Dream Makers

Wow 2012!

Can I get a Woot WOOT from my readership?

I've been so looking forward to this year.  I've had this wonderful sense that this year was going to be a great.  As I took time the last two weeks to really think and dream about goals for 2012 and tweak some existing long term goals, I thought back to some of the things that really helped me to grow as an individual, photographer and business woman. Sharing that feels appropriate...

Here goes:

creativeLIVE     Awesome workshops that you can access online.  Live!  You can than purchase them to watch over and over if you choose.  But while they are happening you can tune in live and soak up the knowledge....FOR....FREE!!!

chasejarvisLIVE    It's Chase Jarvis (awesome).  Free (again...awesome).  Interviewing fascinating folks (once again...AWESOME).

The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle by Steven Pressfield    I read this book.  And made a decision.  And I haven't looked back.  End.

Visual Poetry by Chris Orwig    Loved this book.  Gets me thinking outside of the box every time I raise a camera to my eye.

Wedding Photography From The Heart by Joe Buissink    Hello!  I will never look a photojournalism the same again.

Annie Leibovitz: Life Through A Lens      Buy it...Rent it....piece it togeather on YouTube...whatever...you must watch it from start to finish.  Amazing documentary.

Fascination Horse by Gabriele Boiselle     Equine inspiration.

My Moleskin notebook....sadly you can not purchase it....BUT  I can share with you that the knowledge contained within is yours for the taking.  Shelley Paulson, Jessica Claire, Gabriele Boiselle, Jasmine Star, Bambi Cantrell, Tamara Lackey, Matthew Jordan Smith, The Shutter Sisters,  Photoshelter, Britains Best Photography, Ramit Sethi and Chase Jarvis.  Some offer free content through blogs & free eBooks.  Others offer books, workshops and mentoring.

2012 is the year that dreams are going to come true for me.  I hope that they do for you too.

Goodbye Grandpa

Snapshot taken January 2011 with HTC Android

I remember as a child telling my Grandmother that "When I grow up I'm going to marry Grandpa too!" My Grandmother, ever practical, didn't think that was going to be to likely.  My Grandfather got a good chuckle out of that.  Grandma passed on 20 years ago, Grandpa joined her Monday morning.  And although I did not 'grow up and marry my Grandpa' he did set the standard pretty high.

I'm so incredible thankful for all the gifts Joseph Kapraly gave in his life. I reveled in his tales of his boyhood in West Pittsburgh. Somewhat rowdy antics with friends. Struggles with a stubborn milk cow.  Delivering said milk for neighbors and customers.  How he contributed to the care of his Mother and siblings.

Grandpa enlisted in the Marines during World War II.  He fought in the 6th Division, 29th Regiment in the Pacific Theatre.  The stories he shared of that time are nothing short of remarkable.  The acts of bravery, heroism and descriptions of human suffering poignant. He shared not only his personal history but the history of the World.

It is through someones stories that we get a history of not only where they came from and the things they did but how they became the person that they are.  How the events that they lived through shaped their lives and in turn shaped the lives of those around them.

I owe so very much to this man.  The only way that it can ever be repaid is to live a life in example of his.

• To always leave a place better than you found it.  
• To honor those who make personal sacrifices for our continued freedom and well being. 
• To have opinions and stand by them.  
• To read, grow & learn. 
• To be concerned about the feelings of the people around you.  
• To say "I'm sorry" when you are. 
• To use a 'Jitterbug' when you want to hook a really big Bass.
• To be of service to others.  
• To look people in the eye when your talking to them even if it's hard.  
• To know when to keep your mouth shut.  
• To have a strong faith and live by the principals set forth in that faith.  
• To say "I love you".

Grateful

Magnolia soulangiana

First the photo...this is a lovely old Magnolia at my fathers house. It really has no comparison, not that I've seen anyway. I can not remember a time that it wasn't this huge friend waiting in the side yard. It was my favorite hiding spot to read as a kid, a great climbing tree, and a solid friend to whisper secrets to when things weren't going good.

I'm very disappointed in the photo though...a bad in camera crop. And due to the ankle injury I neglected to back up and use that wide angle lens to get a shot of the whole tree. Oh well hopefully next year I can get a shot of the whole tree in all it's glory.

Second. The ankle injury has really made me take the time to really think about what I want out of life. In other words....having to slow down has been a good thing. A time to reflect on where I'm at. Where I want to be. And how to get there from here.

Bottom line...I want to spend more time doing the things that excite me and that I'm passionate about. I want more time to spend with people I love and the people that are positive and living life to the fullest.

Again...the question how to get there from here?

What excites you? What are you passionate about? And what are you doing to bring these things/people to the forefront of your life?