Naples Really Stands Out

What a beautiful city -- Naples, Florida. The flowers lining the streets were exotic and blooming! My daughter said, "That was the best beach we went to." The fishing must be good to as there were so many pelicans hanging out at the beach. I did try to talk everyone into eating without me, so I could take photographs, which I would have preferred! But I was sitting enjoying a shrimp dinner while the sun fell into the ocean. I found another waitress to bring me the check and was able to catch the tail end of the sunset.

Total mileage: 1792

We are back home now. A friend asked why we "just went to Florida" (it's a neighboring state) instead of a longer road trip like usual. There were a lot of reasons we went to Florida. I wanted to add beach photographs to my portfolio, and it was close. But honestly, I will be hurrying back because there really was so much to see in so many places. I think LeBron make a good choice to move to Florida, and I would love to move there. If you live in Florida on the gulf coast and have lots of flowers blooming in your city, like Naples, let me know. I'll stop by!

Floridian Birds are Out of There!

The beautiful, varied birds in Florida more than make up for the lack of flowers in my path. I really can't believe the opportunities I received today and yesterday to photograph so many winged creatures. I haven't seen this many birds on any one day, never mind being able to photograph them. I photographed birds at the John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo and also in the Shark Valley in the Everglades off of Highway 41. And, I almost forgot the beach in Naples, Florida. Here are a couple images.

Woodpecker at the John Pennekamp State Park

Egret in the Florida Everglades

Coconut Grove Marina Pretty

Lots of boats here at the Marina in Miami. We enjoyed walking down Grand Avenue last night for dinner. Nice shopping with unique merchandise. Looks like there is an art show here in February called Coconut Grove Arts Festival. Here's how it looks here right now.

My biggest road trip tip is to ALWAYS put stuff back in the same place. In other words, bike helmets in the same green back. Sheets in the same blue bag. Bike gloves in the small black bag. We save our old mismatched gloves and use those pairs when we need an emergency pair. Moving stuff around gets confusing if it is in the first location or the second one. Keep it simple. So we are off to John Pennekamp State Park.

First Light at the Beach

This morning was a pretty sunrise mostly blocked by a big bunch of clouds. But as soon as it was up, I headed to a garden of flowers. I captured them as the sun first hit them. Here is First Light. Anyone know what flower this is?

The View from Miami Beach

Mileage 231.7
I woke up just as the sun was rising this morning. Thank goodness. And found these beautiful pictures.



 I was wondering how to find the view of Miami from the island. I asked a gas station attendant, and she said I couldn't. These kinds of statements really motivate me. I found the view and a wonderful bike path at the same time.

Orlando Universal

95.1 Miles

We enjoyed Universal Studios and Island of Adventure and our $29 campsite in Kissimmee. Considering we were there 9 hours at the most, the green grass, shady tree, electrical outlets and clean restrooms and clean, hot showers were more than you could ask for. Take a quick stop at Orange Grove Campground at 2425 Vineland Road to balance out your summer road trip budget.

We visited Islands of Adventure to ride the amazing Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and the Flight of the Hippogriff and eat at Three Broomsticks. Harry Potter was really unbelievable. We were flying high and really in our own world on a moving vehicle. I recommend re-watching all the movies before visiting! The new exhibit opened on June 18th. Here is a blog of the event with links etc.

Then we located our campground and set up the tent. We headed straight back and rode Spiderman, Popeye and Bruto's water ride and Jurassic Park River Adventure. We did get very wet and needed a way to dry our clothes. Then, we had a quick dinner at Margaritaville, which was okay.

By this time we were very tired and easily slept through the night in our tent. Next morning we made it to the park by 9:10 AM. Again, we chose preferred parking, which got us very close to the entrance. We went straight to the back of Universal Studios. We rode Simpson's Krustyland, which was a nice simulation roller coaster and then Men in Black Alien Attack twice. This was a shooting aliens game like Buzz Light Year. Our high score was 116,000. Next we took a ride with ET to save his world. We enjoyed a quiet lunch at NBA City. We watched Fear Factor Live, which I didn't care for and won't tune into, but the kids enjoyed it.

Twister was fun because it really gave a nice behind the scenes view of making the movie. We experienced a mini tornado on the set. Jimmy Newtron's Nicktoon Blast was okay, but we could see all  the riders as we experienced our ride. We picked up a best spongebob kit, which reminds me of Mr. Potato Head.

I need to check these spellings and details later today. Have a great one!

Tampa Bay

The Dali museum holds 196 images in St. Petersburg, Florida. The works were of a variety of subjects and sizes. I liked the images best which were of his wife, Gala. He used mixed media, which I thought was interesting. I thought the $12 admission for children over 9 was steep. I needed to prepay with AAA to receive my discount. There was a nice slide show with voice overs. But for those without any previous exposure to Dali, there was something missing. I didn't notice a children's book in the large gift shop, which was almost the size of half of the museum. (But there were several including the World's Greatest Artists series about Dali.) Here is a link to the Dali museum.

Our family tradition is to attend a professional baseball game on our summer road trip. This year we watched Boston lose to the Tampa Bay Rays. We were all rooting for Boston. :( I took several photographs during the game. Here is one.






Before we head out... a nice image to start your day.

From the Gulf -- Clearwater

After our over 499 mile drive, we found our way to the beach; the sunrise was worth the car ride. And there were lots of pretty birds feeding this morning.

Sunflower Festival was Blooming!

Just back from the Rutledge, Georgia Sunflower Festival. One of my favorite moments was when a browser said, "That's magnificient" when eyeing my 12" x 18" canvas of a magnolia tree. Then, he realized that was the title! Which I named for the flower's name. And, how cool I think magnolias are. Lots of sales and many names for my constant contact list during this show. If you want to be on my monthly email list, which features new works and upcoming shows, just subscribe here.

Here is my booth from the show. The holes are sold works. I also sold lots of ACEOs this weekend. Recently bought the print bins. I like the new look. But the best part of this show was the view. The field was gorgeous. I loved listening to live country music and looking out my shop window at the field. The garden near my booth was also home to many hummingbirds. Of course, I brought my camera.

New Neighbor Just Moved In

One of my big photography sayings is, "Shoot in your own backyard" because no other photographer lives there. This gives you a unique place and images. This week while on one of my many dog walks, a neighbor pointed out this gorgeous baby hawk.

Tom Cruise Crush

Oh I like to watch Tom in action! With three children, I am not usually able to pick the movie I want to attend. I did add Knight and Day to my calendar though. It was released in theaters this past Wednesday. My oldest son reminded me on Friday, and I stopped and bought tickets.

It was perfect. I had to remind my youngest that Tom could not die during the movie, or it just wouldn't work. I was right! The plot was not that thick, but there was one. There was lots of action. Action with and without Cameron Diaz, who has the prettiest smile. Tom's smile is right there too! One of my favorite threads was the Knight family winning the Clearing House sweepstakes twice. This movie is about family. I will say too, that the love interest develops very naturally, which makes it one of the more credible romances I have seen on the big screen. And, yes, this is really action/spy movie.

I like how the action moves between cities/countries. (It was primarily filmed in Massachusetts according to IMDB.) From a photography perspective, this film is more about people photography with great shots of Tom and Cameron. And, Cameron Diaz drives a beautiful GTO. The ending is just sweet. It gives me a good, hopeful feeling every time I remember them off to...

Oh and there is a classic motorcycle ride in this movie to rival the Top Gun (trivia link) motorcycle ride.

There are other heroes I like to watch. I am a James Bond fan through and through. And, I am crazy about Nicolas Cage as well. His Gone in 60 Seconds is a cool car flick. we watched this again tonight and would you believe that in the opening scene the police officer in charge of the car theft case says, "Impound these cars for 30 days. I don't care if it belongs to Tom Cruise."

I didn't realize that Nicolas Cage trained and performed most of the stunts in this movie. Gone in 60 Seconds (trivia link) has some drug references, which keeps me from letting the kids watch it, but, from my perspective, a great movie about families and taking care of each other, honoring those relationships. And, there is lots of action and suspense. And, Eleanor.

Children Say -- About Monet

I tweeted this, but it so applies, so I thought I would quote my daughter here again.

"Walking the dog is like going to the museum. You have to stop and look at everything."

Yes, we were on a dog walk together. And, let me say, I have taken my children to a lot of museums, so this came naturally into her head. At an art museum, we walk around looking primarily, reading a little. (If I want to read every word I return by myself.) We then walk around the exhibit a second time sharing with each other what our favorite item is and why we like it. My goal is to make the art experience fun and easy.

I try to send the children to art classes each summer. My youngest's favorite artist is Monet because I sent him to a one week Monet art camp. He was the only boy in the class, but the teacher was accomodating and let him paint the canoe in the pond instead of water lilies for example. But to this day, he can show up at a museum and say, "That is by the artist I took a class about."

Here is my Care Of Monet, which I just added to my Etsy shop. I found a huge lily pond recently and took many photographs. Lilies remind me of magnolias, so stay tuned for more. I am now offering a Monet painting party through my children's birthday party business.

My Favorite Holiday -- July 4th -- Independence Day

I absolutely love the 4th of July. I created this new photograph for 2010. You can buy Stars and Stripes in my Etsy shop. In my shop, there is another pretty flag image from a baseball game, and I am working on more this weekend.

Most years you will find me at the Decatur, Georgia 4th of July Celebration because there is so much going on. Large crowds pack into the old-fashioned square for music and fireworks. The parade begins at 6 PM. Children and adults line up at 5:30 with their decorated bicycles and scooters. The path is a short one around the square. Afterwards, the callanwolde concert band entertains until just before the fireworks begin at dark.

I like preparing food for our picnic and having all my kids close by. My salmon recipe holds its flavor long enough for these kinds of events. It is so sweet to lean on each other on our blanket, eat delicious food and relax. The music reminds me of weekends in Bar Harbor, Maine or Chatham in Cape Cod. Chatham and Bar Harbour have music every Saturday night during the summer as part of their home town flavor. To me, the square's activities make a summer vacation special and memorable to see all the residents mix up with locals. Last year we were in Hyannis on the cape.

The celebration at Decatur also reminds me of attending a concert at Chastain park, but there is no admission. An added bonus at Decatur is the ease of which everyone leaves because the parking lots are spread out over the city. There are many ways to exit in all directions. Hope to see you there!

Flowers at the Farm

Yes, the patch of coneflowers was wating at the farm. I was so happy to see them. I played a little here and wonder what you like. Please let me know. It also totally motivated me to paint one. To the left is my newest ACEO Spirit available in my Etsy shop. This is a painted rendition of one of my photographs. The coneflower on a green background above is title Natural and also available as a 5x7" print in my Etsy shop.

Straight from the Garden

Hydrangea have fascinated me for years, but in the past they have looked pretty boring through the camera lens. But this year the petals are gorgeous, and I finally figured out a view. Here are shots from my new series. They are all available in my shop as 5"x7" prints for $19 at MagMoment. I have planted a row in my own yard. At first, I planted them underneath a couple trees. Then, I realized my mistake and moved them to bright sun. I bought a few more and they are growing to form a pretty wall. Perhaps they will block a loose basketball before too long.

Pretty in Pink Treasury

Etsy allows us to create collections of 12-16 items, which I think of as mini art-galleries. These collections usually have a color theme. I try to add another theme as well. Here I have chosen pink as my theme. This treasury will expire on June 2nd. Hope you take a look before then. Click here for the treasury.

People Photography Tips from Mark Alberhasky

Mark Alberhasky offered detailed critiques at the Roswell Photographic Society meeting on May 25th of our people photographs. The group has meetings twice a month. Once a month we bring our photographs in for critique and the other meeting is a lecture/workshop.

I learned a lot and want to share some of his comments. He said that photographs of people sell really well. He lectured that "It's not about taking the picture; it's about meeting the person." After you meet the person, then taking the photograph is easy. Mark's mentor taught him get close by cutting the distance between the subject and the camera in half to improve people photographs. And, to be more specific, he suggested shooting 360° around the subject. And, in contrast of getting close, he suggested shooting wide to crop later on. But these ideas apply to different scenes and situations.

Mark is a believer, like I am, of "shoot, shoot, shoot!" The more you shoot, the better the photos. Explaining, he said, "Shoot 20-30 until you get the one you want."

He talked a lot about lighting. He suggested using a rear sync setting on our cameras. He said to practice the background first and then add [just a little] flash. Mark said, "Use pop up flash in bright sun to add light on the face." This will help bring out the whites in the eyes. Look at the manual to see how to lessen the strength of the pop-up flash. During the critiques he suggested using the vibrance tool in lightroom. And of course, he said we will have to learn how to use artificial lighting if we want to make portraits.

Towards the end, he suggested writing down the idea you want to convey in the photograph. Other general comments that apply to all types of photography included a suggestion to make the image out of balance to "create energy in the frame." Continuing, Mark suggested running your eye around the frame and ask if there is anything you don't need in the frame.
Learn more about Mark Alberhasky on his site.

Life IS Good Award

Thank you to Carole (ReadingSully2) for nominating me for the Life Is Good Award. As part of this award, I answer the following questions that Carole has posed, create my own list of six questions and nominate six people for the award.

1. What is your favorite fantasy? My favorite fantasy is having a solo art show, which has just happened at the Roswell Tea House. In February my fantasy will be winning first place at the SE Flower Show with a flower photograph.

2. Have you ever experienced anything in the supernatural realm....deja vu, premonitions, ghosts, or feel you experienced some kind of miracle....religious, spiritual, healthwise, etc. Yes, there was a day when I especially was worried about my then 6 year old for mom reasons, and I prayed that the children would not go out for recess. I was really surprised when it started raining heavily around recess time, and they did not go outside.

3. If you were going to write a book, what would you write about? We have recently thought of a wonderful story about my youngest, who persuades a kidnapper to let him watch the end of a TV show, and ultimately stalls and foils the kidnapper. I would write this children's story.

4. Would you choose to live your life differently if you had the option of starting all over again? Or would you just stick with the life you have. I am so happy. I would do it all again even the bad because I learned a lot from all of that!

5. What is your number one item on your bucket list? I would like to get remarried.

6. If you could meet someone, dead or alive, who would it be and what would you ask them? I would love to ask Barbra Streisand to sing a song. Perhaps Just a little lovin' or Papa Can You Hear Me?

Lyrics from Just a Little Lovin' (Early in The Mornin') - Barbra Streisand
Just a little lovin'
Early in the morning
Beats a cup of coffee
For starting off the day
Just a little lovin'
When the world is young
And makes you wake up
Feeling good things
Are coming your way
This old world wouldn't be half as bad
And wouldn't be half as sad
If each and everybody in it had
Just a little lovin'
Early in the morning
A little extra something
To kinda see them through
Nothing turns the day on
Or really gets it dawning
Like a little bit of lovin'
From some lovin' someone like you
This old world couldn't be half as bad
And wouldn't be half as sad
If each and everybody in it had
Just a little lovin'
Early in the morning
Just a little lovin'
Early in the day
Just a little lovin'
Early in the morning...
     Written by: B. Mann & C. Weill

To me a nice welcome to each day is an important part of living. I have a bunch of silly songs I sing to my kids to get them up and moving everyday (which isn't quite Barbra's meaning... but mine!) Like:  "Good morning to you! Good morning to you! You look like a monkey. You belong in a zoo! Good morning to you."

MY NOMINATIONS:  First of all I must nominate Jessica Rogers on Etsy for her amazing, motivating Photo of the Week blog post. My nominees from Atlanta are Chris Blor, MammaSays, Little Purple Cow Productions. I nominate BGGarden fromTwitter. And, a college classmate Karen at MyPointsInTime.

If you want to participate please answer the following and nominate six bloggers as well. Paste the pretty badge into your blog, and have a mag day! (Nominees and the rest of you, feel free to comment here with your answers or on your blog.)

1. What is your favorite song and why?
2. How did you get involved in your work/business?
3. What makes a day really special?
4. What do you do for exercise?
5. What is one thing that you REALLY love to do?
6. Give one art/writing tip to readers.

Magnolia Photographs on YouTube

View many of my Magnolia flowers on YouTube in this video. Most of these photographs are hanging at the Roswell Tea House until May 29, 2010 in Roswell, Georgia. I chose Sara Evans' song titled perfect because these flowers, like a relationship, are perfect in their imperfections. Learn more about the art show at www.hazelberger.com/magnoliasonmagnoliastreet.html.

Billy Currington's Cup of Joe

Billy Currington is all country and has many great songs. My favorite songs of his are "Good Directions" and "People are Crazy." "People are Crazy" can be found on The Little Bit of Everything CD. There is a story in this one that surprises you when you are listening. It's chorus says, "God is great, beer is good, people are crazy." The song explains what one crazy person did with all his money.

I started writing this blog because the lyrics in Everything refer to cup of joe, which I gathered was coffee, but have wanted to know for certain. Currington sings.

"The way you stumble in the kitchen
Lookin' for that first cup of joe
How you put on your mascara starin' in the mirror
On your tippy toes
If you wonder why I love you baby
I can't boil it down to just one thing, yeah

Everything

Every little thing about you baby

Turns me on (if it ain't one thing it's another)"

So a friend of mine posted a blog about joe this week, so here's the scoop on joe.

"Good directions" is another story in song. This one is about a boy selling turnips who encounters a cute girl. He sends her on her way, but wishes he'd been a little more assertive. This song is on the Doin Something Right CD.

How to Make Photography ACEOs Art Card Editions and Originals

Picturing This:  One of my first sales on Etsy was a customer requesting an ACEO of an image. Actually, I don't think she was for sure, but I got the idea that I should create an ACEO of the image as an offering, and I might have a sale. I did a little internet research and made my own way of creating ACEOs.

ACEOs are minature art, 2.5" by 3.5", that artists are "trading" and collecting like they would collect art (If we had the walls and money). They are a nice way to check out someone's art skills without breaking the bank. They usually range in price between $3 and $8. The images are exactly the size of baseball cards, so they fit in baseball card sleeves for storing.

Having sold many ACEOs now, I thought I would share what I am doing here. First, I create an 8.5" x 11" document in Adobe Illustrator. Next, I save six images as 2.5" x 3.5" psd documents with aceo_ as the first part of the file name (so I remember they have less pixels and don't use them as originals for photography printing).

I then return to my Illustrator document, below, and select File/Place from the menu and pull in all six images one at a time. Use the ruler and guides so that they are lined up perfectly for cutting. I print these images on my favorite photographic paper and let them cure.

Finally, I take my images to my frame shop and ask them to dry mount the papers to a mat board, so the color becomes the back of the cards. I select a light color, so that my writing will show up on the mat board. The framer mounts and cuts the ACEOs for me. I write the title on the back of each ACEO and sign the back. After the ink dries, I place the ACEO in a plastic sleeve from Clearbags.

Take a look at my ACEOs on Etsy. I am taking 4 pages of ACEOs to the framer today, so look for them in my shop in the coming days. I ship my ACEOs in a notecard from my Etsy shop. I participate in a forum on Etsy about ACEO it is called 7 card draw. Read more here.

Magnolias on Magnolia Street

Dear Carine, Thank you so much for allowing me to hang my images in your tea house. I am crazy about magnolias and how fitting the restaurant is on Magnolia Street. I have polished up thirty-two of my images that are of the beautiful tree. This is a very exciting happening in my life. I hope that your customers enjoy the art. Hazel

Dear Gittel, Thanks so much for your hours of volunteering as our president for Women in Focus. I am so glad to have joined the Women in Focus board as Vice President. Thank you for helping me procure this show at the Teahouse. This is a great opportunity that you have opened the door to. Hazel

Dear Jim, Thank you for having such a beautiful tree on my street and introducing me to these glorious flowers. Hazel

Dear Children, Thank you for all your opinions about my photographs, your ever lifting and carrying my boxes and your swift setting up and tearing down my tent to enable my art career. Thanks. Love, Mom

Dearest Reader, Thanks for following my blog and viewing my art. I am always open to feedback and appreciate your support. My show opens today May 3rd and I hope you live close enough to stop in for lunch one day this month. Hazel

Magnolias on Magnolia Street -- May 3 - 29, 2010 at The Roswell Teahouse -- 108 Magnolia Street in Roswell. Learn more on my site. Here are a couple more images to wet your appetite.

Dear POE team, Thanks for all the advice, ideas and support over the past year on Etsy. It really has helped me professionally to be on the team. Hazel

Wesleyan Reunion Weekend Full of Art

I attended my college reunion this weekend and it was really special this year because the school has added an art show to the line up and an artist market as well. Fitting that I took my first photography class at Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia that I return with my photographs.

Here is an image of my art in the wonderful gallery the alumnae volunteers created with reunion year artists' work featured. Pictured here are Mystery Bloom, Spring and Waltzing with acid free mats and black frames. The works are about 20" wide and retail for $180 framed. On the right is my latest creation. It is a 16" by16" version of Perfect printed on canvas with acrylic highlights. This sells for $200.

While I was at the alumnae weekend, I took a few photographs. Our school color is purple, so I thought to pull the purple in this image. It's too bad you can't read the year on the sign on the right below as that it my graduation year. ;) A special thank you to my classmates for all their purchases at the art fair.

Alicia Keys Wows Atlanta

Recently, I took my daughter to see Alicia Keys because I heard on 95.5 The Beat that Alicia plays piano. Because I believe my daughter is talented, I thought this could spur her back into lessons. The concert was really amazing. The show began very dramatically with smoke and Alicia in a cage singing "Caged Bird." She also sang "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart" and "Empire State of Mind." Her voice is so melodic and passionate. And, this 29 year-old woman can play the piano. She attended Professional Performing Arts School and graduated at 16 as valedictorian. She bagan studing classical piano at the age of seven.

We were listening to the Elements of Freedom CD for weeks before the concert.  It is beautiful music. I clearly got the message during the concert from Alicia's dialog with the audience, words on the video screens and lyrics that there is "nothing that you can't accomplish." Red hearts were everywhere as Alicia seems a lot like me with a LOVE theme to her life. Another neat part of the show was the dancers. There were three one male and two female. Take your dance student with you, so they can see first hand all the leaps, spins and grace.

I was surprised to hear the uplifting and motivational words in her previous recordings, so I ordered a CD because I'm hooked. Take a listen and you will be too. Check her concert schedule for your area. And, she is on American Idol the 20th and 21st of April.

Chastain Green Market is Fun!

Enjoyed meeting all the dog walkers, artists, collectors, and moms and dads at chastain park this past Saturday. Just checked and the weather is supposed to be sunny for the weekend in Atlanta. I am printing more images to take to the show on Saturday, and painting! Hope to see you there. Here is a picture of my tent at the show.

Saturdays 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Chastain Park's Horseradish Grill
Sponsor's page with directions: Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces.

I purchased my pop up tent from my local costco warehouse and the mesh panels from http://www.flourish.com/. My banner was printed by Don Neder of SpeedPro Imaging in Atlanta. This is a great entry level tent for selling art and crafts.