Vegetables

Looking at the Old Newly as Inspired by a Red Onion – Picture to Ponder- v5 -issue 23

by Sheila Finkelstein on July 2, 2009

In July I became enthralled with the beauty of a red onion and the process I went through in photographing and peeling away the layers over a period of approximately two weeks.

Last week I became attracted to another red onion that had been sitting in my refrigerator for so long it had started “growing”. I decided to take a few pictures of it while holding it in my hand, views both inside and outside of the house, and then put it aside on a counter. The green continued to grow and earlier this week I decided to photograph the onion again. Given it was night, I set up the black background board to block the scene behind it in my home and placed it on the under side of one of my Cafe Press pillows which I had placed on the table.

Yesterday I was moved to start cutting, then peel away a few of the layers. I got quite excited with what I was discovering and the result is well over 150 photos. I started including here one of the “peeled” ones from a few “shoots” and decided aesthetically it did not fit with the other two. Those who wish can see that one, and several others, on Red Onion 4 or wait until I decide into what direction I am going to take the next round.

If you have not seen “THE RED ONION STORY: Peeling the Layers of an Onion as Analogous to Peeling Away the Layers of Ourselves,” you can request the PDF  on ONION STORY 1.

TODAY’S PHOTOS –
As I indicated above, the top two are of a red onion on a pillow. They are lit by a chandelier above and taken without the flash.

I like stateliness and the mysterious shadows in the top photo. The middle has a rhythmic flow of colors and shapes. Given the greens were a large focus in the center photo, as well as the source of the shadows in the top one, I’m also showing the cut pieces that I spontaneously placed in glass candle holder that was closeby. I love the colors here on top, as well as those showing through the translucent glass.

SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES –
When I first started what now has become an exciting project, I was not very inspired. I simply started taking a couple of photographs because the onion had been around for so long. I wanted to acknowledge it in some way and be complete with it.

Then when I got into action, my creative juices took hold. I got excited as the different components and patterns were revealed once I cut the onion in half. The skin had interesting shapes and the interior of the peeled layers had lines embedded, probably roots, in great patterns. You can see a few examples on RED ONION 4.

So, how does this all fit into queries? Following my description of where I was before my I started taking these photos, I invite you to look into your life. Are there one or more projects or activities on which you have been stalling? If so, I invite you to take one small action, perhaps even photograph something relevant to it. Then take one more action. Do not be attached to an outcome. Simply be open to noticing where a spark of enthusiasm emerges. Where will you allow that to now take you?

And, for a second set of different queries – Today’s onion was quite “old” – a few months, at least. In the process of spending time with it, dissecting, being willing to play, many things opened up. Again I invite you to look into your life.

Are there people, projects, object or relationships in your life that seem “old and tired?” If so, I invite you to spend time, look at them, see what you can open up, if anything. Do you have new choices now for being with it or them in new ways? Or is it time to release whatever you were looking at and move on? Either choice is perfect.

As always, have fun with these queries. Be sure to “play” with the first.

Another OPPORTUNITY for a creative and empowering activity –
Download a complimentary copy of Artella’s eBook, Peace by Piece: Collage Your Way to Inner Peace and Harmony! This workbook guides you through several collage projects, each one designed to bring you closer to your true self and your powerful ability for manifesting your dreams and desires. Download your copy at PEACE BY PIECE.

{ 5 comments }

Dried Apple Slice and Turnip – Longevity in Life – Picture to Ponder – Vol 5-Issue 51

by Sheila Finkelstein on June 24, 2009

Exciting News – My book PICTURES TO PONDER: Inspired Journaling is now on sale through Amazon! Open “Customer Images” on the Amazon page to see more.

Humourous Apple Face

Apple face rear

Dried Turnip Pieces

I hope that the top photograph brings the same chuckle, or laugh, to you as it does to me every time I look at it. I’m presenting it here in fun and also for the possible inquiries it generates.

All three of  TODAY’S PHOTOS are the result of explorations I did cutting both an apple and a turnip during the last Expand Your Vision teleclass series. During that time, I actually wrote, on my blog, about the turnip – a “Metaphor for Aging, As Personified By a Turnip.” Curious, I guess, as to how they would “turn out,” I kept these pieces, rather than discard them

The apple slice was lying flat on my kitchen window sill, the turnip pieces in a tiny dish. For the “portrait session”, I placed the face on a little plate stand and reversed it for the second round. It is the same slice presented in two different views.

The texture of the dried apple slice brings back memories of the Apple Dolls that were popular and the one I made during the same time period. If you have never seen an Apple Doll, AppleDolls.org, features them and shows you how to make one.

I was surprised to discover that the turnip pieces turned “rock” hard, reminiscent of the avocado pit cuttings we turned into “beads” years ago when I taught Art in an elementary school.

SELF-REFLECTING QUERIES –
The images and experiences in today’s photographs can be viewed as representational of our lives, demonstrating that transformations are multi-dimensional and can be quite long-lasting, often in unexpected ways.

What in your life, in your memory bank, has taken an unexpected turn and left you with something for which you can acknowledge yourself? Perhaps it would forward you to simply make a list of some of the memorable things in your life.

And, to complete the circle on where we started – the humor in the apple face – look around you. What can you find that will put a smile on your face? It may be require something as simple as picking something up, turning it over or “reframing” it… putting it in a different “environment”, in the same way that the apple slice became a “pedestal” piece.

As always, have fun with these queries.

OPPORTUNITIES for creative activities –
For the writers among you, or wanna-be poets, I suggest downloading the complimentary Artella eBook, Writing the Carousel: Going Full Circle in Colorful Poetry Writing! It includes a progression of exercises that will help you uncover the surprising “turns” of phrases that make poetry effective, and then come full circle by using them in bold, colorful ways.

You can download your complimentary copy at: POETRY WRITING.

I also invite you to check many of the other activities and programs available on Artella Land home page.

{ 2 comments }

Art and Beauty in the Unexpected – Vidalia Layer 6 – Picture to Ponder – Vol 4 – issue 42

by Sheila Finkelstein on November 11, 2008

Vidalia onion with stem attached to peel

Vidalia onion peel with stem peel

Vidalia onion bulb nestled against half of the peeled layer

Today’s Picture to Ponder Photos
Vidalia onion, with focus on the stem – Top photo is the stem of the layer of the onion just peeled, still attached to the main stem. I like the cheerful, playful feeling of this image.

The middle photo shows the completion of the peeling of that layer, both stem and onion layer 5. I’m drawn in by the thinness of the stem peel with the rest of the layer.

For the lower photo, I placed what remained of the onion, nestling it against half of the layer just peeled away. I include this image because of the feeling of love and contentment it exudes.

The Story –
In the last issue of Picture to Ponder, I featured photos of this Vidalia onion with the patterns of spores that had formed under the fine skin. In that issue, after going into the whole history of this particular Vidalia onion, I committed to continuing to photograph the process and post on this Photography and Transformation blog. It was not my intention to continue the story in any other issues of Picture to Ponder.

Then I got really excited when I discovered that the stem also has layers. They are actually an integral part of each of the layers of the onion. Wow. What a revelation! (Tongue in cheek here.) So I began to include the peeling of the stem as part of the process and documentation.

I found myself enjoying the art of what was developing. In the second photo on the blog post Art in the Dance of the Vidalia Onion Stem Layers , it felt like the layers of the stem were dancing.

Given the intrigue, to me, as well as the continuing beauty of the onion as it was being revealed, I wanted to be sure that you, too, had the opportunity to experince this. Thus I am featuring this Vidalia, one more time, in Picture to Ponder.

Note – My curiosity had me check my refrigerator (onions kept there don’t generate tears when peeled) to see what stems on other onions look like. “Why hadn’t I paid attention to them in previous peelings?” It appears, on others that I currently have, that the stems have been almost completely cut off before purchasing.

So I went a little further and did some “Googling.” I found one site commented that onion stems are short. Now I wonder if that varies with the Vidalia. I did a couple of more searches and decided I need to finish here, with no more distractions.

Once last comment, though, on the stem of our featured Vidalia onion. If you check out the blog and go to earlier posts, you can see in the first photos that the stem was almost folded in half. As I peeled away the layers it became erect.

I wonder, again, “Is there a message there that we can take into and relate to our own lives?”

Today’s Self-Reflecting Queries
Today, I invite you to look into your life to see:

1. Are there portions of your life, or yourself, which you have been ignoring, not paying any attention to, either in physical appearance or inner aspects? If you see something, spend some time with it, perhaps even in writing.

Pay attention. What great things can you uncover about yourself as you peel away what you just found?

2. Now do the same exercise with someone else, or something, important in your life. Similar to last week’s question, is something you have consciously been ignoring, something which may have importance simply because you’ve made a judgment on appearance.

Or, perhaps more importantly, with observation, can you find something you’ve never noticed before about the person or situation?

3. Lastly, is there a place in your life where you’d like to be standing more erect, figuratively or in actuality? If so, what will it take to switch your “posture.”

As always, have fun with these queries and this week also remember to look for something in what you discover that brings a smile to your face!

{ 1 comment }

Art in the Dance of the Vidalia Onion Stem layers

by Sheila Finkelstein on November 8, 2008

Peeling the layers of the stem of the Vidalia onion
Queenly in appearance before disrobing

In order to peel the onion layers, I had to create a slit around the top before slicing into to the next layer to open it up to separate it. I then decided that I wanted to pull away the stem and discovered that it was layered also, each being an integral part of the main body which I had cut away. I love the humorous lilt to this image.

The dance of the layers of the skin on the Vidalia Onion stem

Here, I love the lyrical, dancing quality of the layers of the stem that have been separated and not yet removed. The onion is resting on the shell of the layer peeled away yesterday. [See previous post here on the blog or click on home, above, to follow the developing story.]

{ 2 comments }

Vidalia Onion – Indentations Layer 3

by Sheila Finkelstein on November 7, 2008

Vidalia onion with indentations from spores
Indentations where spores at into thick layer of onion.

Peeling away the attacked layer reveals shiny, smooth clear body. Signs of the “attack” or ravaging are barely visible. Note that this layer has a very thin segment, visible top right. Then observe how thick the rest of the layer is, lower right.

The onion stem, which becomes an art object in tomorrow’s post.

On the left, Layer 3 peeled away. It becomes a “pedestal” for photographing the arty onion stem in tomorrow’s post.

 

 

{ 2 comments }

Under the Skin of a Vidalia Onion – Picture to Ponder – Vol. 4-Issue 41

by Sheila Finkelstein on November 5, 2008

Vidalia Onion Skin waves

Artistic view of Vidalia onion with patterned spore

Vidalia onion with most of skin removed photographed in a dish

Today’s Picture to Ponder Photos
Vidalia Onion, which after sitting on a counter for two months started showing deterioration under the paper-thin outer skin.

The top photo has somewhat of a perky, “look-at-me” appearance, as it “poses” with the curl of the outside layer atop its body.

Initially I responded to the center photograph as being artistic, with the lines and patterns of the black spores, as well as the shadows. It is also more digitally enhanced than the others, bringing out the contrasts.

The bottom photo, with most of the spores gone, becomes even more of an art object by being placed in a ceramic dish for the photograph. A large portion of the spores stuck to the skin as it was removed.

The Story – Introduction
You may recall that three months ago, in the beginning of August, I featured a red onion in two issues of Picture to Ponder – Volume 4 – Issue 28 and Issue 29. During that time period, I had started peeling the layers of an onion and tracking it in photographs and writing on the blog.

I hypothesized that we could view the process as “analogous to peeling away the layers of ourselves.” At the time, I also began to think of it as a possibility for a book, with the first series of photos being Chapter 1. See below for a link to the Onion Story PDF.

A couple of weeks later I bought a second red onion, as well as a Vidalia onion. The red onion started showing signs of decay within two weeks. At that point, I photographed a slicing, rather than peeling, process and wrote a second chapter along with photographs, yet-to-be published here, on the blog or elsewhere.

In the meantime the Vidalia onion sat, untouched, on a counter in my kitchen. Since it did not appear to have much contrast in color and textures, I mentally deemed it “not photogenic” and didn’t bother to take any photographs of it. Then two months, rather than two weeks, later it began to show signs of deterioration and I got into action.

A new analogous theme started forming – that of the developing of “emotional bacteria” under our skin, as we hold onto our thoughts, or emotions, without giving them any space.

The Story – in relation to this Issue of Picture to Ponder
Initially I was pleased, when I took the first photos of this Vidalia onion, despite their difference from my usually more “pretty” or dynamic photos. I think part of it was I was “intellectually” excited about the concept I was developing.

Then today, as I began to decide which photos to use, the “spores” and, now seemingly unattractive, decay created more of a negative response and I had difficultly seeing beyond that. I started moving toward dropping the whole thing when I reminded myself that I had already done a first posting of photos and an introduction to the Vidalia onion on the blog, stating that I was going to be featuring it in this issue of Picture to Ponder.

So, given I made a commitment, I am following through here. And, I’m remaining open to what will develop. Rather, I will say here and now, I am creating an intention, making it public, to continue with the Onion Story, willing to be in the unknown of where it will go.

Today’s Self-Reflecting Queries
Today, I invite you to look into your life to see:

1. Are there places in your life where you are holding onto thoughts and emotions so tightly, that they are beginning to “fester” under your skin? If so, what actions can you take to remove the outer layer allowing them, and you, the freedom to be?

2. Are there areas in your life where you are ignoring something which may have importance simply because you’ve made a judgment on appearance, deciding it might not offer “enough.” If so, are you willing to reframe your thoughts into empowering ones that will move you forward?

3. Is there anything in your life right now that has been intriguing you, calling you to investigate, and yet you are staying stuck and not in action?

If so, I invite you to create an intention around it and move forward accordingly. To what will you commit?

Remember also, that that although the above queries are phrased in terms of objects, you may also look at them in relation to situations with people, in addition to yourself.

As always, have fun with these queries and this week also remember to look for something in what you discover that brings a smile to your face!

Onion Story PDF
If you have not already done so, you may download my gift of the Onion Story PDF – Photos and Text for friends of Picture to Ponder. See Onion Story for Friends to receive your copy.

{ 2 comments }

Vidalia Vidalia Onion Starts a New Chapter of Transformation and Observing Life

by Sheila Finkelstein on November 4, 2008

Vidalia Onion with spores under skin
Vidalia Onion, purchased on August 23, 2008 – Photographed on October 28, 2008

Vidalia Onion - spores spread - photographed on 11/3/08
A week later – 11/3/08

In the beginning of August I posted my first photograph of a red onion which after the second day became the story, “Peeling Away the Layers of an Onion, Akin to Peeling Away the Layers of Ourselves.” You can follow the story on this blog, after that first post, or for easier reading, you can click on ONION STORY to subscribe to Picture to Ponder and get the PDF download with the complete photos and text.

The Onion Story continues.
In the middle of August I purchased another red onion and at the same time a Vidalia onion. When the red onion, started showing signs of decay two weeks later, I sliced it, photographed the process and writing and documenting it for the second chapter of the Onion Story.

In the meantime the Vidalia onion sat on a counter top. Since it looked similar to the background, I did not bother photographing it, making the assumption that there was not all that much contrast and it wouldn’t be finishing.

Two months later, as contrasted with two weeks for the red onion, the Vidalia, though still firm, began to show some black, under the outer paper skin. I became interested and realized that there was another story here. I began to hypothesize and observe, the build-up of “disease,” forming underneath a thin outer shell, when left unattended . Thus I took a couple of photos and a week later began the photo-documentation process.

Tomorrow’s post of Picture to Ponder will show the first layer exposed, with the black spores. Not having cut further I have no idea what will become exposed as I go along. It seems, at this point, once I get past the next layer or two the onion will be as solid in the center as it was two months ago. I invite you to follow along with us over the next few days of discovery. And, why not play with an onion or two of your own!

 

 

{ 0 comments }

Green Pepper – Many faces – Facts or Interpretations?

by Sheila Finkelstein on October 18, 2008

Green pepper bares teeth

Angry, baring teeth, reminding me I’m overdue for posting, or simply being a cut pepper? As I was about to put this pepper away, after cutting and eating part of it, the shapes caught my attention and I stopped to photograph it.

Once I viewed this photo on my computer monitor, it became less of “beauty” and more of a “threat.” I saw dark and angry eyes, a meanness emanating from it. Ordinarily , I would run and hide from such anger coming from another person.

Then, of course, I realized that I am the one creating the interpretation, the story, giving it meaning. You, in fact, might see it totally differently. In any case, are there places in your life right now where you are adding heavy meaning to something, putting a negative spin on it?

The fun thing with this pepper is that I can simply cut away some more, enjoy eating the pepper while I’m doing it, and totally change the message. If you found something in your own life, relating to my previous question, what fun and easy actions can you take to create a shift for yourself?

(Note – the Queries that came out of these “pepper”ed thoughts are similar to what are found in my weekly PICTURE TO PONDER. Follow the previous link for more information, use one of the forms on these pages, or simply SUBSCRIBE

 

 

{ 1 comment }

Next Entries →