I had a meeting with a client yesterday and was presented with the usual dilemma of what to wear.  Fortunately, the business end of it was solid and secure, but switching from my usual private “barn clothes”, that are OH so comfortable, is always a challenge, especially since I usually work from the comforts of my home or out in the field, literally.

It was so much easier as a public education “official” — suits and heels, at least in my day.  For fifteen years I walked the halls of my schools in high heels and it has taken me the last ten years away from them to get my hips and feet in healthy condition.

I  bristle a little when I interview people for a story and they appear in sweat pants or torn jeans and dirty shirt, especially when they know I’ll be photographing them for a publication.   Photoshop can only do so much, after all, and it’s seldom a matter of finances on their part. Sometimes they simply don’t know better, but always, it’s a matter of time and courtesy.

My students used to ask me why I dressed up all the time and didn’t wear jeans and tee shirts like others.  I would reply that I respected them too much to not dress well –after all, they have to look at me when I’m teaching.  So the whole picture should be pleasing to the eye.

Sadly, we seem to have forgotten so many common courtesies today.  Everything is about how “we” feel.  Can we not be a little bit uncomfortable because we respect other people enough to NOT expose our floppy boobs under a torn, thin and faded tee shirt, or the crack of our butts over droopy pants?

It would be nice for the pendulum to swing a little toward the middle — a happy medium where we remember that good grooming and dressing is also for the “viewer experience” not because we care what they think of us, but because we respect them enough to not present them with the vision of a “slug.”

It took me a long time to feel comfortable about wearing jeans –we wore them to ride horses, after all, not to go on a date or to the theater.  Today, clean and well-fitting jeans are part of my day-to-day public outfit, and that’s exactly what I felt would be appropriate for my meeting.

I knew I would be in a very rural area, so I wore a comfortable pair of  brightly polished sport shoes, topped the jeans with a black sweater with gold-toned buttons.  The finishing touch was a simple pearl choker and matching earrings.  Adding appropriate make-up and lipstick, I was out the door and ready –comfortable and still appropriate and pleasing to the eye, if I say so myself!

*********************************************************

Read Helene’s guest post on Black Star Rising — the leap from photographer to publisher.

Newly released limited edition prints will be available through February 2013 only.  Order now to have them ready for Christmas!  Coming soon:  purchase directly from this site . . . stay tuned!  Framed versions are on display in the newly remodeled lobby of  HAIR WE ARE  on Mechem in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

More photos from Bosque del Apache as (previously published on “Helene’s Scene” in Ruidoso News Vamanos and republished in the posh and optimistically intelligent online magazine, VIVACINI!) .   Read Jewel of the Desert.  For more stories by Helene that were previously published in Vamanos and additional photos, go here: Helene’s Scene.  This site is much more attractive than newsprint!

Now booking engagement sessions and spring weddings!  Time slots are limited since I am focusing more on my artistic photography, so book early.   Check out the Wedding and Lifestyle site link, or complete this contact form:  Request for Information.

It was the coldest night of season and I awoke at 5:30 this morning and turned on the TV to watch “Balalaika” with Nelson Eddy, from under a warm down comforter and snuggled among my doggies.   A point of clarification, Nelson Eddy is in the movie, not in my bed.

I grew up with the Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald musicals, and Balalaika (costar is Ilona Massey) was always one of my favorites, and my mom’s, because it reminded her of her childhood home.  Even though I have most of the movies on tape or DVD, it always feels like a gift from the universe when a network decides to show one.

The film ended in time for to hop out of bed, feed the horses their breakfast, and grab my camera to check out what wildlife were visiting.

It was one gift after another . . . a small herd of deer against the morning sun peaking behind the hill, ice sparkling in the snow like tiny precious jewels, a couple of bluebirds perched in the sunlight,  a cheery robin promising that spring is truly on the way, frost clinging to the heads of dry blue gama grass, a brilliant blue sky, and crisp, clean mountain air.

What a beautiful world!  So full of treasure and magic . . . as long as we take the time to notice and accept.

-fine-

The poor mom who made this prank video was so frowned upon because she had made her son cry, with the concensus being that is was a “cruel prank”.  Her response was that she wanted her son to have a healthy sense of humor — a valid point.  Let’s cut this parent some slack, for God’s sake.

With  an 8-year old looking at a $50,000 car on ebay, a “mistake” purchase is certainly a possibility?  Perhaps he was warned several times about going on ebay  and was pushing the limits a little.  Al least his mom was checking his browsing history.  How many of you do that for your child?  After this little “wake up call,”  he’ll remember to be more careful about ebay the next time he’s surfing auctions.  Pretty good lesson to learn.

Secondly, he took his action seriously, did not try to push the blame on somebody else.  He took responsibility for his “mistake” and his biggest concern was  that the family would have to sell everything to pay for the purchase –this shows bonding with the family and concern for the welfare of others.  In my book, this parent has already instilled some pretty good values in her son.

Just because a child cries does not mean he or she has been traumatized for life. Many times it’s when a child doesn’t or can’t cry that indicates a problem.  A parent’s job is to keep their child safe from obvious threats and teach them how to weather life’s bad times,  not to put them in a bubble and “protect” them from any of life’s discomforts.  They’re supposed to be the safety net for their kids when life deals them a bad blow.  Children shouldn’t be sheltered from the lessons that will shape them into caring individuals, and that includes teaching them to have a healthy sense of humor.

Kudos for this mom for taking this on.  If you really look at the interaction, as soon as the prank was over, he bounced right back, laughing and with both parents joking with him.   As far as his being humiliated, he’ll look back on this video and laugh at himself because he will have been taught the lighter side of life.

I doubt that he will grow into someone who will walk into a school, movie theater or temple and mow down dozens of innocent people with an assault weapon.

I first participated in Project 365 in 2011 –one photo for each day of the year, and then modified it in 2012 to include writing.

As I looked back over the years’ work and the photos I selected as my POTD (Photo of the Day), I realized how much I had grown in skill and vision, how much photography is still a joyous part of my daily life, and how much more there is to discover not only in photography but in this fabulous world.

I go nowhere without my camera. .  . it’s almost become another “limb!” Never once did I consider it a “chore” to make a photo, and my camera and photography have become as much a part of my daily routine as caring for my dogs and horses. I’ve pushed the boundaries of my photographic techniques and developed an almost insatiable appetite for learning more.  I’ve recaptured a new sense of wonder. . . something that has so enriched every aspect of my life.

There were also significant benefits in addition to feeling great about completing something in an honest and timely manner.  The first was a substantial portfolio of my images posted on my photo blog (www.ohkphoto.com), which made it easy for potential clients to view samples of my work. The other was a little more subtle and appeared only after I analyzed and reflected on why some of my photos touched me more than others.  I discovered something extraordinary, at least for me,  about creativity.

We can be told a hundred times that when creativity seems to be blocked, we need to just “work through it.”  I was always puzzled as to how one does that.    How long should a writer sit and look at a blank sheet of paper until the words begin to arrive?  It’s different for everyone and for their craft.  For me there were two parts to the solution for “creativity drought.”

One was to simply “push through” the 365 day project, regardless of mood, weather or circumstance. More than once, to not miss a day of the project, I climbed out of a warm bed at 11:45 PM and awakened the dogs to pose them for a photo I should have taken earlier that day but had other priorities. So several of my photos show 11:59 PM as the “time taken” –just under the wire for POTD.  One unfortunate day I was so sick with some kind of stomach virus . . . my photo on that day was a shot of the Pepto bottle –about as attractive a subject as I was that day, and certainly fits in the category of “desperation shot.”  That’s what it means to “push” through a project.

The other and equally important part of the formula was to “relax into the block” . . . a very tenuous line, that little area of stasis between “pushing” and “relaxing.”  I discovered that some of my best photos resulted from “failed” efforts such as searching for a suitable subject for a theme-based photo and coming up with “zilch.”  However, by relaxing, recognizing and listening to the quiet little voice within, I always found something better.

There is one more gift I received from completing the project.  The free flow of inspiration and creativity that infused my photography, now spread into other areas of my life . . . writing, crafts, cooking, publishing, and even housework!

So, will I do it again for 2013?  You bet I am. The opportunity for growth is just too great to not do it. And for me, there is something magical about starting a project on the first of the year.

Photography, or any other art form,  is much like life . . . you never “arrive” and it’s the journey that matters. In either case, if you ever believe you’ve “arrived,” then you’re “finished” in more ways than one.

Happy New Year, and here’s to boundless creativity and inspiration for 2013!  Enjoy the journey!

Dear Autobody Ruidoso,

I’m a woman with a pick-up truck and while I admit to not having the love affair with my vehicle as most likely you gentlemen have with yours, I do love my truck.  I just didn’t realize how much until someone backed into me.  I agonized every time I looked at the unsightly scene, but you reassured me that you had seen worse and quickly scheduled me in.

On Friday I picked up my truck and was delighted and amazed at the beautiful job . . . not a trace whatsoever of any damage.   I was so happy to see this beautiful work.

But what touched me the most, was what I noticed on my way home and when I got to my gate.  I noticed that someone had taken the time to “degunk” my headlights . . . the light now shone through them.( I was told a long time ago that I would have to replace the headlamps –now I won ‘t have to.)   My instrument panel was nicely free of New Mexico backroad dust, and  my squeaky door no longer made that “inner sanctum” noise when I opened and closed it . . . I knew I had several cans of WD40 but couldn’t find a single one.

You didn’t just notice these little things, you were thoughtful enough to fix them, without even  telling me, and to me, that is certainly the epitome of customer service.

Thank you for caring about me.  You now have not only a loyal customer, but a friend who trusts you.

We’re rapidly approaching the end of one year, and getting ready to launch a new one. . . that time again when we examine the old and make promises for the new.

The last few months especially have been a whirlwind  . . .nationally, as well as for me on a personal level. The media, as always, will recap the highlights of 2012 ad nauseum, and every network will add its own spin to the same events.  For me though, what stands out the most are the oxymoronic absurdities that took the airwaves by storm these last few months,  and that should maybe be pondered if for nothing else but sheer entertainment:

Scientific research confirmed what we women have known for a long time . . . when presented with a vision of the woman a man is in love (or in lust) with, blood flow to the executive, decision-making frontal cortex of the man’s brain is greatly diminished . . . probably totally shut off in some cases (General Petraeus)

While Israel and Hamas launched missiles at each other with many lives lost, Americans bemoaned the loss of the Twinkie.  At the time of this writing, there is talk that management and unions are going to reconsider restructuring to salvage the company . . . reports that Twinkies can survive a nuclear explosion may be exaggerated, but they can certainly survive a bankruptcy and liquidation.

Free enterprise and capitalism still reign in the good ole’ USA . . . as soon as Hostess announced its shutdown, millions raced to stock up on Hostess products.  Some are now reselling them on Craigslist and Ebay at a hefty profit.  If, as in the above statement, Hostess survives, there will be a lot of people eating twinkies for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

China’s response to workers’ suicide jumps from computer factory windows was to put nets over the streets.

Rich and powerful men who never had to work or endure hardships, do not understand that the majority of Americans cannot be bought and that they still value the principles on which this country was founded.  (Obama won re-election even though Romney’s campaign outspent Obama’s by 50 billion dollars;  post election Romney then attributed his loss to the “gifts” Obama gave certain factions of the electorate)

Regardless of how stupid your message may be, if you’re a politician, make sure you hold a press conference to let the world know that you’re “staying the course” and that “trees” have nothing to do with a “forest.” (John McCain skipped the Benghazi intelligence briefing to hold a press conference so that he could publicly bash the administration for not holding enough  intelligence briefings about the Benghazi situation)

The intelligence and class of some pompous, wealthy men with bad hairpieces is the multiplicative inverse of their wealth. (Donald Trump’s election tweets and “birther bribe” . . . ’nuff said)

Humor and absurdity are part of the fabric of American life.  We all may do stupid things, but we are certainly not afraid to step back and poke some fun at ourselves.   This is why the comedians of irreverence like Jon Stewart et al, continue to thrive.

Irreverence is healthy.  I’m not talking about the blatantly stupid insults shown by  fame seekers such as the woman literally disrespecting Arlington National Cemetery for the sake of a “funny photo” to post on Facebook.  That’s just plain lack of class and common courtesy.  The irreverence I’m referring to is our delightful propensity for making light of ideas and philosophies not because we want to offend those who hold them in such esteem, but because it is part of our right to free thought — a freedom that is as important, if not more so,  as free speech.  When we’re able to remove the “sacredness” that seems to be attached to some ideas, step back and look at those same ideas with a little bit of irreverence, then we take the first step toward free and independent thinking.

Some of my most favorite movies are about intelligent life elsewhere in the universe such as “Starman”, “Contact,” etc.  and most of these stories share a common theme about the human species.  In the words of “Starman”, “you are at your best when things are at their worst.”

Fortunately for us, we’ve proven that over the millenia.  And whether we survive “doomsday” and the “fiscal cliff” or not. . . enough of us will hopefully be around to “be at our best” again.

Impermanence is the stuff of life, which by its very definition is change.  Nature reminds us of this each time we transition from one season into the other.  We readily accept the golden aspen leaves of autumn, the apple blossoms in spring, the crisp frosty mornings of winter, yet fight change in the most common everyday, sometimes insignificant areas of our life.  But it still happens, just as life does.

Animals seem to be so much more in tune with nature’s rhythms.  Dogs know long before we do when a storm approaches, and other animals, wild as well as domestic such as horses, are quick to sense a change in barometric pressure.

When the tsunami hit Southeast Asia in 2004, there were countless stories of wildlife leaving the area for safer ground long before humans were aware of what loomed on the horizon.  One of the most amusing involved a group of Japanese tourists who were on elephant rides.  The whole herd of elephants, refusing to be controlled by their handlers, calmly and stubbornly headed for higher ground, taking along the stressed passengers on their backs –the tourists later expressed their gratitude for being saved.

In a time long ago when we lived closer to nature, we, too, were more aware of the moods and nuances  —the almost imperceptible shift in a breeze, the change in a bird’s song, the increased activity and playfulness in a herd of deer, the ever vigilant wild stallion turning to snort the new smells that the southern wind carries.

More than any other season, autumn seems to remind us to slow down a little.  The heady and sporadic days of summer, once filled with wild vacations and global trekking, are now tucked into our memories, and we seem to settle into the routine of daily life.  It’s almost as if Mother Nature is saying to us: “Now is my time.  I’ve put on my best ballroom gown.  Come, dance with me.”

So as the chill settles into the air, maybe we should all take the time to learn from all that live with and love nature . . . cherish the day in front of you.  Our lives become much fuller when we embrace change and remember that it is an impetus for growth.  Like the day transforming into night, and the green carpets of the hillsides turning to the rust and amber of autumn grasses and wildflowers, change is as normal and beautiful as life itself and brings its own magical gifts.

Published in the online magazine Vivacini! on September 21, 2012.

SWWYXX9ERPCC

Technorati seems like a very classy and professional site, so I’m looking forward to seeing this blog listed there.

Special Offer THROUGH OCTOBER ONLY

Set up a photo shoot shoot of your choice (glamour, lifestyle, senior, on location) for you and your best friend and split the cost.

A one-hour session costs $150 and gets each of you a free personal use license and download of 3 different poses (min 15 photos) plus a $10 product credit for each of you.

To redeem this offer, complete the contact form and enter FBOCT2012 in the subject line.