Eda Doreen

:: Acceptance::

~ Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart. ~ Marcus Aelius Aurelius

 

 

 

Mike Bailey-Gates (c)

 

 

 

I have wanted to feature this photographer for weeks. I just didn’t have the words, or the timing in doing so. Most of my writings, as you may well have read, are based on creativity. I see an image, or think a thought, and with it comes the fruition of a compilation of gathered thoughts.

 

 

So, I have been thinking about fate. I heard a quote in a movie only yesterday, that there is “a fine line between fate and chance”. And, as life would weave its way down this wonderful journey for us all, I am sure we could all somewhat agree. So, that is why I have chosen to feature this young man’s photography today.

 

 

Mike Bailey-Gates (c)

 

Michael Bailey-Gates, has a rawness to his photography that borderlines on mystery and love. Every photo I view represents beauty, life, and wonder. And, for his talent which I believe is so magnificent, I am always in awe of his works. They touch my soul, they take me to the place where he has shown us this vignette of life, and they enable a peaceful feeling  in which to view.

 

Mike Bailey-Gates (c)

 

Which brings me to the point of discussing the anticipation of acceptance. Years ago I had not developed a greater understanding of humanity. Perhaps I was not open to understanding, and for that reason, my heart and soul wasn't ready to change. I think we all come to a place in our lives, where eventually once we realise who we are, who we love, and accepting fate as life would deal us, we can find an inner peace.

 

Mike Bailey-Gates (c)

 

 

"The first step toward change is acceptance.  Once you accept yourself, you open the door to change.  That's all you have to do.  Change is not something you do, it's something you allow."

Will Garcia
(AIDS patient)

 Mike Bailey Gates

Biography

Mike Bailey-Gates was born in 1993 in Rhode Island, USA. He became interested in photography at the age of thirteen when he began taking photographs of the landscape in his surrounding countryside. Over time the hobby progressed into a passion for portraiture and fashion. Michael is currently living in New England with his family and working as a represented photographer.

Resume

Published interviews, features, and spreads.

Art Gallery Showing at Jesse Smith.

-Interview/ spreads in Maddog Magazine March (2010)
-Interview/ Feature in NAME magazine (2010)
-Interview/ Spread/ Cover shot, Kinki Magazine, December (2009) 
-Photo used in “ Frankie Photo Album” book volume 1 (2009)
-Contributor to The Saccades project ( 2009)
-Spreads in NINJA magazine (August 2009)
-Interviews and Spread in Parasol magazine issue 4 (July 2009)
-Interview/ spread in NEET magazine issue number 15 (June 2009)
-Interview in Cupcake magazine (2009)
-Winner of the United way Contest, 500$, Featured in Rhode Island Monthly magazine.(2009)
-BLUR magazine issue 15 (2009) 

-Interview on Coming Upstrong (2009)
-Featured in “ teen INK” (2008)
-Featured in “ teenage life or lack there of” book.

Mike Bailey-Gates (c)

 

Life is as real as it gets. It is raw, perfect, and mystical. It can move along slowly, or it can speed as fast as you can keep up. But the greatest thing about life is the willingness to accept all that it has, is, and becomes. Once you accept what life, and fate offers, you are at peace.

 

 

Mike Bailey Gates (c)

 

Today is the day to live. Live life with acceptance, love and compassion. Help those who need you, love without reason, and shine for those who need the light in the darkest of hours. 

 

 

Sam

 

mike bailey gates (C)http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbg_photos/

 

 

 

 

 

Exiting News!

All the Pretty Horses by LindseysPhotograhy On Etsy

Im super exited today! This morning I heard word from Australia, from one of my inspirational hero's and motivating artist, Adele Basheer. Im not sure if you know of her, but it was in buying one of her greeting cards, and mini journals, that I purchased over 11 years ago, that has inspired me to where I am today. Her words on her products were inspiring, uplifting, and touching to the heart. And, I am proud to say that she is one of the biggest reasons today I write greetings, and make journals with a passion. Anyway, heres the best news. I wrote to Adele back in December of last year, and after a busy work schedule she has so kindly offered to answer some questions that have intrigued me in my creative career, and I will feature her answers and her works in June :)

Her works are sold across the Australasian regions, the U.S, and other major global countries! Here is a mini introduction of Adele on the Ruby Connection Blog .

How exiting is that!

Well Im heading out today, to mail some international shipments, continue painting some upcycled cigar boxes, and work on some more journals.

On that note, here is something to think about :

 "Keep your heart open to dreams. For as long as there's a dream, there is hope, and as long as there is hope, there is joy in living." Anonymous {probably a woman ;) }

Sam

::Featured Photographer :: Kell Holley

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. – Frederick Douglass”

 

One of my great, truest, and fun filled friends Kell Holley recently spent the time to take some time out of her time in order to help me, and others with the touchy subject of photography. Photography need not be scary, since discovering its fun within the last six months or so. Kell inspired me to buy a nice camera, and I went and purchased one that perhaps was somewhat out of my price range, however I am so glad I did because every photograph has been well worth it. And, my own photography has spoken the gift of the gab to others, who themselves have gone out and purchased a digital camera in the same direction as Kell and I.

Anyways….. I am thanking Kell for taking her time out to answer a few questions of which helped me in understanding photography through the eyes of  a non-seller. She has an account on flickr, of which is well worth the look if interested, and I would love for all you budding photographers to thank her today too!

 Who is Kell?

I'm an Aussie living in the US with my American husband - a creative genius and possibly the funniest person I know. I come from a well known basketball family and although I liked to write, draw and make collages when I was younger, I never thought of myself as a creative person until I met my husband, Zig. He introduced me to Photoshop, Flash and my other love, Maya 3d. 

I was given my Nikon d40 camera last year for my birthday and my eyes were truly open creatively. Now I'm obsessed with photography!

 

 

What inspires you in your art?
Anything can inspire me to want to take photos - the weather, make-up, cars, good manners, movies, food/cuisine, music.  Everything.  

 

 

Recently you have taken a photography class, what did you learn most about this fine art?
Well, it was more of a bootcamp actually!  I learned so much about myself and came away with the confidence of putting in the time and hard work.  I learned that all apertures have "proper" shutter speeds for exposures, and now I know which combination will affect a specific depth of field. The greatest thing I learned is the camera is a paint brush. And I was surprised at how indicative an image can be of the effort put in to making that image. 

 

Do you have any photography tips for photographers, artists, or etsians when taking their shots of their products?
Read your manual, practice as often as you can, follow your own course. Use natural lighting as much as possible.

One of my favorite quotes is by photographer, CJ Nicolai:
"Never compare your journey with someone else. It’s a marathon with no finish line. Someone else may start out faster than you, may seem to progress more quickly than you, but every runner has his own pace. Your journey is your journey, not a competition. You will never “arrive”. No one ever does."

When you see something you want to photograph what do you want the viewer to see after the shot has been taken?

I think intimacy with the subject matter.  For example, food photos - I'd like to be able to capture the image in a way that you're suddenly craving it!

 

Coffee or Chocolate?
I'm a little late to the game, but I've just discovered how delicious and effective coffee is!  Plus, it makes chocolate taste even better - who knew?!

 

Favorite Color?
Bright emerald green - LOVE!

Favorite Photograher?
I don't have a favorite yet.  I'm constantly online oogling over incredible photos.  Two photographers I enjoy and am constantly checking for updates are:  Stephan Maloman (www.maloman.com), always artistic, candid and slick.  And Keith Davis Young (www.flickr.com/people/keithdavisyoung/) who shoots effortlessly on film and is consistently original.

Where would you like to see yourself in your art five years from now?
To have a developed style to my photos.  Right now I'm still learning, but I know I like bright colors, crisp images, interesting contrasts and candid shots.  To incorporate my photos into modeling objects in Maya 3d would be incredible, and to one day be paid for doing something that brings me so much satisfaction would be a total dream.

Name the person who inspires you most?
My husband, Zig. Hands down the most ambitious, creative, determined, talented person I know. 

If you had three wishes what would they be?

To have unlimited opportunities to do what I want, when I want. 

To make a living doing something creative. 

To live comfortably by the ocean. 

=======================================================

 

Thanks Kell ! Awesome tips, and fantastic photographs!

Y'all have a great day, Im going to be binding books and living my double life in disguise : )

Sam

 

::Animal Crackers::

Waiter… there’s an animal in my soup!

 

Oh my golly, I do hope you all had a wonderful, fun-filled, sunshine full of cornflake kind of a weekend. Speaking of fun filled, today’s post is all about one of my most favorite passions, that being animals!

Where do I begin with my passion for Mother Nature’s kindest, adoring, and respectful creation… the animal? I do remember my most distant but vivid memory of once trying to save a poor black bird from the jaws of my kitty cat, so many years ago, and begging my mum to take me to the Vet, so I could save this poor dying darling. Needless to say, the vet tried his hardest to help me feel better in knowing, I should take my feathered friend home to rest some, keep him warm, and wait. He died within hours, but I had a burial, a good cry, and I managed to construct a little cross for the head of the mound under the rose bushes in my grandpa’s garden bed. Kitty was not in my favorite books for a week or so after, but the things we do for the love of nature. So, my memorable moments spent with animals over the years, have been many, sad, happy, and loving memories, and up to today, all of them, and my animals still linger in my admiration for animals, and loving and caring for them.

 

 

 

Baby Giraffe-(c) Sharon Montrose

I wonder how many times you have saved an animal from the jaws of death, or taken in a stray cat, or dog, or bird, or even a worm in the darkest of hours. One of my favorite photographers I have discovered recently is Sharon Montrose. Sharon’s ability to catch the primitive, natural rawness of nature is surpassed only by the animal themselves, and believe me, her photography shows this in every adoring shoot.

 

Baby Raccoon-(c) Sharon Montrose

 

Her love of animal photography started while taking several shots of her family dogs, which grew to a need to photograph other animals, from raccoons, to giraffes, to eagles, to bunnies. All the animals you can think of she has, or will photograph. Her shop on etsy and her website is just gorgeous. On her blog, she relays stories about animals that come across her daily career, and she reveals so many uplifting stories. Do stop by on her blog, and have a read!

 

Prairie Dogs- (c) Sharon Montrose.

 

Have a happy afternoon! Pat a cat, take a doggy for a walk, or just sit and listen to the birds for a while, they are all waiting for your love :)

 

Sam

Happy Friday

“Peace, if it ever exists, will not be based on the fear of war but on the love of peace. “

Julien Benda

Just a quick post today, as I have been bookbinding all morning :). Well not all morning, I slept a little ha!

I just listed a cute blank journal from the "How Green is My Valley Series" here :

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=44446778

This journal would be perfect for writing in recipes, thoughts, garden ideas, plantings, or even just to sketch in under the maple tree this summer.

I also got  a chance to plod around the garden and observe the early spring flowering plants, and watch my two doggies, Sarah, and Benny play crazily.

I am in the process of trying to seed the beds, and await the beauty of the summer glory to come into its splendor. I just love gardening!!

 

 

Have a wonderful Friday evening wherever or whatever you all might be doing.

 

Best,

 

Sam

Shop help :: Product Photography

Shop help: Photo’s

One of the most important aspects I have learnt in selling online is photographing your product. When I first started up shop, I had no idea how important this facet in marketing online meant. But after a month or so, of low views, low hearts, and of course next to no sales, I caught on quick realising why other sellers on etsy stressed the importance of product photography.

 

 

Blackbird

 Its something some sellers overlook when they start out for simple reasons. The first reason being quite obvious, lack of experience in online selling. Second, not having the equipment to take macro (close-up) shots of your product, and thirdly, not knowing how to stage your product.

Although many of us beg to differ in the area of staging a product, the most simplest form of staging, is often the most eye appealing.

The following is a list of staging pointers to think of next time you are taking a photo of your product before listing to sell.

• Always try to place your product in natural lighting before taking the shot. Here, on a table by the window out of the shine and glare of the sun is perfect.
• Try to place your product on a white background before taking the shot. The only exception may be if the product is white, cream or neutral in color. In this instance, use a eco-friendly backdrop, for example, bamboo, dark wood grained surface, or even on black.
• Take outside shots as staging backdrops also for variance. Old factory buildings, empty rooms, garden benches, sandpits and the like are fantastic staging backdrops. Use models ( family, friends, paid models, animals ) to show off your wares in photographs. How can you imagine your screen printed t-shirt on you, if you cannot see it on someone else? Sure the t-shirt is a one of a kind, but thinking about it in this light, bears reason to stage on models.
• If there is little or no natural lighting and you must take a shot in order to sell your product, which most often occurs in places where there is lacking sun in the winter months, assemble an easy and inexpensive light box.
• Vary the position of the shot. In other words, take photographs of the product from different angles, including up close, from the corners, above the product, and looking up at the product. Often it gives the feel of the product by doing this. And, because a buyer cannot touch your product, giving a different angle makes them more apt to 'virtually feeling' the product.
• Use the highest quality photography. Note, this does not refer to the resolution, nor the size of the photograph, but rather the quality of the shot. The better the camera the better the quality of the shot.
• Take in the product description when shooting the shot. If the product comes in three colors, or has a silver lining so to speak, make sure when photographing the product your photos show this. Its more of the proof that the seller is legitimizing the description of the product.
• Always convey the physical attributes that make up the product. Here product size is often the most important. Buyers would love to know the size comparrison of this product up against another. If it is possible to do so in a photograph do it!
• Keep file sizes in proportion to the file size required by the site you sell on. On etsy, file sizes for photographs for product listings vary but more often support 800-1000 pixels.

 
Vintage Truck- Molly O'Bryon Welpott

The factors above are some of the most important to think about when taking shots of your handmade items.  However, there are many different aspects to product selling online that also come into play. Etsy has some great shop help with tutorials, and testimonials on their blog, and in their help section for further reading.

Never underestimate the power of photography for selling!

Have a supercalafragalisticexpialadocious afternoon,

Sam

Leigh Viner

Leigh Viner

The other day, while perusing etsy, I stumbled on some of the most beautiful artistic work I have ever seen. The artist, Leigh Viner, a Colorado native and resident has a natural eye for emotion, rawness of humanity, and above all, talent in every sense of the word.

For those who may not know of Leigh’s works, having had the opportunity to gaze eerily over her works in the last week or so, I have come to appreciate her talent and I cannot wait to spread the word. Leigh’s natural intrinsic talent is something many of us dream to acquire, and although she admits to taking commercial art and drawing classes, her abilities are “mostly self-taught”.

 

Greenwich Reflections-Leigh Viner (C) 

Her greatest influence, the human body, the femme woman, is of course evident in many of her works, fine arts, and photographic depictions of moments in life. The fashion industry, design, make-up, and photography also streamline her works.

Something About- Leigh Viner (C)  

Leigh’s most recent works are featured in last year include:

Cover spread in the April/March issue of Dujour magazine.

The cover of Skirt Magazine's November issue
http://skirt.com/artists/leigh-viner

Forever 21 's blog the Skinny ~ http://blog.forever21.com/blog/perma.asp?articleid=139

Premier issue of Forever 21's Editorial Magazine out November 2009 www.forever21.com

N.E.E.T. Magazine's December issue (pg 216)
www.neetmagazine.com

This year, her works will be featured on set of "The Roommate" 2010 featuring Leighton Meester.

Untitled Art Print- Leigh Viner (c)

Her blog  Create is also a very informative, and reveals her thoughts on her creative career and life as an artist. She is both professional and inspiring to women artisians around the world.

Beautiful, eye-opening, and intrinsically emotional, her works are to die for. I appreciate the opportunity today to feature her works, but also to expose her raw impressive talent to the rest of the world! I wish Leigh the very best in her career, I know you will go far, especially with your talent Leigh.

Have a wonderous afternoon whereever you may be, rain or shine,

Sam

 

Atmosphere- Leigh Viner (c)

 

 

 

 

Ashley Summer Photography

Feature: Ashley Summer Photography

A Lovely Couple -Ashley Summer Photography (C)

I awoke in a dazy spring dream this week, and I was sitting on the edge of the Adige River, in the fair city of Verona, Italy. And, without a moment to spare, I saw the ghosts of Romeo, and Juliet, and the house of the Capulets. A breath of fresh air overcame me, and in an instant, I realized my dream was but a dream inspired by the insight of a young and awe-inspiring photographer by the name of Ashley Summer.

 A Fallen Angel -Ashley Summer Photography

Ashley, who lives in Rome, Italy, provides an innate capacity to provide for those of us who live half way across the world with such beautiful photography that one thinks they are in Italy without reason to believe otherwise.

  

A Winter Letter - Ashley Summer Photography 

Upon stumbling across Ashley’s work, I for one have seen a talent that can only be inherently instilled, and without such an eye for detail, in moments, and in life, that other photographer who would otherwise try to ‘capture life’ come nowhere near her remarkable still life shots.

  Feeding Time-Ashley Summer Photography

So, for now I will leave her photography rest in the moments of time, and her shop Ashley Summer Photography is ready to have the willing adore, and adorn her works on your walls. Her blog follows her steps during the process, and provides for a lazy Sunday afternoon read.

Ashley your work is both beautiful and captivating!

A Lonley Vespa - Ashley Summer Photography (c)