Memphis is All about Music

304 miles

Mud Island Sunset

We made our way to Memphis. The city is in the SW corner of Tennessee and on the border of Arkansas. The Mississippi River divides the two states. There are four bridges that cross the Mississippi at Memphis. Here is a pretty sunset of Mud Island, which is on the mississippi river and maintained by the City of Memphis and below "Six Birds on a Wire."

Elvis, Johnny Cash and B.B. King all got their start in Memphis, TN. We visited the Rock N Soul Museum. The exhibit was educational and a good value. It was very easy to walk to from downtown. I told one of my children that some time "easy is better." The movie we saw at the beginning had sections repeated later on the listening devices. This needs to be fixed because I wasn't as interested in listening after that happened a couple of times.

At the end of the museum there was a Beatles Hidden Gallery Exhibit of photographs by Paul Berriff. He was a 16 year old boy when he began photographing musicians. On the left is the gallery's explanation of the exhibit. I thought this could be motivating to my fellow photographers.

I included this small write up about printing of the photographs, as an example for art shows. His photographs were flawless and entertaining.

A New Day

226 miles

Today is the first day of our summer road trip. This year we are traveling to Glenwood Springs in Colorado from Marietta, Georgia. Our first stop is Selma, Alabama, which takes us180 miles out of our way. We stopped here because a customer at an art festival told me about the bridge in Selma after seeing my photograph titled Freedom.

The Selma bridge called the Edmond Pettus Bridge is the site of Bloody Sunday during the Civil Rights Movement. Here are my photographs from this morning. I hope you enjoy following along. We are off to the Voting Rights Museum and then Memphis.

You can read about last year's road trip to Florida here.
and 2009's trip to NY and Massachusetts here.

Monopod is the Perfect Camera Accessory

I personally don't carry a lot of camera equipment because I like to travel light and tire from the weight. I want to share with you this gem Targus Monopod I purchased one day when I forgot my tripod and was on vacation. I needed something inexpensive because I already had a fairly nice tripod at home.

We stopped at Walmart and I found this monopod pictured on the left. I use it all the time now. I keep it stowed in the floorboard of my car to the left of the driver's seat parallel to the door. This way I habitually check to make sure it's in the car when I sit down. It is 21 inches tall closed up. The monopod extends to 58 inches. Of course, I do have to hold my camera with this tool, but it helps me keep the camera still, which is the point because my new Nikon lens is too heavy to hand hold. As I am beginning to shoot birds up high, I am shopping for a sturdy tripod, but thought I would pass this photography tip. My lightweight monopod helps me get the shot!

Hazel Berger Named Artist of the Year for Georgia's Sunflower Festival

I am excited to be selected as Artist of the Year of the Sunflower Festival in Rutledge, Georgia on July 2-4, 2011. This show is really in a beautiful setting. There are supervised children's activities, flowers to be picked, great music and, of course, beautiful art for sale.

Big Flower, Little Bird

I hope that you will plan to visit the show. This is where I took my hummingbird images. This image is available in multiple sizes on Etsy; click here. Read my press release about this honor here. See the show's ad about this year's festival for all the details.

Beauty in Black Rock Mountain Georgia State Park

Even the drive to Black Rock Mountain State Park is beautiful. The typical Georgia terrain gives way to rolling hills and mountain views driving north from Buford on Interstate 985. This highway is a four lane highway with just a few stop lights.

The rhododendrons are beautiful in the state park. I have never seen so many growing along the sides of the roads. There were many blooming. Here is a photograph to give you the "picture."

The Georgia state bird, the brown thrasher, was making loud clicking noises. Here is a photograph.

The scenery at the road side viewing areas are gorgeous. Here is a photograph from the Blue Ridge overlook.

The park is located at

Black Rock Mountain State Park
3085 Black Rock Mountain Parkway,
Mountain City , GA 30562

(I am visiting, photographing, and blogging all of the GA state parks in one year. This is park number 14 out of 48.)

Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants was a thought provoking movie. Like The Titanic some of the images are still floating around in my head. The show was complicated and at the same time had some simple messages. The show was about the circus and veterinarians and said, "Don't abuse animals" loud and clear.

It is a violent movie not for the young. The movie starts out with the main character, Jacob's, parents dying. And, we witness some animal abuse.  In the end one wrong is met with another, but in the depression, this is how it was.

Jacob (played by Robert Pattinson) falls in love with married Marlena (Reese Witherspoon) during the story. Parents need to remind children that this isn't appropriate behavior. Both orphans, these characters send messages about survival. This movie had me sitting on the edge of my seat, but as a mom, I was worried about the messages we send to our children as they take in these films.

Canton Festival of the Arts Success!

What a fun art show! I thought I would share my new booth shots here from the Canton Festival of the Arts. I added matted 11" x 14" works which fit a 16" x 20" frame picture in the bin above.

I am offering more canvas works at each show. Here is a shot from another angle. I am printing these large canvases (24" x 36") now. I love this product and hope you do too. They sell between $329 unframed and $429 framed. Each canvas has a protective finsh on it.

I am beginning my second year on the show circuit and I have learned so much. Thank you everyone for attending art festivals!

FaceBook for Photographers

I spoke this past week about twitter, facebook and constant contact. My discussion was targeted to new users of social media especially focusing on content. This post will focus on what has worked for me on facebook.

I have gotten a nice response from posting small albums from a shoot. Here is the response to a photo album of 5 tulip images.

Asking questions has been helpful on FaceBook as well. Here I asked for plant identification help.

Most recently, I asked for help creating a title for one of my photographs. Here is the screen shot from that post below.

I enjoy the interaction by fans on my facebook page. Find my page here.

What has worked for you on your facebook page? Please post thoughts and links to your FB pages as well.

Starting the Lawn Mower Each Spring

I would like to officially publish a bit about the lawn mower. Like last year, my lawn mower would not start this season. After a couple days of trying, I went to Sears and bought a "kit" with a spark plug, oil, fuel stabilizer and a new air filter. I changed the air filter and spark plug and my lawn mower still didn't start. I then checked the price of a new lawn mower -- $283, which didn't interest me!

I apologized to the neighbor across the street for high grass and he said it was probably the old gas, so today I added a teaspoon (about) of the fuel stabilizer to my gas in the tank. (It says not to do this on the bottle.) I then went to Home Depot and bought the correct spark plug (the one in the kit did not have the right numbers on it) and changed the spark plug again.

Determined, I started trying to start it again. And, then I finally started smelling gas today for the first time this year. I told myself that it worked in the Fall and it was still working and kept trying to start it. And, what do you know! I have never been so happy to mow my lawn today.

I guess it is best to use that gas at the end of the year or pour it into the car. Buy new gas each year for your lawn mower.

My Favorite Job of All -- Mom

Recently, when I dropped my children off at school in carpool, my oldest son asked me if I knew what the M on the back of the BMW in front of us stood for... I said, "I don't know, magnificent?" My daughter piped in "Magnolia."  This was a fun laugh to start the day. (My etsy shop is named magmoment because of magnificent and magnolias.)

The children dress up at school when their team has a game after school. On a game day, I got a text from my oldest "They did a terrible job of starching my shirt." I wrote him back. "So sorry. Maybe you can get your money back." But later working the concession stand, I heard several stories from moms who didn't have clean, starched shirts for their children to wear and what they did. I was thinking I've ironed dirty shirts in the morning too, but this time, I had been to the cleaners. So this was a little sign, that I am making it as a mom.


Zing

 

Just this past weekend, I was telling my college roommate at our alumnae reunion that I am doing my very best to avoid working, so I can be with my kids. This past week I drove to school in the middle of the day twice. Once for an orthodontist appointment and second day to take a child to school late who needed to sleep in. This is my job that I really love.

 I hope your mom is great, good enough, and that you realize what good stuff she gave to you while you can appreciate it and let her know. Don't send real flowers this year, send something from my flower shop instead. My photographs will last forever.

Sara Evans Gives Fans a New View on Life and Relationships

Sara Evan's new CD is a special collection about breaking up and new relationships. The title track "A Little Bit Stronger" was released several months ago and clearly is about moving on and getting over the pain of by-gone relationship. Sara is divorced (but remarried) and this makes me especially think of the pain of divorce.
"Desperately" is a song about needing love. I like the positive words about jumping into a new relationship. This song has a couple original analogies loved "like the sun loves the moon and the moon adores the shore."

"Anywhere" is a delightful ditty about going anywhere as long as "you'll ride shotgun with me." One of my favorites lines in this song is "I am sick of living my life in park; I want to live it in drive." Another neat line and idea for life is "Got all we need in cart at a checkout line."

"My Heart Can't Tell You No" is a sad song about a torturous relationship where someone is in love with someone else. Here is a photograph a created recently because of a beautiful relationship gone sour with the entrance of a third person.

After a recent breakup "Life without Losing" speaks to me. Sara sings perfectly about how it feels to constantly think about a lover. But it is heartwarming to realize that "nobody gets through life without losing." Yes, Sara keeps me looking for love.

Two fun songs are "Cabana Boy" and and 'Ticket to Ride!"  "Cabana Boy" is about just staying home and having her guy wait on her at poolside. This delight brings to mind many scenes. And his reward at the end of the day is perfectly clear. "Ticket to Ride" is about meeting someone on an airplane and getting cupid involved.

There is also a sad song about losing someone to alcohol -- "What that Drink Cost Me." "Alone" is also somewhat sad in that there are times in a relationship that we need to be alone and work through the pain of differences.

"Wildfire" is a song about someone's love lighting a fire, "a spark inside me." Sara continues this analogy throughout the song.

This CD also includes a bluegrass version of "Born to Fly," an early hit of Sara's. Born to Fly is an upbeat you-can-do-anything song.

My favorite song on the CD is Cabana Boy. I listened to the CD skiing recently and went much faster every time this song played. This will be a great summer release.

Wishing on Wisteria

Wishing on Wisteria




 What a beautiful flower! Last Fall Stephen Brownlee of the Serenbe Photography Center told me he would like to see how I photographed wisteria. I wasn't sure what wisteria was at the time. I recently visited the library and noticed the book by Peter Valder titled Wisterias and checked it out. His book is full of photographs and facts. The author was first introduced to the beautiful vine as a child when his father planted one in their garden.

The pretty flower grows in purple, pink, and white variations. The blooming grouping is called a raceme. There are varities of both Chinese and Japanese orgins. Valder explains the history of the climbing tree, but does not go into details from a gardening perspective. From the masses growing, I would guess wisteria is easy to grow.

After my trip to the library, I ventured to Macon, Georgia where I found some amazing wisteria vines overtaking the landscape. These established plants are stunning and pictured here. The image above is on Etsy for purchase as well.



Grace by Hazel Berger

High Falls Georgia State Park Right Off Interstate 75

If you are looking for an escape from the everyday, High Falls is just a few minutes off of Interstate 75 about one hour south of Atlanta. We stayed at High Falls a few years ago because I really enjoyed mountain biking at near by Dauset Trails. There is an easy trail that is beautiful. It will certainly get your family hooked on mountain biking. Take 1,2,3,11,18,19,20. Moonshine Trail is the really pretty part, if I remember.

One of the first times I went camping with my kids, we stayed at High Falls. When we arrived, there were three college age boys putting together their tent. My children and I pulled out our REI base camp 6 and together had the tent set up before the young men finished figuring their tent out. That night it rained heavily... but my REI tent with a liner underneathe kept us very dry. In the morning, I noticed the college students were long gone.

But as you notice on the Dauset Trails Map, Indian Springs State Park is right near Dauset and may be a better choice for scenery.

High Falls State Park
76 High Falls Park Dr
Jackson , GA 30233

(I am visiting, photographing, and blogging all of the GA state parks in one year. This is park number 12 out of 48.)

Billy Currington's Stories Are Worth Listening

One of my favorite artists is Billy Currington. His country music strikes a chord with me. His song... Good Directions... has a neat ending, but you really have to listen. I just took this photograph in Macon, Georgia this past weekend in Hill Street Park and titled it "Good Directions." I wish I could have seen this cherry tree at the height of the bloom.

Good Directions

I was sittin' there sellin' turnips on a flatbed truck
Munchin' on a pork rind when she pulled up
She had to be thinkin' "This is where Rednecks come from"
She had Hollywood written on her license plate
She was lost and lookin' for the interstate
Needin' directions and I was the man for the job

[Chorus]

I told her way up yonder past the caution light
There's a little country store with an old Coke sign
You gotta stop in and ask Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea
Then a left will take you to the interstate
But a right will bring you right back here to me

I was sittin' there thinkin' 'bout her pretty face
Kickin' myself for not catchin' her name
I threw my hat and thought, "You fool, that could've been love"
I knew my old Ford couldn't run her down
She probably didn't like me anyhow
So I watched her disappear in a cloud of dust.

[Chorus]

I told her way up yonder past the caution light
There's a little country store with an old Coke sign
You gotta stop in and ask Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea
Then a left will take you to the interstate
But a right will bring you right back here to me
Is this Georgia heat playin' tricks on me
Or am I really seein' what I think I see
The woman of my dreams comin' back to me

She went way up yonder past the caution light
Don't know why, but somethin' felt right
When she stopped in and asked Miss Bell for some of her sweet tea
Mama gave her a big 'ol glass and sent her right back here to me

Thank God for good directions and turnip greens.

Hazel Berger Photography Opening Octane Coffee 03/12/2011 Octane Coffee ...

Amazing

We traveled to Hard Labor Creek State Park today. I found this tree on the way there in Rutledge. This is an unedited photograph.

Preparing an Art Show

I am about to hang my second photography show tomorrow. I learned a lot the first time, and I took a different approach for this show. I thought I would share the information here.

Just to give you the time-line:

June 2007 -- Trip to Barcelona (I decide to start selling my photography)
Sept. 2008 --Women in Focus juried photography show (Faye Gold selects 3 of my images for group show)
May 2010 -- Magnolias on Magnolia Street (32 images of magnolias at the Roswell Tea House)
July 2010 -- Sunflower Farm Festival (Rutledge, Georgia)
March 2011 -- Floral Photographs on Canvas (12 images at Octane Coffee Bar & Lounge)

My first show was in May of last year and the first art festival that I started learning "what sells" was in July. I definitely have a good record of what images sell and know what to expect at an art festival now. My priority is selling art at art festivals, so that is my means to an end. I think art shows are about getting the word out and into the community. A lot of people will visit Octane Coffee between March 12 and April 3 (my show dates), but there won't be a sales person to close the sale.

The Magnolia show included different treatments: unframed canvas works and framed fine art paper photographs. My goal with the show was to illustrate how varied the gorgeous magnolia flower was. My goal today is different. I want to display a representative sampling of my work. I am selecting art that hasn't been shown in Atlanta. My show is more gelled. I know that I am selling 12" x 18" canvas works regularly, so I am displaying 10 works on canvas that size unframed. I am certain that I will be able to sell this size image in an upcoming art festival, so no worries about the investment, which was limited.

My 24" x 36" canvas titled Magnificent pulls people right into my photography booth at art festivals, so I will display this work at Octane. And, I created another 36" x 24" canvas titled The View, below, for this show. It is my newest image. This work will be super to add to my show booth. Yes, this portrays what I felt looking at those gorgeous trees in Griffin, Georgia.

For this show, I purposely selected four of my best selling images as a base. The owner of the coffee shop likes my works which are mixed medium, so I have included four images where I was able to add acrylic paint on top of the photograph. I personally have a "love affair" with my latest image until I take the next one that I like better, so I have included four brand new images. For this show, I selected a variety of flowers (subject matter within my specialty), not all magnolias. Lately, I have been more conscience about looking through previously shot work, which I did not release, for something I might have overlooked. This show will include one new image from my archives.

Spring is Officially Here in Atlanta

I ventured to Indian Springs State Park, less than one hour's drive south of Atlanta, yesterday and found this beautiful Camellia bush near the office. I really am in awe everytime I see a flower blooming with all its delicate parts.

Indian Springs State Park

678 Lake Clark Road
Flovilla , GA 30216

(I am visiting, photographing, and blogging all of the GA state parks in one year. This is park number 11 out of 48.)

Mistletoe State Park Quick Jaunt Off of I-20

 Georgia's Mistletoe State Park is just a few minutes from highway I-20 north on from exit 275. This man-made lake is 72,000 acres, which makes it the largest man made lake east of the Mississippi River. There are 10 nice private cottages with pretty lake views. Be sure to reserve a cottage. The park is a pretty place for a picnic and/or family gathering.

The day I was in the park, they were executing a contolled burn. Here are a couple photographs of the fire.

Mistletoe State Park
3725 Mistletoe Road
Appling , GA 30802

(I am visiting, photographing, and blogging all of the GA state parks in one year. This is park number 10 out of 48.)

High Museum Presents Cartier-Bresson on a Grand Scale

Have you ever studied 295 photographs by one photographer that you didn't personally shoot and download on to your computer? Imagine them all printed and framed. What an undertaking! I was lucky to view the Henri Cartier Bresson exhibit at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta prior to its opening Saturday, Feb. 19.
This super show of Bresson's work is on view until May 29, 2011. The collection was created at MOMA by Peter Galassi. The High's new photography curator, Brett Abbott organized the show on blue walls on the second floor of the museum in Atlanta. Abbott officially begins his job on April 1, 2011. He shines as an energetic new staff member with lots of ideas percolating.

Bresson is one of my personal favorite photographers. I teach about his art as part of my journalism camp and photography classes because he coined the expression "decisive moment." This moment as portrayed in a sunset, expression or event is what we are looking for to tell the story of our art. It is particularly exemplified in the image in the upper left. Here Bresson presses the shutter just before the man lands in the water. After the landing this image would be much different. His work is about taking the shot at just the moment when people are aligned in the scene.

The exhibit at the High museum is vast also in that it includes scenes from all over the United States and world. Bresson was born in France to a wealthy family and pursued photography interests at an early age. He developed a style  of capturing the ordinary and achieved fame as a street photographer.  Study these images at the High Museum to develop your own style of photography.

Fort Yargo is a Perfect Atlanta/Athens Get Away

Fort Yargo State Park in Georgia is in Winder, Georgia just 45 minutes from Atlanta and an equal distance from Athens. The park hosts hike and bike trails. The mountain bike trail is for experienced riders. The seven mile moderate trail circles the lake; as does the 12.5 mile difficult trail.

This park includes a log fort built in 1972 for history buffs. The lake is 260 acres. Pictured below are yurts and camp sites on the water's edge. Be sure to ask for sites on the water when you make your reservation.



Fort Yargo State Park
210 S. Broad Street
Winder , GA 30680

(I am visiting, photographing, and blogging all of the GA state parks in one year. This is park number 9 out of 48.)

A New Kind of Scrabble and A Way to Live

So scrabble wasn't my favorite game, in part because I have always played with competitive people. The other day I played with my children and a friend. During the game my friend started helping us. It was kinda weird helping each other, but it changed the mood of the game. (And made us all practice each turn.)

At one point my daughter showed us BUNGALO and asked if that was how to spell it. We got out the dictionary and used it to help us for the rest of the game (instead of challenging each other).  We became a team helping one another and bonded in the family room.

In Seth's style... Do you follow Seth Godin? He's good and succinct.

Take a Friend to Watson Mill Bridge State Park

This park strikes me as romantic. Water, covered bridge, rocks and picnic tables are scattered here ready for visitors. The covered bridge is one of sixteen left in Georgia. This Georgia State Park is just east of Athens in the northeast corner of the state. Here are my photographs I took while watching the sun set. This photograph above is available on Etsy.

I started a facebook post that day before I left about "where did the sun go..." which had some fun responses. I never saw the sun, but you see here that this tree did for a few minutes at sunset.
Watson Mill Bridge State Park
650 Watson Mill Road
Comer , GA 30629

(I am visiting, photographing, and blogging all of the GA state parks in one year. This is park number 8 out of 48.)

Best Banana Waffles

My son was impressed that there wasn't a banana to be found in the grocery several days prior to our pending Georgia snow storm of 2011. He even asked an employee to be certain.

So, just in case you don't eat all those bananas (and they are turning brown) and you need something to do with them I thought I'd share my banana waffle recipe.



Best Banana Waffles

8 T parkay, melted
2 eggs, separated
1 C milk
2 C all purpose flour
2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
2 T sugar
4 bananas, mashed

Melt the parkay and let it cool. Beat the egg whites until they are stiff. Mix together dry ingredients. Combine wet ingredients (except egg whites) after margarine has cooled. Pour into wet mixture. Stir in bananas and then fold in egg whites. Pour approximated 1/3 C of mixture per waffle. Cook in waffle iron. Yields about 10 waffles.

I utilize two waffle irons to speed the preparation.

You Do Not Have to Drive to the Beach for a Pretty Sunset

In my mind I have always believed that I needed to be at the beach to take a beautiful sunset. But Amicalola Falls State Park puts that belief to rest. I took these photographs on January 3, 2011 and the falls align perfectly with the setting sun. Below is an abstract of the sunset.

Amicolola State park is located outside of Dawsonville, Georgia in the Northern part of the state about one hour north of Atlanta up Georgia 400. The drive into the park is very pretty and worth stopping along the way for great photos of nearby farms. Here are the rocks at the top of the falls with a bit of sun on them.

Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge
418 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd
Dawsonville , GA 30534

(I am visiting, photographing, and blogging all of the GA state parks in one year. This is park number 7 out of 48).