From the category archives:

Flowers

Perceptions in Contrasts and Similarities – Wood Knot Face and Hibiscus – Picture to Ponder – v6-issue 30

by Sheila Finkelstein on July 28, 2010

Before discussing today’s Picture to Ponder photos and queries, I want to give a quick “quick heads up” for the business builders among you – Last week I told you about my coach Mollys Gordon’s program for finding your “Just Right Clients” and included a link to her complimentary MP3 download, chock full of information and useful tools. Scroll down below the SRQs for a link to the download page. There is a special offer which expires 7/31

Also, for the aspiring writers considering the possibilities of having a book published, my friend Lynn Serafinn did a webinar interview last week which is available for complimentary download. She is doing another webcast tomorrow, 7/29, where you can have your questions answered. More information is down below the Goldilock’s information.

Also, for the aspiring writers considering the possibilities of having a book published, my friend Lynn Serafinn had a webinar interview last week – available for complimentary download, and is doing another webinar tomorrow, 7/29, where you can have your questions answered. More information is below the Goldilock’s information.

Now on to Today’s Photos -

wood knot in Green Cay with slanted face no eyesMasked wood knot face on side panel of boardwalk railing
at Green Cay Wetlands

hibiscus in shadows at nightHibiscus at night, lit by a full moon and poolside lights

Today’s Photos Story -
I haven’t taken many pictures the past few weeks, so I was trusting that the “perfect” featured photos for today would “show up” in a search through my photo folders.

I could hypothesize why these two became the photos of choice, share the “stories” they may be telling and, for today, I think I’ll leave the “stories” for you to create, if you so wish.

In addition to each of the photos individually, and what they might be expressing, you might wonder why I’ve chosen to feature two such very different images in the same issue. I’ll let you create a “story” of commonality around that also.

Suffice it to say, on my end, I see the two working together aesthetically in terms of artistic composition. I see/feel definite similarities in textures, despite one being a delicate, soft-petaled flower and the other hard, rough wood. There is also repetition of some of the linear patterns in both pictures and even colors that are similar.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
I have, obviously, combined two very different subjects as a unit for this issue of Picture to Ponder. In reflecting on that:

I wonder, are there people in your life who are so different you would never think to be interacting with them at the same time, or in the same room? If one or more persons flash into your mind, I invite you to look further to see where there might be some common ground, or complementary characteristics.

Do you see anything? If so, are there empowering opportunities for everyone that might develop from that, if you put them/you all together?

And are there other elements in your life – any projects – to which you could apply the same, or similar, criteria?

As always have fun playing with these photos queries. Then please share your experiences with us in the COMMENTS section below . I’d also love to read any of the “stories” you made up about the images.

For Business Owners interested in Getting More Clients -

Molly Gordon, my personal coach, did an outstanding teleclass call recently to introduce her new Goldilocks Strategy for Getting Clients that Fit Just-Right. She is offering a 33% discount on the already very reasonable program. This special expires on July 31st.

On the fr*ee call which she entitled “5 Proven Steps to Getting More Clients Even if You’re Allergic to Biz” she went into depth on 5 strategies for doing just that. Chock full of suggestions and details on implementing these steps, you can get an Instant-No-Obligation Download of the MP3 recording of the call at Goldilocks Preview. I highly recommend listening to this call if you are looking to expand your business.

For Writers and Those Who Dream of Writing a Book -

My friend Lynn Serafinn from Spirit Authors would like to know: “What is YOUR burning question about taking your writing or book project forward?”

She will be answering YOUR questions on WEBCAST 2 on Thursday, July 29th, at 3 PM EDT which you can ask when you sign up for the FR*EE webcasts for writers and authors, aimed at answering your questions about writing, publishing, book promotion and beyond.

WEBCAST 1 was last week. Lynn’s very special guest on the first was the “Get a Book Deal Coach”, Stephanie Gunning. Steph talked about how to “Transform Your Spiritual Wisdom into Marketable Books.”

There is still time to participate “Live” on tomorrow’s webcast and/or get the replay as well as a fr*ee download of WEBCAST 1.

To read more about these fr*ee webcasts, and to register your place, see BOOK WRITING.

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Obstacles as Gifts as seen in Phalaenopsis Orchids – Picture to Ponder – v6 – issue 28

by Sheila Finkelstein on July 14, 2010

I’ve been busy organizing and planning today’s call for moms in deepening connections and communication with their young children. I was once again moved to tears and smiles when Tracy, one of the interviewees, responded to an email mentioning the “STRONG heart connection” with her and her daughter.

Also, though the call is not about using the camera, I asked Tracy if she and her daughter are still using the camera. She replied:

“I would definitely bring up the camera thing because we do it all the time. We also look at your Pictures to Ponder and we each share what we see and feel from the pictures…..she also takes pictures when we are out and she will say every other day….”I need the camera…I need to get a picture……”

Tracy’s comments led me to wondering, “Are there people in your life whom you engage in interaction with your experiences to the photos and/or queries here in Picture to Ponder?”

If you are interested in being on the call, today, Wednesday, July 14th at 2:30 PM PDT/5:30 PD EDT we will be “meeting” by phone (Skype is possible also). If you can’t make the call, it will be recorded and you can get the MP3 download later. See Child Connections to request information.

Lastly, my good friend, Julie Gabrielli, Mom and Architect, www.goforchange.com, will also be joining Tracy and me. You may recall I wrote about Julie and her son, featuring his tulip photos a couple of months ago.

Today’s Photos -
Phalaenopsis orchids at the American Orchid Society Gardens. The middle and lower photograph are obviously the same. The lower one had a minor adjustment. See (Today’s Photo Story below.)

White phalaenopsis at American Orchid Society

phalaenopsis darker background
phalaenopsis - background lightened

Today’s Photos Story -
When I opened these downloaded photos the first photo I saw was the middle/bottom one. Though the flowers were beautiful, I felt confronted and briefly thought of this as a theme for an upcoming Picture to Ponder. Then I let it go.

A couple of days later the top photo “spoke” to me, the flowers presenting almost a wall, keeping me out. Then I noticed the single flower in the lower right protected by its own wall, the root.

Is it protection or is it a barrier? There is also the one flower on the far left that we could put the interpretation of “look-out guard” or might it be protector in the whole scene?

As I mentioned above the middle and bottom photos are the same, with a simple “fix” or Photoshop Elements enhancement on the bottom that lightened the background, softened and lighted the white of the flowers and now has a slightly more “welcoming” feeling. Just that one very minor click, made, for me, a huge shift in the response the photo evokes.

Now, scrolling back up to the first photo, the small flower on the lower right brings a smile to my face. I could continue to make up all kinds of “stories” about her – the hugs she might want or the “gift” she might be.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
As you might have guessed, today’s “stories” to the photos are partially a reflection of “stuff” I was going through. They even look different today, less “threatening.”

Once again, I realize, I’m demonstrating life and the “stories” we often make up about things. Sometimes they help. More often than not they exacerbate, for us, a situation we “think” we might be in, or a “challenge” we may be facing. It could be “real” or our “interpretation.”

Looking into your life right now are there situations for which you are making up “stories”, possibly even living into those stories, sharing them with others, making them more “real” for you. If so, I invite you to step back and bring new eyes to the situation. As in the third photo above, is there a simple adjustment you can make to the “story” to shed a different light on it?

And, sometimes, no matter what we “do” certain things may not change, at least not so long as we have an attachment to their being “different.” The peace is in the “letting go.” Is there anything going on for you right now that you are willing to release?

Yesterday, in the Mastermind Group with Molly Gordon in which I’m a participant, we spoke of “problems/challenges” often getting stored as baggage. One participant said she’ll often take a problem she may have and metaphorically puts it in a small box, wraps the latter, ties it up with a pretty ribbon and places it in a drawer. When the problem comes up again in the future (don’t they always?), she’ll take the box out of the drawer to open up and find the GIFT within!

I had a further conversation with my friend Marifran Korb who is BRILLIANT in finding the “gift” in anything. She has a new BlogTalkRadio show where she’s had, and will have shows, including the “Gift of Having ADHD”, the “Gift of Depression” and her own book in the works, “Breaking through Concrete: The Gift of Having Mentally-Ill Parents. All sound “heavy” and how much easier our lives are when we find the openings.

I invite you to again look in your life. What are the gifts in it? Make note of them for reminders. Be sure to include on it the gift of yourself and what you bring to yourself and the others.

I’m going save the singular flower in the top photo! She’s full of wonder and the desire for discovery.

As always have fun with these queries and looking/seeing. Also, please post your responses in the COMMENTS section below.

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Contrasts in Photos, Writing and Life – Pansy and Magnolia – Picture to Ponder – v6 – issue 23

by Sheila Finkelstein on June 9, 2010

This past week Hank Kellner, Photographer/Writer/Former English Professor and teacher and a relatively new Picture to Ponder subscriber contacted me, acknowledging my photographs and asking if he could use one of my photos in a post on his blog. Needless to say I felt quite flattered, particularly after reading some of his background, especially when I saw all that he has done in English Education, including having a published book – WRITE WHAT YOU SEE: 99 Photos to Inspire Writing.

And, speaking of books and writing, my PICTURES TO PONDER, INSPIRED JOURNALING: Flowers Book 1, Photos and Queries from early issues is available from the publisher with FR*E*E shipping this month. More info below and on the site.

This week, on his English Education blog, Hank did, in fact, feature a tulip photo from Picture to Ponder with one of his own, the magnolia shown below, in his Poetry from Photos post. Along with a poem inspired by the photos, he wrote about emphasizing contrast in teaching writing. I decided to continue here and extend the “Contrast” conversation from last week’s Picture to Ponder.

Today’s Photos -

purple and white pansy

A purple and white pansy that called out to be featured as I was going through photographs for today’s photo. I had already featured the purple
tulip Hank used. I’m thinking the purple in the above is what wanted attention, because of the tulip’s color.

White Magnolia flower photo by Hank Kellner

White magnolia photograph by Hank Kellner. When I clicked on the photo on Hank’s Blog, it felt huge and I wanted to jump into and explore, while at the same time being protected.

Today’s Photo Story -
I’ve pretty much covered the overall story in the introduction above. In relation to contrast, when I looked at the two photos enlarged on Hank’s blog I was struck by several contrasts. In addition to color, there was a difference in the size of enlargements between the two pictures. I commented there at the end of the post and put in a link to a larger tulip, so similar sizes would eliminate that variable.

Then I was very much aware of the difference between the openness of the magnolia, inviting me in, and the closed feeling of my tulip photo, though texturally – in the silkiness – there are some similarities.

Not wanting, as I wrote above, to repeat a recently featured photo in this issue, I went searching for another one, this time more “open”. The pansy is open, but certainly not embracing. And, it presents a whole series of different contrasts when studying it, including the very strong one between the flower and the ground behind it.

No more words on either. I invite you to BE with each, fully for a moment or two, less or more, and simply experience the images.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Last week, I invited you to look at contrasts in your life, particularly visual ones, and to look for things you ordinarily do not see. That, as you know, is an always suggestion with me.

In addition, today I invite you to reflect on and explore “open” and “closed” contrasts in your life. How do things look, how do they feel when they are open? when they are closed?

Check with another person, or two. Is it the same for them? For instance, I could say that the pansy is presenting somewhat of a “wall”, blocking me/us from moving very far in it or beyond. On the other hand, I could interpret it as being welcoming, inviting me into the small opening in the center of its being.

And, it’s all made up. What stories are you making up in your life today? Are they serving you? providing fun? openings for interactions with others?

Thanks for “playing.” As always have fun with these queries and looking/seeing. Also, please post your responses in the COMMENTS section below.

“I bought your eBook earlier today and not only is it well written, the pictures you chose are lovely. The reason I waited so long to purchase was because I’m trying to curb my addiction to books and the clutter they are causing.

The BOOK! – Pictures to Ponder: Inspired Journaling – Print Edition or downloadable eBook – your choice
This morning I read the 10-page preview [link under photo on each of the description pages], and since you were offering it in a eBook format, I just had to indulge one more time. I know this will be a very successful for you. Congratulations!” Eva Macie, Artist

flowers in the book
Click Above to  See Larger Image

GIFT Yourself with the Photos and Queries – Click on eBook to purchase immediate downloadable access

FR*E*E June Shipping for Spiral Bound Book. Choose a flower for the day and prop on your desk for daily inspiration and/or write in the book.

Purchase the eBook and you get a link to download the PDF file which you can print out or simply leave on your computer to pull up whenever you want a lift or inspiration.

At any time you can open up one of the beautiful flowers in PICTURES TO PONDER: Inspired Journaling and fill your screen with it, giving you the ability to “step into” the image.The high resolution, set for printing, has the photographs capable of maintaining their quality at magnification as much as 300%. And, of course, the queries that went with the flowers are here also.

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Mystery Photo Explained – Picture to Ponder – v6-issue 21

by Sheila Finkelstein on May 26, 2010

trumpet flower - past prime

Today’s Photo – I invite you to simply “be” with it, not even attempting to “figure it out.”

It has such a rich and different feel to it that I presented it without explanation in the weekly, emailed Picture to Ponder. The discussion and more photos follow here on the blog.

Background -
A friend of mine had such fun guessing at what the image is, I thought I would revert to my original intention when I first started publishing. In the introduction to Issue 1, Dec. 9, 2004, I stated:

“Several years ago someone I admire saw several groupings of photos that I had recently taken. She was quite moved and stated, ‘Sheila, the world needs to see your relationship to art and nature.’

After several minutes of further viewing, she said, ‘I don’t know where this is coming from, but something is telling me to tell you, ‘Don’t talk!’

And I, who always had a lot to say, understood. For me, to ‘talk’ puts something between you and the picture, possibly altering your response, certainly depriving you of the opportunity of discovering your own pure, initial response.”

Today’s Photo Story -
This past weekend I was on my way out of a home where I interviewed a couple for a new neighbor article.  As I was leaving, I noted the following “expired” Trumpet Flowers, clinging to the sides of a glass bowl/vase.


I started past it, telling Mayte, the woman I interviewed, about  my “mantra”, “If you see something that catches your eye, photograph it and then decide if it means anything.” All the while, I had no intention of photographing it.  I was simply suggesting that she do it.  Then I realized it had “caught MY eye”, so I took my own advice. The ever-ready camera came out and I started photographing, first the vase, then focusing in on individual flowers.  The top photo is a close-up of one of the flowers. Below is a second.


(Note – Check Monday’s post below, for a demonstration of another of my “tips”, “When in a funk take you camera out and photograph whatever catches your eye.” The change in “literal” focus, spills over resulting in focus shifts in what is transpiring in your world.)

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Today, I invite you to explore your response to one photo only in Picture to Ponder today with no description.

Were you able to simply be with it? Did you have a response to the colors? The textures? If so, was it in your mind or was it more visceral?

Did you need to know what the image is? Was there impatience, frustration, anger, or annoyance at not having an immediate answer? Curiosity?

Will you/did you go to the Web to check it out? How was this for you?

Finally, pondering the responses and emotions you might have experienced, I invite you to look into your life to find the areas, or times, when you might have similar reactions. How do you handle them? Might reflecting on this in the future, support you in different resolutions?

Far more questions than usual and please do find a way to have fun with them. Also, please post your responses in the COMMENTS section below.

For Those Unfamiliar with Trumpet Flowers – The following combo shows a Trumpet Flower bud and a close-up of the inside of another, taken at Tropic Plants.

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Echinacea Photo Drawings – Trusting Instinct or Abandonment – Picture to Ponder – V6 – issue 18

by Sheila Finkelstein on May 5, 2010

Today’s post relates to trust – trusting ourselves and our instincts.

The featured image, a photo/drawing has been “beckoning” me from my patio wall for several weeks, requesting being shared with you in Picture to Ponder. (More in the “Today’s Photos Story” below.)

Today’s Photos -

Echinacea #1 photo/drawing

Photo/Drawings of Echinacea Flowers from a field of flowers in the gardens of Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY

I present them for you to simply enjoy with no further aesthetic description or response on my part.

Today’s Photos’ Story -
As I stated above, the top picture is on my patio. It’s at the far end, directly in my line of vision from my kitchen, and gives me a lift every time I look at it. For several weeks I have been thinking about featuring it here in Picture to Ponder. Then, not finding it in my computer immediately, I let it pass.

This Echinacea photo/drawing was done almost 10 years ago, as was the one below it. The latter is actually the first of the series that I did and has always been one of my favorites. When it “showed up” as the cover insert in a binder I found last week, I decided to finally respond to my initial instinct to share the photo/drawing(s) with you.

“Photo/drawings”, my term, are something that I discovered/created while “playing” when I first got a color printer
and a scanner. They are scanned photos, printed out, and then drawn on directly with permanent ink pens. This art form predated my being on the web and were actually the impetus for setting up my first web site – Nature’s Playground.com – nine years ago. Given their evolution, the photo/drawings fall into the category of what I call, and have written about, my Accidental Art.

I got quite absorbed in the whole process, creating note cards, 8″ X 10″ prints and then uploaded them for printing on products on Cafe Press. It always pleased me when people told me they would often visit Nature’s Playground or my Nature Art sites simply for a 10-minute, reenergizing reprieve during the day.

And, then I moved to Florida, got totally immersed with my digital camera and other responsibilities and I “abandoned” (interesting to “hear” myself use that word as I write) the photo/drawing process.

So, on to today’s Self-Reflecting Queries. How does, or may, all of this relate to you?

Note – The other day I got an email from Facebook from someone who purchased two large prints several years ago. He stated that every time he passes them he “smiles with joy.”

Should the process appeal to you and you have need for large prints, or know anyone else who does, I do have an overstock inventory of several of the photo/drawing images, in prints approximately 18″ X 24″, on Nature’s Playground Large Prints page.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
I surprised myself, above, when I wrote of “abandonment”. So much of life is being in action, then moving on; going from one place to another. I have done a lot of this in my lifetime and although I’ve started lots of things, many of which I’ve dropped and not completed, I don’t recall having “abandoned” anything.

It’s an interesting query for me in my life and I invite you to look at areas where you may have incompletions in your life. Is there anything you need to do to be complete with them, either with further action, or simply by declaration? Is anything coming up for you that feels like there was “abondonment” involved?

If so, I invite you to write about it for yourself to see if anything “actionable” comes up for you. I also invite you to futher explore and then take that action or actions.

And, back to what originally I thought today’s queries were going to be (referencing its having taken me a month to feature today’s first-appearing image):

Is there any place recently you’ve had the thought or feeling to do something and have yet to take action? Is it a “trust” issue, or something else? Do you usually follow your instincts or do you wait and weigh all your options?

There is no “right” answer. It’s simply becoming aware of your mode of operation and perhaps gaining some freedom as a result, if this is something you desire.

As always have fun with this and please post your responses in the COMMENTS section below.

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Not Paying Attention – Missing Out on Purple Tulips, Wild Irises and Life – Picture to Ponder – v6 – issue 17

by Sheila Finkelstein on April 28, 2010

Today’s Photos -

Purple Tulip #1

With tilted head, querying “What do you see?
Where will you be taking me?”

purple tulip 2

“Nestled in; comfy and cozy, safe
and protected before I emerge.”

wild iris in Wakodahatchee wetlands

“Bright light; rhythmic petals, curve and dance,
reflecting many aspects of life.”

Today’s Photos’ Stories -
I purchased the above tulips for my annual tulip photographing, acknowledging the APDA annual fundraiser walk for Parkinson’s Research (see Vol 6 – Issue 13). I was really excited with both the richness of color of the tulips and the variety of stages they were in… the potential for so many great photos. I did one photos “session” and then, although they were on a table in my living room for my enjoyment, I TOTALLY forgot about watering them! A week after I purchased them they had wilted and were beyond resurrection. Evidently I hadn’t been paying much attention to them. On my living room table, they had even been in visible range any time I walked through that central location and were there for sidewise glances whenever I watched TV.

Then, last week, when I was organizing photos to share after the Events and Adventures Saturday photo walk I led, I came across the wild iris photographs I had taken at Wakodahatchee Wetlands last year. I glanced at the dates – February and March 2009 – and was aghast. I had TOTALLY missed them this year! Though I have not been walking at Wakodahatchee as much this year as in the past, I certainly had to have passed the Iris location there at least two or three times, and probably more, during this 2010 bloom period.

Granted there may have been fewer this year as a result of the unusual cold spell we had here in Florida, they were still there. This was confirmed by one of the participants in Saturday’s workshop who lives near me and had seen them.

In both cases it will be a full year before I can resurrect the experiences, AND they will never be the same.

As an aside, for those who live in the tri-state, NJ/NY/PA, area and love irises, Presby Memorial Gardens in Montclair, NJ has a WONDERFUL collection. According to their website their irises will be in full bloom from May 15th to June 6th. It’s a not-to-be-missed “show” for Iris lovers. Several years ago I did my photo/drawing process on several of the photos I took. See Iris Photo/Drawings.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
Given my “stories” above, the obvious queries for today include my invitation to look in to your life and see:

Are there places where you “know” you are not paying attention? – Listening to your children, spouse, friends, strangers? Being human qualifies you for a “yes” answer here!

Now looking at one or more of those situations, can you identify a pattern of when those inattentive times might occur? You may make a request, assuming an answer; ask for a name and already be posing the next question, without fully paying attention to an answer.

How many times have you been driving someplace and suddenly look out and noticed you’ve “suddenly” gotten to your destination,

or not? Placed your keys, mail, or important papers down someplace and then can’t find them. There are a myriad of other situations, I’m sure, that you can uncover.

For me, I am setting a goal to be more cognizant of some of the patterns I might pick up on for myself, set the intention to be more mindful and assume that the “training” will put be in a future place where I won’t miss the seeing the irises and watering the plants. Perhaps, I’ll end up putting some easy and fun, new structures in place.

I invite you to also start paying more attention, at least for the next few days, to your own inattentions.

As always, have fun with this and please post your comments below.

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES -
Conscious Business Marketing Panel – Between May 3rd and June 9th, 30 experts share:

• Getting Top Name Sponsorship for Your Online and Offline Events
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on a telephone conference call bridge line. Replay available for listening to at no charge for 24 hours and full packet of MP3 recordings can be purchased, at a low investment, to have for your listening and reference anytime in the future. Click on Marketing Summit for more information and to register for call details.

OCD Book – Might you have OCD or do you know anyone who does? On May 11th the book Check Mates is being launched. See OCD Launch to register to be reminded of the day and the bonuses.

The book is a collection of fiction, poetry and artwork about obessive compulsive disorder by people with OCD. To learn more about OCD and the book, go to Check Mates. Even if you don’t think you know anyone for whom this fits, Vrinda’s (the author) story, and those of many others, is interesting to read about. And there is a 44-page preview of the book on Preview.
(Disclaimer Note: Should you make a purchase of this series, I do benefit as an affiliate.)

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Orchids: Paying Attention, Celebration, Gratitude, Unconditional Love in Picture to Ponder – v6 – isssue 14

April 8, 2010

This past weekend I stepped out on my screened in patio and walked pass a table where two orchid plants had been resting for almost a year and a half, since the time the flowers and many of the leaves had died off.
They’ve been more or less ignored, occasionally receiving water from me, so imagine [...]

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Parrot Tulips, APDA and Asking – Picture to Ponder – v.6 – issue 13

March 31, 2010

If you’ve been following me for a while you know that Parkinson’s is the debilitating disease that my beloved husband Sam battled for many years.  Thus I am committed to supporting research and awareness of PD.
In line with this, each year for the past four, I’ve acknowledged American Parkinson’s Disease Association’s April Annual Walk Month [...]

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Dried Roses and New Growth on Stems – Winter into Spring

March 9, 2010

 

 

 

Three plus weeks ago, these six roses were part of a dozen that were an integral part of a large mixture of flowers my son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren gave me on Valentine’s Day.  They were acknowledging the sadness I felt, missing my husband who has been gone for more than two years.  I wrote about [...]

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Beauty Continues in Aged Rose – Picture to Ponder – vol 6 – Issue 8

February 23, 2010

As you most likely recall, roses were featured in the last issue of Picture to Ponder – “Perfections, Imperfections, Counting Blessings” (see post below this).
Although I had not intended a continuation of the theme or photos, I am in such awe of the beauty of several of the roses, now eight days older, that I [...]

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