Favorites from Wednesday in Paris

Here are a few of my pictures from Wednesday, April 29th when the class came to Paris for the morning.

No, I did not Photoshop or use any kind of a filter on the mannequin.

The final 6

Will you help me decide which 6 photos to work on for the final?

Let me know if you think I need to start completely over and try some more. I feel as if I have completely lost my confidence over the course of this semester.

My website

www.paristexasphotos.com

A Million Little Pictures

Opportunity to Participate in Documentary

1,000 artists documenting 1,000 lives from around the world

Art House is looking for 1,000 people from around the world to receive 1000 disposable cameras. We'll mail the camera to you to document your life in 24 exposures and then you simply send us back the prints. Not only will we have the exhibition here in Atlanta, we will also travel to the city with the most participants. Soooooo, tell your friends, mom, sister, cousin, or whoever to sign up. The exhibition will be home to 24,000 photographs of 1,000 peoples lives all over the world.

For more information on the project and to sign up, please go to:

http://www.amillionlittlepictures.com!

Sign up Deadline: July 1st 2009

Postmark Deadline: September 1st 2009

To sign up to participate, visit:

http://www.amillionlittlepictures.com

Art House projects have been featured on CNN and Current tv and in Juxtapoz Magazine, Good Magazine, Urban Outfitters blog, Yahoo Daily Wire, Atlanta Magazine and National Geographic's Intelligent Traveler.

Check out their website for more information about how to get involved:

http://www.arthousecoop.com

How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci

by Michael J. Gelb

I bought Gelb's book this weekend. Even though I've just begun reading it I can tell that it is going to be one of those books I read more than once.

According to the author, da Vinci kept notebooks full of his writings, sketches and reflections. From these notebooks and works, seven da Vincian principals are explored:

1. Curiosita- An insatiably curious approach to life and an unrelenting quest for continuous learning.


2. Dimostrazion- Willingness to learn from mistakes.


3. Sensazione- Continual refinement of the senses.


4. Sfumato- Willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox and uncertainty.


5. Arte/Scienza- The development of the balance between science and art, logic and imagination.


6. Corporalita- The cultivation of grace, ambidexterity, fitness and poise.


7. Connession- A recognition and appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things and phenomena.

The book has questions that are designed to stimulate thinking and inspire you. There is also an annotated reading list and resource guide.

"I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do." Leonardo da Vinci

Do you know the significance of 4:20?

April 20th is on it's way to being a national holiday.

My twins were born on April 20th. All of their friends are jealous. When they get carded at clubs, they more often than not get a comment on their birth date.

According to today's New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/us/20marijuana.html?ref=health, "April 20 has long been an unofficial day of celebration for marijuana fans, an occasion for campus smoke-outs, concerts and cannabis festivals. But some advocates of legal marijuana say this year’s “high holiday” carries extra significance as they sense increasing momentum toward acceptance of the drug, either as medicine or entertainment."

I was never an advocate of the legalization of marijuana until I was diagnosed with MS in 1992. If I lived in California I could legally obtain the drug or a derivitive of the drug for my MS. The chemical, cannabinoid, can greatly assist those with pain and spacticity at a lower cost than many other drug therapies that are currently on the market. Inteferon, the drug most often prescribed for MS patients averages about $1,200 per month. Once many are on the drug they must stay on the medication for life. My insurance won't pay for the entire cost of the drug for me. So, I am not on medication.

The clinical trials on THC and the 60 deriviatives from the chemicals in marijuana are just now being funded in earnest.

It will be interesting to watch the research results and learn about the benefits that might be derived for people not only with MS but also for those suffering with cancer and aids.

It is time for America to consider pot not as evil but to be able to scientifically evaluate whether it is helpful to those with major medical illnesses.

Unlikely Singer

YouTube Sensation

The real "never been kissed" 47 year old from Britain's Got Talent is one of the most popular hits on YouTube.

youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY.

The New York Times has an article about the over-night phenomenon at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/arts/television/18boyle.html?scp=4&sq=Britans%20got%20talent&st=cse.

She now has her very own fan website! http://www.susan-boyle.com/

Everyone in our office was mesmerized by Susan Boyle on YouTube singing "I Dreamed A Dream" last week. We watched it over and over and then discussed the audience and the judge's reaction to her performance. Miss Boyle kept her composure even though everyone was smirking and rolling their eyes and was gracious when showered by the applause.

I wonder if her tryout for the program was indicative of her performance on stage.

Yea. Her.

For some reason, I can not get this blog to edit correctly. My apologies how the blog looks on your screen.

Website Map

ParisTexasPhotos.com

The website map includes:

1. Home- Artist Statement
2. Signs of Paris - Invitation to Show and Examples of Photographs
3. Portfolio - Examples of Work
4. Services - List of Photographic Services available
5. Contact - Page to send an email and contact photographer

Plays well by self.

Picasso Ginger

I'm a little embarrassed to publish this post especially after complaining in class last Wednesday that I had taken enough pictures of myself.

Well, David and I went to Dallas on Sunday and I stayed in the car while he went into REI and Plano Bike Mart to shop. I opened up my laptop and just started playing with one of my pictures from the Self-Portrait assignment. Using bits and pieces I tried to do a cube-like picture from the David Hockney assignment.

I'm not an artist but I sure had fun playing all by myself.

Artist Statement

Ginger Cook
Artist Statement & Explanation of Bodies of work

When the Paris, Texas City Council passed a sign ordinance in the fall of 2005 requiring all signs from businesses no longer in operation to be taken down, I decided to document and take pictures of the signs in Paris before they were gone.

My first picture was of the Grand Theater sign on Lamar Avenue. One night from way in the back of the room, my photography teacher at Paris Junior College, Marvin Gorley, saw the picture of the Grand and asked if I might be willing to donate a copy of the picture to a fund raiser for Downtown Paris. The 1920’s porcelain with neon sign is on a building that has been vacant since 1998. The picture sold, funds were raised for downtown and I have taken over 250 pictures of Paris signs since.

From May 18 through May 30, 2009, an exhibit of the Signs of Paris will be on display at the Plaza Art Gallery, 8 West Plaza, Paris, Texas (903.737.9699). A reception is planned on May 21, 2009 from 5 to 7 pm. Please come and see the pictures and have some tasty treats.

Other bodies of work include:

• People of Paris
• Landscapes of Lamar County
• Cancer Survivors
• Buildings around Paris designed by architect, Bill Lightfoot

Currently, I am taking Photo 111 at Texas A & M Commerce with Vaughn Wascovich.

Fav Websites

Favorite Photographer Websites:

1. http://andrzejdragan.com/

My favorite by far. This is one of the photographers chosen for the Photographing Strangers project.

2. http://www.linnealenkus.com/

The simplicity, the quality of the pictures, the blog link and the ease of finding the contact information is appealing.

3. http://www.richardbrownphoto.com/

Again, the simplicity, the dark grey and light blue holds my interest. The client list is a nice touch.

4. http://www.joshnorrisphotography.com/

Great picture on the pop-up. The music is nice too.

5. http://www.herbritts.com/

The picture made me stop and look.

6. http://www.denisreggie.com/

The flash at startup is well done.

7. http://www.tomhoops.com/

The website makes it compelling to look at the picture.

8. http://www.krijtenberg.nl/

The way the links are in the picture is really creative.

9. http://www.jeremycowart.com/

The six pictures representing the types of services are well chosen.

10. http://www.markvelasquez.com/

I like the idea of the photo of the week. It might make people visit the website often.

Wow.

I want a Vook for Christmas. Did you read the article in the New York Times about Bradley Inman and his new platform for e-books? This handy-dandy thing has text, videos and twitter all rolled into one.

Times are changing and apparently books are not immune from progress. Gutenburg and his 1440 press will soon be like the rotary dial phones from a couple of decades ago. The information freeway is under construction once again.

I know, people want to be able to hold a book and experience the feel of turning the pages. I like to hold a newspaper in my hands, so I really do understand. But I also think this platform opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for writers and for readers.

This gives a whole new meaning for bedtime stories!

Double images assignment.

In the style of Kelli Connell.

I can not even begin to tell you how much I don't want to put these images up on this blog site.

But I am here to stretch my comfort zone. Well, consider my zone stretched.

Some people from class did a GREAT job on this assignment. Although my pictures didn't turn out all that great, I did learn how to use masks in PhotoShop. This little skill in and of itself was worth the time on the project.

It won't take you long to see that lately I am either at home or at work. With the economic stimulus packages coming down the pipes, we are busy, busy, busy. I go to work about 6 am and don't quit until after midnight even on the weekends. I am so tired that I took pictures of me cooking supper so that I could get my assignment done and my husband could have something to eat.

David Hockney-ish class photos

Eddie and his cat.

These pictures are from a park full of all different colors of trailers in Paris, Texas.

Eddie, from next door watched my every step as I took his neighbor, Betty's trailer house for about 3 or 4 days.

When I went back over to the trailer park after photography class to ask Eddie if I could take a picture of him and his trailer house, he was ready for me. He had already gone through all the neighbor's trash cans until he found a doll so that I could put it in his picture. He also chased his cat around for about 30 minutes until he caught it so it could be included. Betty had her dog in her picture. However, the cat did not want any part of having some strange fat lady take his picture. I snapped the picture and the cat was gone to watch from under the light green trailer across the way.

Because I had to go back to Betty's trailer several times to get just the right pictures, I brought her a geranium as a thank you gift for her trouble. Eddie was even ready for this possibility. When I asked him if I could get him a thank you gift, he handed me a small torn piece of notebook paper that had two things on it. 1. Rose Fertilizer. 2. Okra seeds. He had apparently thought long and hard about just what he needed. Practical.

Eddie is kind of the leader of the trailer park. He is the go-to guy of the neighborhood. I haven't gotten back my final print that I turned in yet. But when I do, I am going to take it over to show Eddie. I think I'll pick up some Miracle Grow to take along with me.

Tricia, my son's ex-girlfriend

This is going to sound like a potential Jerry Springer show. When my son and his girlfriend broke up several years ago, she and I remained friends. In fact, when I opened up my business she worked for me for about 8 or 9 years.

When I first learned about this assignment I asked Tricia if she would mind helping. I wanted to take some nude photos of my ex-secretary who was my son's ex-girlfriend. She said agreed and we took the photos. I paid her $50 for being willing take her clothes off during her lunch hour and sit on the table in my office.

The shoot turned out to not be quite what Vaughn wanted for the assignment. Well, I had to call her back and ask her if she would be willing to do it again. She was willing but her husband was not. This time we had to cover her with a black scarf.

I can only imagine what he was thinking when I called her back for a second time!