CINDY'S WORLD

Opening Night at MSY Gallery

2009-11-15T11:53:00.000-08:00

My exhibit "Mates" opened last night at gallery@MSY in Pasadena. It's a busy time of year so the crowd was small however, I found there are many terrific benefits of having fewer people at this type of event.

I was able to interact personally with nearly every person who came by the gallery
People could ask me a lot of questions about the work and we could have thoughtful conversations about individual images, their reactions to specific images and their own experiences with the art
I had time to catch up with friends I only get to see occasionally
there was plenty of beer for each attendee!!!

I was really pleased with how the work looked curated in the space. At the outset I was concerned about the mixture of framed and unframed images but Catharine and Marilyn did a fabulous job of mixing and matching. I also liked that people were able to see the work up close and personal enough to make comments on how the papers textural effects actually contribute to the feeling of the image.

Good news for those of you who were unable to attend.... We are going to have a closing reception as well. The show is up for the next two months, (till Jan 7) so please drop by the gallery to view it. Stay tuned for a closing reception date in the first week of January! If you aren't on my mailing list, email me so that I can put you on it for that announcement.

Curator Marilyn (with the ponytail)

Curator Catharine (l)

Mike sampling the interesting global brews (Big bottles only - No 6 packs for this crowd!)

Everyone's favourite guest - Dodger, Mike's black Lab!

Yes, the iphone geeks had to compare apps and out app each other!!!

There were also facebook status updates going on.

Dodger is just trying to catch a few zzzz's. Don on the other hand, he's trying out the cat sounds app to see if he can get a rise out of the dog. No Luck. Dodger is serious about his down time.

Jerome, asking brilliant questions about art of course!!

Anita and Catharine are friends, photographers, artists, neighbours and have tonnes in common, but they couldn't help laughing hysterically at the blatant visual example, (shown by their footwear), of how very differently they present themselves to the world. Anita's shoes are brightly coloured sky high heels with tassles and a funky zipper in the back. When she's not wearing this kind of attire, she says she is barefoot. Catharine's boots are weathered and worn in, comfy-looking low-heeled affairs one could wear from the paddock to the gallery. Both women looked incredible and we had a blast with this visual!!!

Thanks so very much to everyone who came. I'm always honoured by your support for my work and for art in general. All the images are for sale through Catharine and Marilyn at gallery@MSY as well as on my Online SmugMug Gallery.

New Exhibit

2009-11-05T15:10:00.000-08:00

I've got a new show going up in Pasadena. Opening is next weekend, Nov 14, 2009. Please join me, I'd love to see you there. The exhibit is some of my holga work from the mates collection.

I'm a New Fan of Jill-E

2009-11-03T09:55:00.000-08:00

I've been eyeing some new camera equipment and photo gear lately. Imagine my excitement when the very rolling bag that I had earmarked as "when I have a spare $300 bucks, THIS is the bag I'll get", was on for a ridiculously low sale price at Pro Photo Connection here in Orange County.

Introducing my new bag from Jill-E Designs....

And introducing the fabulous sale price....

Now ... where can I find me the new Nikon D3S on sale ??? Oh yea - It hasn't even been released yet!!!

Now Reading...

2009-11-01T21:17:00.000-08:00

I finished A Thousand Splendid Suns a few weeks ago and sent it off to my mother who immediately started reading it. (Yes, that is where I get my love of reading from).

This week I started a few more books. I'm reading Buddha 9-5, which fits in perfectly with my current (and ever present), existential struggle between art and commerce. In this business book, Buddism's eightfold path is used as a guide to assist in enlightening one's workplace while improving the bottom line.

The second book I started recently is Good Neighbours, Bad Times. In this book, authour Mimi Schwartz, delves into her family's German-Jewish past and expolres the truth behind accounts of a village in Germany where, according to her father, "before Hitler, everyone got along".

Homemade Pizza

2009-10-31T20:24:00.001-07:00

Bruce threw me the change up tonight. (I'm using a baseball metaphor to sway those of you glued to the TV during the World Series, towards my blog post instead!!)

I said I was making brown rice and roasted squash for dinner and he said how about homemade pizza instead? I love homemade pizza and I love Bruce ... so how could I resist?

I was so pleased with the results tonight, I had to photograph the yumminess. The crust was perfect, (my secret recipe with beer in the yeasted dough), and the toppings were divine. (if I do say so myself)

My pizza is always a creation of interesting elements from things we have in the garden, fridge and pantry. Bruce's pizza never changes. B's pizza has tomato sauce (not too much), pepperoni, black olives and mozzarella cheese. I couldn't resist being creative with even his "ol standard" tonight so I tossed on some provolone cheese and some pancetta. He loved it!!!

My pizza came together like this: fennel and red onion, (sliced thinly on the mandoline, then sauteed in extra virgin olive oil), fresh basil and rosemary from the garden, feta cheese and a bit of chili marinated fresh bocconcini cheese. Sprinkle a bit of coarse sea salt on top. And a final drizzle of the best olive oil on the planet before popping it into the oven on the hot pizza stone.

Bon Appetit!

Pollution Effects 101

2009-10-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

This is what I'm talking about people.... Birds eat our toxic garbage, feed it to their young and die in massive numbers. It is tragic and disgusting and completely anthropocentric and we are all to blame.

Stop buying and using so much crap. Be conscientious about disposing of the crap you have. Think about the long term effects of every single little thing you put your grubby little hands on and choose to have in your life. The birds and the oceans will thank you. And so will I. And maybe even our children, and their children.

All photographs copyright Chris Jordan.

See more of this amazing photography work called Midway, Message from the Gyre, here at Chris's website. Read about the tragedy of the Pacific Atoll, commonly referred to as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, here. And then watch this video. Cuz you can't have too much information on this topic in your brain next time you reach for a plastic water bottle.

Contest ENDS Midnight Tonight – VOTE NOW!

2009-10-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Animal Lovers and fellow Canadians (and if any of you reading don't fit into those two categories - I'm talking to you too!!)

Please check out Battle of the REI Blogs and vote for Julie Broad so that she will win this contest and donate $500 to animal rescue/shelter efforts! It will only take about 60 seconds. All you have to do is type who your favourite blogger is (that's Julie Broad), in the Comment section at the bottom of the MustKnowInvesting.com page. It's that easy. You don't have to log in or sign up. Just copy and paste her name. Do it now. Do it for the Doggies.

Thanks to all of you who have already voted!

photo: Julie Broad

ViewBook PhotoStory Winners Announced

2009-10-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

The ViewBook PhotoStory Winners were announced this week... I wasn't one of them but I wanted to follow-up and thank everyone who voted for me. The winning projects are very unique and I particularly enjoyed the documentary project called SAPE by Francesco Giusti which he shot in the Congo.

now read this... (and a trip diary from San Francisco)

2009-10-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

I'm reading two books concurrently right now. They are from different genres but I'm passionate about both of them.
The first one is a photography book. "Looking In" is the story of Robert Frank's most famous work, "The Americans". It's a gorgeous hardcover with the entire collection of "The Americans" printed in it as well as many of Frank's contact sheets.

I bought the book when I saw the "Making of the Americans" exhibit in San Francisco at MOMA in July. I've always loved this work but seeing the exhibit made me love Robert Frank and his photography even more. I went to San Francisco with my sweetie, Bruce, for the weekend. Although the exhibit was the impeteous for the get-away, there were many other amazing things we did in San Fran.

We stayed in a new part of town for us and it was really fabulous. Our hotel was the Stanyon Park Hotel right at the entrance of Golden Gate Park and in Haight Ashbury. My amazing partner not only took me to the city to see art but he wined and dined me too. As soon as we got to town we checked into our hotel and then had to find food; we were starving. We wandered up Haight Street and found The Citrus Club Noodle House. Fantastic lunch time noodles!
Later we rented bikes and rode all through the park stopping at the Beach Chalet/Park Chalet for beers mid afternoon. As the names suggest, The Beach Chalet faces the Pacific and the Park Chalet faces... you guessed it, Golden Gate Park. The Beach Chalet was packed with tourists and The Park Chalet was packed with locals. Of course we hung with the locals and faced the Park!!!

My fav dinner that weekend took place at Thanh Long also right on the edge of Golden Gate Park. We ate the same thing that almost every table there gets.... the most amazing Roast Crab, (from their Secret Kitchen Dishes menu), and the An Family world famous garlic noodles.

Now everyone knows that San Francisco is freezing in the summer, (you know "the marine layer" and all that fog...), and I KNOW that San Fran is freezing in the summer and my husband grew up in the Bay area for crying out loud, and yet, we still did not pack enough cool weather clothing for a weekend in this neighbourhood. With temps in the 50's, we had to go shopping. Off we went to the Haight again. Bruce and I bought jackets and I got a pair of jeans at Villians. It was much groovier than any of the shops I usually purchase clothes in but hey, we were in the Haight!

Another thing I love to do when I'm in San Francisco is head down to the Embarcadero and visit the Ferry Building. After seeing the Robert Frank exhibit at MOMA we strolled down Mission Street till we got there. Along the way we saw some great public sculpture. The work was by Ugo Rondinone who, it turns out, is a Swiss born artist! I guess it was Swiss art day in San Francisco. Anyway, I got in big trouble by both the security guard and Bruce for getting way too close to the art. But I did get these shots!!

The Embarcadero was packed and we were tired (especially me carrying that hardcover Art book and another hardcover Lonely Planet Travel book I bought for Bruce as a surprise). So we quickly snaked through the farmers market and snuck into a quiet back table at Imperial Tea Court where we refreshed ourselves from what was now the first hot weather of our weekend. This part of town was 80 degrees and sunny!!! Of course, we were over dressed! Regardless, I managed to pick up my favourite olive oil at I Preferiti Do Boriana and a few of the most delectable chocolates you will ever eat at Recchiuti Confections before we left the rest of the tourists behind and took the Bart back to our part of town.

Ah yes, back to the main topic of this post.....
The second book I'm reading is "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini. This novel was recommended to me by my best friend Tanya on our whirlwind visit this summer to Powell Books in Portland. The trip wasn't whirlwind but our time in Powell Books sure was. Imagine two book nerds on their first trip to Powell's with only 45 minutes to shop before closing.... well you'll have to imagine till I get that story written! Coming soon... Summer Road Trips along the West Coast of US and Canada.

Regular Daily Meditation Practice

2009-10-08T19:40:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan/practitioner/friend of the practice of meditation but like everyone I know who "sits", sometimes I go days, even weeks without meditating. I long ago stopped berating myself for these lapses in my practice schedule but I still like reminders of why regular daily practice is important. This article on the Mindful Mom Website by Diana Winston is a great reminder about why it's difficult to sit regularly and why despite the difficulty, it's imperative to do so. Enjoy the article and the journey.... Ohmmmmmm

Sunrise, Angkor Wat, Cambodia, 2006 copyright: Cindy Schafer

New Artist Discovery: Andy Freeberg

2009-10-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

Today I came across the work of Andy Freeberg. His Guardians collections is WONDERFUL!!! He captures images of the women who work in Russian art galleries guarding the art work. It's so fun and beautiful and culturally interesting to me.

I saw the work in Magenta Magazine Online which was also a new discovery and an interesting find. I'm posting a few of my favs from his Guardians work but please visit Andy's website and take a look at his work on Magenta as well.

All images © Andy Freeberg

From his Artist Statement about the collection:

In the art museums of Russia, women sit in the galleries and guard the collections. When you look at the paintings and sculptures, the presence of the women becomes an inherent part of viewing the artwork itself. I found the guards as intriguing to observe as the pieces they watch over.

Vote For Laundry

2009-10-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

My fine art series depicting laundry around the world has been entered into the Viewbook Photostory International Competition. There is a public voting component as well as judging by an international panel of judges. Please vote for me by clicking here, scrolling down and following the voting instructions. It won't take more than 10 seconds. Thanks for your vote.

Moving on from Snacks...

2009-10-02T12:08:00.000-07:00

Moving on from my snack choices.... Here is something I found particularly inspirational. Click on the title to see the complete and original blog post.

From: You Can Change the World - How to Get Started

By: Patty Stonesifer

Mahatma Gandhi: “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”   

If we want to change the world, we have to start with ourselves.   Starting with ourselves means doing some self inventory. Here’s a way to begin – analyze and answer three questions:

· What do I value most? (Whether education, universal health care, or something else.)

· What is the gap between today’s reality and the value I hold most dear – and why?

· What issue can I work on that could be the “bridge” between the world we have and the world I want?

Next, think carefully about how you can use your money, time and voice to make an impact on this issue.

How can I use my money on this issue?

Consider a range of options – personal giving is certainly part of it, but so are our spending habits, the companies we choose to support, or harnessing our entrepreneurial skills for others.

How can I use my time on this issue?

Is there an hour or two in your week that could benefit others? What about how we spend our time learning or reading? Is there a way to design a vacation that has both pleasure and purpose?

How can I use my voice on this issue?

This is perhaps our most valuable asset, and yet we often neglect its power. How can our voice impact our family, our friends, groups, how our media covers an issue?

What about our vote?

The biggest problem in the world is that we – you, me, our neighbors, our coworkers – don’t make full use of what we have to help others. We have what we need to build the world we want. But we’re wasting it. That's the biggest problem in the world. How do we solve it?   We solve it by beginning. Now start doing it.

Patty Stonesifer is the former CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. She now serves as a senior advisor to the foundation and is the chair of the Board of Regents for the Smithsonian Institution.

Latest Favourite Snack!!!

2009-09-30T10:59:00.000-07:00

I have a new favourite snack.... and they have the cutest name. I don't even have to nickname them. They are called Somersaults. Isn't that the best? They are crunchy and bite sized and not too sweet and Oh, I love them so. Did I mention their motto is "mindful munching"?

(photo courtesy Somersault's website)

P.S. I've only tried cocoa flavour so far. Let me know if you have tried the others.

Eco Networking

2009-09-29T10:38:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to think of creative ways to network and market my photography and art while highlighting my values of social justice, environmental concern, humane treatment of animals etc.... I am a business person after all and business needs to be conducted in order for me to do good in the world and to help others document and illustrate the good they are doing in the world.

I just love when the planets and stars align and the universe plops something right in my lap. I truly believe that what we spend energy on, (both conscious and unconscious energy), will be reflected in our lives.

This morning I took about 45 minutes to REALLY read the newspaper. It's something I enjoy but often don't take time for. Under the huge headline "Small Business" in the Business section of todays' LA Times was an article called Green Networking Events Bloom. It's about how environmental entreprenuers and business people are meeting and networking in LA.

Of course I registered for all the October meetings of ALL the groups mentioned!!! They are: EcoTuesday, Green Business Networking, Green Drinks, and Women of the Green Generation. I can't wait to network in this environment.

Fog & Palms - Huntington Beach

2009-09-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

Many of you know I'm not a fan of the heat and the only way I physically tolerate living and working in Southern California is because I live so close to the water. My northern european lineage and my Canadian upbringing just don't make good partners for living in a hot place day in and day out.
However....

I LOVE the fog at the beach in the morning. It's so cool and refreshing and gets me all revved up to start my day!!! Just a few streets over from mine is a residential street with the coolest palm trees in the neighbourhood. I ran out early this morning to shoot the fog and palms in all their glory.

LA Adventurers

2009-09-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

An acquaintance and I were discussing books, eating, health issues and ayurveda one day when we realized that we had one more thing in common. We had both lived in So. Cal for several years and had not "seen" (like a visitor or tourist sees), many of the sights of LA. Speaking for myself, many of my outings in Los Angeles are to galleries or out for food and in Orange County it's all beach or hiking all the time. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but one day I will no longer live here and I have a hunch I'll be kicking myself for not visiting some of the local sights during my residency.

So we formed the LA Adventurers...(which consists of the two of us!!!) - I know, dorky, but we are kinda self professed geeks.... and began our monthly Experience LA Tour on Sunday at Griffith Park and The Griffith Observatory.

We parked the car (yes, we carpooled in the Prius), at the Fern Dell Drive entrance of the park and hiked up to the Observatory. It was a fairly steep hike but not particularly long, maybe 30 or 40 minutes. The views of LA (Smog) along the way are incredible! The Observatory was certainly interesting and educational. We watched the film: "Centered in The Universe" in the Planetarium. It was very good. I love the visual effects possible with that type of projection. After our hike back down we bought lemonade and lavender cookies to hold us over till lunch.

Our lunch destination was Street, Susan Feniger's new restaurant based on street foods around the globe. I've been dying to go and it did not disappoint. The service was fantastic even though much of the staff was catering the Emmys that day, the restaurant is very funky and very orange, and the food was delicious and unique.

We shared the Kaya Toast from Singapore and the Turkish Donuts for appetizers while drinking some kind of beet juice elixers. Kristin had the Falafel plate as her entree and I had the Korean Rice Salad with cod and a fried egg on top.

Sigg Bottles found to have BPA

2009-09-22T17:24:00.000-07:00

The bad news is... the Sigg reuseable water bottles Bruce and I have been using every day for the last 4 or 5 years have been found to contain BPA. All Sigg bottles that were manufactured prior to Aug 2008 have BPA in the lining.
The good news is there are many resolutions to this dilema.
1. Sigg is accepting bottles back if you pay the shipping and send them to the address on their website. They will send you replacement bottles. Here is that info.
2. What Sigg isn't saying publically is that their retailers are accepting the bottles if you bring them in to the store where you bought them or any retailer that carries Sigg. I took mine to REI even though I didn't buy them there. Since they were incredibly low on Sigg stock, they gave me a store credit.
3. Baying Hound will accept your old Sigg water bottles and send you a 40% off coupon for you to purchase BPA free bottles from their website. They carry many brands other than Sigg. Details on their Sigg Replacement Program here.
4. Greenfeet carries many other brands too. (The More Hip than Hippie podcast is how I got this news when it broke!

I ended up going with Sigg again but I bought them from Get'n Green. I debated switching from the Sigg bottles to something else, (I actually have one Kleen Kanteen as well but I dislike the sensation of the stainless steel agaisnt my lips and teeth). I choose to give Sigg a second chance. I thought that they were being reputable by doing a voluntary recall and I really like the product. My new bottles arrived on the weekend and I'm really happy to have them again. I hated buying plastic for the week between returning at REI and deciding what I was doing about replacements. And I'm happy Bruce and I are no longer being slowly poisoned.

What's So Gosh Darned Funny????

2009-09-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

So.... I'm editing the job I shot last week at the Ritz Carlton and I come across these images that I just LOVE!!! When I saw these guys cracking up at the party I knew I had to capture the moment. I could tell it was really natural and unscripted. And try as they did, (you know decorum and all), they could not stop laughing. So I could not stop shooting. I'm still dying to know what was so funny.....

Food Should Taste Good

2009-09-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

My favourite snack these days is an olive tortilla chip. I'm crazy about these chips. They are sooooo good I have nicknamed them "I Love Olive Chips". About this time of day (5:45 pm), when I've been working all day and not thinking about what I can make for dinner and growing every more punchy for a some good food, I wander into the kitchen dreamily saying, I love Olive! The company name is "Food Should Taste Good". Brilliant. And True.

Speaking of Olives. My favourite olive oil is called: Il Frantoio de Montepulciano. I can't pronounce it. I can't buy it in So Cal. But it is honestly the MOST AMAZING olive oil EVER. The only place I know to get it is in the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero in San Francisco at a store called I Preferiti do Boriana. I get some every time I'm in the city. I say, good reason to go to San Fran regularly.

This is how I shoot kids....

2009-09-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

I really don't specialize in kids portraits or family photos but every once in a while, someone asks me about shooting their family or their children. Perhaps because it is out of the ordinary for me, it usually ends up being a blast so....

Today when a Facebook friend said she looked at my images online and wrote me a note saying: AMAZING pics! Do you do portraits. Of kids? Like mine? :) How could I resist?

I reviewed my most favourite kids portrait shoot ever and came up with these images to show as a sample of my style. The shoot was right here at the beach in Huntington. My neighbour wanted to surprise her husband with photos of the kids for Christmas. She loved them so much she not only cried when she looked at the CD but she couldn't hold in her excitement so she showed them all to her husband that night. So much for Christmas surprises!!! But a very satisfying comment on my work.

Good Light = Happy Photographer

2009-09-18T12:30:00.000-07:00

I shot a job yesterday at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel. It's a beautiful property any day of the year but yesterday was one of those gorgeous, warm, bluebird coloured sky days that make everyone visiting the hotel jealous of everyone who lives and works in So. Cal.

The light was gorgeous all afternoon, at dusk and during sunset. The ballroom even had beautiful vaulted white ceilings for me to bounce my flash off of which made my indoor shoots terrific too!!! Good light = very happy photographer. A dream shooting day!!

Go Green Images

2009-09-15T12:03:00.000-07:00

A few shots from the Go Green Community Energy Walk on the weekend....

Go Green

2009-09-11T19:01:00.000-07:00

I'll be getting up bright and early tomorrow morning to photograph the Southern California Go Green Energy Walk taking place in Little Saigon.

A Day in the Life...

2009-08-27T23:17:00.000-07:00

I spent the better part of a day last week with an old friend from my event photography days. Carol worked for one of the marketing companies that handled the event planning logistics of many of the corporate events I shot over the years. She has lived all over the world and now calls southern California her home. We had a blast catching up & hanging with her kids at Quail Botanical Gardens and then she and her hubby even cooked me dinner. It doesn't get any better than that! Here are a few of my fav, fun shots from the day.

Oh yes, let's not forget about the fabulous sculpture that is all over Quail Botanical....

Farmer's Market Inspiration

2009-08-27T14:04:00.000-07:00

I made the most delicious, fresh tasting pasta dish last night using some terrific farmer's market produce. I had fresh bulbing onions (red & white), and the most delicate, thin, gorgeous, fresh, french green beans I have ever seen. I contemplated them for a few minutes and came up with this:

blanch green onions in boiling H2O for approx 1 min (want them to stay firm)
then plunge them into an ice water bath. set aside.
cook penne pasta till al dente
while pasta is cooking slice onions very thinly into long strips
saute onions in good olive oil on med heat till beautifully caramelized
turn up the heat a bit, add white wine to the saute pan. let onions cook in that for a while
while pasta is draining, add the following to the saute pan:
a clove or two of squished garlic
the zest from one whole lemon (also long strips)
a bit of lemon juice
fresh rosemary
fresh Italian flat leaf parsley
the green beans
continue cooking just till the green beans are warmed through
to serve place penne in a bowl, add a good size scoop of the green bean mixture, top with a bit of goat cheese, and a generous dose of good quality olive oil or flax oil.
EAT!!!!

It was so fresh and so delicious and so beautiful ! I know - I probably could have taken a photo. But sometimes, a gal just has to eat her dinner when it's warm. YUMMMMMM

Hang It out to Dry - The Response

2009-08-26T18:22:00.000-07:00

I sent out an email campaign today to art buyers, gallery directors, book publishers, advertising agencies - you name it! I had one great response professionally where a book publisher is interested in using an image for a comp for a new book cover. Terrific. We'll see how all that pans out. You know how the saying goes, send out 10,000 emails, get a thousand people looking, get 2 calls, get one job - or something along those lines!!!

The best response BY FAR, was from my mother (of course!). She is a character with a quick wit and a no nonsense attitude. (Seriously, I can't make this stuff up!!!)

To my darling daughter.................... If you would like to add something to your "Cindy's world" messages, perhaps you should add this................"My mother remembers that when I had barely turned 11 years old, I asked her "Mom, would you mind if I did my own laundry?"............. Mom was very surprised and said "No, I don't mind at all, but WHY?"............... Apparently I told her that she just "didn't do it right".................. and Mom, being practical said, "There's no problem in you doing your own laundry, but there will never be a partial load done, if there's not enough of your own laundry, add things from your parents' or your brothers' laundry to make a full load."
So, it seems that I did a lot of laundry in Mom and Dad's house.

xoxoxoxoxo MOM

Healthcare Debate?

2009-08-25T19:38:00.000-07:00

As a Canadian living in the US I'm being asked quite frequently about the healthcare system in my native country; how it compares to the American system and which one I like better. I personally have gotten excellent care in both countries. In the USA I have PPO coverage from United Healthcare through my husband's corporate job. In Canada I was covered under the Ontario and BC provincial branches of the national healthcare plan depending on which province I lived in at the time. I also belonged to a union for 3 of my working years in Vancouver where I had extended health benefits that included dental coverage, counselling, chiropractic etc...

For my friends and family that have questions for me, please read this article. Patricia Pearson eloquently explains the nuances and basic tenants of the debate so much more succinctly than I ever could. I think she really gets to the heart of the matter.

Cool New Market in OC

2009-08-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

I stopped by The Camp in Costa Mesa yesterday to see Aggelige at her cool airstream trailer where she makes the best potted succulent plant designs I have ever seen. I had a sense that she only worked weekends but I was in the area so I went anyway. Yup, she is only there Thurs - Sunday and yesterday was Monday! (Ag doesn't have a website yet but this link is to her marketing materials so you will recognize her brand when wandering around The Camp)

I noticed that what used to be Adventure 16 looked like it was open again so I popped into the Patagonia store that has taken it's place. Imagine my excitement when not only was there an amazing selection of fall Patagonia merch (one of my fav lines of adventure clothing and a company with a business model I respect), but the new and amazing Seed People's Market taking up the rest of the massive space.

What is Seed People's Market you ask??? It's a place for amazing artists to sell their work locally in a busy market place/retail space; it's like shopping at Etsy.com only you get to walk around and touch things rather than just view them online; it's eco; it's green, it's beautifully laid out and designed and it's like a little slice of heaven on earth for a gal like me!!!!

Computer Hospital

2009-08-24T14:32:00.000-07:00

My computer had to go to the computer hospital today. Well, actually the fine doctor made a house-call ! I got a brand spanking new LCD today on my 20" iMac. Yup, I'm loving AppleCare right now. Check out the cool innards of my machine!

2009-08-22T15:48:00.001-07:00

I try not to freak out about my body image and body size but I AM A WOMAN... living in Southern California no less, where all body parts are seen all year long!!! So this photo and the subsequant response seems like a good sign for womens body image in the media.

Glamour Magazine is creating quite a stir by publishing a photo of a model in her underwear who is the size of theaverage north american woman - size 12!!! In the article entitled,

What Everyone But You Sees About Your Body, Glamour runs a small photograph on page 194 of "20-year-old plus size model" Lizzie Miller. (I know, don't get me started, I'm trying to see the positive here.)

Editor-in-chief Cindi Leive writes:

"It's a photo that measures all of three by three inches in our September issue, but the letters about it started to flood my inbox literally the day Glamour hit newsstands. ... The emails were filled with such joy--joy at seeing a woman's body with all the curves and quirks and rolls found in nature."

The editors entire blog post about reader reactions and comments is here. I say "you go girl" to Lizzie and "you go girl magazine" to Glamour. It's a start. Maybe I'll actually get an opportunity to change my opinion about these types of "women's magazines" in this lifetime.

True North Strong & Free

2009-08-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

I just found out about this group of Canadians in Los Angeles who meet and hang out and be Canadian together!

From their website: CANADIANS ABROAD is a non-profit, Volunteer, social organization for Canadians living in the Greater Los Angeles area. Dedicated to helping Canadians keep in touch with their roots, members receive a quarterly newsletter, and regular email notices about events of a Canadian Nature happening in and around the region.

Of course I signed up for the email notices & newsletter immediately!! What a treat it will be to say, "I'm from St. Catharines or maybe even Fenwick, Vineland or Beamsville" without having to explain that they are near Niagara Falls and Buffalo!!! Right On eh???

The front of my house in Huntington Beach, California.

Speaking of Chinese...

2009-08-19T21:07:00.000-07:00

My new favourite word:

chong'yo,
a Chinese term for a friend who gives frank and principled advice even when that advice is not welcome

Isn't that the best??? I love that Chinese actually has a word for one who gives unsolicited advice.

Changing the World

2009-08-18T07:08:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge NPR fan. One of my favourite programs is This American Life. I have been inspired, upset, saddened and very moved by the program over the years. One of the most memorable and inspirational segments I've ever heard was about the Harlem Children's Zone in New York and their Baby College Program. This past weekend This American Life replayed its profile of HCZ and The Baby College. The story is compelling. It is inspirational. The work of Geoffrey Canada and the staff at HCZ is nothing less than miraculous. Please listen and then if you are so moved, donate to this cause. Photos from This American Life Extras.

Image by Pat Lanza (copyright)

Laundry Series featured on Lenscratch!

2009-08-14T08:22:00.001-07:00

Work from my current series, "Laundry" is featured today on Aline Smithson's Blog, Lenscratch. You can see her post here. You can also go directly to my fine art website to view the collection here and you can actually purchase the work from my SmugMug site here!

The series began as just shooting laundry. Any laundry, anywhere, sometimes with people in it and sometimes without. After presenting approximately 40 laundry images & reflecting on the reviews of several critics, gallery curators, and consultants at Photo LA in January, I choose to separate the project into two and possibly three separate arms.

The images all include laundry but the feel of them varies. One collection became "Laundry | Environmental Portraits" - images of laundry on the line in its environment. Another collection is "People and Their Laundry", - self explanatory. The third collection is still not fully formed - the images appear to have a voyeuristic quality to them; we'll see what happens to that.

Here is a sneak peek of the first edit from some new laundry images I shot on my recent vacation.

Clearing out the Cobwebs (literally and figuratively)

2009-08-13T09:35:00.000-07:00

I've been cleaning out space in my house (& my head) this week. Books, clothes, household items - everything that hasn't been used in the the last 2 years goes out the door and into the garage. Saturday I'm selling the excess baggage so to speak at a garage sale.

The most exciting result has been my office space, especially the storage closet. I've put all my past art projects into neat storage bins and put all my current work and projects close at hand. I also went around the house and got all my beautiful hardcover art, photography and design books and put them within easy reach for daily reference and inspiration.

I feel cleansed and very excited about my own personal "back to school" prep. September has always felt to me like a new beginning. Even without kids, I'm starting fresh on September 1. How exciting!!!

Bad news in Myanmar

2009-08-12T11:40:00.001-07:00

Bruce and I are hoping to travel to Myanmar in the very near future so we are keeping a pretty close eye on the political and social situation there. Things are not looking good for Aung San Sui Kyi or any kind of democracy any time soon. Exasperating.

Editorials | Myanmar piles on Aung San Suu Kyi with an extension of her house arrest | Seattle Times Newspaper

Shared via AddThis

Click here and here to read articles from USA today that give a bigger picture view and a bit more info about the fellow who swam to Aung San Suu Kyi's lakeside home in May. It was his breach of her house arrest terms that is being used by the military junta as an excuse to keep her longer.

Reading is Meditation (and we artists need it!)

2009-08-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

David Ulin, Book Editor of the LA Times wrote an article in today's Arts & Books section of the Sunday paper called, Finding your Focus: The Lost Art of Reading, where he states, "The relentless cacophony that is life in the 21st century can make settling in with a book difficult, even for lifelong readers. But it's an engagement worth fighting for."

As one of those "lifelong readers", I relate to his article and particularly this premise. When I allow myself to get lost in a novel or great literature, I find myself given over to the characters, often imagining their world, their time and place and how I would feel were I in that era or that situation. I wonder, could I be as strong, as competent, as intelligent, as skilled? I slip into their world in my mind and enjoy my time in that place, far away from the deadlines, obligations and commitments of my own every day life.

Like Ulin, increasingly, I find it difficult to set aside that time and allow myself the apparent luxury of just reading, and reflecting on what one has read. Ulin says "reading demands space and draws us back from the present which is in direct conflict with our current culture that is based on technology and speed. Reading (and the subsequent reflection), requires a certain type of silence, a state that is increasingly elusive in our over-networked culture in which every rumour and mundanity is blogged and tweeted."

He compares reading to an act of meditation. If I reflect on the times when I allow myself to connect with my inner self through reading a book or actual sitting on the pillow, eyes closed meditation, both are accomplished when I can breathe through my nose, give myself even 15 minutes, and truly let go of everything our connected, digital, global world distracts me with. It is during these moments that I truly engage and make space for silence.

As an artist I feel I have to give myself that. Whether I am viewing an exhibit in a gallery, loosing myself in a book or taking a reflective walk on the beach, I am refilling the tank so to speak. Creativity takes discipline and energy, both engagement and escape. I believe an artist requires meditation, reflection and contemplation in various forms. How thrilling to find out from Ulin that completely getting lost in a book fulfills this function!

So what am I currently reading? I am completely obsessed with Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill. In Canada it was published as The Book of Negroes which leads to an interesting story about trying to find it in Powells Book Store in Portland last week but more on that in another blog post!

Fun with Friends

2009-08-03T16:34:00.000-07:00

I'm on vacation with my dear friend Tanya and having a wonderful time. Our driving road trip is from Vancouver BC to California via the Oregon coast. (Finally a leisurely drive NOT down the I-5 for me!!!) I'll be posting more images but for now here is one of us in Otter Rock on the Oregon coast (right at the Devil's Punchbowl), doing some wine tasting at the Flying Dutchman Winery.

After wine tasting we walked all around the gorgeous area surrounding the devils punchbowl and took lots of photos. The weather was a welcome treat from the heat wave in Vancouver and Portland that we had been experiencing for the last week. We were overjoyed to see fog and feel the 59 degree farenheit (15 celcius) weather!!!

Artist Date

2009-07-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

I had a fabulous day today at the Annenburg Space for Photography. The current exhibit is photojournalism which I loved; the building itself is very contemporary yet cozy; and I quite enjoyed seeing images both traditionally framed on the wall and streamed via a slideshow onto one monster and several regular size plasma screens.

Lunch with Aline was terrific! A perfect artist date.

Two quickies I took with my iPhone:

i) the exterior of the building (with a woman in a red dress waking up from a nap on the bench).

ii) the grassy area adjascent where lots o' business people hang out & eat lunch

New Fine Art Card Series

2009-07-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

I started printing a new fine art card series which I will sell at the bookstore on Saturna Island. I'm really excited about this project!

The work is a collection of holga images I have taken over the last few years in and around the dock/ferry/pub area of the island. It's the arrival and departure hub of the community with the ferry landing, the float plane dock and of course the pub, store and gas station that I am part-owner in.

The cards are 5.25" square, printed on Museo Artist Card 220gsm, 0.014” stock produced by Crane. Each comes with a matching Museo envelope. The paper finish is a traditional velina finish which reproduces beautiful colour. Museo is manufactured to archival standards, it is acid-free, buffered with calcium carbonate and contains no optical brighteners. Furthermore, Crane & Co. cotton papers are made with recovered tree-free fibers, making them a very eco-friendly choice compatible with my values and my business mission statement.

Just because...

2009-07-21T15:52:00.000-07:00

I love public art!!! (or art performed or exhibited in public as the case may be)

Ode to Frank McCourt

2009-07-21T10:45:00.000-07:00

Frank McCourt died yesterday. His memoir, Angela's Ashes, is one of my fav all time books. It might be what made Ireland interesting to me as a travel destination. I loved the sad and pathetic truth of his life story but what I liked most was his humorous take on that life. It was truly, brilliantly written. (As evidenced by his winning the Pulitzer prize for doing so!) It starts like this:

"When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood.
"People everywhere brag and whimper about the woes of their early years, but nothing can compare with the Irish version: the poverty; the shiftless loquacious alcoholic father; the pious defeated mother moaning by the fire; pompous priests; bullying schoolmasters; the English and the terrible things they did to us for 800 long years.
"Above all -- we were wet."

A much more eloquent analysis than I can ever give - this by Tim Ruttan in the LA Times:

The key is that one-sentence third paragraph, at once evocative and humorous. In fact, what redeems "Angela's Ashes" from being a book that makes you want to go out and hang yourself is that just when you think the ache of misery is too much to bear, the author interjects a note of humor -- often self-deprecating -- that restores the characters' humanity.

In honour of Frank, a few photos from Ireland (Although I did not travel to Limerick, the town his memoir is set in).

The Dirty Dozen

2009-07-09T13:28:00.001-07:00

According to the Environmental Working Group, following are the 12 most pesticide-laden conventionally grown fruits and vegetables. When ever I can I choose to buy organic of, at the very least, these 12 items.

Peaches

Apples

Sweet bell peppers

Celery

Nectarines

Strawberries

Cherries

Pears

Grapes (imported)

Spinach

Lettuce

Potatoes

I know this because I, (actually me representing my business, Synergy Images), am a member of Green America and I read it in one of their newsletters. Green America, (formerly Coop America), is a fantastic organization whose mission is to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.

Deer Alert

2009-06-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

Seen lurking around my yard on Saturna Island this morning!!!

Health & Fitness

2009-06-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

I love training, working out, running and being active in general so much that sometimes I wonder why I didn't choose a career as an athlete of some sort rather than as an artist. (Oh yea, maybe it's cuz I'm not that great at any one sport!!) That reality aside....

I was totally inspired by an article in the Health section of the LA Times yesterday about the original owner of Bally Total Fitness who is 76 and still in GREAT shape and kicking butt in all kinds of athletic endeavours. Read the inspirational article here. He works out with professional athletes half his age like Laird Hamilton (surfer) and Detroit Red Wings star Chris Chelios. AMAZING!!!

What I found most encouraging about the article was his assertion that:

"Strength helps cardio. As you get older, the fall-off in strength is greater than the decline in VO2 max [oxygen uptake] -- unless you fight it."

As a 44 yr old perimenopausal woman who has just returned to strength training in the last 8 months, I find this incredibly encouraging. I had noticed a dramatic decrease in my personal strength which was actually affecting my job and my personal life. As a photographer I couldn't risk having sore shoulders or injuring my back or shoulders after a day of carrying equipment. I hated being so exhausted after a shoot. And don't even talk to me about how it felt to have to ask a man to hang my bike from the ceiling hooks in the garage because I no longer had the strength to lift the bike over my head.

I actually LOVE weight training and plyometrics and all kinds of odd jumping and balancing exercises so the return to the gym wasn't a big stretch for me. I work out at Fitness Together in Huntington Beach with either Julie the owner, or Becky. Becky and I laugh that we love to work out so hard that we come close to vomitting. I know most people aren't this fanatical about their work outs, but I'm hoping that when I'm 76, I'm even half as fit as Don Wildman.

All photos copyright Al Sieb/Los Angeles Time 2009

A Close Call

2009-06-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

I LOVE my job but sometimes I'm reminded of the risks associated with photographing live action.
YUP.... I felt this ball graze the hairs on my right arm as I shot batting practice in Angels Stadium on the weekend.

Better Late than Never

2009-06-19T17:37:00.000-07:00

I realize I haven't blogged in forever... It seems to correspond almost exactly with the time I joined Facebook. Could there be an inverse ratio of increased time spent on Facebook to decreased time ... for anything else in life?!?!?! I don't sound bitter do I ??? But I digress....

Just wanted to say, I do have some images to post, and comments to articulate on my blog and I will do my best to get to them in the next few weeks. Here are a few teasers: trip to Ottawa, (Canada's capitol), Eco- Challenge shoots for Edison in Big Creek and Catalina, Synergy Images Newsletter coming soon, Fine Art images up for sale, fine art card series available this summer, fine art images for sale on Smug Mug VERY SOON!!! there are gardening updates and I'm sure I'll think of something else as soon as this posts. :-)

Thanks for reading - drop me a line anytime.

Destination Art

2009-06-19T17:20:00.001-07:00

I have the best partner in the world!! When I got home from Ottawa on Monday night, Bruce had an article from the LA Times sitting on my desk. On the article was a post-it that said: Let's find a weekend and GO!!

Turns out San Francisco MOMA is showing "Looking In: Robert Frank's "The American's". Robert Frank is one of my FAV artists, and San Fran is one of my FAV cities!!! And Bruce is by far my FAV husband!!

we're talking clean laundry here...

2009-05-12T08:19:00.000-07:00

More great work about laundry... Check out Clothesline For My Mothership

mom's clothsline by C. Flower

I'm a Contender!!!

2009-04-29T15:54:00.000-07:00

Well, actually my laundry series is a contender in the Hey Hot Shot Contest, 2009. Check out the post about my work on the Hey Hot Shot Blog here. And then wish me luck, cross your fingers, send me good vibes - I'll take any good karma anyone wishes to send my way.

Eating lower on the food chain has reached the mainstream!

2009-04-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

Interesting to see this article in a mainstream publication like USA Today.... This is actually why I became a vegetarian almost 20 years ago. I was learning about eating lower on the food chain for environmental efficiency. It was a fairly radical idea to most people in 1990 but now it seems to be seeping into a mainstream audience and that makes me really happy - makes me feel like we are getting somewhere with the environmental movement.

I'm a Composting Fool

2009-04-20T17:35:00.000-07:00

I got a composter about a month ago and I got to tell ya... I'm lovin' it!!! As you know from reading this blog I love to cook (& eat!) and I'm concerned about the environment & I love to garden so... it was a perfect symbiosis of all my interests.

Until last month there was substantial food waste going *literally* down the drain in my Garburator. (american translation = in sink garbage disposal). Yes, in Canada we actually call them Garburators. I had tried a worm composter a few years ago but it didn't work for my urban situation.

This composter is in the garage, easily accessible to both my kitchen for depositing food waste, and to my back yard patio plants for applying the dark rich compost to once it has cured in the machine.

Furry Friends

2009-04-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

I saw the work of Rob MacInnis at Photo LA in January but just got to really exploring and perusing his website thoroughly today.

He photographs portraits of farm animals in the same way we photograph fashion models on a runway.
It's compelling work that urges the viewer to take a second (and even third) look and really consider what he is saying with his imagery. They are cute, sensitive and endearing images of animals, which is certainly what drew me in but then.... there is so much more here.

His work is available through Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects in Toronto. Who can't embrace a guy who exhibited his collection in a barn among his subjects??? There is interesting footage on his website of him working with the animals, shooting the portraits and discussing his work.

Women Who Ride

2009-04-18T17:20:00.000-07:00

I like this concept: Trek's line of WSD bicycles are engineered for women. Trek recognizes that women's bodies are proportioned differently from men's and consequently sells a whole line of bikes and gear designed for women. Vive La Difference!

I know it makes a difference to ride a bike designed for women cuz I have one of those Trek WSD Mountain Bikes. In fact I clearly remember testing many different models that felt cramped and uncomfortable but when I jumped on my Trek I was in love!

If that wasn't enough for you to think this company is extra cool, check this out: The Women Who Ride Blog. So cool. Real Women, from 21-60 years old, who really ride Trek bikes, and blog about it.

Yup, that's me in the Orange and Mud after a particularly fun, cold and muddy ride in northern california with Bruce and his friend Dennis circa 2007.

New Art in Meditation Room

2009-04-08T14:16:00.001-07:00

I've finally gotten some of my work framed for my own home! I made a gallery for my meditation room of the Monks from Laos and Cambodia.
Ohmmmmm

Lessons from a Cat

2009-04-08T11:58:00.001-07:00

Things learned from animals:

Walk gently and quietly through life, be polite and kind to all you meet, demand nothing, and revel in every happy moment that comes your way.

- Sharon L. Peters, author of PetTalk in USA Today.
Read the complete article here.

Artistic Snow Images

2009-04-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

My mother is rolling now....
She has sent me proper artistic images of snow on the farm - rather than just the dry documentary ones illustrating my point in the last post!!!!

And a few more interesting documentary ones showing how the snow gets that high!!!

Spring is in the Air!

2009-04-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

It's looking a lot like spring in Canada this week. My parents farm (where I grew up), is in Southern Ontario, on the Niagara Escarpment. In the winter there is LOTS of SNOW there!!! My mother sent me her photo of the seasons first outdoor load of drying laundry for 2009.

Just incase you aren't clear on what A LOT of snow means.... and how joyful my mother must be to see the ground and to be able to hang her laundry outside, check these out: (Yup, that's my dad and the dog; shoveling!)

Art Framed!

2009-04-04T16:56:00.000-07:00

This is how the piece I sold in Dec looks framed in the art collectors home.

"Snow 2008" from the Who Am I? Where Am I? series. This series explores my relationship with myself and nature, how I feel when I am surrounded by nature and the memories or experiences that place evokes.

I'm a Winner!

2009-04-03T11:28:00.001-07:00

I just won a copy of this book from the incredible folks at Good Food, my fav podcast. Thanks to producer Harriet Ells for giving me the good news.

Food Obsessed (not just me)

2009-04-03T11:13:00.001-07:00

Sometimes when I think I'm too obsessed with food, I just go here and look at madmojo's flicker page. It's great photography and very fun food porn for the food obsessed.

photo by madmojo

PS: Clearly, he's way more obsessed than I am.

Now Reading...

2009-04-03T08:34:00.000-07:00

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and loving it.

Art Submission

2009-04-02T12:05:00.000-07:00

© Cindy Schafer 2009

I just submitted some of the laundry images, (which I have to start calling by their proper name!!! The body of work is called Laundry: Environmental Portraits), to NymPhoto's Call for Entries. I'm really excited about this organization.

Nymphoto is a collective of women in photography that provides a supportive community for its artists and strives to send a positive message to the creative world.

Check out their website & blog.

© Cindy Schafer 2009
© Cindy Schafer 2009
© Cindy Schafer 2009
© Cindy Schafer 2009

Artist Statement
LAUNDRY: ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAITS

The laundry series is equal parts obsession, feminist statement, & cultural observation.

I am obsessed with laundry. I love to see it hanging on a line in the fresh air. I love to smell it when it’s been dried outdoors in the summer. I love to grab a big pile of it in the winter when it’s warm and clean out of the dryer. I love the sense of accomplishment I feel when I get a stubborn stain out. In fact, I love to iron too. I find it calming. I don’t think there is any aspect of laundry that I don’t like.

I also like to think of myself as a feminist: a woman who values political, social and economic equality between the sexes, a woman who has many more educational and career choices than the generations of women who came before her.

Yet, laundry, along with other types of housework, has historically been considered “women’s work”. It embodies the soul of domesticity; the antithesis of everything a 1970’s feminist stood for. In The Quotidian Mysteries: Laundry, Liturgy and "Women's Work", Kathleen Norris writes, “Daily chores, such as cooking, cleaning, (and laundry), have so consistently been considered “women’s work” in so many of the world’s cultures, that they have come to seem the root of women’s oppression.

Laundry is washed in every corner of the globe, at every level of the socio economic spectrum whether one does it themselves or pays someone else to do it. Culturally, laundry unites us. Socially it still divides us.

The Wisdom of Tee

2009-04-02T09:08:00.000-07:00

I bought a new box of green tea in bags yesterday from Yogi Tea. And what brand called "Yogi" would be complete without the thoughtful ramblings of, well, a yogi? Here's a quote from the side of the box:

"The best way of life is to be, simply to be."

The coolest thing is, I apparently have my own personal yogi. Her name is Tanya, my nickname for her is Tee, and she is my best friend in the world. We met at University.

She, in all her brilliance, is always reminding me of the importance of "taking time to just be". It's her mantra. When I'm stressed and wondering what to do next, I think about Tanya's words and I just take a little time to be. When I've had a big week and I wake up on the weekend, I remind myself that if Tanya were here, she would say, let's just be today!

Here we are "just being" friends in Steveston, BC, May 2007.

For my photographer friends, please note this photo was taken with my Leica (with NO coaching from me) by Tanya's 7 yr old daughter, Emma, who has displayed a natural talent for composition and steller image making since she was 5!!!

Just me and Mum, (& Michael in her belly)

2009-03-29T12:16:00.000-07:00

Yup, My mother and I wore matching dresses...

summer 1965

Bye Bye China

2009-03-27T14:58:00.001-07:00

It's a sad day in our household today. In 2 hours Bruce and I will be taking our dear sweet kitty to the vet for the last time. China (or princess pickle as I often call her), is at the end of her life and it's time to say goodbye.

She has been Bruce's companion longer than I have (15 years), and a member of our family for the last 11, (since I joined in). China has travelled up and down the I-5 with me many times driving to our second home in Canada. She's also flown in coach and business class to Vancouver more times than many adults. She even has the distinction of being the first kitty to fly on her own on the float plane from Vancouver to Saturna Island (with a human pick up and drop off at either end of course).

Here are a few pics of her over the last week enjoying the sun and sleeping on her favourite blanket (lovingly made by my mother). She will be missed.

*** In my grief I almost forgot her one other very special distinction...
I think she is the only cat to ever visit the office of Greenfeet.com, home of the More Hip Than Hippie podcast!!! Rock on hip, travellin' kitty! I love you.

The Prius can Save the World (or at least save the US economy a bundle of money)

2009-03-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

Dan Neil wrote an excellent article about the Toyota Prius's power to change the world (REALLY) in today's LA Times Business Section. With all the hoopla yesterday announcing Tesla Motors' Model S electric sedan, (starting price: $57,400), it's great to see that the humble Prius is still on people's radar (and in our budgets).

He muses on a National Economic Recovery Act plan, (why not? everyone's got an idea who should get money and where it should go!), that in 10 years and at a cost of $400 billion would be saving the USA 14 billion gallons of oil a year, or 170 days' worth of OPEC oil. Who can't get on board with that?

Read the whole article here. And if you too think it's a great idea, call me. Let's start a revolution!

Photography & The Salvage of Flight 1549

2009-03-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

This is an interesting dilema for photographers... read the story of the most newsworthy pictures never seen here on Stella Kramers blog & here on the Online Photographer blog.

photo by Stephen Mallon

Crude Awakening

2009-03-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

For the most part, I try to stay upbeat about everything, including environmental matters but this article has me seriously bummin' ....

Twenty years after the Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of crude oil in Alaska's Prince William Sound, oil persists in the region and, in some places, "is nearly as toxic as it was the first few weeks after the spill," according to the council overseeing restoration efforts.

photo: Rob Stapleton / AP file

i did it

2009-03-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

i bought it. i love it.

The Laundry is Never Done

2009-03-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

And the laundry keeps coming in.... My friends and colleagues keep sending me their laundry shots. I love that they are looking at laundry in a whole new way and thinking of me every time!

This image from Krystine while travelling in Costa Rica.

White House Garden

2009-03-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

Great News!!! The Obama's will be planting a garden on the lawn of the White House!!! I feel like I had a little part in making this happen since I signed the petition and blogged about the effort.

More on Creative Genius

2009-02-27T16:27:00.001-08:00

Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius.

On the Menu at a Vietnamese Pho Restaurant

2009-02-27T15:59:00.000-08:00

If you eat Vietnamese Pho, you'll understand....

My New Websites are Up!

2009-02-27T15:49:00.000-08:00

My new websites are finally up and I'm really happy with them!!! You can see my commercial work here and my fine art work here. I've just laid out an email promo too that will go out this weekend announcing the new work. If you are on my mailing list you should get it. If you don't have it by Monday morning, email me and i'll add you to my list.

Here is a sneak peak.

Unwanted Girls in India Documentary

2009-02-27T15:42:00.000-08:00

My amazing colleague and friend Ann Johansson just got BBC to pick up her multimedia piece on Unwanted Girls in India. Please view it here. It's fabulous.

Are Artists Actually Real People???

2009-02-14T21:47:00.000-08:00

Seriously... David Obey is my new hero!!!! This is the best quote EVER about art....

Republicans also criticized the allocation of $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts to fund art projects and activities that "preserve jobs in the nonprofit arts sector threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during the current economic downturn."

Defending the spending, House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) said: "There are 5 million people who work in the arts industry. And right now they have 12.5% unemployment -- or are you suggesting that somehow if you work in that field, it isn't real when you lose your job, your mortgage or your health insurance?"

read the article in it's entirety here.

Flak Photo wants your work!

2009-02-14T16:37:00.001-08:00

an email I received from Andy @ Flak Photo, whom I met at Review LA .

Hi Cindy - great to hear from you!

Apologies for my delayed reply - busier as ever on this end I've been digging myself out of my email inbox since returning form Review + Photo L.A., which was a terrific time, if exhausting.

It was great to meet you and see your work in person - thanks so much for making time to share it with me. I've been reviewing photographers' work online for the past two years, so the best part about the L.A. trip was meeting new photographers and so many online photo folks, offline - an oddly novel experience.

Not sure if you saw this: Andrew Hetherington blogged about Flak Photo at Photo L.A., feel free to add your feedback to the comments if you found the time we spent together useful:

http://www.whatsthejackanory.com/2009/01/la-meet-and-greet-andy-adams/

I'm not sue if you've had a chance to check out flakphoto.com since we spoke, but I wanted to tell you a bit more about the work I'm doing with the site - I've been publishing Flak Photo, a daily photoblog featuring distinctive photography from an international community of photographers since July 2006. The blog promotes interesting visual approaches to seeing the world and celebrates the art of exhibiting quality photography online.

Moodboard.com recently published a small piece about the site; should give you some insight into my process:

http://thefactory.moodboard.com/post/Interview-with-Andy-Adams-from-Flak-Photo.aspx

Partnering with artists to promote their work online has always been a part of my focus with this project and its becoming clear that Flak Photo is creating a new kind of photographic community that provides a place for photographers to share their work with a wider audience.

I'm developing new approaches to Flak Photo that will allow me to do more to promote the contributors and am always interested in discovering new, exciting photographs - in the spirit of the site, would you be interested in emailing your colleagues, telling them about your experience, and encouraging them to submit their work for consideration?

I truly appreciate your interest in the work I'm doing with Flak Photo and please, subscribe to the site's RSS feed + email updates when you have a chance.

Best Regards,
AA

--
Andy Adams
Editor / Flak Photo
www.flakphoto.com

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Canadian Embarrassment?

2009-02-13T16:17:00.001-08:00

I'm so proud to be Canadian but there is one thing about my country that embarrasses the hell out of me. THE SEAL HUNT. Every year Canadian hunters club thousands of baby seals to death for their fur ... BUT NOT THIS YEAR!!!!

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and the government of Nova Scotia announced last week that they were authorizing another grey seal kill. But yesterday, seal processing plants told seal hunters that they would not buy the skins of the baby grey seals, and the sealers stayed home.

The Humane Society has been working diligently to ban the trade in seal products in Europe, and buyers are now unwilling to purchase grey seal pelts because global markets are evaporating. With the pending ban on seal product trade in the European Union, the writing is on the wall -- this is the beginning of the end of the commercial seal slaughter.

This is a clear cut case of the consumer dollar directing the global markets. It's a simple equation... If consumers don't buy fur, there is no market for fur sales and if there is no market for fur sales then baby seals don't get slaughtered! We as consumers have incredible power and often we don't utilize it. Please use this example to think seriously about EVERY purchase you make and it's global impact. You really can make a difference.

Art Projects are Fun!

2009-02-12T17:20:00.000-08:00

I've been working on several art projects simultaneously for months now. It's been really fun and sometimes exhausting... but definitely invigorating.

The longest wall in my home has displayed family photos for several years. (That too was a fun weekend art project many years ago.) Here is what the wall looks like now:

I have lots of art displayed in my house. Paintings on canvas, tapestries, and sculpture from all over the world. I have bells and gongs and boxes and dishes and rugs from Asia and India. Many artisans and artists are represented in my home. Many other than me.

It's kinda like that saying about the cobblers children have no shoes. My house has very little Cindy Art. So I'm changing that. I'm going to put up a Cindy's Fine Art Gallery on the longest wall in my house... the hallway.

This is the project being edited and framed:

And this is a sneak peak at some of the work I've got ready, waiting for their new homes:

OMG - I'm done!

2009-02-11T20:02:00.000-08:00

I just sent the GO LIVE request for my new websites... OMG! I can't believe how long it takes to design, edit, and layout a new website. (never mind 2) BUT I am ecstatic and excited and thrilled and I actually enjoyed it VERY much. (Yea for me - balloons and a party! )

I loved living with my images, and printing them and trying them in different groupings....and then having a really long editing session with the brilliant Cat Gwynn when I just could not make sense of the work anymore. Cat helped me edit more tightly and really refine the categories. I can't thank her enough.

Months ago I called my friend Kristianne to ask how she edits. Her methods and advise permeated my process over the last several months.

She looks for themes, styles and even symbolism that repeats throughout the work. She asks herself if the images reflect her mission statement as a photographer and artist. And finally she says, (out loud I am sure!):

"Is this what I want to express to the world?"

Standby for my new websites urls as soon as they are live and I'll show you what I want to express to the world!

Discovery

2009-02-10T20:33:00.000-08:00

Mired in a gazillion images, (since I have about 4 different projects going on right now that require serious editing ), I surprised myself when I stumbled upon this image that I had never even taken notice of before in my archives.

It's quite lovely and refreshing I think. Brightened my evening. Until I remember where I photographed it.

I shot it in Cambodia. At the Killing Fields.

Upon reflection as to why I was drawn to the plumeria.... Perhaps, because of the complete intensity and depressing history of the killing fields, I needed to relieve my senses with something beautiful.

If you haven't been there it's a site not to be missed- seriously. Here a few images of what I turned away from in order to photograph the plumeria.

It Sometimes Rains in California

2009-02-09T10:30:00.000-08:00

We don't get it often but if we are going to get rain in So. Cal., it's coming in February. Here's what is looked like outside my windows.

My Website will be Ready One Day Soon

2009-02-06T09:10:00.000-08:00

I've been working like mad on my website and while I love the creative process.... It's KRAZEEEEEE how much time it takes to make the art and to produce the tools, to get the jobs, to make the art, to pay the bills .... you understand ???

Nettle Soup

2009-02-05T22:14:00.000-08:00

I made the Nettle Soup today. It was very easy. Delicious but not a complex flavour profile. Just good tasting and cozy and very nice on a rainy night in So. Cal.

For Me, It's all about the Food

2009-02-04T21:44:00.001-08:00

I had the most wonderful time at the Santa Monica Farmers Market today! I bought 2 incredible bunches of stinging nettles. Yes, I eat them. And No they don't sting anymore after you cook them.
I'm going to make a nettle soup tomorrow. My mother helped me find nettles wild in Canada many years ago but I rarely see them here in So Cal.

I brought home a cookbook from Dublin this summer. The incredible Eden Restaurant serves a nettle soup that I have been dying to make ever since I saw the recipe in the cookbook.

I also found these beautiful green garlics.... not sure what I'm making with those yet but I'll be sure to tell you about it. Yummmmm.....

I listen religiously to Good Food on KCRW with Evan Kleinman. It's my fav podcast. So imagine my excitement when I walked by a booth today at the market and heard some voices I recognized. I literally could identify Amelia Saltsman (author of the Santa Monica Farmers' Market Cookbook), and Laura Avery, (Market Manager & Host of the Market Report on Good Food), by their voices from listening to the show.

Since I had no idea what they looked like I just introduced myself to a group of 3 women and told them I recognized 2 of their voices. What a thrill for me! They were so welcoming and guided me to the specific market treats I was looking for (the green garlic you see pictured above!).

Epson Print Academy

2009-01-31T22:19:00.000-08:00

I attended the Epson Print Academy today in Seattle. Track 2 is excellent for pros who print their own work.

Greg Gorman was informative and interesting. John Paul Caponigro is truely an artist. It was a joy to hear him at the end of the day after all the techno-babble that is such a big part of photography especially now in the digital age. Mac Holbert was there. He is brilliant. Way back in 1999 when I was a student at OCC, my teacher Ken Slosberg, took us on a field trip to Nash Editions.

Ode to Love and Friendship

2009-01-27T09:08:00.001-08:00

May we all be so lucky as to find this kind of unconditional love and loyal partnership in our lives. Thanks to Cat Gwynn for sharing this video and allowing herself to be called corny and sentimental for doing so!

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, founded in 1995, is the nation's largest natural habitat refuge developed specifically for endangered African and Asian elephants. It operates on 2,700 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee - 85 miles southwest of Nashville.

Outstanding in the Field

2009-01-20T14:46:00.000-08:00

Outstanding in the Field is possibly the greatest concept in food and art combined. Please check out this website as soon as humanly possible. I can't say enough about this brilliant concept. Check out thier blog too - it's on my blogroll under yummy food blogs.

Other Laundry

2009-01-16T13:22:00.000-08:00

Apparently lots of photographers are attracted to laundry. From my friend Jaime Kowal who recently did an amazing job of helping me with an edit of my laundry project...

Can you say Quinoa? (Keen-Wah)

2009-01-16T08:06:00.000-08:00

Wednesday is my favourite day of the week because that's when the LA Times has the Food Section. Quinoa is my absolute favourite grain so imagine my excitement when I opened up this Wednesday's LA Times to see this recipe... AND, on the website, a video with Amy Scattergood showing us how to make it!

Quinoa Salad with Shiitakes, Fennel and Cashews

Quinoa Salad with Shiitakes, Fennel and Cashews

Total time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 to 6

Note: This recipe calls for a wok. Quinoa is generally available at health food stores as well as at well-stocked supermarkets, including Whole Foods stores.

2 cups quinoa

1 quart water

Salt

1/4 cup peanut oil

5 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

2 cups thinly sliced fennel (about 1 large bulb)

2 cups sliced fresh shiitake mushrooms

1 cup sliced green onions, both white and green parts (about 1 small bunch)

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1/2 cup toasted, salted cashews

4 tablespoons minced fresh parsley

4 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

Finely grated zest and juice of 1 lime

1. Rinse the quinoa under cool running water, then drain well with a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth-lined strainer (the grains are very small and will slip through a coarse strainer). Heat a wok over medium-high heat and toast the quinoa, shaking the pan frequently, just until the grains dry, are just beginning to color and have a nutty aroma, about 4 minutes. Set aside in a bowl.

2. In a medium, lidded pot, bring 1 quart of water to a boil over high heat. Stir in the quinoa with a pinch of salt, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover. Cook the quinoa until the grains are translucent and tender and the germ has spiraled out from the grain, 12 to 15 minutes (be careful not to overcook). Remove from heat, drain and set aside.

3. Meanwhile, heat the wok again over high heat. Add the peanut oil and heat until it just begins to simmer. Stir in the garlic and fry, stirring constantly, just until the garlic is golden, about 30 seconds (the garlic can burn quickly). Remove the garlic with a slotted spoon, keeping the oil in the pan, and set aside.

4. Add the fennel to the oil and fry, stirring or tossing frequently, until it is caramelized, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oil and set aside. Add the shiitakes to the oil and stir-fry until caramelized, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir the green onions in with the mushrooms and continue to stir-fry just until the green onions begin to wilt, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the soy sauce and vinegar to the mixture and stir or toss to combine, then remove from heat.

5. In a large bowl, gently toss the quinoa with the warm shiitake-green onion mixture, the fennel, garlic, cashews, parsley, cilantro, lime zest and juice. Season to taste with additional salt if desired and serve immediately.

Each of 6 servings: 497 calories; 17 grams protein; 65 grams carbohydrates; 9 grams fiber; 18 grams fat; 3 grams saturated fat; 0 cholesterol; 273 mg. sodium.

And for all you visual people out there - here's another look at this gorgeous and delicious sounding salad. I'll let you know how it turns out when I make it.

photo: Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times

Don't Stop Now... It's Time to Market!

2009-01-14T16:48:00.000-08:00

Taken from photographer Nick Souza's January 2009 Newsletter:

How to Weather these Times of Economic Turbulence:

(adapted from Port Strategy Online)

It is very easy to halt marketing and communication programs when budgets are being slashed and earnings are down. However, a few focused high impact projects that show the strengths of your brand is a good compromise.

I view this as good advise for all businesses... photographers, editors, advertising agencies - everyone. Here are a few things to remember:

VISION: Know where your market sector is heading, read the signs, and react sooner rather than later. In short, be proactive and not reactive.
COMMUNICATION: Internal with the workforce and external with the client base - it is very important to formulate a team approach.
MARKETING: Don't give this up! When Kellogg's Cornflakes stopped marketing because it had secured the dominant market share it promptly lost market share. You have to be seen for people to believe in you.
FLAIR: Whatever the business climate, there should always be room for ideas and ingenuity, nurture this belief.
TENACITY: Face the reality: competition will get tougher, prepare for this and up the level of service rather than compromise on price.
ADVICE: Don't be "penny wise and pound foolish"; it is even more important in turbulent times to pay for the right advice and to take it.
CONTACTS: make better use of our contacts - revisit them, use them.
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING: If it is a luxury and/or doesn't make a tangible return get rid of it - or to use a very English expression "cut your cloth accordingly". A business/budget review is always a good policy in tough times.
STRATEGY: Well we couldn't leave this out could we? Knit all the foregoing elements into an astute strategy not just one geared to survival but one geared to growth as well. When the good times return you will be ready to roll.

Limited Edition Print Sale | Christopher Barbour

2009-01-14T07:45:00.001-08:00

A colleague and artist friend in LA, Christopher Barbour, is having a print sale. His work is really wonderful, full of soul and emotion. Check it out here and start shopping! The prices can't be beat... it's definitely an investment as this guy is going places.

An Interesting LOOK at Statistics

2009-01-13T14:45:00.000-08:00

Artist Chris Jordan has a very unique way of looking at statistics.

Running the Numbers looks at contemporary American culture through the austere lens of statistics. Each image portrays a specific quantity of something: fifteen million sheets of office paper (five minutes of paper use); 106,000 aluminum cans (thirty seconds of can consumption) and so on. Check out the work here.

Let's hear it for a Secretary of the Arts

2009-01-12T12:59:00.000-08:00

There is a petition circulating to ask President-Elect Obama to appoint a Secretary of the Arts. While many other countries have had Ministers of Art or Culture for centuries, The United States has never created such a position. I'm all for it, so I signed. (My signature number for this petition is 64570).

Please take a moment to sign this important petition and then pass it on to your friends and colleagues. Click here to sign the petition. Click here to read an article about it.

Photographers Fooling Around

2009-01-11T18:00:00.000-08:00

After viewing all the amazing work at Photo LA, Jaime and I had to take off to Venice Beach to do what we love best (after photography that is) ....EAT!!

Did I mention that Jaime is visiting from Vancouver and can't get enough of the So Cal weather ??? Sunny & 80 today. (yes, I know it's January).

Checkin' out the Scene at Review LA

2009-01-07T23:45:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be volunteering at Review LA this weekend. Volunteers get to show their portfolios to reviewers if there are any cancellations or openings for other reasons, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed and printing like crazy to get everything ready. I'll be showing my laundry project.

My leave behinds, collateral package, brand, logo, everything, have been designed by Catharine Stebbins at CAS Designworks. I LOVE them!!

Good News on the So Cal Eco Front

2008-12-18T16:30:00.001-08:00

Here's some good news -- This just in from The Surfrider Foundation. YIPPEE!!!

"The Department of Commerce announced today that it would uphold the California Coastal Commission's decision! The egregious project to build a toll road through San Onofre State Beach is officially illegal under state and Federal law! In a release issued from the Department of Commerce, they determined that there is at least one reasonable alternative to the project and that the project is not necessary in the interest of national security.

This victory would not have been possible if it was not for the activists who showed up by the thousands at the California Coastal Commission and Secretary of Commerce hearings or wrote letters to voice their opposition to the toll road.

Without a doubt, this victory belongs to the all dedicated individuals who have followed this campaign for several years. The ruling proves decision-makers listen when thousands of people speak out against ill-conceived projects.

Surfrider is calling upon the TCA and Orange County elected officials to embrace alternative transportation strategies that will better address the county's traffic issues without jeopardizing our environmental, recreational and economic resources. Surfrider challenges the TCA to stop wasting money on lawyers and lobbying and to work with regional stakeholders to find better traffic solutions."

I'm pleased to say I played a small part in this victory. I shot one job for a company hired to produce briefing materials for the California Coastal Commission. Above are the front and back cover of the booklet with several of my images included. I also wrote many letters to politicians and made my opposition to this project known.

Art Sale

2008-12-17T18:16:00.000-08:00

I sold a fine art print today that is a perfect match for the season and the current climate all across Canada & the US.

© Cindy Schafer 2008
From the "Who Am I? Where Am I?" series - Snow 2008.