Learning to "See" --Lines

Photo by Margaret Bourke-White

One of the basic traits good photographers share is an ability to see images that many people don’t notice.  I believe you can develop an “eye”, but I think the OMG-FANTASTIC photographers are born with some added ability. However that said, all of us have to develop our skills and master the basics. Until we do this we won't know if we could be a good photographer or one of those OMG FANTASTIC ones. So let's start at the beginning with the elements - specifically lines.    

When my art teacher told us to:

1. Just shoot in black and white, (back in the days of shooting with film)

2. Go find and shoot anything depicting lines

I thought he was insane and had no clue what he was talking about.  Of course I was the one being clueless.   What I didn’t understand was that he was teaching us to see the basic elements in photography.  Lines can draw the viewer into the photograph and they can help give eyes a focal point.   So set your camera on B/W and go shoot “lines”  and please share!   

Duties of a Citizen?

If someone were to ask me what my “job” as an American is, I’m not sure I would have a quick and ready answer.  It is something though we all need to think about. What are the duties we have as citizens of the US or for that matter any country?    Here are  a few thoughts that sprang to my mind.

1.  It’s our duty to make sure the freedoms we have are protected.  Be it the freedom to get on a plane without being groped by a total stranger or something as praying with friends in school.  

2.  We have the right to be treated with respect as a human being no matter our color, race, gender, or choice of mate/partner.   We also have the duty to  treat others in the same way.   

3.  It’s our duty as citizens of the US and the world to stand up for human rights no matter if it’s in the US, Iran, or China.   

I’m reminded of a famous quote we all would be well to remember “Evil prevails when good “men” do nothing”  

Reach Out!

I was amazed with the statement from the video that stated suicide was the 3rd largest cause of  death among youth between 15-25.  After checking my facts from the CDC,  I was even more appalled at the information given there.  According to the CDC , suicide is the third largest cause of death  for youth from 10-24 years old. According to this statistic that means 4400 young people loose their  life every year senselessly.   I AM/WAS shocked that this statistic included 10 year old children.

As I read these stats, I wondered  in consternation  how  a 10, 11, 12,  year old  child could get so very lost - to the point of trying to end their  life.   I can only imagine the pain  children must be experiencing if they are willing to go to this length to stop it.   It breaks my heart, and it makes me want to just hug every child  I see, letting them know what a fantastic, wonderful, creature God has created in them.   I wish there really was fairy magic, and I could jump around the world hugging every child I met.

Unfortunately I have to deal with reality and logistics so hugging every child on the planet might be impossible, but I can let the children in my world  know someone cares about them and just how very special each and everyone of them are.    I can also get this message out to everyone I know.   We all need to be vigilant about saving these young people and making this statistic a thing of the past.

Below I've shared some important information to be aware of when dealing with  young people as well as some important numbers and websites to notify if you or someone you know need help.

Factors that increase the risk of suicide

v  A psychological disorder, especially depression, bipolar disorder, and alcohol and drug use (in fact, approximately 95% of people who die by suicide have a psychological disorder at the time of death)

v  Feelings of distress, irritability, or agitation

v  Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness that often accompany depression (a teen, for example, who experiences repeated failures at school, who is overwhelmed by violence at home, or who is isolated from peers is likely to experience such feelings)

v  A previous suicide attempt

v  A family history of depression or suicide (depressive illnesses may have a genetic component, so some teens may be predisposed to suffer major depression)

v  Physical or sexual abuse

v  Lack of a support network, poor relationships with parents or peers, and feelings of social isolation

v  Dealing with homosexuality in an unsupportive family or community or hostile school environment

Warning Signs

v  Talk about suicide or death in general

v  Talk about "going away"

v  Talk about feeling hopeless or feeling guilty

v  Pull away from friends or family

v  Lose the desire to take part in favorite things or activities

v  Have trouble concentrating or thinking clearly

v  Experience changes in eating or sleeping habits

v  Self-destructive behavior (drinking alcohol, taking drugs, or driving too fast, for example)

Potential Triggers for Suicide 

v  Death of a parent.

v  Divorce of parents.

v  Feeling like a "pawn" that is being used between feuding, divorced parents.

v  Joining a new family with a step-parent and step-siblings.

v  Breaking up with a boyfriend / girlfriend.

v  Moving to a new community.

v  Not feeling accepted by peers.

v  Being ridiculed by classmates.

v  Feeling misunderstood.

v  Any experience perceived to be "humiliating."

v  Alcohol abuse.

v  Drug abuse.

v  Being bullied by classmates.

Getting Help and Information

http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/suicide.html

http://www.teendepression.org/

http://www.thekeltyfoundation.org/

http://zachsfriends.blogspot.com/

http://www.suicide.org/college-student-suicide.html

http://www.suicide.org/teen-suicide-and-youth-suicide.html

1 800-SUICIDE  or 1 800-999-9999

1-866-661-3311

1-800-273-talk   or 1 800-273-8255

Remember YOU are a beautiful, wonderful, creation of the Master of the Universe... 
Remember to remind someone everyday that they are too!   

Attention Writers!

Attention Writers! True Blood on Twitter Writing Contest

JUNE 5, 2011

by bc

True Blood on Twitter RP group would like to invite you to participate in our first writing contest. If you’ve ever imagined that you could write a scene for some of your favorite True Blood™ characters, this is your opportunity to do just that.

We have chosen three “sneak peek” video previews for the upcoming Season 4 as inspiration for you to create the story of what happened next. The following are links to those promos. Choose one as the starting point for your story and let your imagination take over.

Our panel of judges will choose first, second and third place winners from the submissions and True Blood on Twitter group members will act the winning story out, live on Twitter, as a special event leading up to Sunday, June 26 and the first episode of Season 4 of True Blood™. Second and third place entries will be performed at a later date. First place prize is a copy of True Blood: The Complete Third Season on DVD. Runner up prizes will also be awarded for the second and third place winners.

Deadline for submissions is Midnight central time, Wednesday, June 22^nd, 2011.

Rules and judging guidelines can be found under the links to the promo videos. Watch them and choose which story you’d like to continue. Good luck and we look forward to reading your entries.

1.       Pam, Marnie & Tara

2.       Arlene & Terry

3.       Pam, Jessica & Hoyt

RULES

• Submissions should be a minimum of 1,500 words and no longer than 4,000 words.
• Each writer can submit up to a maximum of three (3) separate stories.
• Contest ends at Midnight central time, Wednesday, June 22^nd, 2011
• All contest submissions should be sent to: TBonTContest@gmail.com

JUDGING
Our panel of judges will be looking equally for…

• Creativity and originality (including structure, flow, development of characters, and so on)
• Potential for roleplay (including audience-appropriateness and appeal).
• Technical ability (such as writing and compositional skills, presentation, form, spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.)
• Stories should get the viewer’s attention and keep it. Beginning, middle, end, and overall pacing are very important. The dialogue needs to provide insight and the visuals must be compelling. The voice of the characters should be clear and strong. Overall impact of the piece will be the major criteria in the evaluation process.
• Creativity will carry a weight of up to 10 points; other categories carry a weight of up to 5 points. Winners will be determined by the highest cumulative score.

JUDGES

• @MusingsbyChar
  (Special guest judge, a prominent member of the fanfic community. Check out her work atFanFiction.net)
• @FangtasiaGinger
• @BTPublicLibrary
• @BobbyBurnham

Time flies

Wow I can't believe I haven't blogged here since March, it's amazing how time gets away from me.  As cliche as it, I do wish I had an extra 8 hours in the day.   Unfortunately that's not the case so I'm going to try and learn to juggle all my projects and do them all justice.  I also have decided to start sharing some photo stories as well as some other types of  creative endeavors.    I'm really trying to find my way to make this blog an extension of my own creativity and love of beauty.   So bear with me as I try and get this all worked out.  

Another Peak at "Dead Reckoning" by Charlaine Harris

Penguin Books has shared another sneak peek giving us chapter 3 to read.   It's full of angst and definitely seems like we have a great read ahead of us.   We still find Eric and Sookie together, but as usual things aren't going smoothly. Throw in some complications with Pam and it looks like we need to "buckle up because it's going to be a bumpy ride".  The book comes out on May 3, 2011


Click below to read chapter 3
Penguin Books  

Back

Gosh it seems like forever since I've updated.  I've had a horrible life experience,  so far one of the hardest of my life.  On January 10, 2011 my mom passed away unexpectedly.   She had a rare blood cancer, myelofibrosis, and even though we almost lost her last summer, she had been doing really well and in "recovery" of sorts.  There is no cure for this disease but she had been given a great "bill of health" the week before.   So it really shocked me when my sister called me Monday morning telling me mom was going into cardiac arrest at the hospital and it didn't look good.

The week after is honestly a blur......there was some family drama that just made things worse and honestly all I wanted to do was get back home.  It is almost surreal to me at times and seems like I was watching a bad movie.   Sometimes it  feels like that still, but then the strangest things will trigger a memory and I find myself overwhelmed with a loss I can't describe.  But I know she is no longer suffering and being a Christian I know she's in a much better place.  So I work through the pain and tears and go forward.

I miss her beyond words, but I am so very glad that I followed one of her many pieces of  advice. Mom always told us "Don't wait to give me flowers at my grave,  give me them when I can enjoy them."   I tried to follow that letting her know how much I loved her and how very grateful I was to have been blessed with such a wonderful woman for a mother.   She's the reason I'm the woman I am today.

I know as time goes by the pain will lesson but I don't think I will ever not miss the special place she held in my life.   There will always be something I want to share with her or get her advice about, but that's ok because I know because of her I have the strength to get through anything this life dishes out.  I was so very blessed to have her as long as I did and I tried my best to let her know how special she was.

Remember to tell those in your life how lucky you are and how very much you love them, because life is full of the "unexpected" and regret is a very bitter pill to swallow.