Long Live Imagination

In my life I have lived many different hats. Mother, daughter, wife, sister. I am always an extension to someone else and I have no one to blame for this but myself for I give to those around me and do so freely, with only so many hours in the day it is no one’s fault but my own when there is little time left when everyone else'e needs are met.

So it is with a great deal of pride when I find myself taking time to do things for myself above those around me. Greater still with the support of my family who supports and assists me in these hobbies and interests without guilt, especially a long standing one that is photography. I have had an interest in Photography since I was a child and my own Mom turned our bathroom into a darkroom so we could spend weekends developing pictures into the wee hours. 

Which is not to say I know everything about photography. I just enjoy capturing the world the way that I see it. Recently my daughter mentioned my photographs and the possibilities of submissions into a few photo contests. I have been restless in my accounting job and am feeling anxious to be known more in a creative field. Do it. Was her sixteen year old matter of putting it.

Step in fate and do it I did. 

Almost by accident I found out about a contest shortly after my angst and our conversation, so I entered a few photos into Canon and Ron Howard’s Long Live Imagination photo contest in which there are 10 themes. There will even be a movie made from the winning photos.

Well, finalist be damned. But I am among the very lucky, and I am so very proud. Check it out and hopefully you will like it and find a way to vote for it as your favorite. I want to win because it merits amongst the best of the bunch and not because of a mass blog to readers. I am proud of it, I love the comments and it’s true I do walk a little straighter, a little brighter, and I can’t wait to shoot more pictures tomorrow!  

Direct link to my finalist piece

Coffee Break by Shay Kay

Catalina Island, how I spent a week there one day

Whenever I can steal some time for myself I usually do it with my camera. Having kids and endlessly capturing their lives is a hard habit to break after so many years of being allowed to do so. As teenagers they want very little to do with a lens anywhere near their vicinity. Going against them is only asking for eye rolls and huge sighs that seem to stop life in its tracks.

So I have taken to animals, landscapes, shoes, anything I see and will want to maybe see again I capture on film disk. I have also begun taking some photography classes as well as joining a few local groups who also enjoy shooting up the environment and expanding their photographic knowledge. Previously I had written about a great event Canon put on at the San Diego Zoo (here) and just recently was able to participate in another Canon event “Canon Captures Catalina”. It was a weekend venue beginning pre dawn on Saturday and continuing through Sunday filled with photo ops, great workshops, and plenty of walking that would put any stair-master to shame. As usual, Canon had all of their great cameras and lenses to loan and play with throughout your fantabulous adventure. Best part for me was that my Mom mentor and lifeline joined me on this husband/kid free weekend of bliss.

Now I could write about all the things we discussed, getting caught up on all the family biz and the various aches and pains we each have been dealing with but lets just summarize with what was discussed in Catalina stays in Catalina. 

What I will say is how wonderful it is to have come full circle with my Mom. I know I didn’t make it easy growing up, and as a single Mom she did her best filling in the shoes of what should have been done by two parents. I was not an easy child by any means, my never ending quest to see just how far I could push the limits left us many times at separate ends of the house trying to get as far away from each other as possible.

But now being with her and being a Mom myself, it is so wonderful to be able to sit across from her and be her friend. I had a wonderful weekend walking, taking pictures, learning, and laughing with her by my side. 

These days the only limits I set are the endless ones I put aside for her should she ever need anything from me. Thanks again Canon for a wonderful event! Props to you as well Mom- I know I didn’t say it near enough as a kid.

                                                                         Favorite shot of the weekend

Tons of fun

I have a new hobby. Well actually I guess its an old hobby with new avenues. Its pictures or more eloquently, the art of taking pictures.

Since the kids were merely days old I began shooting pictures of them laying in their cribs, left side, right side, rolling over on their back- oh it was endless the angles I could get out of a sleeping baby. It was such a passion for me that Brian at the then Price Club knew me by sight and merely had me write the first initial of my last name on the form when I dropped off my daily roll for processing.

Seriously my kids knew to hold a pose long before they knew how to tie their shoes.

Recently my wonderful Mom gave me her old digital camera when she upgraded to the latest and greatest. For a few weeks it sat in its case big and intimidating, but gradually it won me over and now much to the kids dismay it has seldom been away from my side.

Of course once the kids get older there are less chances to take photos. Last week I asked the oldest if she thought her driving instructor might be up to driving her past the house so I could run outside and shoot some shots of her on her inaugural event. She looked at me and laughed texting to her friends and shaking her head on her way out of the room. It was  time to look for subjects outside my own front door.

This last weekend Canon had a day for photographers in coalition with the San Diego Zoo and the new opening of the Elephant Odyssey exhibit. On hand they had loaner cameras and lenses along with some super cool gear at select stations throughout the zoo. It was an amazing day which culminated in an evening lecture by wildlife photographer, George Lepp.

Thanks Canon for helping a novice in such a huge way. Now if I could just get the elephants to hold their pose.