Library Art Show is Winding Down

Vivid Visions of the North Fork, my month-long exhibit at the Mattituck-Laurel Library in Mattituck is in its last week, and I cannot express how gratifying it has been to learn that this work has been so appreciated. I thank everyone who visited, especially those who purchased pieces. So far, there have been 8 sold, and the Library Staff has informed me that from the stand point of sales, this exhibit has been one of the most successful!

Although I fully enjoy all the photography work that I do, from the weddings to the portrait sessions, the images I make of the landscapes, wildlife and nature scenes of my favorite places, especially Long Island's East End, bring me the most satisfaction. I always get a thrill when I find the perfect scene in the perfect light ready for my camera to capture. These are the images that give the viewer a glimpse into my soul.

The Library's hours are 10 until 8 Monday to Friday, so there is still time to stop by and check it out. Please remember to sign the book so I will know you visited!

Happy Birthday to Mr. "Little Bit Rock 'n Roll"

Donny Osmond, the man who has reinvented himself with great success in the last decade, celebrates his 48th birthday today. I hope everyone who appreciates how talented Donny truly is will join me in sending Donny a little wish for many more healthy, happy years to come.

Check out what Donny has been up to lately:
Donny.com

Difford & Tilbrook share the spotlight once again...

Posters on the Glenn Tilbrook list on Yahoo groups have reported that Chris Difford joined his former songwriting partner and Squeeze bandmate Glenn Tilbrook for a tune or two at a recent gig in the U.K. Squeeze Fans who have been eagerly hoping for a reunion of this BritPop duo are keeping their fingers crossed that this shows promise for a real joint effort between the two.

The chilly relations the two have had since Difford left Tilbrook holding the bag at the last official Squeeze tour in the late 90s seems to be thawing. Now, if we could get Mr. Difford to travel across the pond to the US, so American fans can share the love!

Seasonal Beba Joke

I'm still waiting for new posts from the readers, but here's one just right for the season...

Q:How do Santa's Reindeer fly?


A:Usually in coach, but sometimes they get bumped up to first class.

Like Minds Think Alike

Beba was known for his one-liners...he was of the Henny Youngman era, so I guess there was no escaping it.

There is a modern-day Henny Youngman that Beeb never had a chance to see--Jay London of "Last Comic Standing Fame".

Some of Mr. London's gems include:

"I was lonely on the ride here, so I hugged the road."
"I dated a weather girl last week. We spent the night talking up a storm."
"My family is lactose intolerant, so we take pictures, we can't say cheese!"

To check out more of Jay London's comic genius at his official website here. (Includes audio)

Laughter Has Always Been Our Family's Medicine

My Dad, known to all the grandkids as Beba, was the King of Corny Jokes. Of course most of them were recycled over and over with each new child joining the family, but they never lost their charm, and we all laughed at them every time he told them like we were hearing them for the first time.

So, in our family, a corny joke is called a "Beba Joke." They are all guaranteed to bring a smile to your face, and maybe even a chuckle to your belly.

Feel free to share the laugh, and post your own Beba Jokes for us all to enjoy!

Beba Joke #1:
Q: What happens when ducks fly upside down?
A: They quack up!

Thought this might interest you...

I am renowned for my retention of esoteric and often useless information, but that doesn't mean that it isn't interesting to know. And, if I ever make it to Millionare or Jeopardy at least I am well equipped!

Check here to find tidbits about topics that have no real home in my other blog pages.

Here's the first one:

There's no ignoring that the world's fuel concerns will reach crisis proportions soon. I found that the NPR Car Talk guys have a cogent discussion on their site. Check it out:
Car Talk Petroeum Party

This thing called digital photography...

It is said that a good photographer can make beautiful images with any type of camera, be it a $10 disposable, or $10,000 top of the line full-framed digital. I agree.

But the advent of digital photography has done wonders for improving the art--making it accessible and affordable for more people, and encouraging their creativity. Take me for instance. I had always considered myself a serious hobbyist when it came to photography, I used an SLR, but usually had it set to auto to make sure I got the shot. That meant that all I needed to do was compose the photo. The camera would do the rest.

However, when I went digital, I found that I could learn how to control the features manually much more quickly because I could see my mistakes and keepers right away and make the adjustments on scene. I'm sure many others experienced the same. So the learning curve improved, and I found myself anxious to produce more creatively rendered images.

One day while surfing the 'Net, I came across a tutorial from Wacom (the stylus tablet maker). It showed how to turn a photo into an image that has a painterly effect. Even using Photoshop Elements, I was able to produce something half decent in only a few minutes. And an idea was born...

I could take photos of local scenes, turn them into these "painted photos", and offer them for sale to local tourist shop as post cards or wall art.

Well, this idea has been tweaked quite a bit, and I have refined my technique both in photographing the scenes and preparing them so that they are really something marketable. And now I have something to show for my efforts.

Here is one of my favorite pieces produced from a photo of a sunflower:



Here is the original, titled "August Sunflower"








Here is the "painted" version, titled "Solitary Sunflower"
















(Please note that all images on this site are Copyrighted, and may not be used without permission)


I really loved the finished effect, and so did many of my friends. They encouraged me to produce the "Painted" Sunflower as a notecard or as a framed image. I took their advice, and my photo hobby took on a whole new dimension. The best place to see other similar images is here. There are many selections of flowers and garden scenes, as well as beach scenes from Long Island, and Fire Island.

And, let me know what you think. Is there a particular type of image you would like me to try? Let me know, and I'll give it a go!

Soothing the Savage Beast

Global Language Esperanza aficiandos don't want you to know this, but the real universal language is music. It has always been a part of my life, and it is the bridge that connects me to my beloved Dad, who departed his earthly bonds a few years ago.

I spend lots of time thinking about music, listening to it, playing my guitar to it, singing along with it, and following my favorite musicians around the Long Island area.

I will start this subject with a couple of suggestions for your listening pleasure. You can let me know how you like them.

Glenn Tilbrook (formerly of Squeeze): Glenn has enjoyed a fantastic rebirth after fronting the 80s BritPop Band Squeeze for some 20 years. Check out his website here .

Chris Isaak: Best known for his single "Wicked Games," Chris Isaak has much more to offer than eye candy. Any fan of rockabilly will appreciate his sound, and marvel at the fact that he is not better known for his music. Check out his Baja Sessions CDhere (scroll down to sampling area)

Or try out his Chrismas Album, released in 2004



I will check in once in a while with a review, comment or announcement, as needed, regarding my favorite musical acts and their bodies of work.

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

Very often a photograph speak more eloquently than words alone ever could. I love words, the spoken ones (just ask my husband!), and the written one. But the words I love best are those that paint a vivid picture.

This page will supplement Vivid Visions' main blog page by providing links and information specific to photography and my photography work.

It is in this space that I hope visitors will be most inclined to share their thoughts and viewpoints about my work, their own work, or that of another photographer. I will start by suggesting to anyone interested in digital photography visit one of my favorite blogs by Ben Wilmore, a Photoshop expert with a real knack for teaching the non-techie comman man (or woman) how to use Photoshop like a pro.

Ben Willmore's Photography Blog

...And so begins the journey

Maiden voyage, premiere, kick-off, inaugural, first-run, initiation, grand opening...

Never again may I accurately use these phrases to describe the posts to Vivid Visions' Blog, for you are reading my very first entry to my very first blog. I know I'm late to the party, but in the circle I run with, as opposed to the circles I run in, it's always better to be fashionably late. Early enough to sample the good hors d'oeuvres, but late enough to avoid getting corralled into the hosts' last minute set-up.

So, without further delay, I say WELCOME! Welcome to the Vivid Visions Blog!

I hope to share with you items that interest me, and my philosophies on a life well-lived. I hope to entertain you, inform you and inspire you. Hopefully, you will return the favor. It is my hope that my generating this blog, I will find new friends and associates who share my interests and who help me broaden my horizons. So, please give me feedback!

While I am navigating my way through these uncharted waters, I hope you will be patient and kind as I discover my mistakes and recover from them. But, while my record is still clean, let me tell you about some of the topics you expect to find here.

Photography--about four years ago, when digital photography was emerging as a truly viable medium, I joined the parade (again a little late to the party, but early enough to enjoy the good stuff). I found that my early love of light painting had been reinvigorated with the ability to keep complete creative control over my images in digital photography. Film is still a wonderful medium, but a wet darkroom was just not something I could manage to set-up, so I had to rely on a complete stranger to process my prized images. Plus, in digital, mistakes can be identified on scene, with an opportunity to correct them right on the spot.

I will post many photos on this site--I hope to eventually get to presenting a Photo-A-Day. I will also provide you links to places where you can purchase my images, if you are so inclined.

Pets and Wildlife--It will become quickly evident that I love animals, especially dogs. You will read about the escapades of Boris, Hogan and Spook, the two black labs and little kitty my husband and I care for. I hesitate to say own, not because I am some politically correct animal rights activist, but because they own us, and we are their servants. They eat when they want. Go to the beach for a run when they want, go out when they want, and come in when they want. I wouldn't want it any other way, and if you have a pet, you know what I mean.

I also love wildlife. Wild birds are a fascination and joy to watch, and I have many photos to share of those that visit my backyard feeders as well as those whose images I capture in their own environment. For a few summers we were lucky to have an osprey roost in a dying oak tree in the front yard. The tree is now gone, and so is the roosting spot, but the ospreys return to visit every year, so I hope to share with you stories of our interaction with them. Such majestic, fascinating birds.

But, my love of wildlife does not end with wild birds. So, you may expect to read about the antics of the deer herd living in the woods behind the house, as well the raccoons that raid the bird feeders and drive the dogs crazy. If we're lucky, there will even be a spotting of a red fox or two to share with you.

Gardening--I don't really enjoy gardening, but I love the results, so I consider the hard work I must do my payment for beautiful blooms. I try to practice organic gardening because of the cat--don't want her eating a poisoned critter, and it works pretty well, mostly because I don't do any vegetable gardening. Not enought sunlight in the yard or hours in the day! The real perk here is that I photograph the heck out the flower that do finally bloom, and some of them are quite spectacular--no thanks to me--it is all the Lord's doing. I just keep 'em watered and fertlized.

Music-- I am a great fan of music, especially artists of British Pop and New Wave music, starting with the Beatles, and ranging to Squeeze, Elvis Costello, XTC, Crowded House, and more. My CD collection is quite diverse, including Chris Isaak, Van Halen, Aerosmith, and Billy Joel.

I regularly attend concerts by Glenn Tilbrook, the former lead singer of Squeeze, and Chris Isaak.

I have many interests and passions to share with you, so I hope you will hop on for the ride now and again. I really love feedback on my photography most especially, so please do not hesitate to post a comment or critique. I look forward meeting my new friends!