Happy Heart's Day

“Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it.”

~ Swedish Proverb

" A Heart On Fire"
Racheria Campground, Hetch Hetchy Yosemite CA

*our campfire during our 2 days backpacking trip in Yosemite last Fall 2009.*

"Tree Of Heartness"

Mt. Whitney, CA

*what a joy to see a heart carved in one of the world's oldest tree in Mt. Whitney Spring 2008.*

"Snow Heart" Tiltill Valley, Yosemite CA *a snow heart formed from a stone in Yosemite Fall 2009.

"Heart Collage"
*unfinished one...just playing, made this collage from my friend's engagement pictorial.*

[click on the image to enlarge]

02-01-10 winning images

Livermore Valley Camera Club Feb. 1, 2010 Competition

"Light A Candle For Haiti"

1st place Basic Creative LVCC 02/01/10

judge: Right Timing. So many things to point out here that are good: The woman holding the candle shows compassion (heart) and praying; The Map of Haiti with the epicenter of the earthquake. Very nice.

my commentary: Purposely made this to increase awareness to help and pray for Haiti. I used 2 software to create this image.

For the Matte Canvass: I overlapped like transparencies 2 into 1 images (took a picture of Haiti earthquake map from a local newspaper and my dry farmland in Mexico) and applied Mosaic tile.

For the Heart: I stretch-out and over-saturated a rose petal image.

For the candle: that was a self-portrait with my bday candle taken few days after Haiti earthquake.

"Gull By The Shore", La Jolla CA

3rd place, Nature Basic

judge: Very sharp and detailed picture of a gull from the feathers and especially the head/eye. In Nature, scientific name also count and we always look for more behavior. This can make a good entry in pictorial competition instead. But it's a nice image and very detailed.

[click on the images to enlarge]

1st 2 Winning Pictorial Images For 2010

January 18, 2010 LVCC Pictorial Competition.

1st place Projected Pictorial Basic: "Electric Bird's Pole: Behind The Fence", Erendira Mexico
judge comments: Very nice image and capture. I like the perspective of blurring the fence and focusing/sharpening the electric pole and birds. It's like it has digital effects on it. Well done.
my commentary: This is taken next door from my cousin's cabin in Erendira Mexico. Got up 4 in the morning for sunrise. I took couple of shots with different angle and perspective. I like this image.

1st place Print Pictorial Basic: "Hidden Beauty", Kenosha Wisconsin
judge comments: I like the composition, the reflections and the yellow colors from sunset and the blue colors from the sky. Very sharp as you can see the trees and branches and the reflections. Only one thing that I'll do is to crop both sides to draw your eyes to the center.
my commentary: This is taken at my friend's property in Kenosha Wisconsin last Spring but freezing. I was actually on the other side of the pond, walked around and wacking all the branches and twigs to get this image. I'm into reflections and I'll definitely take the judge advise to crop the image. Thank you.


“The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

[click the images to enlarge]

My Birthday Candle: for Haiti

I offer my birthday candle for the earthquake victims of Haiti. Light a candle, say a prayer...they need our help.



To send your donation:
American Red Cross International Response Fund
online: www.redcross.org
phone: 1-800-RED-CROSS. Designate gifts to Haiti relief.
text message: donate $10 by texting “HAITI” to 90999.

To pray for Haiti online: http://light-a-candle.org/Prayers/92339


"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
~ Winston Churchill

January entries: when my heart beats

January 4, 2010 First LVCC meeting/competition.
I only participated in Projected Image (Travel&Journalism), skipped the Print competition (Nature and Sequence) as I didn't have anything prepared. Any 1st and 2nd placer will be sent out to compete with the other winning images from 20+ camera clubs in Northern California. The 1st place photographer is entitled to give a short commentary about the winning image.

Travel Basic Projected
1st place: "Inside SFO", San Francisco CA
judge comments: "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.


2nd place: "Overlooking Lake Tahoe From Mt. Tallac", Lake Tahoe CA
judge comments: The rocks, clouds, snow, and blue sky compliment this image. But the rock and Lake Tahoe on the right side is underexposed (dark) - need to brighten that a li'l bit. This must be taken during mid-day when the sun is up and strong but still the image is nice.




Journalism Basic Projected
1st place: "The Participants Of Radium Hot Springs Diving Competition", British Columbia Canada
judge comments: Very nice image. It will draw your eyes from one segment/row to another. I like all the diving shots esp. the center image is very interesting. The maker can also enter this in Sequence category. I also like the water as the canvas background. Very well done.

my commentary: After 7 days hiking in Canadian Rockies, I decided to skip the hike and drive around and check out Radium Hot Springs and get soaked. When we get there, these divers were having a goodtime diving. So I played with my camera to stop the diving motion. I used the pool water as my canvas to stay focus on the theme.

2nd place: "Young Fisherman's Catch Of The Day", Erendira Mexico
judge comments: The boy is very proud of his catch. I would cropped the lower part of the picture because of the shadow, same thing with the half-body man on the left as it is a distraction.


lub-dub...lub-dub...(my heartbeat pounding)...standing on the back while listening to the judge's comments, I always get nervous when I know that I am going to be picked...I knew from the time I've captured my "Inside SFO" and "The Participants Of Radium Hot Springs Diving Competition" they're surely are a winner!

[click on the images to enlarge]

My 1st Modeling: bring out the best in me

Unimaginable...Unthinkable...

Few months ago, I signed up for Model Workshop organized by our club's top Master Photographer John Goyer for two reasons: I want to learn from him and I want to branch out from Landscape/Outdoor Photography to Portrait. At the conclusion of the workshop, we (4 male photographers, the model, and myself) decided that I play around and pose for them. Which I did, simply just for fun.

Then I started to receive emails from John asking me to model for him. At first, I thought "He's just teasing me". A month later at the club's Xmas Banquet with his beautiful wife, he told me "I want you to model for me so we will schedule our photo shoot soon". I agreed "OK, as long as no nude". More emails came...then the rest is history.

I was immortalized (based from John's email. Meaning: to make famous forever) on December 27, 2009. We did the photo shoot in my place. I chose my silk peach/black pajama, purple satin drape, my everyday jewelry as outfit/props with light make-up and curled my hair a bit - Not too fancy as this is not a Glamour pictorial. But what we both really want is to be more creative/artistic and to bring out the BEST in me.


To John: I've always admired your talent and work since my day 1 at the club. And you reciprocate by appreciating my photo images and now my "Naughty Secrets That I Don't Want To Tell You" LOOK. Will definitely model for you again. Thank you.

"Inside you there's an artist you don't know about...Say yes quickly, if you know, if you've known it from before the beginning of the universe." ~ Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi

[click the top 3 images to enlarge]

For The Last Day Of The Year: Blue Moon

Once in a blue moon there is one on New Year's Eve. A full moon occured on Dec 2. It will appear again on Thursday Dec 31 in time for the New Year's eve countdown. A Blue Moon is not blue, it is the second full moon of the month.

May the Blue Moon on New Year's Eve shines above you that you may have a Happy, Healthy and Prospherous New 2010.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Merry Christmas

"If, as Herod, we fill our lives with things, and again with things; if we consider ourselves so unimportant that we must fill every moment of our lives with action, when will we have the time to make the long, slow journey across the desert as did the Magi? Or sit and watch the stars as did the shepherds? or brood over the coming of the child as did Mary? For each one of us, there is a desert to travel. A star to discover. And a being within ourselves to bring to life." ~ Unknown Author

"May the spirit of Christmas bring you peace,

The gladness of Christmas give you hope,

The warmth of Christmas grant you love."

Merry Christmas to ALL!

[click the image to enlarge, click play button to see John Lennon's Happy Christmas]

MIMOSA: early Christmas joy

December 13 12:36 AM just before I went to bed, opened my laptop and checked my email. My photographer-mentor wrote: "whoo hoo! your shot made the cover of foto fanfare! nice!"... I didn't know what's that all about. Not expecting for any winning picture at this time of the year and I was not really active this year at the camera club due to conflict in my busy schedule.

So, I went back to my mailbox to see for any clue ~ Aha! The December FOTO FANFARE!...my MIMOSA is the winning electronic image for Basic Pictorial Dec 2009 Northern California Council of Camera Clubs (N4C) and made as the covershot of our FOTO FANFARE December issue.

Ahh my winning MIMOSA!...T'was my 1st MIMOSA drink on my birthday in my 1st Mexico Trip. What an early Xmas joy to share with all of you! And I will raise a glass of my Xmas Mimosa on Christmas Day to wish you all Felices Fiestas! Salud!

FOTO FANFARE Dec 2009 issue:
http://www.n4c.org/FF-2009/12-09/Foto%20Fanfare%20read%20only%20Dec%202009.pdf

"Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character." ~ James Wooden

[click the image to enlarge, click the link to view Dec2009 Foto Fanfare, click play to see How To Make A Mimosa drink?"]

2009 Holiday PHOTO Wish List

Dear Photographer Santa,
As Christmas approaches, I hope life in North Pole still goes on despite of the economy. And that, you still make a list of children and photographers throughout the world and deliver presents on Christmas Eve through the help of your hard working elves and the reindeer who pulls your sleigh. Naughty or Nice, here's my 3 Holiday PHOTO Wish List:

1. More Model Workshop: As I turn my photographer's eye towards capturing people (Portrait): to learn how to produce "flawless" skin tone and work with artificial lights (flash, softbox, studio), I recently attended the Model Workshop organized by one of our top Master photographers from the camera club. Due to the Model Release Agreement and time constraints, I can not share the model pictures right now. Instead, the image on the left is ME taken by the organizer after our 5 hours Model Workshop.
possibility: early 2010. I need Santa's recommendation to the organizer.

2. Reflectors are a quick and easy way to open up shadows, change contrast, or direct the light. These collapsible reflectors are even more convenient for easy transport and storage. The gold reflector warms up the light with somewhat contrasty reflection. The white gives a neutral color temperature with a softer, less contrasty reflection.
possibility: Santa can get this for me as it's not expensive.

3. Zoom - Telephoto Lens is ideal for a discerning future telephoto photographer.
Pros: The 200-400 mm gives flexibility in composing shots for sport, wildlife and even macro photography.
Cons: expensive $6,000+, heavy and f/4 is not fast enough.
possibility: wishful thinking. Santa's broke so I need to win the lottery to buy this!

May the Christmas Spirit be with you all!

your photographer baby,
Marichu

[click on the images to enlarge. click on play button to see Eartha Kitt's animated Santa Baby]

Sunset Railway: life is like a train ride

As Thanksgiving approaches and we consider what we are thankful for, I am thankful I was able to take my train ride at least part of the way with all of you. My Sunset Railway (sorry I missed the train) is more than a train+ride for me. So, I would like to share with you a very powerful poem Life Is Like A Train Ride by Angel Marie Schmidt.

Life is like a train ride. We get on. We ride. We get off. We get back on and ride some more. There are accidents and there are delays. At certain stops, there are surprises. Some of these will translate into great moments of joy; some will result in profound sorrow.
When we are born and we first board the train, we meet people whom we think will be with us for the entire journey. Those people are our parents! Sadly, this is far from the truth. Our parents are with us for as long as we absolutely need them. They too have journeys they must complete. We live with the memories of their love, affection, friendship, guidance, and their ever presence.

There are others who board the train and who eventually become very important to us. These people are our brothers, sisters, friends, and acquaintances, whom we will learn to love and cherish.
Some people consider their journey like a jaunty tour. They will just go merrily along. Others will encounter many upsets, tears, losses on their journey. Others still, will linger on to offer a helping hand to anyone in need. Some people on the train will leave an everlasting impression when they get off. Some will get on and get off the train so quickly, they will scarcely leave a sign they ever travelled along with you or ever crossed your path.

We will sometimes be upset that some passengers, whom we love, will choose to sit in another compartment and leave us to travel on our own. Then again, there is nothing saying we cannot seek them out anyway. Nevertheless, once sought out and found, we may not even be able to sit next to them because the seat may already be taken.
That is okay, everyone's journey will be filled with hopes, dreams, challenges, setback, and goodbyes. We must strive to make the best of it, no matter what. We must constantly strive to understand our travel companions and look for the best in everyone.
Remember, at any moment during our journey, any one of our travel companions can have a weak moment and be in need of our help. We too may vacillate or hesitate, even trip, hopefully we can count on someone being there to be supportive and understanding.

The bigger mystery of our journey is we do not know when our last stop will come. Neither do we know when our travel companions will make their last stop. Not even those sitting on the seat next to us.
Personally, I know I will be sad to make my final stop.
My separation from all those friends and acquaintances I made during the train ride will be painful. Leaving all those I am close to will be a sad thing. But then again, I am certain one day I will get to the main station only to meet up with everyone else. They will all be carrying their baggage, most of which they did not have when they first got on this train.
I will be glad to see them again. I will also be glad to have contributed to their baggage and to have enriched their lives, just as much as they will have contributed to my baggage and enriched my life.

We are all on this train ride together. Above all, we should all try to strive to make the ride as pleasant and memorable as we can, right up until the final stop and leave the train for the last time. All aboard! Safe journey!

My train ride is not always a smooth ride. Sometimes it is bumpy, sometimes I take the wrong turns but at the end of each life's journey, I always find my way home ~ that is LIFE and its adventure. But two things I know that are always with me and always have: HOPE and Blessings for which I am thankful for...Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

[click the image to enlarge.]

Veterans Day: we honor thee

"They chose to serve the cause that is greater than self...So to all of them, to our veterans, to the fallen and to their families, there's no tribute, no commemoration, no praise that can truly match the magnitude of your service and your sacrifice"

~ President Barack Obama on Veterans Day 2009

Pumpkin Patch: Happy Halloween

["Pumpkin Patch" song by Mr. I and the Rainbow Singers]
Pumpkin patch, pumpkin patch, Headin' out to the pumpkin patch. Pumpkins are pretty sneaky, they like to hide in the fields. Under a leaf, under a bush, they keep perfectly still. It's a good thing that they're orange, or they'd be hard to see. Gonna catch me one of them pumpkins, a special one for me.

Pumpkins aren't very scary, unless you give them a face, a smile or a frown, eyes up or down, teeth all over the place. Gonna carve me one of them pumpkins, put a candle inside to burn. Then instead of a pumpkin, it'll be a jack o'lantern. Hey hey, I'm goin' today, hay ride hang on... Hey hey, what can I say, Gotta catch 'em before they're gone.

So if you happen to see a pumpkin, When you're out on hallowe'en night, Don't stop and stare, you better beware. He'll give you an awful fright. Just keep on trick or treating, don't even say hello, He might jump up, and follow you home, You just never know!

Happy Halloween to all!

[click the images to enlarge, click play button to see CHARLIE BROWN pumpkin]

FALL Colors: Plumas

We were not leaf-peeping. We rendezvoused to see the transformation of verdant hills into an autumnal furnace of yellows and reds ~ the leaves are really the only excuse to get out of the city for the day, drove 400 miles to the countryside on a potentially quixotic quest.


Fall Colors were caused by the breakdown of chlorophyll (which reveals the yellow beneath the green) and the release of anthocyanin (which makes red). Leaves, they said, were filled with several different pigments. The green pigment filled the leaves in Summer, but come Fall, that color drained - leaving behind brilliant reds, yellows and oranges.

Not known to many, the town of Quincy in Plumas County has the best California Fall foliage color. The long drive is a killer but as soon as you passed the long and winding mountain road, Quincy will surprise you. Its peaceful color is a sublime beauty!

Go out and catch a glimpse of natures splendor while Fall is still here. And let me take your eyes in the bursts of colors, enjoy the changing leaves and feel the crisp breeze of Autumn in my photo gallery...

http://www.pbase.com/marichupereira/plumas_fall_color&page=all

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."~ george eliot

[click the collage to enlarge, click the link to see my Plumas Fall Color pictures]

Still Life: Door

They say, "When you dream of a closed door, it signifies opportunities that are denied and not available to you or that you have missed out on". Possibly true for New Orleans.

Although Hurricane Katrina did not deliver its full wrath against New Orleans in 2005, but the damage was massive. The historic city had lost a large number of its priceless old homes but the Antique Door: Spared From The Hurricane Katrina can still be found in French Quarter New Orleans. The life in French Quarter is back! Make a plan and visit.

The Orange Hasp, on the other hand, is the storage door of my cousin's cabin in Baja Mexico. The morning light creates an excellent colours and textures masking the door. Once an ignored beauty, the Orange Hasp is now getting attention ever since this image was created.

Stll Life: Where color and light gives life.

"The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes. If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life.” ~ Frank Lloyd

[click the image to enlarge]

Still Life: Glass Wine

A still life is a composition of lifeless objects - a great training in practicing composition and lighting techniques. It pictures the world of the contemporary human being.

I make pictures rather than takes them. Knowing that I have the "eye" coupled with my compositional skills, lighting is always a big challenge. In the end, I am capable of producing my Still Life photos. Every artists have a purpose in mind when they choose their still-life objects. I chose the GLASS WINE as I've got my wine-ism in place and enjoy the pleasure of drinking wine in the company of family and friends. Already well-known as heart healthy, wine in moderation might help you lose weight, reduce forgetfulness, boost your immunity, and help prevent bone loss - Cheers to that!

Sparkling (Prosecco ), Sherry , Rosé, white, red anyone?



"Wine is sunlight, held together by water." ~ Galileo Galilei


[click the image to enlarge, click play button to see the trailer of the movie Sideways and take a week-long road trip to the wine country of Santa Barbara.]

Grand Slam Night - winning vs. pride

Is it luck or is it just getting better?...

Recently at the camera club (Livermore Valley Camera Club or LVCC), my 3 entries were all selected. People often ask "Do you get any price for winning?"

At the club, it is all about recognition. When selected as 1st, the maker will be entitled for short commentary about the image. Any 1st and 2nd placer will be sent to the council (Northern California Council of Camera Clubs or N4C) to compete with the other winning pictures for the monthly and annual competition ~ it's the club's rule but sometimes there are rules that need to be broken like this one:

John (my favorite Master photographer and club's events manager) told me that night: "You keep on winning Marichu. I know we have rules, but I need to promote you to the next level. "

Winning makes me proud and happy. BUT I'd definitely rather be proud of my work, more creative, $uccessful, happy and content than obsessed with winning. The real enjoyment is derived from the joy of creating something new and something better from the joy of my passion (photography). If I focus on creating fantastic photos then winning will take care of itself.

Wynn At Night

1st place Travel Basic Projected 09/07/09

The Road To Lassen

2nd place Travel Basic Projected 09/07/09

The Squatter's Living Situation In Mountain Province, 1st place Journalism Basic Projected 09/07/09

“A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.” ~ Larry Bird

[click on the image to enlarge, click the underlined above title Grand Slam Night to see all my winning pictures].

So In Love - when creativity kicks in

So it shows, when two people are
So In Love...

One relaxing night, Ludwig van Beethoven's Violin Concerto in the air - the music that gives mental appeal whenever I want to start a project. My mind is already in tune with the music but the mood isn't there yet. So, I let my eyes wandered: looking to the earthtone colors in my dining/family room, the Diego Rivera's Flower Seller painting, the indoor plants as if they're also enjoying the music and my cat sleeping peacefully in her pink bed ~ with enough inspiration, I then, let my sense of Creativity kicks in.

My goal that night was to blend few pictures into one with such an impact and style! After grouping some images together with the same color (blue sky and the red rose) and same theme (the kiss, the hug, and holding hands), the So In Love collage was created not only as the wedding signature mat picture but at the same time as my 1st winning entry to the camera club Creative competition (August 3, 2009 LVCC 1st place for the Creative Basic Projected Image).

Today, September 5, 2009 Sam & Selam's wedding day in Ethiopia. I couldn't be there to "document" their matrimony as I am right now, in my biggest adventure for 2009 - a 10 day hiking trip exploring the wilderness of Canadian Rockies...Yet, the engagement pictorial is enough to witness two beautiful people who are So In Love.

To Sam & Selam: It's my great pleasure to take your pictures together. Best Wishes!

[click the collage to enlarge, click the underlined title So In Love to view Sam & Selam's Engagement Pictorial, click play button for I.Perlman - Beethoven Violin Concerto ]

Livermore Art Gallery Exhibit 2009

An Invitation

Livermore Valley Camera Club Exhibit

Livermore Civic Library - Art Gallery

September 1-30, 2009

*Open to the public. Free Admision*

Address: 1188 South Livermore Avenue, Livermore CA 94550
Directions: from I-580 Take the N. Livermore Avenue Exit, head South toward the center of Livermore. Civic Center Library is 2.5 miles from the North Livermore exit on the left hand side of the street. College Avenue is the nearest cross street. City Hall and the Police Station are on the left immediately before the Library.

Library Hours: Mon-Thur 10am-9pm; Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun noon-6pm

#28 The Light In The Church Hallway (27x30) - 2008 winning pix

#29 Orange Dusk In Baja Coast (16x20) - 2009 winning pix

#30 The Shroud Of The Missions (8x10) - a personal fave

[Click the above title Livermore Art Gallery Exhibit 2009 for Livermore Civic Library info. Click on the images to enlarge.]

Silhouette: in awe

In photography, Silhouette refers to as Contre-jour, French word for 'against daylight ~ it refers to the sight or image of a person, object or scene that is backlit, and appears dark against a lighter background. This effect usually hides details, causes a stronger contrast between light and dark, creates silhouettes and emphasizes lines and shapes. The sun, or other light source, is often seen as either a bright spot or as a strong glare behind the subject. Additionally, the word silhouette is an eponym of Etienne de Silhouette, a French finance minister who in 1759 enjoyed making cut paper portraits.

I have taken quite a few of Silhouette. Don't hesitate to photograph an image just because you're directly facing the sun and that your subject is pitch-black, you'll be surprised that you will produce one.

Photography brings an inspiring awe to me ~ just like the photographer above who wants to capture the Sunset in Mona Kea Hawaii and the surfer below in his Post Surf Awe.

"Watch me at the window from your place on the couch, watch me pretending that I am really looking out. You say 'come here, I can't see you in this light,' but I'm much safer beside the moon tonight. 'Cause when I am a silhouette/ I have no fear.” ~ Unknown

[click the image to enlarge, click the underlined title Silhouette to play the song Silhouette from the movie Dying Young].