Many of us have been living with the same art on our walls for years.
I'm just wondering how many pieces you will replace on your walls this new year of 2023.
I've been doing a little research among friends and family and what I've found is that most of us have not added more than a few pieces of wall art in the past several years. Most everyone I spoke with, (because I produce photographic art), admitted it is time to take art on their walls more seriously in the upcoming year. That was good to hear for me because I sell photography prints, among numerous other items. Some 25 different products in some cases.
It begs the question What were we all waiting for?
I met with, or spoke with 30 plus family adults over the Holidays and will have the chance to speak to another 7 by the time New Years passes. The overwhelming majority assured me that the money they've already spent on remodeling and updating their homes included a minor amount for arts. All of those adults had been concerned with their home values as a result of the money spent, which were appreciating tremendously because of the updates and remodels, in addition to the across the market increase nationwide in home values.
Now that those projects are finished, they can update the art in their homes and offices. Well you can imagine how good that made me feel. Of course I don't expect all the sales to come from me, but just knowing where they were, felt good. After all I spend a lot of my time shooting and editing my work for the best results and income.
My thoughts are now wondering just where you and your family and friends are on art in 2023?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. I would ask that you link through to my site though, as I am experiencing some technical difficulties here for comments section. I haven't been able to figure it out as yet, but hopefully I'll have it fixed soon. Here's my website Rich Collins Photography Rich Collins Photography and feel free to comment under any prints or other products if you would.
Wishing you all a fun, happy and safe New Years celebration. Do be safe, and watch out for your party or get-together friends and family too.
Just wanted to wish everyone of my readers/commentors and customers Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. All year long I work towards goals of producing more photography as well as more variants of my prints. And yet at this time of year all I think about is others. You have been there for me for a long time now and I truly appreciate your sticking with me.
And even if your Holidays have seen some challenges this year, take a deep breath, and give everyone you know and love, your best self with lots of smiles, lots of love, lots of cheer. Because whatever the difficulties you have had or are having, this is that time of year to show our best selves toward others.
Do you ever discover ways to support one another? What ways are working for you?
Have you found that sending helpful links to another is truly helpful to them? Which ones are you using?
Historically Thanksgiving has Always Been for Memories
Taking your child or Grandchild out for their first Christmas tree cutting, is definitely one of those grand memories.
And if your mail person is a kind one, perhaps their first sit in the mail truck, engine off of course and emergency brake on.
I'm sure you can think of a few dozen more, such as their birth, then their first Birthday, and so on.
Memories is why we give thanks to our families and friends and those special moments. But Thanksgiving dinners and gatherings can as well be about, what those memories can foretell to a degree about our futures. Our futures become a live topic all the day long on Thanksgiving, and for days after. Planning ahead, at least in our thoughts about what might become of our family and our extended families. Will a member stay local or move to a far off location? Perhaps college or university life beckons, or a new opportunity for a job, or a new career opens up or retirement sends us off to a warmer location.
I like spending time ahead of Thanksgiving thinking about these possibilities before the day of, so I can open up conversations, once our company has had the chance to settle in and perhaps after a game or before, but certainly not immediately and certainly not in a manner that is argumentative. There are times for that type of approach. Thanksgiving is the time for bringing out older family photo albums, or connecting from phone to tv, digital photo frames running, perhaps sharing photos on your device with others. There are so many more ways today to share our treasured pictures. I have been known to bring out any special items that belong to a focused family members keepsakes to share and for family members to hold and treasure during their visit. Mementos are a gift to as much or more than photos depending upon the significance. I hold dear my Grandfathers Fire Chief badges and ribbons as well as my Father's war photos, his career photos and his wallet with items still inside.
Here's hoping you will have these opportunities for both memories and future thoughts during this very special day.
Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for reading
If there's a lag in conversation and you prefer another shared experience, take a jump to my website
On Friday, Nov 11th we Give Thanks to all who Have Served in Defense of our Country
Memorial Day is the day we honor those military personnel who have sacrificed their lives. But we can, if you choose, honor both on both days. However it is best to remember which day represents the proper soldiers. Memorial Day on May 30th (last Monday in May every year), and Veteran's Day on November 11th (every year).
It's always an honor to be told "Thank you for your service" no matter where I am. I was walking in a grocery store yesterday, when a man walked up to me, reached out his hand to shake mine, and used that phrase. I realized a second later it was doubtless because of my military ball cap I had just purchased a week ago at an Military Exchange store. Not why I bought it, and I will be aware on the next occasion I wear it of what to expect, perhaps.
So even though I'm not suggesting you shake the hand of everyone wearing a military cap, you might get a renewed sense of just how many we see as we are doing our daily duties outside of work. And knowing that, we might also get a sense of the vast number of those who have served, we can't recognize, without their cap. There are many. Some of which, too many in fact, who live alone, or don't have friends who might call or visit to just spend time together. And their are still the numbers of homeless vets out there.
For any of those Veterans you have in your family and extended family and friends, make it a mandate that you at least say hi, with a call, a text, an email or better yet, a visit to see them. You don't have to bring up war stories. But you might celebrate their service with that oh so common phrase again, " I just wanted you to know I appreciate your time the military and what you've done for all of us here at home, or something similar.
There are many other ways to say thank you too. A meal, a day invited over to your home, a walk, a movie, a game, a gift of any appropriate category. Because my specialty is photography I get to choose from my own portfolio. The best to you and your veteran
Purchase of digital image rights from any of my images for commercial use
In making available digital rights managed image files I keep the rights managed part very simple. In offering digital rights use I assign cost to use on your end. Contact me with a question about a digital rights need or add comments below any photos you view or purchase. A few examples and a link to my website
Rather than Spending $$$$ on Dinner for Your Favorite Veteran, Gift them a Special Print that will last for Decades
Your Special Veteran, deserves a lasting memorial from you and your family. And instead of a surprise, ask them to join you in viewing you online at my website to allow them to pick what they want to hang on their wall.
So many to choose from, and you don't want to get this wrong.
For years, all I have focused on was selling my photography. I mean that's what I do. But then I read a Bio of another artist in a different media, and got to thinking, well that really was interesting. Readers do care about the artists they follow and buy from.
So let's get going, if you will...........at the beginning
What got me started in cameras, at the age of 7, was a dragon fly, on our farm. I was sneaking off with my Mother's camera. She didn't like that but I was pretty careful about running out into our acres of alfalfa, oats or Timothy hay. We fed our cattle and horses, with these crops. But what was in our fields, was a lot more than oats and alfalfa. These crops were teeming with miniature wildlife, and which gave me a profound interest in them all. Spiders of many varieties, caterpillars, dragon flies, honey bees and Robins, crows and Gartner snakes. I couldn't take enough pics. Then there were the crops, the seeded heads, the wind bending them, the clouds and she shadows, it just went on and on. I was, quite simply, inspired.
At seven I wasn't adept at pulling out each roll and replacing with a new one. nor did I have an income to do so. Either way it wasn't long before she eased her rigidity and allowed me to continue. She was in fact, my first customer. I recall she made cupcakes for me whenever she discovered a really good pic after developing a roll of film. That was all I needed to fall in love with shooting wildlife on film. Now I get that she was just being a loving Mother. And I miss her. She passed March of 2020 at 94.
What are my beliefs, my politics, my goals? I think I'll leave politics out of this, because I've learned not to believe I have any control over what someone else chooses in that area. You can guess, but I won't respond. My goals? Hmmm, quite different than when I was in high school, like most all of us, fun was a hot topic. Once through college though my focus migrated to building an income, all the while still shooting, but wildlife had taken second string to landscape imagery. You'll see that when you visit my website
I've taken turns at many types of photography. I've enjoyed every one of them. And some of it has inspired me to become creative enough, to change what my subject is being shown to me at the time, to what I want to see it developed at. I've come to believe that hanging art in our homes should be as close to exactly what we want it to be. For example I took a shot of a roaring steam locomotive moving past me at 70 mph, while I was within 8' of it. Yup I felt the powerful air draw as it rushed by, and I won't ever do that again. But after the result of blur in the image, I then enhanced it some to get even better results than I imagined. But that shot was a once in a lifetime capture and here it is locomotive Wheels Roaring by
I don't only spend time shooting anymore though. I spend a fair amount of my time constantly remodeling, and upgrading the home. During the summer I also spend lots of time tending our 2 organic gardens, using 2 organic compost tumblers. My diet has changed to the leaner side and with lots of fresh garden veggies, my exercise is still going strong for my age, my sleep is so much better now, and my stress levels are as low as I can get them. I have been battling cancer for 5 years now and with all the changes I just mentioned, I am on the winning side of it. Knock on wood.
And I love to fish for Chinook, Steelhead, Coho in the Columbia River and land-locked-Sockeye in local lakes. I'll fish from the shore or from our boat. Both are equally enjoyable, unless it gets crowded, ughhh. So many more fishermen than there used to be.
So while I still love photography, I find myself considering gravitating from my Canon cameras, to the latest iPhone 14 with 48 MP sensor, for everyday use. But my Canon's are still the go-to because of the size of the 6.4 micron sensor pixels. The larger these are the more light is let in, given my choice of lens and its aperture setting and the White Balance setting in the camera.
If you have any questions about me or my work, or just want to add anything, do so in the comments section below. Would love to hear you
Answer these questions to see if you know about why you hang art
Why is it important to understand the 'why' of hanging art in our homes and businesses? It is the essence of what sparks our desire, our need, our fascination for art pieces in our living and working spaces. Understand this, and you've made choosing what to hang, a much easier task. In fact a pleasurable one.
Your answers can be a comment below listing the numbers along with your answers
1. When you hung your last piece of art, be it a photo or a painting, or a print, what was it that inspired you to purchase and hang it?
2. Was any art you've hung a preference to a media type, paper, wood, metal, glass, etc?
3. Have you found by visiting a business or another's home that you were influenced by the art hung in their spaces, that you purchased similar art hangings? If so why?
4. Do you go online or out seeking a specific look from art, or are you more spontaneous?
5. Do you find that once you've purchased and hung a piece, that you've regretted it? Resold, or gave it away and bought another? Or have you held onto it and why?
Answering these can give you insight to your psyche on what you choose to surround yourself with, what you have selected to present yourself to others impression of you, how you've decided to calm or energize yourself, what preferences you have in choosing wall hangings. You Amy also discover your tastes have changed. That perhaps ahead you will choose different styles of wall art.
After answering, I'll add my website for you to view, if this exercise deems appropriate, my website
Grab this link to Photography Art Buyers on LinkedIn, if you're interested in finding talented art media creatives.
Pretty basic concept. Add a comment introducing yourself as a buyer and what you are currently looking for, and let the flow come in. You can choose to reply or simply Like
Looking forward to seeing you there
Any questions about joining, feel free to reach out to me at the link above or add a comment here
If you want to Hang a new piece of Art, but aren't sure which piece you need.........?
Answer a few questions, or just one, in the comments section below
First, please be specific in your answers as this will help me guide you to pieces that fit your needs
Which room will this new art be in?
What else is near where you will hang it?
Is the room of a particular flavor or style? Contemporary, traditional, etc
What do you want to convey with this new art? Nature, Dramatic treatment, landscape, etc
What size will be your best choice? small to extra large?
Do you wish to enhance a specific color of the room?
With these interests for your new art, I can add links to your comments, or directly to you if you choose to sign up using your email. I will not use your email as a means to contact you without you first reaching out to me. This is not me building a contact list, but a way to help you in your search for just the right art for your wall (s). But don't add your email or any other personally identifiable informationin a comment.
It's always better to Contact me by visiting my Website
Are We Viewing and Choosing Fine Art Photography Better than we used to?
Remember when buying art in a retail store was good enough? How about the frames that came with them? There wasn't much of a choice. Yet we bought them, we hung them and we lived with them. But after awhile we found ourselves searching for a better way.
Once the internet exploded, so too did the number of artists offering a vast assortment of hanging art in many styles, genre and choice of B&W or Color treatments.
Please tap on the links to see my work on my website, or the pics to see the image alone
which places emphasis on the ship more so than on the tent on land while adding a very unusual color to the ship.Makes for a conversation piece, rather than a mere typical maritime photograph
This one dramatically places the light beneath the waterfall's churning surface, unlike from the sky as normal. Again this can elicit a conversational enjoyment while viewing
Anyone viewing this one on your wall will most likely find it quite different in that the main focus is not on the waterfall itself but the beautiful shades of the basalt rock wall behind it
So what we find in contemporary wall art is a far better set of choices than we used to be able to locate, today, than we used to, whether we are searching in a retail store, in Mostar galleries, and even online, so don't assume this takes a special effort to find what you have put off, or are about to venture into. Art choices today are endless. It can become almost literally the endless search if you let it. You can start in any search engine and find so many links.
And I'd very much appreciate a comment below if you find this helpful by letting me know how, this post has helped you, (rather than just a thanks, if you will. And thank you
You will pick from numerous selections to create the shower you have always wanted. From images I have created just for you. Here's a couple to tantalize your shower tastes
The flag’s designer shares the story and inspiration for his design.
Kenya Hunter, Capital B Atlanta
9:17 AM EDT on Jun 15, 2022
(KaCeyKal! for Vox)
This story is part of a special Juneteenth project with Vox which explores the ongoing struggle for freedom for Black Americans.
As the Juneteenth holiday approaches, you’ll start to see various symbols of Blackness across the country. Front lawns, apartment balconies, and clothing with the pan-African flag, “Black Power” fist, and other celebratory symbols will be everywhere. But did you know there’s a specific flag for Juneteenth?
In fact, it has a backstory that goes back to the late 1990s. Capital B spoke with Ben Haith, the flag’s creator, and others to learn more about its history and impact.
The history
Haith, a community organizer and activist known better as “Boston Ben,” created the flag in 1997. In an interview with Capital B Atlanta, Haith said once he learned about Juneteenth, he felt passionately it needed representation.
“I was just doing what God told me,” Haith said. “I have somewhat of a marketing background, and I thought Juneteenth, what it represented, needed to have a symbol.”
Haith wasn’t impressed with the initial concept, but every Juneteenth holiday he would raise the flag near his son’s middle school in Roxbury, a majority Black community in Boston.
After getting his inspiration for the flag, he knew which colors and symbols he wanted in the flag — he just needed to finalize it. That’s when he met illustrator Lisa Jeanne-Graf, who responded to an ad in a local newspaper and finalized the flag in 2000.
The design elements
The colors
Juneteenth is often associated with red, green, and black: the colors of the pan-African flag. However, those aren’t the colors of the Juneteenth flag. The banner shares the colors of the American flag: red, white, and blue. In the past, Haith has said it was a purposeful choice — a reminder that Black Americans descended from slaves are exactly that: American.
“For so long, our ancestors weren’t considered citizens of this country,” Haith said. “But realistically, and technically, they were citizens. They just were deprived of being recognized as citizens. So I thought it was important that the colors portray red, white, and blue, which we see in the American flag.
Steven Williams, the president of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, agreed with the sentiment.
“We’re Americans of African descent,” Williams said. “[The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation’s] mission statement is to bring all Americans together to join our common bond of freedom.”
There’s been some debate about whether the Juneteenth flag is the most appropriate symbol for the holiday. Haith said he understood why people could have some hesitancy around commemorating the freedom of slaves by using a red, white, and blue flag, which some see as a tribute to the oppressors of Black Americans.
“Some of us were raised to recognize the American flag, we salute the American flag, we pledged allegiance to the American flag,” Haith said when asked of the skepticism around the flag he created. “We had relatives who went to war to fight for this country. We put a lot into this country, even when our ancestors were enslaved. They worked to help make this country an economic power in the world.”
The star
The star in the middle of the flag has a dual meaning. On June 19, 1865, Black slaves in Galveston, Texas, were informed of the Emancipation Proclamation, President Abraham Lincoln’s declaration of the freedom of enslaved people. The star on the Juneteenth flag is meant to represent Texas as the Lone Star state, but also the freedom of enslaved citizens.
Williams also spoke of the use of stars in helping slaves escape to freedom.
“When people were escaping down the Underground Railroad …they used stars to navigate where they were at, when they were going up and down,” he said.
With its dual meaning, it’s meant to represent the role that Texas plays in the history of Juneteenth, but also as another reminder that Black people are free.
The outline around the star and the arch
The outline was inspired by a nova, which is an explosion in space that creates the appearance of a new star. In this instance, it represents both slaves being free and a new beginning for Black Americans, Haith said.
The bottom half of the flag is red and shaped in an arch, which has similar meaning to the white outline around the star. The curve is meant to represent a “new horizon.”
Williams hopes the design reminds people to keep in mind that new beginnings take effort.
“I tell young people, ‘You are free,’” he said. “You might have obstacles, you might have hurdles, but you are free. … And you need to exercise that freedom, which is liberty.”
The timing
Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, nearly 200 years after slaves in Texas were informed of their freedom. The change, signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021, came at the behest of demands for racial progress following the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Cities across the country were forced to reckon with calls to remove and rename monuments and institutions honoring Confederate leaders of the past.
In Richmond, Virginia, a capital of the former Confederacy, monuments of Confederate generals that were centuries old were dismantled after protester demands across the country. In metro Atlanta, there is an ongoing debate around the removal of Confederate leaders etched on the side of Stone Mountain. It is said to be the largest monument to the Confederacy in the world.
In America, the Southern Poverty Law Center estimates that at least 160 Confederate symbols were dismantled in 2020.
Individual states started to recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday prior to Biden’s declaration. The first was Texas in 1980, and more states followed suit in 2020.
Theo Foster, a professor of African American History at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, noted that symbols celebrating Black pride are important, but they’re not enough.
“We tend to just hold on to symbols and let the material go,” he said. “That’s where I’m hypercritical of progress narratives, and flags, and 1619 projects, because we don’t get to that point of where the rubber meets the road where the symbols meet the experience of Black boy joy or Black girl magic.”
The banner’s impact
Williams recognizes the flag as a larger part of his organization’s decades-long campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday. The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation has been on the front lines of the fight to have Juneteenth nationally recognized since its founding in 1997. Haith himself is a member.
Foster says he sees the Juneteenth flag as an attempt to honor Black Americans’ enslaved ancestors.
“Racism exists, anti-Blackness exists. How do we respond to that problem?” he said. “I think the Juneteenth flag is an attempt to respond to that harm that is ongoing. I think people are right to be critical of it, but also to be in conversation of what’s useful about it.”
Haith said he’s been overwhelmed by the fact that Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, and feels honored when people use the flag.
“I believe we represent our ancestors,” Haith said. “When we celebrate, we’re celebrating for them, and we’re celebrating for the future of our people. The flag represents the people of the past, it represents us, and it will represent the people in the future.”
