The Secret to Success

I saw a quote on Facebook today that said you need three things to succeed in life - a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.  So, remember not to take yourself too seriously, go ahead and daydream and stand up for what you believe in.  Perhaps if you do that, you'll soar like an eagle and achieve your goals. 

Have a great day!

What A Ride!

Life’s journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting “Holy S_ _ _! . . . what a ride!”

Pieces of My Life

Every time i lift my camera to my eye. I realized that every photo i take is a piece of my life i will never get back, but i will always be able to see again and again. - Malcolm Flowers

I borrowed this quote from one of my Facebook friends today.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Choices

"I choose…to live by choice, not by chance. To make changes, not excuses. To be motivated, not manipulated. To be useful, not used. To excel, not compete. I choose self-esteem, not self pity. I choose to listen to my inner voice. Not the random opinion of others."

~Unknown

We all have many choices to make in life.  Those range from the simple things, like what am I going to wear today to what am I going to do with the rest of my life.   The choices we make determine how successful we're going to be, how happy we're going to be, etc.  These choices, however, don't only effect us; they effect all those who we meet.   They determine whether we're going to be a positive force in the lives of those we meet, or a negative one.  So,  when you're faced with important decisions today, or in the future, think about the long-term effects those decisions will have on your life and the lives of others.

I wish you well.

Beauty

"It is the mind which creates the world around us,
and even though we stand side by side in the same meadow,
my eyes will never see what is behold by yours,
my heart will never stir to the same emotions
with which yours is touched."
George Gissing (1857-1903) England/France

Well, after conducting my five day photo workshop, spending 3 1/2 weeks in Yellowstone, and then trying to catch up after returning home,  I think I can finally start doing this blog again.   I hope you've missed my posts just a little bit.  :-)

I think this quote is so true.  What one person finds beautiful, and what stirs emotions within them, may not effect another person at all.  We're all different and what effects us depends on our past, our emotional screens, etc.  As a photographer, I try to photograph not only what moves me, but also what I think stirs the same emotions in my viewer.  One way to do that is to look at publications, fine art, etc. to see what is being produced and, more importly, what is sellnig.  Determining what will sell is one of the biggest challenges for any kind of artist, because it's an ever-changing target.

It's Your Life - Live It!

I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.  I don't know who wrote this, but I saw it on Facebook today and thought it was worth sharing.

Are you living the life you want?   Are you proud of what you're doing?  Do you wish things were different?  Do you think you can do a better job?   Only you are in control of those things.  Only you can change your life and make it want YOU want.  If you're not living a life you're proud of, only you can make a difference.   If you're not happy with the way things are, why not start making changes today that will give you the life you were meant to live?  Until you do, nothing will change.  So, if you need to make changes, start making them today.  Live the life you want.  Don't settle for anything less! 

I wish these things for you and hope you have a wonderful day.

Look and Listen

Are you looking at the world or just seeing it?  Do you really listen to music or just hear it?

Does this sound crazy?  If so, just think about it for a minute, because it makes sense.  When you walk around, your eyes are open, so you're naturally going to SEE things, but are you really looking?  Assumming your ears work, you are going to hear sounds, but are you really listening?   Are you looking at the details of a flower or noticing how the light brings out the brilliant colors of a simple object?  Are you noticing the variety of colors in a sunset or the reflections in a puddle of water?   If  not, you're missing the joy and the  wonder of the world around you.

When you hear music, are you listening to the beat or to the sounds of the different musical instruments?  Do you hear the nuances of the musical score or notice the compleities of the chords or do you merely HEAR the music?  If you truly listen, you'll notice these things and the music will be more enjoyable and more meaningful to you.

Just for today, try really looking at your world and really listening to the music you hear and to the sounds of nature.  You'll probably be surprised at how much more you enjoy your day.