Creativity

Candle, Distractions, Creativity and Fear – Picture to Ponder – v6 – issue 38

by Sheila Finkelstein on September 30, 2010

Last week’s Gerber Daisies and Letting Go of Attachments issue of Picture to Ponder generated a greater than usual response on the blog with some very poignant and creative statements, including two poems. I encourage you check them out at DAISY COMMENTS.

Note that if you are interested in replying or initiating your own comments, I have added a “Notify me of follow up comments via e-mail”. Simply check the box and you will get an email whenever anyone, including me, comments on the particular post you’ve left a comment.

Also, if you are one who enjoyed the daisies, I have a “smashing” photo of a yellow Gerber Daisy on several products in my gift shop. See the section after today’s Queries for that image and opportunities.

Lastly for this section, I will probably be mentioning this during the next month, I am excited about participating in CREATE THE IMPOSSIBLE, a 30-day program set-up by Michael Neill, author of YOU CAN HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT, a book I’m thoroughly enjoying. If the thought of “Creating the Impossible” intrigues you, you can find more information at the above link. Click on UPCOMING EVENTS in the black horizontal menu bar near the top of that page for details.

Today’s Featured Photos –

Multi-colore candle burning in a pot

lit candle with triangular shapes

Top photo is a fat candle in a ceramic dish in a pot. I love the colors and feeling of it. The lower photo is an originally small, square candle in a ceramic dish on a brass table.

Today’s Photos Story –
Last week in one of the smaller groups set up in Adela Rubio’s Conscious Business Tribe program of which I am a member, Dianne led a visualization around a “sacred fire” for honoring the Autumn Equinox.

The exercise included imagining writing on a piece of paper one thing we would like we’d like to let go of in this next quarter and on another, one thing we would like to magnetize to ourselves in the next. This was to be tossed into the visualized fire in the middle of a circle of people, then watched as it burned, each with a different result; the first as it was it was “cleansed” and moved up “into the ethers.”

(Note – Dianne has a wonderful voice and may soon be having audio meditations on her website, Stone Haven Wellness. In the meantime if you contact her from site, she might provide you with the transcript for the meditation and definitely more details on it.)

After the exercise several of the group members were talking about ceremonial fires they done, including creating a small fire within a deep pot in the home. I was yearning to participate and I suddenly remembered a pot in my garage that hadn’t made it to the recycling center. “Deep pot, all well and good,” thought I before the fear of a possible fire set in for me.

I then recalled a fat candle, given to me as a gift years ago, that I’d occasionally lit. It was in a ceramic dish I had made and obviously wasn’t going to get too hot or burn anything other than itself. I decided since the pot was quite deep and the paper pieces small they were not likely to result in a flame that would go beyond the containers. I thus “went for it.”

After simply “being” with the candle and the experience for a while, I became absorbed with what was happening with the papers, not disintegrating (obviously the melting wax was holding them), and the changes in the candle, which had been completely round when I started. Not surprisingly, I went for my camera and started videoing the flame as well as taking still shots. (You can see more photos, next day included, and the video on the blog.)

Intrigued with candles now, the next day I decided to light a different candle, planning to sit quietly with it and meditate. I picked up, smaller candle, as seen in the lower photo, thinking I would not be distracted. It too was in a different ceramic dish which I placed on a small brass patio table near me.

This candle had already been burned a few times and was melted down in the center leaving the four peaks that we see. As I sat with it, I became intrigued with the repetition of the shapes in both the candle and the flame. Thus I went for the camera again, this time planning to share the imagery with you.

Self-Reflecting Queries –
Part of today’s story relates to distractions, fears and adjusting. The candles’ story above demonstrates how easily I become distracted with things I suddenly see, tintilated by the awareness of them. Thus I’m often jumping into reactive mode, many times shifting and moving into new, oftentimes creative activities.

I invite you to look at yourself and your patterns. Can you stay focussed? Is it natural, or have you set sytems in place to keep you on track?

And, if you jump, as I do, can you claim the benefits that are there for you?

In the story, I also mentioned fear and my way of coming up with an alternative solution. When you feel a fear, how do you handle it?

I’m still looking for solutions for simply “being”. I started adding the word “patiently” to that and realized that adding anything would not be “simply being.” How about you?

Additional Photos –

The top candle in the pot

41 Second video of flaming candle – Note the two paper strips

Large candle the next day. Note how the wax has filled the bowl.

As always, you are welcome to share your responses in the COMMENTS section below.  Note the new “Notify me…. ” option so you can get emails when others comment. Looking forward to our connecting there. Thank you so much.

(Note – This post has two affiliate links. Should you enroll in programs presented though them, I may derive a small commission.)

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Beauty and Expression – Pungent Power of Garlic – Picture to Ponder – v6 – issue 36

by Sheila Finkelstein on September 15, 2010

Today’s photo, for me, has a beauty, power and majesty, in and of itself. Yesterday we used it for a writing prompt n the writers’ group of which I am a member. Unique and powerful writing developed in four minutes. The caption in the title here “Pungent Power” came out of one of the member’s writing.

In the Picture to Ponder mailing of this issue I did not include further words about the photo other than explain that it was garlic.

I thus wrote:

Today’s Featured Photo –


Probably obvious to you, two segments of a garlic bulb.

Today’s Photo Story –
Again, I do not want to affect your experience of the image, so I’m adding nothing here in the ezine regarding the photo, other than what’s above.

I am posting other views with comments on possibilities of differing responses to changes in perspectives. You can check that out on the BLOG.  More photos are after the Queries.

Self-Reflecting Queries –
If this photo evoked a particular response or responses to you, I invite you to explore, in writing, whatever that was.

And, if you did notice something are there other places in your life where that shows up?

Does whatever you saw empower you?

If not, can you reframe it so it does?

OTHER VIEWS of the same image –

Very elegant and by “herself”, the “Garlic Lady”.

Seeming to be the Yin and the Yang of oneself, below are the same as the initial image shown from different angles.

Does this angle evoke a different response in you?  If so, remember this at other times… the power of changing perspective.

The above is the original angle from which I shot the photo.  I turned it to be vertical for the presentation I wanted to make.  Does it have a different feel for you?

The garlic skin honors and applauds your participation  The “feelings” were important here, so the fact that there is no “head” in this image, matters not.

As always, you are invited to share your responses in the COMMENTS section below.

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Seeing and Listening – Paying Attention – Picture to Ponder – v6- issue 34

by Sheila Finkelstein on September 1, 2010

Today’s issue of Picture to Ponder is a slightly different “take” on one of our recurring themes that of “paying attention.” I admit the photos certainly appear to be an odd combination. On the other hand, I hope they bring you the same smiles that I get when I snapped and then reviewed them. More below.

Today’s Featured Photos –

Whistling duck face only - profilesFor more photos and the story – [click to continue…]

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Smiles from a Hubcap and Iron Poles – Picture to Ponder – v6 – issue 25

by Sheila Finkelstein on June 24, 2010

While searching for today’s photos I felt an immediate smile break out as my eye quickly caught the photo below. I saw a grinning face winking. I decided to go for the humor, hoping you see it also.

Finding play and humor is part of what I am currently working on as I narrow down my coaching practice to supporting working Moms who are looking for creating deeper connections and communication with their young children (ages 4 to 5 to 10). At the same time they will be having expanded fun and joy during their togetherness times, with less or no guilt around the spaces when they cannot be with one another. One way of doing this is opening to the people, objects and scenes each party sees in different ways.

In addition I have also been meeting virtually with some other people doing exciting programs. See comments below on new programs. Also, should you be a Mom who might have an interest in learning about what I am developing, please email me, sheila [at] sheilafinkelstein.com, with subject: “Tell Me More about upcoming Moms’ Programs.”

Today’s Photos –

Smiling Face in a Hub cap

hub cap smile - grey colored

Iron bars locking wood gate at Green Cay

The top two photographs are of a hubcap, on a car or van, in the parking lot of Green Cay Wetlands. The top is an untouched photograph with the bluish cast coming from early evening light.

For me the top one is more the attention getter with a little more of the unknown in feeling and my focus stays more on the upper two eyes. I included the second, with a slight adjustment using Photoshop Elements to remove the bluishe cast, to show you how color can make a difference.

In the middle photo, we already “know” more quickly the subject of the photo in part from the information given us by the colors. There also are more bright spots scattering our attention throughout the photo. I’ve included the bottom photo, simply to show what had the hubcap be my final picture of the day. On that particular late afternoon in Green Cay, I found myself photographing light and shadows and moved onto nuts and bolts. The iron bars anchoring the boardwalk gate were among the items that caught my eye.

If you are one who “personifies” photo images along with me, you might see the faces here, or simply view the bars as “guards”, or “soldiers,” or something totally different.

RE Art and Composition:
Holding the three photographs together in one presentation are the blues in all of them, the beiges in the bottom and the middle, and the similarity of curved lines in the wood grain on our right and in the hubcaps above.

Today’s Photo Story –
Once again the images in the photographs above lend themselves., at least for me, to the possibility of fun stories. I invite you to have play and make up some of your own.

Again, if you have children, or know any, I invite you to share these photos with them and listen to their observations and stories. And, certainly don’t neglect the “children” within the adults in your world. Please invite them to have fun with you also.

Self-Reflecting Queries –
Given today’s photos are a move away from the usual straight Nature photos, I’m wondering if there is a difference in your response.

Are you sitting with unfulfilled expectations? If so, what are they? How do you handle things when they are not what you expected?

Can you identify any patterns of behavior in your life when you are disappointed? Conversely, if you were excited and enthusiastic how does your behavior differ?

Was there a difference for you in the two top photographs when the colors shifted? If so, I invite you to be aware of times that colors may be having an impact on your perception. What other things can you shift to give your new perspectives?

Note: I put completing this issue aside overnight and find it interesting that the top two continue to bring out a quick, spontaneous smile to my face. Then I move down to the third photo and the feeling of sternness and rigidity put a halt to that.

As always have fun with these queries and looking/seeing. Also, please post your responses in the COMMENTS section below.

For Teachers and Parents of Young Children –
At the start of this issue I mentioned a new “virtual” friend. Her name is Rose Emery, a singer, performer and more who brings Nature, preservation of the Earth, and more to her audiences through perky songs and animation, plus.

I discovered her through Twitter earlier this week. As a result I have access to a quick uplift in my spirit whenever needed. I simply go to one of her web pages and listen to “I Saw Butterflies Kissing”. I start smiling immediately and feel myself starting to dance in my chair.  I invite you, too, to check out BUTTERFLIES While there be sure to follow some of her other links. They lead to some interactive pages and teachings to use with young children.

How about you? Any similar reactions on your end?

Further Respite –

Banana Sky DVD header

“There is a lot of scientific study out there that says if we can’t be in nature, just looking at pictures of nature can have a soothing calming effect… For anyone who is undergoing any kind of stress/anxiety situations, this would just be a real gift.” Ellen Britt, http://marketingqi.com/

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Commonalities – Regal Faces in Clouds and on Boardwalk – Picture to Ponder – V6 – Issue 24

by Sheila Finkelstein on June 16, 2010

It is my intention for today’s message to be brief. When you scroll down and look at the two different photos you may wonder at their relevance to one another. Usually I look for a theme and, using art principles, I always attempt having them hold together and relate both visually and aesthetically to one another

Not wanting to intrude on your individual responses, I’ll expand further in my notes below the photos.

Today’s Photos –

profile in the clouds at sunset from a balcony in Boynton Beach

Princess or angel in a wood knot

To give reference to the perspective from which it was shot, the top sunset photo was taken from the balcony of a penthouse apartment in Boynton Beach, FL.

Although she looks somewhat pained, I love the regal, queenly appearance of the woman in the clouds whom we see in profile facing to our right. If you enjoy exploring further, you might see the second much smaller profile face in her “neck.” It, too, faces to the right. Then there is the one on our left at the top of her full hat, facing skyward. I suspect you will find more.

The image in the lower wood knot photo brought a quick smile to my face when I almost stepped on it on the boardwalk at Green Cay Wetlands in Boynton Beach. She looks like she is winking at us with the eye on our right. She has the feel of a “Greek Goddess and also an angel, though the wing we see is misplaced. It wouldn’t be attached to her cheek.
RE Art and Composition:
To complete on my thoughts from the introduction, what’s holding together the space that these two photos are occupying is that:

1. The subject of both is women, albeit imaginary ones, and

2. There is a bit of burnt orange in the wood that picks up on the orange in the sunset. Colors in the wood are also repeated throughout the sky and clouds in the top photo.

There is a similar linear pattern in both, though horizontal in the top and vertical on the bottom.

Today’s Photo Story –
No story today beyond what I’ve shared above in the photos and, as I see it, there is plenty of “juice” for many stories. Why not have fun and make up some of your own.

If you have children, or know any, I invite you to share these photos with them and listen to their observations and stories. And, certainly don’t neglect the “children” within the adults in your world. Please invite them to have fun with you also.

No more words on either. I invite you to BE with each, fully for a moment or two, less or more, and simply experience the images.

Self-Reflecting Queries –
Today, I also invite you to reflect on your responses, or reactions, to today’s photos. Did you see the faces I saw? Did you have judgments on my observations on the photos, or other things I might have said?

If so, was your response, or judgments, part of a pattern that you can identify and match to other situations in your life? If so, is there anything you can take from it, remind yourself of, and/or acknowledge yourself for, to further empower yourself in those areas or others?

And, as I stated last week, and at other times, it’s all made up. What stories are you making up in your life today? Are they serving you? providing fun? openings for interactions with others?

Thanks for “playing.” As always have fun with these queries and looking/seeing. Also, please post your responses in the COMMENTS section below.

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Sh*t Happens – Find the Beauty – Branding Passion per CRUSH IT! book message

by Sheila Finkelstein on June 12, 2010

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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Mushroom Faces Inspired Changes Perspectives – Picture to Ponder – v6 – Issue 9

by Sheila Finkelstein on March 3, 2010

Despite thousands of photos in my external hard drive, I was at a loss for featured photos for today’s issue of Picture to Ponder. Aside from some full moon shots and the roses of the past two issues, nothing much has grabbed my attention in the past week or so.

I then reflected on the fruit and vegetable cutting photo session, and some of the participants’ empowering experiences, in the last class of our Through and From the Lens Point and Shoot photo course and decided to “play” with that subject matter. Thus,

Today’s Photos –

My first action was to cut a mushroom in half. I started smiling immediately as two “faces” instantly showed up. Despite the fact the faces were not particularly happy ones, I couldn’t help laughing at the irony of how quickly, it seems, I see “faces.”

In the top and bottom photos, two different mushroom halves are resting on my stovetop. The half in the middle photo is in a ceramic dish I made on potters wheel years ago. Though more “artistic” in overall feel, the “face” seems to be angry or snarling, more so than in the other photos. It is same image as in the bottom photo. Yet, note the changes when on a different surface and viewed from a slightly different angle.

If you enjoy writing, these photos could be great prompts.

Self-Reflecting Queries –
As mentioned above, I was “stuck” for subject matter for today’s issue of Picture to Ponder, so I went for my camera. The latter, as you more than likely know, is one of my main tools, and “prescriptions”, for quickly shifting moods and perspectives.

What “tools” or methods do you use for creating state changes for yourself? I’d love to read your responses in the COMMENTS section below, including any writing your might have done with the photos as prompts.

In addition to simply cutting into a vegetable and then taking pictures, I went into creative mode by locating, positioning, and repositioning my subject matter. I became attuned to the differences by changing points-of-view. When you are in “stuck” situations, do you remember to look at them from different angles?

Lastly, are you aware of the number of ways in which you shift into creativity to make a difference for yourself?

As always, have fun with this.

Programs I recommend:
for Creavity, Writing and Getting to Expand your Knowledge of Yourself

Although not planned as such, my concluding query on knowing yourself and your creative strengths, interestingly, leads right into my friend, and mentor, Julie Jordan Scott’s one-week March Intensive Writing Camp starting this upcoming Monday, March 8th.

These five days with Julie are only $27, an incredible value! Get all the details at WRITERS CAMP.

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Creative DNA as Pointed Out by a Flower Photo Close-Up – Picture to Ponder – v6-issue6

by Sheila Finkelstein on February 11, 2010

In Session 2 of the current Through and from the Lens Point and Shoot Photo Course, I introduced the concept of Creative DNA and referenced my discussion to issues of Picture to Ponder five years ago.

When participant Deb Mallett commented on then-featured photo and imagery she had difficulty finding, I decided the article and photo were worth revisiting.

Thus Today’s Photo – (See below for a description of the imagery which I saw at that time.)

cropped pink bromeliad
An unidentified tropical flower from a local nursery

In 2005, I wrote: As I prepare the curriculum for the upcoming teleclasses, I’ve been reading THE CREATIVE HABIT: LEARN IT AND USE IT FOR LIFE by Twyla Tharp, dancer/choreographer. In it she speaks of “Creative DNA” which we may think of as our “creative hard-wiring or personality.”

She goes on to say, “When I apply a critic’s temperament to myself, to see if I’m being true to my DNA, I often think in terms of focal length, like that of a camera lens.

All of us find comfort in seeing the world either from a great distance, at arm’s length, or in close-up. We don’t consciously make that choice. Our DNA does, and we generally don’t waver from it. Rare is the painter who is equally adept at miniatures and epic series, or the writer who is at home in both historical sagas and finely observed short stories.”

After reading this I had a “flash.” People have been asking me how I see and take photos the way I do. In attempting to find answers, I’m noticing that the pictures subscribers seem to be most responsive to are those where I’ve zoomed in and on some where I’ve gotten even closer by cropping.

My creative DNA IS that close-up focus. So I became “true to my DNA”, pulled up the picture and cropped it. I’m thinking you get the strongest response to my work when I am being “truest” to myself.

tropical pink flower

The long view of the above photo which I cropped

Puzzling Imagery –

In 2005, I stated wrote: “I see a woman [top photo] with her head at a 3/4 angle toward the right cradled and protected by the petals, one of which caps her head. There is also a bulging-eyed, pink frog on the left protecting her, where her knees would be. I could continue with the some of the other petals and didn’t. I suspect that some of you will now probably start seeing images also.”

In response to this Deb Mallett wrote:
“It took me a long time to see the woman’s face and the bulging-eyed, pink frog in that flower, but I stared and stared and all of a sudden they both were there. And it’s not an abstract woman’s face, it’s actually quite realistic. Now that I’ve seen it, I can’t understand how I didn’t see it before.”

Now, five years later, I immediately see the frog and have yet to see the “realistic woman’s face.” I’ve marked the “frog” in the photo on FlickR (scroll over the PICTURE there and a box will pop up) and may or may not have identified the woman by the time you click on the picture link.

Self-Reflecting Queries –
I invite you to become aware of your creative DNA. As a pattern, are you looking at the world, people, situations, “from a great distance, at arm’s length, or in close-up?”

If you find yourself in challenging situations, are you in the true mode for you? If not, would shifting it make a difference to you and to the people with whom you are interacting?

Does it help to be aware that a person with whom you are attempting communication may have a different creative DNA when viewing projects?

Also, in relation to looking for the “face” and the “frog”, if you “played” the game and could not find one or both of the images, how did you handle your possible frustrations? My first inclination is to attempt to figure it out myself and then walk away if I can’t find the answer. Ultimately, I might ask for help and I am getting better at it. What about you?

Lastly, if you’ve read all of the above, are pondering it and, then, find that what I’ve related has some impact for you, I’d appreciate your sharing that in the comments below. It doesn’t have to be the “what” or the “why.” Simply knowing a difference has been made would be helpful and sufficient for me. Thank you.

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Prickly Situations or Enlightenment from a Cactus Flower – Picture to Ponder – v6-issue 5

by Sheila Finkelstein on February 4, 2010

Today’s Photo –

pink cactus flower
Cactus flower in the Desert Botanical Garden in Scottsdale, Arizona.

As part of the focus and sensory expansion exercises we do in the Point and Shoot Through and From the Lens photo course, participants “place” themselves into a photo of an alstromeria flower and explore it from within and/or from the outside. As a follow up, there is a choice of two other photos with which to do this exercise between sessions.

When looking at the photo page the other day, before sending participants the Photos for Exploration link, the shiny light within the above cactus flower popped out at me. It called out to, once again, be a featured photo in Picture to Ponder.

Self-Reflecting Queries –
Although the “spiny” needles surrounding the flower may be prickly, in the photo they appear to be soft and gentle. The light feels strong and bright, yet there is an overall sense of softness, conveyed in part by the pinks.

I invite you to do the exercise mentioned above, putting yourself into the photo, exploring the flower, the setting within which it resides, covering it from all angles.

Observe – “What size are you?” “How does it feel?” “Would you want to be a permanent resident in this space?” Check your responses. “Why ‘yes’ or ‘no’?” Do they point to similarities in any aspects of your life?

I also invite you to look further into your own life. Are there areas where you are feeling “prickly” places, perhaps ones you wish to avoid? If so, can you look beyond and find a bright light beckoning you? What could you be saying to “soften” them up?

You may also want to use your camera to photograph images that catch your eye and then do the same exercise with one or more photos of your own.

As always, have fun with this.

Programs I recommend for:
Authors – Published or Inspired to be ones –

My friend, author of GARDEN OF THE SOUL, is launching a new program with an exciting FR*EE Grand Opening Event coming Feb 22-26. She is hosting 5 days of webcasts with 17 other leading names in the exciting world of mind-body-spirit writing and publishing.

Lynn is presenting an exciting NEW concept on the Internet, combining coaching, learning, community and business-building in a creative, spirit-based environment.

If you’re an experienced author, a brand new author, or someone who is dreaming of writing an inspirational book some day, you’ll want to register for this fr*ee event.

Using Social Media – Developing an Internet Business:
This weekend I was in Atlanta for the Niche Affiliate Marketing System (NAMS 3) program. It was a full, information-rich, people-connecting, inspiring weekend.

On Saturday, a recording, STRATEGIES 4 SOCIAL MARKETING, was made with a panel of 5 top Internet Marketing Experts sharing information and tips on effectively using social media for connecting AND building business. That hour session is now available in a downloadable MP3, with several bonuses, for only $17.

My friend Tomar Levine, not at the conference, wrote: “Thanks, Sheila. I bought it, listened to it, and took four pages of notes. Just what I needed to re-invigorate my social media, which I’ve backed away from of late. I got at least one brand-new piece of info which I will start using immediately.”

It is also possible, until Monday when the price increases, to purchase the recordings from the past three NAMS conferences, including this past weekend, for only $97 total. The above-mentioned Social Marketing recording is part of the weekend recordings, so you wouldn’t need both.

See NAMS for details and to purchase the full series, should it fit for you.

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Picture to Ponder 5 Year Birthday – Images in Nature – Vol 5 – Issue 45

by Sheila Finkelstein on December 9, 2009

REMINDER _  I will be interviewed on Blog Talk Radio by Amethyst Wyldfyre this Friday, December 11th at 4 PM Eastern US time. Amethyst has entitled the program “The Gifted Hand, The Gifted Eye – Fine Arts for the Holidays: Interview with Sheila Finkelstein” I’d love for you to join us. Please bookmark SHOW. You can listen on the web, call in and/or download the call after the show, if the time does not work for you.

Birthday Acknowledgment and History –
My other big news is that today we are celebrating the 5th anniversary of Picture to Ponder, which was launched on December 9, 2004.

I did a count the other day and saw that today marks the 476th issue. Starting out with simply a photo, discussed in the next issue, four times a week, we shifted eventually to the current one issue per week with both photos and self-reflecting queries. The latter evolved and became “official” after about six months.

In Issue 1, as I described what I planned, I stated:
MISSION –
It is my desire to inspire you to discover and expand your own greatness of seeing, imagining and/or creating.

From comments I’ve gotten over the years I think I am fulfilling on this.

Today’s Photos –

hobo in the first issue of Picture to Ponder

The above is the first first photo I featured. As described in Issue 2

“YESTERDAY’S IMAGE –
the remains of a tree damaged by the Florida hurricane, then cut.

THE IMAGERY –
for my husband – the HOBO in the center of the trunk
for me – a cat’s face. with whiskers, seen for the first time yesterday, after I sent this off, and for you??”

Since that time, I recall this as the “Hobo Photo.” I’d even forgotten the “cat.” As I look at it now, I think the cat part appears when we disregard the black portion and look at the whole space surrounding it.

As most of you know, Sam is no longer here to share interpretations with me, so for the most part the added dimension comes when you add your experience or interpretations on the blog.

I was fortunate, the other night. I shared a photo in my camera viewfinder with a couple  in Green Cay Wetlands, as they, too, were exiting. In the distance,

duckweed and image in Green Cay Wetlands

I had seen a stumpy man with a green cap and sunglasses, so I zoomed in.

image of a man with sunglasses in nature

I thought I would use it here and simply label it as “Unidentified Object”, after sharing my interpretation. I really had no idea of what I was looking at. Fortunately, for my curious mind, I shared this with the couple mentioned above. How delighted I was that I did.

“It’s a turtle,” one said. I looked at it and, of course, it became quite obvious once it was pointed out. As a matter of fact, all they had to do was say “turtle” and I saw it immediately. The “sunglasses” were part of the turtle’s body, the “nose”, his head. The “green cap” was duckweed on the turtle’s shell.

None of us, though, could determine what it was sitting on, so we decided to leave it labeled as an imaginary wolf.

Ever curious, I did go back a little earlier the next day for a clearer view. With the duckweed in the water having moved on also, it became quite obvious that it was a log, now looking more like a resting dog.

log that looks like a dog in the water at Green Cay Wetlands

A close up brings our attention more to the full experience of both the “face” and its reflection, and there might be yet another interpretation. I’ll leave that one to you.

close up of the log dog in Green Cay water

If you have an interpretation to share, please post it below.

As an aside, if you are interested in surfing through some of the issues over the years you can check the eZezine Archives for issues from Issue 4 up through October 2008. Please tell anyone you might share this with NOT use the subscribe button on the eZezine archive pages. We are now at aWeber and you can see the archives from October 2008 to now at aWeber PTP Archives.

I also have all of the issues on eteletours.com. Starting with Issue 1 – http://www.eteletours.com/issue1.html you can scroll through all of the issues by using the arrows at the bottom of each issue or by changing the number in the URL.

Self-Reflecting Queries –
I started out stating that today’s issue is a celebration. I’m certainly not “jumping up and down”… the image that the word “celebrate” pulls up for me… and I am acknowledging the pleasure, satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment at ongoingly fulfilling on a mission declared five years ago.

What is your view of “celebration” and how do you celebrate yourself? I invite you to find one or more things for which you would like to acknowledge yourself. Certainly feel welcomed to post them on the blog.

Also, the main theme of the photos revolves around “interpretations” and expanding ourselves when we are open to others’ interpretations and points of view. I invite you to find something that may be intriguing you… a visual image, or a happening… and get in conversation with another about it. Before sharing your interpretation(s), invite them to share theirs. Is it different? the same? and/or do new possibilities open up for you?

You might even use today’s photos as the ones to open up dialogue. If you do, please post your experience on the blog.

As always, have fun with this.

Also, if you would like to experience the expansion of your own discovering and sharing of interpretations in the upcoming Telecourse for which I am in the process of setting up dates, you can put yourself on the “Be-Informed” list form at the bottom of the page on Point and Shoot Photo Courses.

Other Interpretations and Celebrations –
One of the things I have neglected to share here is that a few months ago I took the bold step of having professionally scanned several of my Fantasy Landscape water color series to make them available as giclee prints.

I recently set up the sales page at NATURE’S TREASURES INTERPRETED

Notecards of four of the images will also be available, for sale and holiday gift giving, by tomorrow.

set of 4 NTI notecards
NTI-002 note card
 NTI-001 note card
NTI-003 note card
#NTI 001
#NTI 002
#NTI 003
#NTI 004

Reader’s Comments are welcome.
To post them here, click on the small word “Comment” at the end of the post. A window will open, asking for your name, email address that will NOT be published, a URL if you have – Your name will be linked to that – and a box with space for you to “Leave a Reply” will be there to type in your response. Then remember to click on “Submit.”

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