The above Limpkin at sunset at Green Cay Wetlands is inviting you on a portion of walk as we see different perspectives of the sky and water. He and I are inviting you to experience the peacefulness of it. [click to continue…]
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Birds
The intention of today’s issue of Picture to Ponder is meant to give you a refreshing break in Nature through photographs from two recent, bright sunny days with two, presumably different, Cormorants.
Today’s Photos -
Wind open spaces in Wakodahatchee Wetlands
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If you’ve been following this blog for a while you undoubtedly are aware that I often find art in bird droppings on the boardwalks where I wander. You also know that one of our consistent themes in Picture to Ponder has been around querying the possibilities that open up from shifting perspectives.
Today’s Photos and Stories -
I had an interesting, “accidental” experience the other day, relevant to both the “art” and changing points of view. A particular “droppings” pattern caught me eye, so I’ve course I stopped to photograph it. Given I’m in two different online classes, right now, both with a “self-portrait” theme, I intentionally included my feet in the shot seen below.
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As I was searching for photos for today’s issue of Picture to Ponder, I was drawn into the rhythm of the waves and the subtle reflections of the rising sun in Boynton Beach, FL two weeks ago. Some of the magic is lost in the smaller size here, so I’m including a link to a slightly larger version if you wish to click on the photo and be with that photo for a moment or two.
If you wish to spend a few more minutes and experience the rolling waves and listening to the sounds, I invite you to check out my Boynton Sunrise Video leading up to the scene captured below.
Originally, particularly because of the white and the fact that it was on the beach, I assumed the bird in the lower photo was a sea gull. Then, the orange beak had me check it out on Google where I learned that it’s a Tern. You can see a cute 20-second video of his scurrying on the beach at Tern Video. Stay with it for the last two or three seconds and you’ll see his “family.’
Today’s Featured Photos -
As state above, sunrise at Boynton Beach and a Tern on the beach.
Self-Reflecting Queries -
I spent quite a bit of time today in looking to “adjust” the sunrise photo, cropping it to accommodate “the rules” – the rule of thirds in creating a good photographic composition. Following this “rule” the subject would never be in the center of the photo. That is, the sun would not be smack in the middle. And, as I look at it again, though the sun is central, my eye is drawn to the waves which, in fact, are in the lower third and the focus of interest for me.
Then moving on to the photograph of the tern. His beak is in the upper third corner, his tail is almost in the lower. I suppose this would thus “qualify” as a well done photo. On the other hand he is looking away from us, not usually a good idea, according to the “rules.”
I ultimately decided, today to present the photos that “felt” good and they seem to work fine.
In line with my description above, I invite you, once again, to look into your own life. Is there any place that you are so caught up in what you think are the rules that you are not allowing yourself to play “full out”?
If so, and you were to give yourself permission to look beyond what you think are the rules, might there be something new or expansive that could open up for you? If so, I invite you to take it on.
And, as I final thought today, I suggest you might also check out with another person, or persons, what their interpretation of the situation is; the same as yours, or different? What might the openings here be for you?
As always, have fun and open up to new possibilities.
Then please post your experience in the COMMENTS section below.
New in the Gift Shop –
I just received my latest order of new products from my Gift Shop. If you read last week’s issue of Picture to Ponder and the one a few weeks back, you’ll know how excited I’ve been with this particular garlic image. So last week I put it on a Tile and WOW! I am thrilled.
These tiles are great as coasters, hot plates and/or decorative on a small table easel.
Using Photoshop, I also placed the garlic pieces on top of the silky abstract image of a portion of the garlic that I featured in Picture to Ponder last week and had it printed on a year-at-a-glance calendar.
Though I’m not anxious for 2010 to end, I can’t wait until January when this calendar and image will have the central spot on my refrigerator. I also purchased a couple more of the calendars – different images. I will cut off the photo on at least one and frame it!
Lastly, in addition to the above and other garlic image products, I had the silk mandala of two weeks ago printed on a tile also.
You can see this at Mandala 1 Tile and other products with this silk image on Mandala.
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Today’s issue of Picture to Ponder is about offering a brief respite at the beach. View the two 30 and 40 second videos and/or simply be with the top photos.
Then, if you might be interested in experiencing the possibility of using your camera and photography to empower you in your life, please check out my complimentary offer described below, after the SRQs.
Today’s Photos -
Click on image to watch video on YouTube
The top photo is of the sky and ocean at Boynton Beach at approximately 6:20 AM, approximately 25 minutes before the sun actually came up over the horizon.
The middle photo is a screen shot from the video of sandpipers. They were scurrying around so quickly still shots seemed out of the question. Click on the image itself or the video link to observe the sand pipers and hear the ocean. You’ll note at the end, I’ve reversed titled it “The Flow of Life”.
The bottom video is simply of the gently rolling surf to give you the experience of being there as you listen to and watch the rhythm of the gentle waves.
Self-Reflecting Queries -
As you “be with” the radiance of the emanating rays of the pre-dawn sun in the top photo, I invite to to reflect on your own brilliance. What rays of color and light are you projecting out into your world?
Next, as you observe the sandpipers peacefully scurrying away from the waves gently rolling onto the shore and then quickly back again, as the birds search for food, I invite you to reflect on the following:
Are there things in your life from which you typically run away, perhaps viewing them as “threats?” If so, how quickly do YOU get back in the game? Can you relate in anyway to the behavior of the lone sandpiper on whom I’ve focused at the end?
Lastly, should any of these images have an empowering impact on you, I invite you to “grab on to them to hold in your memory bank to call upon when desired.
As always have fun playing with these photos queries. Then please share your experiences with us in the COMMENTS section below.
For Individuals desiring a creative way for Getting Past Stuckness -
For the next two weeks I am offering 20-minute complimentary consultations for those interested in exploring , using photographs and/or your camera to help you see alternatives and shift perspectives in areas where you might feel confronted.
To experience how this might work for you, send me an email, sheila[at]sheilafinkelstein.com, with Photo/Coaching in the subject line. I will reply with a simple exercise and we’ll set up a mutually convenient phone time for self-empowerment follow through.
For Business Owners for whom Blogging is still a mystery -
There is still to take advantage of Bea Fields 3-week Become a Blogging Maniac Jumpstart program, plus the complete 12-week program which starts in September. I have participated in the course twice and from my perspective there is no one on the Internet who offers as much valuable content for an investment of less than $100 (a little more if you add the Jumpstart program). See Become a Blogging Maniac Scroll down past the option links for full details of what’s included with each.
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Thanks to my friend, Lynn Terry, in whose Elite Mastermind Group I participate, I learned about Gary Vaynerchuk’s book CRUSH IT! (Why “Now is the time to Crush It and Cash in on your Passion”). Based on Lynn’s review on her blog, I purchased the book. It came quickly from Amazon and I’ve been enthralled. It’s been a fast, powerful and empowering read. The thrust of the book is about learning “to navigate the digital waters of social marketing to build a business and promote a personal brand based around what you love most.” (p.14)
As I skim the pages now to look for my highlights I see numerous pink strokes on “personal brand” – “The thing that most people don’t realize is that in today’s world your business and your personal brand need to be one and the same…” (p. 28) So as I’m reading, I’m considering, once again, “What is my passion? Where is it?” I’ve done countless courses and reading on this and…. Then, Clunk!, I remembered the photo I took that I was so excited about the day before -
I sent this out to some friends, with the tag, “Sh*t Happens – Find the Beauty”, and I realized this IS my passion and my brand, “Finding the Beauty in Whatever Shows Up.” As a young child my favorite books were those in the POLLYANNA series. In later years, I came to recognize that it was her always finding the positive in any situation was what drew me in and quite possibly was instrumental, in part anyway, in shaping my future.
Thanks to Gary’s CRUSH IT! I feel like I’m standing in a more powerful place as I’m crafting/refining what’s next for me, at least in the speaking of it. I’m not sure I’m comfortable in standing in “Sh*t Happens – Find the Beauty” as my brand in those words AND it’s something to play with – have fun with.
The book is full of concrete and specific ideas for using Social Media and other strategies to monetize and more. I was familiar with much of it and there was some great information new to me. Lastly, just before breaking to write this post, I read Gary’s suggestion to put our brands on t-shirts. “What fun!” I thought. “I wonder if anyone would buy and wear a “Sh*t Happens – Find the Beauty” t-shirt.” “What the heck,” I decided. And I put the image on some T-Shirts in my Cafe Press Nature Art Gift shop. While at it, I added another image and message – “Fish or Fowl? Change Perspectives” – Changing perspective is always big part of my message and, you can see, rotating the above photograph, 90 degrees, creates a whole different image and experience.
In the top photo, I saw the “bird” in the upper left, facing to the left. Then someone pointed seeing the same shape as a bird facing to the right going through the top of the head of the “bird” facing us. I hadn’t even noticed that frontal bird until I downloaded it into my computer. So, as I write, the top photo has 4 birds. How many do you see?
Then in the rotation of it, as I prepared the photos for t-shirts, I immediately saw the “fish” (formerly bird) in the lower left. For now, I’ll say the larger image is a fish also. What are your interpretations?
Adding to my passion is sharing this with you, reminding you that there are many ways of viewing the same thing in our lives, both our interpretations and then those of others… none of which are “RIGHT”.
Here are the resulting images now on t-shirts. You can find them at Nature Art Gift Shop
As always, have fun with this and enroll others in having fun with you. Be sure to share your experiences with us in the comments below.
I’d also very much appreciate your thoughts on “Sh*t Happens – Find the Beauty” as the marketing brand for my work. Many thanks in advance.
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For today’s post, I’m moved to share a recent red-winged blackbird photo from Green Cay Wetlands. It’s the photograph that “popped” out as the one wanting to be featured, while I was working on creating videos. It also became the final slide, with data, on the one I created with me talking on the boardwalk in Green Cay Wetlands.
In the completed video I also incorporated a slideshow of photographs from Green Cay, demonstrating the possibility of respite from Nature photos. You can see it on the Picture to Ponder testimonials page. Notice also, that I’ve now created this as a page for people to subscribe to Picture to Ponder.
If Picture to Ponder makes a difference in your life, I’d appreciate your passing on the link for that page – www.picturetoponder.com/testimonials.html
If you enjoy the bird and would like to hear his voice, plus those of moorhens and limpkins in the background, I put another short (one-minute) video (2 red-winged blackbirds) up of two then one. It’s fun to watch the single bird’s body swell as he “chatters” as you come to the end of the video.
Today’s Photo -
Red-winged blackbird on the railing at Green Cay Wetlands in Boynton Beach, FL -
Let’s view him as a symbol calling greetings and congratulations to all the upcoming Graduates about to embark on the next stages of their lives. Today’s Photo Story -
Today’s red-winged blackbird is also a way of my acknowledging my beautiful granddaughter Kaitlyn’s graduation from High School this week.
Seven years ago, when she was 11, she used my camera and got a wonderful picture of a blackbird in Wakodahatchee Wetlands. It seemed to be years before one stayed still long enough for me to get a non-blurry picture. For that photo and others, see Kaitlyn’s Photos. You can click on any one of the images for an enlargement and then use the arrows to continue viewing.
Self-Reflecting Queries -
As in life, today’s bird, could be labeled, or viewed, in many different ways. Because of the usual, past “elusiveness” of the red-winged blackbirds I’ve encountered, I am enjoying seeing and labeling this picture as a symbol of celebration and acknowledgment.
I invite you to look into your life for some of the triggers and memories that come up for you. Which are causes for celebration? Are there any which bring up negative memories that you can now put a different “spin” on?
I also invite you to look around you in your environment to pick something, natural or otherwise, that you can deem a reminder for celebrating.
As always have fun with this and please post your responses in the COMMENTS below.
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If you are ever feeling stuck or in a funk and you’ve been around me for a while, you might hear my voice say, “Grab your camera. Pay attention to what catches your eye and take some pictures.” I’ve written about this in articles and you’ve most likely read my RX in the PDF file you received as a new, or renewing, subscriber. You can claim it by subscribing to Picture to Ponder.
Oftentimes I do I forget my own advice. Though I almost always have my camera with me, I may not use it. Last night, in a funk, I went for a walk at Green Cay Wetlands. When I finally pulled my camera out, I remembered, “Oh yes. Why didn’t I think of this in the first place, as immediate access for shifting my mood?”
Today’s Photos -
As I started walking and taking photographs of wood knots, I got into conversation with a young boy, Grady, and his mother. I stopped and showed them the Green Cay Wood Knot Lion, still in my camera. We then discovered another possible lion, or other critter, right under our feet. Grady did not agree with his mother and me on what it was. So the next time I made a discovery, he went close down to inspect it.
Click on the photo to see Wood Knot the Boy is studying
We continued our walk, made some other “finds”, and then stopped at one point. My young friend climbed on the railing to watch the blue-winged teals. As I photographed, Grady continued talking about a story that was evidently on his mind from earlier conversation. His chattering along with the movement of the bird, is in the 32-second, fun video below.
Grady and his mother proceeded to move on as I stopped to record the two blue-winged teals below. This is a 34-second video in which you can experience the busy-ness of the teals and the peace of the scene.
Click on photo to see the video online.
Self-Reflecting Queries -
Obviously, from my story above, you can see that once again, I had accessed shifting my own “funky” mood.
Do you have a regular practice that will do this for you? If so, do you have a reminder system in place that will have you use the practice whenever needed?
And now, in a totally different conversation, let’s look at “paying attention.” If you’ve watched, and listened to, the first video with the boy chattering, you’ll have heard me break in with the suggestion to look at the water coming out of the duck’s beak.
I invite you, for the next day, or more, to pay attention to your own listening. Are you always full present to what the other person is saying or are your thoughts going elsewhere?
When you notice you’re not, are you planning on what you are going to say next, concentrating on something else, or is your mind simply wandering?
If/when you catch yourself, I invite you to stop, apologize to the person who is speaking, if appropriate, and ask for a recap. Then fully enjoy being in the moment with that person
As always, have fun with this, and please share your experiences in the COMMENTS section at the bottom of this post.
Awakened Wisdom -
I have been invited to participate, offering a bonus, in the launch on April 20th of a new book, “Awakened Wisdom – A Guide to Reclaiming Your Brilliance”, by Patrick Ryan.
Over the past three decades, Patrick, an executive coach and a former Buddhist monk, has been on a spiritual quest that eventually led him to devise a system of teachings he calls “Awakened Wisdom Experiences” (AWE). For years he taught this system worldwide at his workshops of the same name.
Now, at long last, he has consolidated the teachings of Awakened Wisdom Experiences into a book, appropriately entitled, “Awakened Wisdom – A Guide to Reclaiming Your Brilliance.” This means his unique spiritual teachings can now reach a much wider audience around the globe. You can read more about the book here: AWAKENED WISDOM.
The book Awakened Wisdom is written in two sections. The first is a deeply spiritual exploration on what it means to be human. The second section explores what Patrick calls “Eight States of an Awakened Life”. These eight states help you tap into your divine wisdom to create more of the life you want. Here are the eight states from Patrick’s book:
1) A Good State of Understanding
2) A Good State of Intention
3) A Good State of Words
4) A Good State of Being
5) A Good State of Purpose
6) A Good State of Effort
7) A Good State of Practice
A Good State of Doing
In addition to bonuses from 40 other people, Patrick is giving away an EXTRA special gift of his own: An Awakened Wisdom VIRTUAL Experience!
When you buy the book, you will be given free admission to this special 2-day live “virtual” event, taking place on May 5th and 6th, 2010. On that event, Patrick will personally guide you through the Eight States of an Awakened Life. If you cannot make the live event, it will be recorded, but it will be available only to those who buy the book on April 20th.
To find out how you can buy this book on April 20th and claim Patrick’s gift, and the others, just go to Awakened Wisdom Launch When you go to that page, be sure you enter your email address in the form, and Patrick will send you a “launch reminder” to make sure you don’t miss the April 20th date.
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Today’s swan photos were taken on the hotel grounds between sessions of Suzanne Evans “Be the Change Event” in which I was a participant last month. Before I describe the pictures and how they fit in with our lives, I want to update you on some exciting news.
If you are a new subscriber to Picture to Ponder, you may be unfamiliar with my Banana Sky DVD (more below). The exciting news is that it is going onto the retail market, being offered by a large company that does programs for caregivers. This means that our price, to match theirs, will be increasing by a minimum of four dollars at midnight on Sunday, March 14th.
To bring the restorative benefits of nature into your home any time, day or night, on your TV or your computer, at the still-low price of $7.97 you can go directly to the ORDER PAGE, or for Ellen Britt’s Video Testimonial and others, plus a one-minute preview, go to BANANA SKY DVD.
Today’s Photos -
Considering what’s next
Searching deep within
Still searching for the last pieces rippling out into the world
Confident in the reminder that it’s not all in the head -
Trust the whole body
Though these photographs were not taken with any of the above captions in mind they are reflective of my current journey into self-discovery. I suspect you, too, may relate to some of what’s expressed in the captions.
And, MORE IMPORTANTLY, I invite you to BE with each of the images without my words. Enjoy each for what it is and, if any “send” a message to you, play with that.
Self-Reflecting Queries -
For today’s queries, I invite you to make a query for yourself from each of the photo captions above, IF this FITS for you.
In this week’s Writers Camp with Julie Jordan Scott, mentioned in Picture to Ponder last week, I have been grappling with the role of writing in my life. Some people are “driven” to write. That’s not the case with me.
Aside from my daily Morning Pages (Julia Cameron’s THE ARTIST’S WAY), where writing frees me up for the day, writing often feels like a “burden” and I do it because I made a commitment to do so, such as for this weekly Picture to Ponder.
One of the recurring themes in Picture to Ponder has been the freeing power of taking action, one step at a time, “getting out of our heads” (Swan photo #4). I invite you to look into your life to see if there is a current place where you are “burrowing” your head (Swan photo #2). If so, what single action can you take to start yourself in motion?
Is there an intention or commitment behind it? If not, setting that could be your first action step.
As always, have fun with this, and please share your experiences in the COMMENTS below.
Banana Sky DVD -
Banana Sky DVD documents the life of a banana plant from pre-fruiting the the end of the life of the one plant. As importantly it reflects the beauty of the experiencing nature, particularly that of sunlight.
I discovered that watching a slide show of a selection of the photos would always relax me, especially during the moments I was experiencing hard-to-control anger, as a caregiver, at the effects of Parkinson’s Disease on my beloved Sam and, consequently, on both of us.
Sensing the possibility and power of the Banana Sky DVD video, I contacted Jeannie Fitzsimmons to use her healing music as an integral part of the experience.
The resulting DVD was set up as an endless loop that will play continuously on a DVD player connected to your TV, reaching those who are not on computers, and on any computer DVD player.
Though initially targeted toward caregivers, Banana Sky DVD has become popular with anyone looking to have immediate, 24/7, access to the healing powers of nature anytime.
As mentioned above, the price will be increasing to $12 at midnight on Sunday, March 14th. Save four plus dollars by going to ORDER now, or PREVIEW for more information and to read testimonials first if you wish.
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I’m taking a quick break from family time to wish you a Joyful, Healthy, Peaceful Prosperous New Year.
The Night Crown Heron seems to be pondering? Reflecting? Have you taken the time to reflect and acknowledge your accomplishments in 2010?
Will you to be stepping lightly into 2010 or taking a leap?
And, in celebration of both the “good” and the “bad” in the year almost over, as we look forward to the upcoming year, I include one of my favorite photos taken a few years ago.
With the spontaneity and freedom of youth, my grandson and granddaughter, along with their cousins from Indiana, are dancing and singing, celebrating the rising sun. I use it here to acknowledge the past year and welcome the upcoming one.
For me, in addition to the light, the photo also exudes warmth. So, I offer it to you now, wishing you light and warmth, wherever you are, during this season.
And, should it be a challenging time for you, I invite you to pause, close your eyes and do some deep breathing.
Self Reflecting Queries -
I invite you to take a moment or two, or more, to reflect. Where in your life is there light and warmth? Who are the people past and present who have contributed that to you? Is there a way for you to express your gratitude?
Do remember to acknowledge yourself. In the gratitude there is light.
Personally, Looking Back and Looking Forward -
This past year I spent a lot of time in search of my purpose/my identity. Not that this was anything new. What was different this year was the number of places I went and the “new” people with whom I interacted. I thank them all for their contribution and continuing support and belief in me. They/you know who they/you are.
The transformational difference for me is that by the end of the year, I finally clearly saw how dependent I’ve been in terms of defining myself as others see me and then attempting to fit into what I think that is. The result for me has been that, in trying to “fit” their image, I was not fully and comfortably “fitting” into myself.
One of the prime examples in this past year has been in the promotion of my Through and From the Lens/Point and Shoot Photo Course.
It is a core course I’ve developed that has made a remarkable difference for participants AND I’ve been relying on others to point me in the direction of the “best” web page, marketing, and more.
My reasons for citing this here is twofold:
1 – You may find yourself in some of what I’ve shared about my experiences, and
2 -I wanted to give you the opportunity for early registration into
the now-referred-to-as the “Through and From the Lens Point and Shoot Photocourses” -
the now-referred-to-as the “Through and From the Lens Point and Shoot Photocourses” -
Please check the link out. I would love to be connecting with you on a more direct level, furthering what we see in Picture to Ponder.
I feel blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for being there. May you have a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2010.
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