MaryHill Cemetery: a walk to remember

In this hot summer July, I am blogging my walk on a snowy cemetery.

Cemetery is a snapshot of time where soul must be remembered. It's quiet setting that has become a haven in the midst of a bustling city: for orphan to find refuge, for tourist to visit, for mourners to remember loved ones, for soul searcher to wander in quiet contemplation, for photographers to capture a different perspective. Our living presence provide company to the wandering and rested soul.

Winter brings a unique perspective to the arboretum at MaryHill Cemetery. The unusual bark and interesting forms of various tree species give the winter landscape a special character. The snow and the cross are the main attraction. Added bonus are the trees, shadow, wreaths, flowers, angels, etc. But the best experience of all is my walk on a snowy cemetery, A Walk To Remember...to remember a great mom on her birthday today 7/11.
Happy Birthday Nanay!...I will always miss you.

Me, niece Janel, and cousin Remy

Located in Niles, Illinois U.S.A., Maryhill Catholic Cemetery is the first Archdiocesan Cemetery to have a shrine honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe. It has Interment Chapel / Garden Crypt Complex consisting of 1,800 crypts and three chapels.


"Years will pass before we see our Mother's face once more, the faith she taught us at her knee, will lead at last to Heaven's door. " ~ Unknown

[click the images to enlarge, click play I Will Remember You song]

ORD and SFO Airport: the terminal

Just thought of blogging my airport pictures for this month. Recently, I've been neglecting this site and even my photogallery because of my Facebook as I'm posting more photos there to share with my family and friends (so if you are on my Facebook - lucky you ;-), if not please understand my privacy).

Below are 2 of my winning airport images (more to follow, hopefully). One photographer in my camera club calls me "The Airport Photographer". Many professional photographers even the Master photographers and the judge complimented on how I was able to capture those images with such colors, lines, reflections and most of all, NO PEOPLE!


"Psychedelic Walkway, Chicago O'Hare Airport (ORD)"
1st place,Travel-Intermediate 03/07/2011

judge commentary: Wow! very colorful and l like the lines, reflections, and the way it is framed. The negative space in upper right is not a destruction at all, it worked actually on this image to balance the neon lights and the walkway. Well done!

my commentary: It was my 1st time to spend Xmas holiday in Chicago last December and my 1st time to take United Airlines. This is the United Airlines walkway from the baggage claim to exit door. The flight was delayed so arrived there at midnight. Coming down from the escalator to this walkway was magical for me: the xylophone music plays in the air while it is synchronized with the neon lights. Since we're on the last flight, I waited for the last person in the walkway and took this shot.


"Inside SFO"
1st place, Travel-Basic 01/04/1010

judge commentary: "This is an interesting image, a different perspective inside San Francisco airport. Very nice composition of the art work from the ceiling, the window, and the reflection on the floor. There is no people! I like it and never seen a composition like this of SFO."

my commentary: I was concentrating at first on the art work suspended from the ceiling but the sunset reflection on the floor caught my attention. So, I let my eyes opened with the bigger picture inside SFO. The airport was suprisingly not crowded that day (taken last October on a Monday sunset time) - so I was rushing to capture the sunset reflection on the floor and take advantage of no people in the background. Dead end from the wall behind me, I was lying down on the floor to capture the whole image using my 18-200mm lens.

I make frequent travels from SFO since I live in Northern California and ORD to visit my relatives. In all of my airport travels, I use my time wisely by simply walking and looking around for some photographic opportunity. Because, in any busy airport scene, I know that there's a beauty waiting for me at The Terminal.

"God had really intended men to fly, he'd make it easier to get to the airport.” ~ George Winters
[click the image to enlarge, click the play button to see the movie trailer The Terminal]

Easter Eggs and Bunny

In the spirit of Easter, here's my very 1st Easter Eggs to wish you all a wonderful Easter!

Someplace in San Francisco: life in contrast

The Spring season is about halfway through. This season has positives and negatives. It cools down the earth to the point where I need to wear a jacket in the evenings, and keeps everything lush and green. And it just changes your plans when it starts pouring. So I’m sort of looking forward to Summer.
San Francisco is different. Always cold and foggy. But once in a while, Mother Nature will reward you of a beautiful clear blue sky. It has a special significance for me: a place for photographic opportunity and a playground for Arts, Music & Food. Definitely a magical place, a place that always special in my heart. Always looking forward to go and and even hoping to live there someday.
The image of Me is taken somewhere somplace in San Francisco by a friend. Why I posted it here?...Stay tuned for my future blog to showcase both familiar and unfamiliar places around San Francisco. And why in color vs Black&White?... Ansel Adams once said "Our lives at times seem a study in contrast... love & hate, birth & death, right & wrong... everything seen in absolutes of black & white. Too often we are not aware that it is the shades of grey that add depth & meaning to the starkness of those extremes.”

Acknowledgement: GM thanks for showing me the heart and soul of San Francisco...will always be grateful. All the BEST!


[click the image to enlarge, click the play button to listen san Francisco song in French by Maxime Le Forestier]

Three Heads Six Arms: when buddha shines his light

When you look into Buddha's eyes... what do you see? The above image is my winning image this early part of the year:

• 2nd place in Livermore Camera Club (LVCC) last month's competition


• 4th place for the monthly competition in Northern California Council of Camera Clubs (N4C) for Color Pictorial category. Competition-wise, I entitled My Buddha as "When Buddha Shines His Light", but it is popularly known especially to San Franciscans as the Three Heads Six Hands. It is the giant Buddha that sits in front of the San Francisco City Hall on loan since May 2010 through early Spring of 2011 (by the time you read this blog, The Three Head Six Hands is now gone reunited with the artist in Shanghai China). The city hall usually lits in yellow but because of the celebration week of San Francisco Giants championship for the 2010 World Series, the city shines in Orange that night! When I look into the Buddha's eyes, it allows me an unprecedented look into a world that lights up the journey of my Life! Chinese artist Zhang Huan Zhang hand-picked the city of San Francisco to debut his 2008 copper sculpture of Buddha - Three Heads Six Arms. It is the largest work that the artist has yet made, and weighs in at an astounding 15 tons and stands nearly 26 feet tall at its highest point. Zhang chose San Francisco because of the long-standing history being honored between Shanghai-San Francisco Sister City 30th Celebration last May 10, 2010. Inspired by the Chinese mythological character Nezha, Zhang replaced two of the three Buddha heads with human heads. Among the sculpture’s three heads is his self-portrait. The Three Heads Six Arms is now on display at the Joseph L. Alioto Performing Arts Piazza, which is located across the street from San Francisco City Hall. Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue. ~ Buddha [click the image to enlarge]

Old World Charm: big girl

And this old world is a new world.
And a bold world. For me.
What is your old world?



January is here and so is my birthday. The things I should have been doing are looming in front of me as new opportunities! I have chances to change the things I need to and start the things I need to. I can do things the right way and let the past mistakes go away. I have ways to find the motivation that I need, the intimacy, the courage and the commitment to live fully every day.

As I evolve into a more mature stage of my life, I realized that I need to do things that I regret of not doing in the past: to explore outside the comfort zone of my full time job, to experience life living in the big city, to be more creative in my photography (and perhaps in modeling) and to try going back to school (this time in Art School) ~ all of these are now work in process.

There were tough times in my life: death of a loved one, heart broken, hardships, failures but none of those will stop me from learning, from dreaming, from achieving, and from living. Because I am a big girl now that my father used to tell me when I was 7. I am a big big girl now... living and traveling in this big big world.

"I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love." ~ Marilyn Monroe

[click the play button to play Big World, click the image to enlarge]

N4C: 2010 annual competition

N4C is the Northern California Council of Camera Clubs, and is the governing body for over a dozen San Francisco Bay Area Camera Clubs. N4C collects slides, electronic images and prints from each club monthly and has judged competitions with awards going to first through fifth place in each category. Each local camera club has its own monthly judged competitions in several categories with winners from these categories that go to N4C for judge competition among all the other clubs.

http://www.n4c.org/

Each year N4C has an Annual Banquet along with its annual competition of judged winners from each category (the best of the best for the year).

I just got back from my holiday vacation and checked the list of photographers who'll represent our camera club. I saw my name with excitement and right away signed up for the big event. So, I am going to the N4C this Sunday! Not for winning but just to be a part of it is a big thing for me. Happy New Year everyone!



Mirror Reflection: New York Art Wall, 5th place N4C 05/2010, 3rd place LVCC Creative Projected 04/05/10




Bird's Electric Pole, 5th N4C Projected Color Basic 03/10, 1st LVCC 01/18/10




Red Mums (Chrysanthemum morifolium), 4th place N4C 04/2010, 2nd place LVCC Pictorial Projected Basic 02/19/10





California Adventure, Honorable Mention N4C 06/2010, 1st place LVCC 05/03/10 Travel Projected Basic



Earwigs (Forficula Auricularia) Hanging on the Grass, Honorable Mention N4C July2010, 1st place LVCC Nature Projected Basic

“Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory.”
~ Arthur Ashe


[click the images to enlarge]

Color Me Paint: playing with my magic crayons

It's a wet Winter this year and it slows me down from any outdoor activities, confining me at my home playing with my images. This time, I'm playing with my crayons in Photoshop.


"Neon Central Park"
This is a shot taken last February in New York City. You'll never miss any golden photographic opportunities inside Central Park even after the snow storm.


"RainFALL At The Big Meadow canvas"
My FALL image for this year. A big surpirse from Mother Nature when I spotted this big FALL meadow while exploring Lake Tahoe backroad. I turned it into a canvas so l can present to you like a painting.

"Farm Night Colour"
For my cat "Buttons", the image that I shot on the the day she died. Drove to the farm to see for any interesting landscape despite of the rain. The original image is a lonely scenery but when I played with my crayons, I turned it into something ... magical.



"Artists are just children who refuse to put down their crayons. " ~ Al Hirschfeld
[click the image to enlarge]

St. Clare Retreat Center: polishing my halo

"Come apart and rest a while".
St. Clare Retreat Center will provide you a peaceful place to reflect, surrounded by nature.

St. Clare of Assisi is an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan , and wrote their Rule of Life.

Located in Santa Cruz Mountains California, St. Clare Retreat Center has a beautiful chapel, library, lounge, garden, dormitories, large dining room, swimming pool, and a hiking trail with Station of The Cross.

The retreat is conducted by the Franciscan Fathers and the Franciscan Missionary Sisters. There are conferences, masses, individual counseling/confession with ample time for private prayer and reading. Added attraction is Bear the dog (he looks like a bear) who was rescued from Hurricane Katrina. And you'll never get hungry at St. Clare, the sisters and the volunteer chef always make sure that they will satisfy your palate.

Traditionally specializes in Silent Women's Retreat, St. Clare also offer other types of retreats; married couples, mothers&daughters, Secular Franciscan, men and women, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, AA-Alanon, and Legion of Mary. Members of all denominations are welcome!

The sun shines at St. Clare! I usually get up before sunrise for my meditation walk up on the hill, to witness the breaking of a new dawn comes the light of a new day and the endless possibilities of that day. Solitude is my companion on my way up there. The trail has Station of the Cross where each cross has a built-in prayer that you will feel like having a personal dialogue with God.

Retreat has been a part of my life growing up in Catholic School. It was in 2006 when I started going to St. Clare. Since then, it becomes my tradition: a 3 day Silent Women Retreat every year. Personal preference is the Palm Sunday weekend in preparation for Lent when St. Clare's magnificent plants in Spring bloom.

And when life's goodness is overshadowed by critical challenges, it is at St. Clare where I pick up my life, renew my spirit and polish my halo o:-)

St. Clare Retreat Center website:
http://www.nonprofitpages.com/stclaresretreat/

Life is not a series of gig lamps symmetrically arranged; life is a luminous halo, a semi-transparent envelope surrounding us from the beginning of consciousness to the end.” ~ Virginia Woolf

[click the images to enlarge, click the play button to play Beyonce's Halo]

Misty Glass Window

As the High Sierra got snow today, I'm enjoying the RAIN from my window.

"Rain falls
Dark clouds are racing up above
I gaze in solitude
Looking through a misty glass window
‘Cause then it used to be the two of us

This empty room
Filled my thoughts with memories of you
I turned and looked around
Oh, but found no sight of you
I guess it'll never be as true, no no ooh

Starlight
All I need is you tonight
Oh, starbright
Grant my wish tonight
I'm beggin' you, starlight
All I need is you tonight
Hoh, starbright
Get rid of the spell tonight, ooh

Rain falls
Dark clouds keep racing up above
It's still in solitude
Oh, longin' for you
Guess my heart will always be with you
My heart will always be with you
Looking through a misty glass window" ~ Pido

[click the image to enlarge, click play button to play the music Misty Glass Window]

Water Mosaic: Best In Show

Creative Projected Images - Basic
Best In Show
First Place
November 1, 2010 LVCC

our camera club webmaster emailed me today:
Congrats on your "water mosaic" shot, it got best in show last night out of about 100 projected images! Beautiful shot!


My Water Mosaic is my 1st ever Best In Show winning image aside from being selected as 1st place.

I seldom compete in Creative competition as my full time job keeps me busy. Doing alot of computer/photoshop manipulation to create an image is cool, but for now, I want to capture an image that is already creative itself like my Water Mosaic.

Please check out the link below to see more of my Water Mosaic.
http://www.thefearlesseye.com/2010/10/mosaic-reflections-on-pool-winning.html

"Each of us puts in one little stone, and then you get a great mosaic at the end.” ~ Santiz Alice Paul
[click the image to enlarge]

My Blair Witch Project: happy halloween

So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the forest. There is a chill in the air. The leaves are gone and what's left is the wooded forest and its Spirit.

Inspired by the movie Blair Witch Project, I took this shot from my tripod while taking a walk in a cold early Spring in Des Plaines Illinois. The Forest is the ideal setting and my hooded coat is the best wardrobe so I can create an image that will give you a li'l fright. But if you know me by heart, looking at my big round eyes will make you smile :-)


The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film; the narrative is presented as a documentary pieced together from amateur footage, filmed in real time. The film was produced by the Haxan Films production company. The film relates the story of three young student filmmakers (Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael C. Williams) who hike into the Black Hills near Burkittsville, Maryland to film a documentary about a local legend known as the Blair Witch, and subsequently go missing. The viewer is told that the three were never found, although their video and sound equipment (along with most of the footage they shot) was discovered a year later.

"It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit." ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

[click the image to enlarge]

October Winning Images

"Reflections on the Pool"
1st place
2010-10-04 - Creative Projected Image, Basic

"Straight On"
2nd place
2010-10-18 - Color Prints, Intermediate

[click the images to enlarge]

Photographing Plumas: a photographer's heaven

The recent trip in Plumas County covers the town of Portola, Graeagle, Blairsden, Maybe, and Quincy. For my 1st release 2010 Plumas Photo Trip images as Plumas County Official Photographer, I decided to blog Plumas as a place for photographers due to its versatile land features enhanced by a pleasant climate. The world of photography keeps on growing: its networks and influence. Hope that through this blog will create awareness to all photography enthusiasts that Plumas is another place that I can call A Photographer's Heaven!

"Photographing The Saw Mill"

The Siera Pacific Industries (SPI) in Quincy manufactures small and large saw mill and has a cogeneration plant. While they harvest trees, SPI uses high technology to lessen the overall impact on the environment while providing jobs to the community.

"Photographing Davis Lake"

Lake Davis (elevation: 5785 ft. and a shoreline of 32 miles) was created in 1967 for recreational purposes and as a water supply for the nearby town of Portola. It is well noted for its great camping, picnicking, fishing, hunting, boating, mountain biking and wildlife viewing.

"Photographing The Canyon"

The drive from Highway #70 to Frenchman Lake takes you through the beautiful canyon of Little Last Chance Creek. This canyon was formed as the result of several geologic "volcanic" events .

"Photographing Frenchman Lake"

Frenchman Lake (elevation: 5,588 ft and a shoreline of 21 miles) offers a wide variety of summer outdoor experiences including: camping, picnicking, fishing, hunting, boating, jet skiing, mountain biking, swimming and water-skiing. In the winter, ice fishing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing are favored activities. It is my favorite lake in Plumas County and will definitely go back there to kayak and shoot!

"Photographing Wildflowers"
Colorful shows of wildflowers can be seen along major Plumas County roads during the late spring and early summer. Among the best places to spot color are: The Feather River Highway 70, Indian Valley, Lake Almenor, Chester, Bucks Lake Road (Quincy-Oroville Highway), Butterfly Valley Botanical Area, and Lakes Basin Recreation Area.


"Photographing Fall Foliage"
Go out and catch a glimpse of natures splendor while Fall is still here and enjoy the changing leaves and feel the crisp breeze of Autumn.

"Photographing Downtown Quincy"

Not known to many, the town of Quincy in Plumas County has the best California Fall foliage color. Recent media coverage and photography social network has attracted more visitors this year. The future looks promising, expect more visitors arriving in the years to come.

"Photographing The Farm"

Go to the farm before sunrise and catch the early morning light. And when the daylight breaks in with fog, you will feel you're in Photographer's Heaven.

"Photographing For Fun"

Whether traveling solo, with someone or in a group. Whether it's a disposable, film, digital point and shoot, or DSLR camera. Photography produces pleasure especially in the company of fun friends. And when birds of the same feather flock together, they stay together.

"Photographing The Good Earth"
Discover Plumas and let Mother Nature surprise you!

Acknowledgement:
John & Ed: America knows you got brains, talent, and models! and now, you are my models :D Such a priveledge to know and work/play with you. Had so much fun on this trip. More trips and modeling to come. Keep expressing yourself through your camera and lens. Thank you.

“Life on earth is the preface to the book, the warm-up to the concert! Heaven is the main event!” ~ Randy Alcorn

[click the image to enlarge]

Me...in Plumas County News

From casual talk to published article...my fellow photographers told me that I am now a published pro and famous in "blogosphere". Below is the unsolicited article (which I was mentioned) in Plumas County News from Suzi Brakken, Plumas Visitor's Bureau director.

[from the left: Marichu Pereira, Ed Mestre, John Goyer, and Kari of Plumas County Visitor's Bureau]

****************************************************************
Photo bloggers are boosting Plumas County tourism
10/13/2010

Suzi Brakken - Plumas County Visitor's Bureau

The promotion of Plumas County’s fall foliage has attracted unprecedented numbers of visitors and inquiries this year, but there’s been an additional benefit, thanks to technology. The changing leaves have been attracting more and more photographers and photo clubs who post their pictures online via websites, blogs and Facebook, thereby adding to the viral marketing effort.

Through Google alerts, the Visitors Bureau is able to track these photographers and make contact, which has led to various photo sharing arrangements or purchases, future photo shoots and even friendships.

Tony Mindling is a great example. Mindling is a talented amateur photographer-geologist who was discovered by local photographer Richard McCutcheon when both were out shooting fall foliage in Indian Valley a few years ago. We contacted Mindling, who lives a few hours away, and asked if he could come back up to shoot some images with models. Mindling’s productive visits have resulted in cover shots for the Plumas County Visitors Guide for the past three years. Mindling’s shots also were featured in VIA magazine and led Tom Stienstra’s outdoors column in the San Francisco Chronicle this month. In exchange for Mindling’s talent, we’ve offered modest compensation and a couple of free RV camp spots donated by local businesses.

Last year, we found another photographer through Google, Marichu Pereira, who donated some images used in the Visitors Guide. In exchange, we arranged for a cabin (donated by Chalet View) last weekend, which she shared with two other photographers she brought along from her Livermore Valley camera club. Pereira is a delightful, talented photographer that we had the pleasure of meeting in person last weekend. Her fellow photographers – one of whom is a “master” (in the photo competition world) – shot images across the county all weekend, and will likely be back, perhaps even as a club field trip. Photography is a huge social network, and turns out there are some 30 camera clubs just in Northern California!

Meanwhile, Pereira, who works in a Stanford Hospital laboratory, herself used social media to spread the word about Plumas County. She was so excited to become an “official photographer” for us that she blogged and Facebooked the news, linked the online Visitors Guide, and encouraged her hundreds of friends and fans to visit Plumas County.

This upcoming weekend, two photo groups are coming to Lake Almanor/Lassen Park as the result of a web-based tool known as “meet up.” This worldwide social network allows people with common interests to organize group functions, in this case, a photo trip to Plumas County. The invite is illustrated with Pereira’s photos, so we know that’s how they got the idea. We’ve already been in touch with the group leader from Sacramento who’s gathering 30 photographers; the other group from Tehama County is bringing seven. Local tourism businesses will benefit of course, but we’re hoping to form some new relationships with photographers as well.


http://www.plumasnews.com/index.php/home/7443-photo-bloggers-are-boosting-plumas-county-tourism

“As I have practiced it, photography produces pleasure by simplicity. I see something special and show it to the camera. A picture is produced. The moment is held until someone sees it. Then it is theirs.” ~ Sam Abell
[click the image to enlarge]

Mosaic Reflections On The Pool: winning Creative Image

"Reflections On The Pool"
1st place Creative Projected
LVCC October 4, 2010

Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral. Small pieces, normally roughly cubic, of stone or glass of different colors, known as tesserae, (diminutive tessellae), are used to create a pattern or picture.

My Mosaic WATER Images were taken from a swimming pool. The pattern and colors are from the dark blue sky, reflections of the house and the ripples from a boy swimming on the right side of the pool.

Our camera club defines Creative Photography as producing an image through the use of imaginative skill or originality of thought including the altering of reality. The Mosaic Reflections On The Pool are already Creative on its own!

Acknowledgement:

Merrie - for opening your beautiful house and pool.
Marek - Boy! you really are a good swimmer!



“We become not a melting pot but a beautiful Mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.” ~ Jimmy Carter

[click the images to enlarge]