that people who wear a pedometer walk about 2,000 more steps a day or about another mile than those who don't. That burns about 100 extra calories a day. If your goal is to lose weight, you probably need to work up to 12,000 or more steps a day.

How to get a pedometer

The non-profit America On the Move is offering USA TODAY readers a special deal of two pedometers for $14.95 at dietchallenge.usatoday.com and americaonthemove.org or by calling 877-866-8663.

To increase your steps:

• Take 100 steps around your office or home about every hour. Program your computer to remind you when it's time to take a break.

• At the office, don't e-mail or call anyone within 400 feet of you. Instead, walk to that person and give him the message or information.

• Take the long way to the restroom.

• Take a couple of quick laps around the mall before you start shopping.

• Walk one city block, about 200 steps.

• Take a brisk walk during your lunch break for about 20 minutes or so, about 2,000 steps.

• Walk four laps around the track at a high school, 2,000 steps.

• Play basketball game for 30 minutes, more than 4,300 steps.

• Low-impact aerobic dancing for 20 minutes, more than 2,500 steps.

• Play soccer for 60 minutes, equal to 8,000 to 10,000 steps.

--By Sue Kelly, USA TODAY

The Earth Laughs in Flowers - RWE

Belle Meade TulipsCheekwood MagnoliaHome Grown DaffodilsI recently created a work of "art" that will be auctioned off at the 13th Annual "Chair-ish the Kids" benefiting "Kids on the Block." It was an exercise that stretched me artistically; I never thought about it taking about forty hours to complete. It get's auctioned off on April 30th of this month.

The chair I worked on is titled, "The Earth Laughs in Flowers" - a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Here is a picture of the final piece of work. My dog Lucy just had to be in the photo... actually, she wouldn't move...I painted the chair with four different colors of green to give the flowers a proper background, and then also hand painted vines up the legs reaching to the flowers.This is the cover of the brochure from the "Chair-ish the Kids" event.

Be in JOY!

Do whatever it takes to find your Joy, and then keep yourself in it no matter what. Keep ramping up your level of Joy every day. There is no limit to the levels of Joy you can reach. You will see change to the degree of Joy that you can attain and maintain. The higher the Joy you can create within you, the more spectacular the change, and the higher the Joy, the faster the change. Once you get yourself in Joy it is easy to maintain it, because your emanation of Joy attracts more Joy. The law of attraction will continually send you more feelings of Joy.

You cannot criticize or blame or complain when you are in Joy. You cannot be afraid when you are in Joy. You cannot speak negatively when you are in Joy. You cannot harm another when you are in Joy. Negativity cannot reach you when you are in Joy.

When you are in Joy you are compassionate. When you are in Joy you are considerate and caring. When you are in Joy you love others. When you are in Joy you appreciate everything. When you are in Joy you are in love with the world, and the Universe is in love with you.

Be in Joy. Seek it with all of your heart, and you will find it.

May the Joy be with you,

Rhonda Byrne
The Secret... bringing Joy to billions

Paralyzed

I had just finished a session with my massage therapist last Saturday afternoon when I discovered this sweet little bird standing underneath my car, right under my driver door and very near my front tire.

This little creature was paralyzed it seemed; couldn't move, just stood there looking at me.

I could hear my Mother (who was raised on a farm) say, "don't touch it, they carry disease!" So I called my therapist out - I know she has a bird of her own. As I called her, I saw another bird of the same breed lying belly up just a yard away. Then I knew, the other bird was traumatized.

My massage therapist gently picked up the dead bird and laid it in the upper planter.Then very lovingly and gently touched the other bird from the side... the living bird flew away.

But before all of this, I got my camera out (of course) and took this photo.

I believe in animal medicine. I haven't looked up the meaning yet, but I can tell you I know exactly how this bird felt... because lately I have been paralyzed within myself. I haven't know which way to go in my life. I guess I too could use a gentle nudge to help me along my way...

Do you Accuse or Defend?

I do not search out church signs, but I do collect them. This one particularly struck me because of something I am experiencing in my life presently. I have been accused of many things I do not do by someone very close to me. Then when I passed by the sign again the other day, I realized that I too have accused that same person of something... but they actually did what I accused them of... so now what?

So I looked it up:
Accuse ac·cuse v
1. vti - to confront somebody with a charge of having done something illegal, wrong, or undesirable

I ask again, now what... in accordance with what this sign says?

When things are tough...

WHEN THE GOING IS HARDEST, JUST KEEP ON KEEPING ON, AND YOU’LL GET THERE SOONER THAN SOMEONE WHO FINDS THE GOING EASY.

If you think achieving great heights of success will be easy, you either don’t understand at all how the process works or you have your sights set too low. Reaching the top of any field is difficult, time-consuming, and often tedious. The reason it isn’t crowded at the top is that most people won’t do the things that are necessary to achieve success. They are all too willing to give up when the going gets tough. If you need inspiration to persevere, read the biographies of men and women who have achieved greatness in their lives. You will find that they prevailed because they refused to quit. They continued to toil alone long after the masses had given up and gone home.

This positive message is brought to you by the Napoleon Hill Foundation.

Shakespeare!

So this is the truest likeness of William Shakespeare? Wow, after all these years...

Here's the article about Sir William aka the Bard!

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1883770,00.html

Mitchellville, TN

Had a shoot yesterday in Michellville, TN a small town that butts up against the Kentucky southern most border. A couple of shots taken on the location set. An actual Ford Model T was used in one of the scenes of the short film, "Cuernos".
This is a WORKING outhouse that sits behind the church we were filming inside.







The films student director from Watkins Film School, taking a quick ride in the Model T.

I believe!!!!!!

... in Angels ...Isn't she gorgeous!? She's over 100 years old...

Ya Think!

I hope he studied magic at Harvard...