A Picture's Worth 1000 Words!

Right from the start, I struggled with taking pictures of my jewelry.  Step by step, I went through levels of discovery and started to put out pretty decent pictures.  But all of that changed about a week ago when I finally figured WHAT the different settings on my camera meant and how to use them effectively.  I'd keep writing but instead, I'm just going to share some older pictures (like a month ago) vs some I took today.  Amazing, the difference!!!!!

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I was so pleased with these pictures when I took them.  But look what I achieved today!

Colors brighter; image sharper without any digital intervention at all!

Then:

 

Today:

Colors sharp, and you can see the depth of the focal bead!

Then:

Today:

You get a feel for the variegated colors within the focal heart, and also of the thickness/substance of this focal bead.  Also, this picture shows off the beautiful filigree bail effectively.

This quantum leap did not happen on it's own.  I am a huge believer in continuing education; not necessarily formal but steady and from a variety of sources.  I take classes, I get together with friends and compare notes, I look at You-Tube and other "how to" sites, and I subscribe to magazines.  The magazine that helped me the most with my photography was "The Crafts Report" which bills itself as "The Business Resource of Artists and Retailers."  It's a small magazine with a minimum of advertising and articles that seemed too simplistic as I first received this publication, but over time have come to appreciate the straight-forward information on a variety of subjects within the artist's world including how to set up displays at shows, pricing, success stories, and a number of other "departments" including my personal favorite of the moment, CRAFT Photography by Steve Meltzer.  The information is so easy to follow, the tips so simple and yet so profound, and the accessories he suggests to improve pictures are all so do-able that it was only a matter of time after I understood he was there that my pictures moved forward.

The only issue with this entire learning curve is now I am dissatisfied with many of my old pictures and hate to take the time to re-shoot jewelry.  On the other hand, the pictures I take will be of items not moved, and who knows if it was just because the colors were not good or they weren't sharp enough that they did not sell.

Oh, but to have 48 hours in every day!

Photography Day!

Well, I may have a new office, but I've now found my new photography studio and I don't have to go any further than our Meditation Garden.

It's an outdoor patio enclosed on all four sides by our house.  Perfect for my needs.  You see, bead photography is a difficult art.  Being glass and/or shiny, the reflective nature of the materials tend to obscure the color and form of the subject.  In addition, artificial lighting does the same.  It's imperative that natural light be used during the process, but in addition, if you're dealing with anything shiny, you don't want to be in direct sunlight.  A shady place is a good place to be.

Our garden fits the bill.  I discovered that today when I set up outside to take a few pics.

Actually, though, it didn't occur to me to shoot this picture until I had already broken down most of the essential materials.  That is, the props and the jewelry itself.  Even so, you get the "picture."  I was able to sit on the foot stool and use the bench as my table.  By adding different props and different colored place mats as background (as well as stones and other natural and artificial materials), I was able to get a whole bevy of what I would consider great shots!  Here are some samples:



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My pictures are getting better and better. Eric asked me how I was improving so much as he looked over the GIF files in this blog post and was impressed by their quality. "Lots and lots of practice." I replied.

The truth is that I have practiced... a LOT! And I've read article after article on line, and I've watched "How to" videos on You Tube, and I've read other artist's blog posts about how they achieve such great pictures, and then I experiment. A lot.

I've experimented with the various menu settings on my camera. I've experimented with locations and lighting. I've experimented with different kinds of props. Props too simple. Props so complex that they distracted from the centerpiece. Backgrounds of differing colors. And I continue to experiment every single time I pull my camera out.

It's work. Hard work, and hard work that i did not anticipate when starting to make jewelry. Work that I hated for a very long time because of the poor results I was getting.

But now, I'm actually starting to enjoy the process. Getting the right pictures is an art form in and of itself. I'm not rich enough or well known enough to pay for somebody else to do this for me, so I am going it alone. And as I keep improving, I'm enjoying it more and more.

I'm almost feeling ready to write a blog post of my own, explaining my own process of getting good pictures.

Get the pic?

Cuff Me

Here are photos of my latest work. They are prototypes. (Hint: that means that next time, on the first piece, I'll use dark thread when it will lay against dark leather - lol!)









What startles me is not only the work, which still seems to channel through me from another source, but the clarity with which I am now taking pictures. That I take full credit for. The process by which I learned to capture clear and accurate photos was agonizing. I'm proud of myself.

Three's the Charm

Button box finally located yesterday, I easily found closure buttons for all three bracelets that I've been beading. Attached the buttons, beaded loops to go over them, and voila! The bracelets formerly in progress were done!

I was very pleased. After all, these are the first products from my hands since I got sick. Of course, there's the glass half full, glass half empty syndrome which immediately manifested itself in my mind. Glass half full... if I take my time, I can still produce jewelry which is clearly desirable. Glass half empty, only three bracelets are the sum total of my output since last February. FEBRUARY! Not a lot to show for all those months.

But I think I will not think of the glass as either half full or empty. It is simply at the halfway point. It is what it is; I've made three bracelets which, if I had any idea how much time they would take to make in "real time" I would attach a price on them and offer them for sale.

I guess I'm going to have to make another straight through and see what the time commitment really is.

Step by Step

Recovery is very slow. Just last night, my fever was over 102 degrees. But the fact is that slowly, ever so slowly, I think I am getting a little bit better. My crafting time had diminished to zero a few months ago, and about a month ago, I could sit for maybe five minutes at a time and work on some brainless-style beading. But when I am careful about how much energy I expend at any given time, I find that I can sit up for an hour or a little more now and that I am recovering creatively.

I had my first bracelet blank on hand, then realized that a button that I had beaded a long time ago coordinated and put the two together. A little more embelishment and I had a semi-completed piece.

Then I had an idea for another of the blanks. I started working on it a few days ago and it is taking shape. (Click on image for a bigger picture.)



It is comforting to see that I can still create finished items from an evolving thought process.

What is less comforting is checking my e-mail and blogs - which I can do now as I can sit at my computer for 10 to 15 minutes at a time - and see what my friends have been facing. Sick families. Oh such sick family. Hurricanes. Accidents. Their own illnesses.

I feel terrible that I cannot be of more support to them right now, but I am hardly up to taking care of myself. Yet.

I did accomplish a real home made meal last night. Grilled Salmon. Steamed Broccoli. Baked Potato. Heirloom Tomato.

When I can fully cook for myself again, I will be back in your lives, gals. Just hold on a little longer. I'm trying to gather energy.

Filling In a Blank

Even as I feel like my creativity has deserted me, it apparently still resides within. Early today, I was moving some beads and some completed cabechons around and found a button that I had beaded during a class last year given by Myra Wood and hadn't a clue what it was going to be used for. Bingo! I realized that I had used some of the same green beads in the button that I had used on one of the blanks.



It always amazes me when serendipity strikes. About 30 seconds of thought and I knew what I was going to do with that particular bangle. A couple of hours worth of work and, with the exception of the closure, it is done. Odd color combination, but then again I am known for that.

I additionally now know what I am going to do with the pinkish purple blank. I'll need to work on it before the idea vanishes from my mind.

It's comforting to know that the fever didn't completely burn my brain out.

Yoga Bear

OK Claudia. I did it. For the first time ever, I tried Yoga today.

This experience started out about 4 weeks ago as I was perusing the internet looking for venues of physical activity in my neighborhood. I discovered The Yoga Loft located in Woodland Hills, about a 15 minute drive from my front door. I was intrigued, and more so when I discovered that they had an on-line coupon good for unlimited classes for two weeks at a very favorable price. The final clincher was that Eric was interested in trying it out with me. Or should I say, Eric was interested in going, even more than I was interested in experimenting. He has done Yoga before and truly enjoys the experience.

We arrived promptly at 5 and was admitted into a lovely reception area by our teacher who's name escapes me. I would have taken pictures - assuming that they allow that activity - but the demise of my new camera is a topic for another post on another day. Lets just say that the room was appointed with wicker furniture, carved wooden screens and bookshelves, plants, incense, and fabrics very appropriate to the activity at hand. Nice.

Then we found out why the place is called "The Yoga Loft." The yoga happens in the loft! The class was 90 minutes and pleasant. I can't say that I was wild about it, but I did not dislike it at all. The positions - except for the ones requiring me to be on hands and knees which does not happen at all in my world - were easy and fairly reminiscent of the stretching poses that Richard has us do during his classes. Of course the music was very different, as was the atmosphere and intent.

The issue that I have is that I am a very nervous person at the best of times, and this evening I was particularly stressed. When forced to be still, I have a hard time controlling my mind and being in the present. In fact, I think that is the reason that I like crafting like spinning yarn and knitting and making jewelry so much. The tedium of the repetitive task settles me, and I've heard many other crafters say the same thing.

So rather than completely relaxing into the experience, I had to force my mind off of my worries many times. But I do admit that when I could concentrate solely on the breathing exercises and the movements, I did attain a certain state of relaxation and I did feel a little better on departure.

I have two weeks in which to play with this experience. I intend to use them well and figure out if this is an activity that I can pursue or whether I am not the right personality type. The class schedule says that anybody can do Yoga if they have an open heart and an open mind. I do have an open mind. I'm willing to consider the possibility that this may be good for me.

The rest will just have to take care of itself.

Creativity

I'm known amongst many of my friends as being very creative. Last year, I learned how to use beads and found a new passion in making jewelry. Surprisingly to me - but apparently few others, my 'wearable art' found an immediate audience and I sold some pieces. Not enough to call it "making a living," but in numbers enough to make me feel validated as an artist. A REAL artist, not just a wannabe.

Last December, I decided to take a short break. After delivering the last few sets just before Christmas, I decided to take a little time to rest and concentrate on me. That break lasted longer than I would have envisioned.

At the turn of the year, it was time to get back into the production groove again, but somehow I had lost momentum. Between not producing on a daily basis and snowballing health issues (primarily the knee and foot although some of my other recurrent chronic issues are back too), I just couldn't get going. I had clients waiting on me, patiently I will add, but nothing. Nada. I just couldn't find it within me to complete anything.

I suppose in a sense, making jewelry is like any other business. The "go to" people are the ones that are already busy. They know how to put themselves out. Get a job done. I worried that I had left their ranks and had become one of the unproductive dreamers.

Fortunately, my state of lethargy seemed to abate a couple of days ago, and voila! I have completed my first set in two months!!!!!

This is a bead embroidered amulet bag of my own design. The backing and lining are lamb skin. The picture unfortunately does not adequately capture the glow that it puts off.

I think my favorite part is the partial fringe. Irregular in nature, it reflects nature itself which rarely sticks to a single pattern. It's a consignment piece and my intentions are to deliver it to it's guardian this evening.

My next piece is already designed in my mind. I need to get a draw-down done and I'll be at it tomorrow. Thank goodness. The lethargy is gone. I'm back.

Evolution

"WHOA!" I hear you say. "What in the heck has just happened to your web site? I was just here "x" days ago and it was nothing like this!"

Yeah, very true. The look and feel of www.LauraRSilverman has changed. A great deal. "And why?" you ask. "I was just fine with it the way it was.

Well, it's kind of a long story, but here goes.

2007 has been a year of great changes for me Both for good and also some disturbing. It's been a year of incredible growth and learning opportunities. And new challenges as far as my health goes.

I originally concieved of this web site mainly in response to a traumatic event at Slimmons when I passed out during class and was kidnapped by Paramedics. Although I had kept updated medical files there, the staff - in their panic - gave the medical help old and way outdated information sheets, not realizing that not all the copies were the same. I spent almost the entire visit at the Emergency Room trying to convince the nurses and doctors that they were working with such old information that it was worse than useless... it was dangerous. For they were assuming that I was taking "X" medicines when I was now taking "Y." And the kinds of meds that I often take are often dangerous and have severe interactions with other ones. I realized after that visit that I needed a vehicle by which all I had to do was provide anyone who might witness a situation where I can't speak for myself (more frequent than I like to admit) current medical information without having to ever second guess what they had on hand. And so I got my web site. Those that potentially need my medical information know how to get to it. And no longer does anyone have to deal with multiples of paper.

In the meantime, I'm also somewhat of a writer. I've even been published a few times and may someday take the pen back up again although I'm afraid to send off query letters for fear of acceptance and -because of health issues- not being able to deliver on a deadline. I don't need a reputation of not being as good as my word. But I still have a need to express myself via the written word. Blogging was a natural course for me to follow. And so my web site became mainly an outlet for my thoughts.

Last March, I attended a fiber conference that may have changed the course of my life. I discovered a latent talent for beading and making jewelry. And much to my surprise, I also found out that people would pay for my work! And so I developed a small business in it. And decided that my web site was a good location to post my work too.

And of course, my weight loss pictures and story. I suppose, based on the amount of e-mail I get from others, I am providing some degree of comfort and hope to others who are traveling down the same road that I did. And so my web site also became a vehicle for posting pictures and motivation.

So many purposes for one little site! But a couple of things became abundantly clear as I learned about writing html code and maintaining the site. First, my audience who check my blog has grown at a rather startling rate, but it's still limited because I was not in a traditional blogging site. By that lack of connection, I have been unable to join "feeds" and increase my audience because of exposure. I long to have an impact on a bigger scale. And so I joined blogspot. I'm learning the ropes now, and hope to expose myself on a bigger scale shortly. Another writer I know has said "If you write it, they will come." We'll see about that.

I also realized that my web site had a look of 'fun and games' and was not an appropriate location to send potential clients to preview my work. Jewelry is fashion; jewelry is art. And what I had was a very servicable site, but nothing to impress. It was time to go "pretty."

If you've come here through my site, you probably noticed that it's no where near completion. Some of the pictures duplicate, many of the links are not operational yet. All that will be corrected in due time. My first priority is to re-establish access to everything that was there before. My favorite links, Fab Four pictures, weight loss story. Then I will get other items of business established. My Etsy Store where you can actually buy my work. Clips and credits from the media. And updated show of my jewelry and other items that I have learned to make.

And there are some lovely advantages to how I envision things going. First on my blog... you will be able to comment back to me on my blog. I have lived for your e-mails, but they have mostly been one-on-one responses. Now you can publish on the internet too! You will be able to see what I am working on via my artisan links and connect directly into vehicles to buy it if you like it and think that the price is right.

Because the web page is more efficient, I hope to be able to update the links on a more regular basis and keep you more in sync with what's happening. And along with the updates, I will decrease the size of the memory required to run the site and you'll be able to pull up the information more quickly and more efficiently.

I realize that I am rambling on here and I have an appointment to keep in about an hour. So I'm going to wish you adieu for the moment. I do hope that you enjoy what I am developing and will continue visiting as often as you have.

Thank you so much for your show of support!

Laura