The Summation of Me

This is the summation of Me.

It is written by Me and about Me. 

It is heartfelt.  It is true. 

THE SUMMATION OF ME

I am weird, I am different, and oddly unique.

I defy explanation and casual stereotypes.

I am fleeting, aloof, and enigmatic!

I am never at all times in the world, or of the world...

     ...but I manifest as the mood strikes me!

I emerge when other souls need me.

I am what they need and want me to be...

     ...and yet not what they think I am!

I am divergent and dichotomous by my very nature.

I give and I take from the experience of life...

     ... with much joy and verve.

I impose high expectations on myself and others.

I have an inborn knowing of what is...

     ...and an outward longing for what is not!

I am restless, yet content.

I am outwardly expressive...while being ardently introspective.

I proceed with caution and engage with reckless abandon.

I shine like the Sun and phase with the Moon.

I bridge the gaps in my world between fact and fantasy.

I am powerful and strong, yet malleable and yielding.

I am the expert observer, the universal detective.

I am not at all what I seem...yet I hide nothing.

I am at once driven and focused, yet multi-directional.

I am a soul with a keen intellect and a deep felt passion for life.

I walk a solitary path while seemingly at one with the masses.

I become what others need, yet I never change who I am.

I am a magical soul entity.

I cannot be explained.

I can only be conjectured at best.

I am just what I have always been.

And everything you imagine me to be

Bohemian Vibe

Welcome to Bohemia!  What is Bohemia?  It's a state of mind, a way of living, and an aesthetic that embraces a footloose and fancy free attitude!  Bohemia is a place where we let our hair down, run barefoot, embrace creativity and commune with nature.  It's not a destination, although it certainly could be....but rather it is the art of living life with joy and abandonment. We live in a world that is 'switched on' 24/7!  We have too much to do and never a enough time to do it.  And we're faced with an an 'out with the old....in with the new' attitude that fosters ever-decreasing attention spans.  We've lost touch with the wisdom of our ancestors.  We forsake the life-giving sustenance of Mother Nature.  And we are forgetting how to unleash our creativity to better our quality of life.  In our quest for newer, better and more, more, MORE....we've begun to undervalue the need for relaxation and replenishment of the soul.  But rejuvenation of the spirit is paramount to health and happiness!

So we are beginning to see a much needed shift towards filling our lives with more quality and less quantity!   Bohemia embraces the importance of 'quality living'!  We learn to appreciate and draw upon our talents as artisans and free thinkers.  We strive to bridge the gap between the olde world and the new.  We endulge in the need for respite from an over-demanding world.  And we are eager to live the beautiful life....a life that is lived fully and appreciated on a daily basis.

Bohemia celebrates creativity, individuality and the kaleidoscope of colors and rich details which surround us.  It celebrates the beauty and inherent mysticism of nature.  But most importantly, Bohemia celebrates La Joie de Vivre! 

So relax into a Bohemian Vibe and enjoy a Slow Groove!  If you have the time to linger, then you must come and dance with me "Under a Gypsy Moon".  And please feel free to look around my blog for other Gypsy/Bohemian inspired posts, images and stories!  

~ Namaste....The Artful Gypsy

Everyone Is Beautiful!

I found this video...and I agree...everyone IS beautiful!   As a photographer, I've trained my eyes to look for beauty and I've gotten very good at finding it...just like the video says.  I also believe that it's of the utmost importance to know the true benefit of a kind word and a positive affirmation.  We have multiple chances every day to make an impact in other peoples lives....those we know and those we don't.  And the most fundamental and simple act of kindness available to us, is to find the beauty in another, to seek and find their positive attributes, and to extend a kind word or affirmation to let them know that they matter in this world.  Your compliment or acknowledgment can be the one thing that makes their day worth while.  It can be just the catalyst they need to believe in themselves and pursue their aspirations.  And sadly, it may be the only positive thing they've heard in a long time.  Or perhaps it's you that just needs a gentle reminder of the things that make you special and worthwhile.   So why not challenge yourself to pay forward a little kindness each and every day....as like attracts like!  And never forget that true beauty radiates from within!

The Optimist Creed

"As for myself, I am an optimist....
for there seems little use in being anything else."

"I can't change the direction of the wind,
but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."

The Optimist Creed

Promise Yourself-

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. 
 

The Bohemian Way

What is Bohemia?   I will quote and paraphrase a lot here from a book I love, titled "The Bohemian Manifesto", by Laren Stover, because I don't think I could possibly explain it any better than she did in that book.  And I will attempt to illustrate my vision of 'Bohemia' through photos.  But I preface this explanation with the understanding that there are no hard and fast rules that govern Bohemia, so this is merely a glimpse into what is first and foremost, a state of mind, and a way of living life beyond convention.  It is also more than just an attitude. It's a freedom of ideas, clothing and behaviors that lay gently outside the norm. 

And just who are the Bohemians of the world?  Well, we are artists, gypsies, philosophers, dreamers, vagabonds, mavericks and yes, even radicals and deviants.  I consider myself to be a bit of a Bohemian.  Maybe not quite the vagabond type that likes to wander from place to place, because I rather enjoy having a place to call home.  But I'm a Bohemian just the same, for many reasons....perhaps a 'Bohemian Lite'.  Oft times, Bohemians defy definition due to the unmistakable quality of being 'free spirits'.  But it's usually those same 'free spirits' who set the trends, invent the art, start the movements and break the rules.  Bohemians creatively integrate ideals, clothing and philosophies into everyday life with a certain "je ne sais quoi" all their own.

A true Bohemian is a connoisseur of texture, color and sensation. 

We experience exhilaration by....

observation, creation and the experience itself. 

We find poetry and art in everyday things....

like the form of silhouettes against a sunset....

the hunt for vintage treasures at an antique fair.....

the succulence of flowers in the rain.....

the play of light on colored glass.....

the art of random objects.....

or beauty in the contours of a face.

We see enchantment and infinite possibilities all around us.  We love to create an 'effect,' and we cherish the 'presentation'.  We dislike authority and loathe the status quo.  And our idea of hard labor is selling poetry, art, photographs, music and plays.  We live in splendor...the splendor of the creative mind....and it requires free thinking, ingenuity, and moxie! 
To delve a bit deeper, Bohemians have an aesthetic that is sometimes misunderstood by mainstream society.  We enjoy mixing antiques and flea market finds into our homes.  One man's trash is another man's treasure.   We surround ourselves with things we love and that have sentimental value, as well as things that inspire us creatively.

Candles, incense and eclectic music are staples in a Bohemian abode, as are art supplies and animals....possibly all intermingled in a creatively chaotic way.  Since we often keep unconventional hours...we also tend to prefer unconventional forms of lighting, such as sunsets, twilight, street lamps, star light, neon signs, moon light and candles.  Many a musician, writer and artist has stayed up all night....choosing the manifestation of his creative visions over food and sleep. 

And our clothing can sometimes be as unconventional and free flowing as our attitudes and ideals.  Whether we style ourselves like a Gypsy, a Dandy or a Beatnik....it is usually put together randomly and creatively, but far from the sensibilities of the fashion police.  You almost always see Bohemians wearing hats of every kind and jewelry, scarves, or flowers in their hair.  Long hair, facial hair, unkempt  hair, tattoos, piercings...it's all game for exploration.  For Bohemians take great pride and delight in being different and unique.  Not for attention...but rather for distinction or rebellion.  And we thumb our nose at being defined,  refusing to conform to others' expectations. 

We are quite content in our eclectic, creative, vibrant worlds of art and poetry and imagination.  In fact, it's quite possible that no one other than, 'other Bohemians',  really understand us at all...and that's the way we like it!   It's a fact that Bohemians have been around since the beginning of time, and they'll be here until the end of it.  And it is this Bohemian lifestyle that remains a harbinger of something mystically lacking from today's corporate-fed society.  I encourage you all to do something creative (anything at all) and embrace the Bohemian within today.  Namaste!

The Magic is in the Details

Have you ever noticed that some folks are 'big picture' people and some of us are 'detail' people?  In all fairness there is a catch to leaning too heavily in either direction.  For instance, the 'detail' folks like myself, have a tendency to get so wrapped up in the wonderful details we love so much, that we fail to be able to see the bigger picture.  You're not able to see the forest through the trees, the old saying goes.  And likewise, the 'big picture' people are sometimes so far sighted that they fail to recognize and appreciate the small details that make life beautiful.  Of course optimally, we should all strive for a perfect balance between the two.  In fact, that applies to everything in life.  Balance is the key to happiness, fulfillment and success.  But I'll save that for another post.  Today I want to touch on the importance of the 'details'!  Being a 'detail' girl myself, one might be quick to assume that I am taking sides here or showing some partiality.  And you'd be absolutely right!  But only for the sake of this one blog today and how we can apply that principle to photography.

So my challenge to you is this....first and foremost, find something that you find attractive or interesting and photograph it.  And don't discount the simple things, as they often become the most beautiful when you pay them a little attention.  When I was at my son's school for his Easter party, I went out to put my purse in the car.  My car was parked across the street in a somewhat dry, grassy field of what looked at first glance to be dead grass, weeds and dirt.  But as I was looking at the ground to watch where I was stepping, I noticed these delicate little daisy flowers.  Okay...so most people would identify them as weeds true enough.  And if I had only looked at the 'bigger picture' I might have never noticed the softness of the little daisy heads, or how they danced and swayed in the breeze.  And for some strange reason they brought to my mind an image association of delicate feminine girls.  So I decided to give them their 'shot'...to pay them a little attention, and see them through a lens of 'gratitude' for the beauty they possessed.  I wondered to myself if anyone else would ever come along and photograph them or even notice them or admire them, let alone appreciate their beauty.  I figured I was probably their only suitor, and that I noticed them for a reason and they were meant to be photographed.  (I should also humorously note here that the teachers grew concerned as they spied me from the playground looking down into the grass.  They asked my husband if I was okay, and had I lost a contact or something?  Ha...I didn't even attempt to try and explain that I spent the last 10 minutes photographing their 'weeds'!) 
Okay, so here is my first shot....
Pretty enough...a shallow depth of field focusing only on the flowers closest to me while giving a nice soft focus blur to those in the background.  This shot speaks to me of Spring.  An array of blooms wild, free and unkempt.  This also has a bohemian vibe to me.  But as always...I want to dig deeper, unearth more, and get closer to my subject.  So I shoot again and this is what I saw next.
I'm beginning to get to know them better now.  The room is not so crowded anymore.  I'm starting to grasp some recognition, and those who aren't important are fading ever more into the blurry background of oblivion.  The grass and leaves are starting to become a painted background.  And I can now see some definition in their sweet little faces.  Should I be reticent and stop here?  Perhaps I've seen all there is to see I think.  But sometimes....LESS IS MORE!  So....I zoom in closer.
Oh wow...look what I've uncovered.  That mass of weeds is looking more like ART to me.  And one little lady seems intent on stealing the show does she not?  And what about all that empty space you ask?  Well space is at a premium these days and everyone wants more.  A flower and a photograph are no exception.  And did you notice how the green of the grass and leaves has faded into a lovely backdrop that now shifts the focus onto the 'star' of the show?  Here is where 'cropping' comes into play and can become your friend or your enemy.  If I'd left that flower in the center of this shot...the outcome would not have been nearly as effective, artistic or pleasing to the eye.  When we shoot, we have a tendency to want to center everything right smack dab in the middle of the frame.  But try to think outside of that box and shift things over a little.

What could be done with this image now that I've left all that blank space over there?  Well, besides aiding the eye in focusing on what is the most important element in the shot....it also provides a space for something else. But what?   A hand written sentiment of love or congratulations perhaps.  For I see one of those enclosure cards you get at the florist when you send someone flowers, with the perfect place to sign your name.  Or a place card perhaps, to adorn the table for Easter brunch.  Yes...this is the shot that pleases me most.  I feel I have captured the essence of their beauty as I saw it.  BUT....what if?
Yep!  You knew I couldn't stop without pushing the envelope didn't you?  There is a saying that I saw credited to Mick Jagger, but have since seen it attributed to many others as well...and that is "anything worth doing, is worth overdoing"!  And I am a happy subscriber to that philosophy of life.  So for good measure I zoomed in one more time.  Just like the bear that went over the mountain.  Do you remember WHY he went over it?  TO SEE WHAT HE COULD SEE of course!  Why else?

And here I finally get to know my subject as intimately as my lens at the time would allow.  I can see her full regalia of petals....the layers of her petticoat, if you will.  And I can see her core...her heart....the center of her aura!  I can even observe where the 'cycle of life' takes place.  Where she feeds the bees who pollinate the flowers and so on and so forth.  I have an appreciation for this lovely flower (or weed) that I never would have had if I didn't take time to pay attention to the DETAILS!  I uncovered a beauty in them that thereby allowed me to create yet another thing of beauty in a photograph and art.  So in essence...I've come to understand this as the beauty in the world being multiplied by the small act of appreciation and gratitude for what each living thing uniquely has to offer.  I could have discounted that dusty old field as an eyesore, something not worthy of being seen and appreciated, because at first glance it appeared to merely be plain and shabbily dressed.  But the magical secret is that the beauty was in the DETAILS!

Warning:  I love quotes and use them often.  And I find two of my favorite "magic' quotes applicable here because magic takes so many different forms....
"The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper."
"That's the thing with magic.  You've got to know it's still here, all around us, or it just stays invisible for you."

On an ending note, which of the 4 shots do you find to be most pleasing to your eye?  As I'm sure you are aware...all art is subjective, so to me it's always interesting to know what others think.  For the record, although I do love the intimacy of the final shot, my personal choice is still #3 for all the reasons I listed above and ones that I didn't include.  Here's wishing everyone a weekend filled with magical details!