From the category archives:

Inspirational Photography

Leaves as Moons, Moving Boldly into the Future – Picture to Ponder – vol 6 – issue 32

by Sheila Finkelstein on August 11, 2010

Usually the photograph dictates the writing in Picture to Ponder. It’s somewhat reversed today as you’ll see below. I invite you to simply experience the photo and then check the “story” of it and how it came to be
Today’s Featured Photo -

Kaitlyn's Moons“Kaitlyn’s Moons”

Today’s Photo Story -
Today’s picture is symbolic of the nostalgia I’m feeling. Given it’s the start of a new school year, or approaching it, and/or for others nearing the end of Summer vacations (if you are in the United States) I suspect you, too, might be experiencing some emotional ups and downs.

My granddaughter Kaitlyn, a little over two years of age in the above photo, is now 18 and leaving for college this weekend. A very talented and special young woman, I’ve been reflecting and writing on some of her precious attributes to include in a card for her when she departs.

In the process of writing I went back through some old photos to trigger and reinforce memories. The above photo is on the cover of a book she asked me to create for her, when she was 3. I’ve always loved the photo and it seemed to call out to be featured today to represent the walking boldy into the future that so many of us and/or our children or other associates are doing.

The title “Kaitlyn’s Moons” evolved from the fact that Kaitlyn called the leaves “moons.” Those of you into astrology may have fun adding an interpretation to the moon shapes showing in the photo.

Note: If you do, please share this with us in the comments below.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
In addition to Kaitlyn’s starting college, her brother is starting high school next week. My older grandson in Georgia started last week. His younger brother started 5th grade, the end of his elementary school years.

A lot of movement and changes are taking place. I invite you to now reflect on your own life. Where are the changes happening? They may not be major ones and I’m sure you can find some?

What is your response to changes? Are you enlivened? Fearful? Do you go forward confidently or waver and perhaps withdraw? Are there patterns that you can identify?
I am still querying these myself, noticing the spaces where I allow myself to be held back?

Rather than attempt to put forth any answers here today, I’ll leave you with the queries and invite you to post in this issue’s COMMENTS section below.

{ 4 comments }

Velvet Textures, Memories and Life – Picture to Ponder – v6 – issue 29

by Sheila Finkelstein on July 21, 2010

Textures, life and, I thought, brevity were to be the focus of today’s Picture to Ponder.

I didn’t think I had much to say today; rather I was simply fulfilling on my promise to deliver photos and Self-Reflecting Queries to you weekly.

I was going to opt for “quiet time” – perhaps suggested by the velvety green leaves themselves – and then, as I was writing, I was hit with sensory memories and went on to invite you to share yours.

Please note toward the bottom of today’s issue of Picture to Ponder, I have information on my friend Julie Jordan Scott’s Writing Camp starting tomorrow, Thursday, July 22nd and, for the business builders among you, information on a free MP3 download for finding your “Just Right Clients”.

Today’s Photos -

velvet-like leaf of a plant in the AOS Gardens

Velvey leaf from an unidentified plant in the gardens of the American Orchid Society in Delray Beach, FL.

Magenta color flowers from the plant with velvet leaves in the American Orchid Society Gardens

Flowers, presumably, from the same velvety-leafed plant in the AOS Gardens.

Today’s Photos Story -
I’m often asked how I see what I see when I take a photograph, what has me take the photos I do. And, my answer is always the same, as I’ve written often written here. I follow my own mantra, “If something catches your eye, no matter what, photograph it.”

Sometimes the images I capture are said to be “great” by others. Perhaps, in part, this is so because usually I strive for well-composed shots with some kind of aesthetic appeal when I publicly share them.

Today’s two photos are featured mainly to exemplify an experience. Friends and I were walking in the AOS gardens when I was immediately drawn in by the spread of leaves below.

velvet like leaves in AOS gardens

They looked like velvet and my fingertips immediately went out to gently check to see if the actual feel matched my visual, sensory tactile interpretation. It did.

Interestingly, after downloading my photos in the computer, I noticed the flowers which I had, evidently, photographed for the color. I have no recollection of them or of having associated with the same plant of which the leaves were a part. And, surprisingly, in retrospect, I did not even look for signage for information on the plant.

The wonder and the power of the experience was all that was necessary for the usually, left-brained me!!!

Self-Reflecting Queries -
My first query – Are there places in your life where the experiences are so rich and complete that no words or explanations are necessary?

Then, perhaps, in a totally different conversation, I invite you to explore the “velvet” in your life, past or present. What does “velvet” represent for you? For me, I think it’s luxury and comfort.

Can you recall experiences of velvet fabric in your life? If so, what are the associations that come up for you?

I’m recalling a black, velvet dress I had and memories, I think, of a velvet-like coat. In both cases they would surround me, as does a velvety feeling blanket I have, and provide “comfort”, though the dress was more, “Look at me. I feel elegant.”

Then suddenly I think of velvet sofas and the texture there seems somewhat foreboding, perhaps because of the “don’t sit here unless covered” messages. Ironic, that this should come up since there were, to my recollection,no velvet sofas in my family.

The references above are all to actual tactile experiences, the physcial touch and feel of velvet. In addition to the sight I mentioned at the beginning, you might also think of “velvet” in terms of sounds – voices, tones, music, nature and more.

What else comes up for you when you hear the word, see the image of “velvet?” Please share this with us in the COMMENTS below.

A Writing Prompt -
For those who like to write, today’s single leaf photo would be great for a writing prompt. Put yourself in the leaf. Then take a pen or pencil to paper, or fingers to your keyboard, and simply start to write. Describe the sights, sounds, feelings as you explore the color variations, the textures, the spaces.

And, if you’ve accepted the writing prompt invitation, I’d love for you to share your writing in the comments section below OR e-mail it to me and I’d be glad to set up a special web page with the photo and “velvet” responses.

For Business Owners interested in Getting More Clients -
Molly Gordon, my personal coach whom I mentioned last week, did an outstanding teleclass call last week to introduce her new Goldilocks Strategy for Getting Clients that Fit Just-Right.

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 can 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 People-Who-Want-to-Write -
My friend, Julie Jordan Scott, one of my special mentors, is doing her last Virtual Writing Camp for the season – 2 weeks with several meeting times. For those for whom this fits it will be an awesome experience. See Writing Camp. As I have mentioned before in Picture to Ponder, I attribute my freedom to write and be so publicly authentic to the work I’ve done with Julie in the past.

{ 2 comments }

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.

{ 0 comments }

Roseate Spoonbills in Green Cay and Intentionality – Picture to Ponder – v6 – issue 27

by Sheila Finkelstein on July 7, 2010

Last week I mentioned having spent time looking for Roseate Spoonbill photos for you and then went with a different subject. The result of my delaying is that I’ve every time I’ve gone for a sunset walk at Green Cay Wetlands this week I had the pleasure of enjoying the Spoonbills even more. I now have new photos for you.

Last week, I also mentioned my expanding into coaching moms in deepening connections and communication with their young children while having the same freedom of “play” with them that the grandparents have. The date has been set for an introductory open phone call with two moms with whom I’ve worked. We will be “meeting” by phone (Skype is possible also) next Wednesday, July 14th at 2:30 PM PDT/5:30 PD EDT. I will be interviewing Sus and Tracy and there will be time for spot coaching with a few people on the call. For more details and place to get a reminder, plus the call recording, see Child Connections.

Lastly, for the artists among you interested in Proven Strategies To Set up A No-Stress, Successful Social Media Act for selling your art, Ariane Goodwin, creator and facilitator of smARTist Telesummit has a special offer, ending tomorrow night, for 50% off a social media bundle. See Using Social Media. The material is actually good for anyone here in business who wants to know more about using Social Media to expand.

On to Today’s Photos -

Roseate Spoonbills in a tree in Green Cay Wetlands

Roseate spoonbill shoveling

The top photo is of two Roseate Spoonbills, at dusk, on a tree skeleton in Green Cay Wetlands. I’ve included the photo below it to show the brilliance of the pink plumage and also give a sense of the rapid movement in the blur of its head.

Because the Spoonbills do not stay still, I decided to also share them with you in video format.

If you pay close attention to the above video, at approximately 15 seconds you’ll see a feather fly off to the left. Toward the end a Black-necked Stilt walks across the Spoonbill’s reflection.


Near the beginning of the above video you will see a couple of Spoonbills spread their wings showing their brilliant pink color. To see Spoonbills parading, click on Spoonbill Parade to bring you to my YouTube page. Sorting by “date added”, on the right, will show you the four most recent Spoonbill videos I did.

Self-Reflecting Queries -
I’m somewhat at a loss for “queries” as I start to write this section, so I’m thinking, “What lessons are we getting from the Spoonbills?” As I look up at the first photo, I see peace and quiet. Then I reflect on the almost, always-in motion, constantly sweeping bill, behavior of the Spoonbills.

I, thus, invite you to look in your life. Are there places where you are in constant motion? Is there a part of you that’s still while other parts of you are rapidly “moving”? What does it look like when you rest? How does it feel?

Then, thinking about the Spoonbills and how they went suddenly from a random group to an intentional line-up, moving in parade style, to an adjacent location, I’m moved to ask the following. Is there any place in your life now where you can line up parts of yourself, and perhaps, others to move with the same focused, single-minded determination that the Spoonbills had? Note, they did come right back, presumably with “mission accomplished.”

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

{ 0 comments }

Commonalities – Regal Faces in Clouds and on Boardwalk – Picture to Ponder – V6 – Issue 24

by Sheila Finkelstein on June 16, 2010

It is my intention for today’s message to be brief. When you scroll down and look at the two different photos you may wonder at their relevance to one another. Usually I look for a theme and, using art principles, I always attempt having them hold together and relate both visually and aesthetically to one another

Not wanting to intrude on your individual responses, I’ll expand further in my notes below the photos.

Today’s Photos -

profile in the clouds at sunset from a balcony in Boynton Beach

Princess or angel in a wood knot

To give reference to the perspective from which it was shot, the top sunset photo was taken from the balcony of a penthouse apartment in Boynton Beach, FL.

Although she looks somewhat pained, I love the regal, queenly appearance of the woman in the clouds whom we see in profile facing to our right. If you enjoy exploring further, you might see the second much smaller profile face in her “neck.” It, too, faces to the right. Then there is the one on our left at the top of her full hat, facing skyward. I suspect you will find more.

The image in the lower wood knot photo brought a quick smile to my face when I almost stepped on it on the boardwalk at Green Cay Wetlands in Boynton Beach. She looks like she is winking at us with the eye on our right. She has the feel of a “Greek Goddess and also an angel, though the wing we see is misplaced. It wouldn’t be attached to her cheek.
RE Art and Composition:
To complete on my thoughts from the introduction, what’s holding together the space that these two photos are occupying is that:

1. The subject of both is women, albeit imaginary ones, and

2. There is a bit of burnt orange in the wood that picks up on the orange in the sunset. Colors in the wood are also repeated throughout the sky and clouds in the top photo.

There is a similar linear pattern in both, though horizontal in the top and vertical on the bottom.

Today’s Photo Story -
No story today beyond what I’ve shared above in the photos and, as I see it, there is plenty of “juice” for many stories. Why not have fun and make up some of your own.

If you have children, or know any, I invite you to share these photos with them and listen to their observations and stories. And, certainly don’t neglect the “children” within the adults in your world. Please invite them to have fun with you also.

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 -
Today, I also invite you to reflect on your responses, or reactions, to today’s photos. Did you see the faces I saw? Did you have judgments on my observations on the photos, or other things I might have said?

If so, was your response, or judgments, part of a pattern that you can identify and match to other situations in your life? If so, is there anything you can take from it, remind yourself of, and/or acknowledge yourself for, to further empower yourself in those areas or others?

And, as I stated last week, and at other times, 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.

{ 9 comments }

Sh*t Happens – Find the Beauty – Branding Passion per CRUSH IT! book message

by Sheila Finkelstein on June 12, 2010

Thanks to my friend, Lynn Terry, in whose Elite Mastermind Group I participate, I learned about Gary Vaynerchuk’s book CRUSH IT! (Why Now is the time to Crush It and Cash in on your Passion). Based on Lynn’s review on her blog, I purchased the book. It came quickly from Amazon and I’ve been enthralled. It’s been a fast, powerful and empowering read. The thrust of the book is about learning “to navigate the digital waters of social marketing to build a business and promote a personal brand based around what you love most.” (p.14)

As I skim the pages now to look for my highlights I see numerous pink strokes on “personal brand” – “The thing that most people don’t realize is that in today’s world your business and your personal brand need to be one and the same…” (p. 28) So as I’m reading, I’m considering, once again, “What is my passion? Where is it?” I’ve done countless courses and reading on this and…. Then, Clunk!, I remembered the photo I took that I was so excited about the day before -

I sent this out to some friends, with the tag, “Sh*t Happens – Find the Beauty”, and I realized this IS my passion and my brand, “Finding the Beauty in Whatever Shows Up.”  As a young child my favorite books were those in the POLLYANNA series.  In later years, I came to recognize that it was her always finding the positive in any situation was what drew me in and quite possibly was instrumental, in part anyway, in shaping my future.

Thanks to Gary’s CRUSH IT! I feel like I’m standing in a more powerful place as I’m crafting/refining what’s next for me, at least in the speaking of it.  I’m not sure I’m comfortable in standing in “Sh*t Happens – Find the Beauty” as my brand in those words AND it’s something to play with – have fun with.

The book is full of concrete and specific ideas for using Social Media and other strategies to monetize and more.  I was familiar with much of it and there was some great information new to me.  Lastly, just before breaking to write this post, I read Gary’s suggestion to put our brands on t-shirts. “What fun!” I thought. “I wonder if anyone would buy and wear a “Sh*t Happens – Find the Beauty” t-shirt.” “What the heck,” I decided.  And I put the image on some T-Shirts in my Cafe Press Nature Art Gift shop.  While at it, I added another image and message – “Fish or Fowl? Change Perspectives” – Changing perspective is always big part of my message and, you can see, rotating the above photograph, 90 degrees, creates a whole different image and experience.

In the top photo, I saw the “bird” in the upper left, facing to the left. Then someone pointed seeing the same shape as a bird facing to the right going through the top of the head of the “bird” facing us.  I hadn’t even noticed that frontal bird until I downloaded it into my computer.  So, as I write, the top photo has 4 birds.  How many do you see?

Then in the rotation of it, as I prepared the photos for t-shirts, I immediately saw the “fish” (formerly bird) in the lower left.  For now, I’ll say the larger image is a fish also. What are  your interpretations?

Adding to my passion is sharing this with you, reminding you that there are many ways of viewing the same thing in our lives, both our interpretations and then those of others… none of which are “RIGHT”.

Here are the resulting images now on t-shirts.  You can find them at Nature Art Gift Shop

As always, have fun with this and enroll others in having fun with you.  Be sure to share your experiences with us in the comments below.

I’d also very much appreciate your thoughts on “Sh*t Happens – Find the Beauty” as the marketing brand for my work.  Many thanks in advance.

{ 11 comments }

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

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 [...]

Read the full article →

Red-winged Blackbird Inspires Celebration – Picture to Ponder – v6 – issue 20

May 19, 2010

For today’s post, I’m moved to share a recent red-winged blackbird photo from Green Cay Wetlands. It’s the photograph that “popped” out as the one wanting to be featured, while I was working on creating videos. It also became the final slide, with data, on the one I created with me talking on the boardwalk [...]

Read the full article →

Shadows and Light – Nuts and Bolts – Anchors in Life – Picture to Ponder: v6 – Issue19

May 11, 2010

Today’s Picture to Ponder photos are a little different from our usual flowers, birds and/or reflections and may not be considered by you as “pretty” pictures. They are the result of “ponderings” I’ve been in for the past week. See “Story” below.
The bottom line is my often times repeated observations, “where there are shadows, there [...]

Read the full article →

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

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 -

Photo/Drawings of Echinacea Flowers from a field of flowers in the gardens [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries