the Nonsense in Between

A while ago I joined Flickr and thought that it might be a short lived relationship. I was very wrong as my fascination with flickr has flourished into full blown infatuation.

With my new and improved Flickr Pro Account I have entered a new world of possibilities. It has challenged me to become a better photographer and artist. Recognizing that I still have a long way to go I have accepted the 365 day challenge, i hope that this encourages, or forces, me to take more photos. Project 365 challenges participants to take a self portrait every day for an entire year.

Below is Day 1, it is not my best work but it proves that self portraits are challenging and I have a lot to learn. So here goes nothing...



day 1


Originally uploaded by Filosa

my shampoo smells like cake batter.

Thanks for the suggestion, Dan. I have added a link to my 365 days project over in the links section so you can easily watch my progress. That should also serve to hold me accountable. I have a feeling the photos are going to get progressively boring once the fall semester starts so dont get too excited.

I've met some really cool people through flickr and gotten some really great feedback and much needed critiques on my photography. I'm really enjoying my new little community but I wish some of my real life friends would join. So if any of you are so inclined, even if its just the freebie membership, please join and add me. Then you can be a part of all the flickr fun too instead of just watching me have it all.

if i ever went to a tennis match i'd wear windchimes as earrings.

Dominic reported the other day that I do in fact have a passion. I had flirted with the idea before but something kept me from taking my enjoyment of photography to that kind of level. To say that I am passionate about something is not a decision I take lightly and I just didn't know if I had what it takes to be a passionate photographer or even just a regular photographer.

Honestly, I'm not even sure I could have gone there without the support and encouragement from my husband and everyone else. A year ago we received our DSLR as a gift from Dominic's dad and though Dominic enjoys taking photos and is really great at it he didn't become as attached to Stella as I did. She quickly became my little side kick and we've been photographing everything and everyone since.

Still, I have been apprehensive about proclaiming my love for photography. Photography requires talent and resources that I wasn't sure I had. Though talent is of the free variety, I had trouble believing I'd ever have enough of it to do this thing, after all, equipment can be put on credit cards, right? Where would i find talent? Sure, friends and family had praised my work but I remained critical of my talents. I had even been asked to take photos for a few special occasions, to which I graciously obliged. It was flattering, yes, but I knew I wasn't good enough to fulfill the obligation. To my surprise the shoots went fairly well and I learned a lot about taking pictures and fell more in love with my new little hobby.

A year later I have an abundant collection of compliments and praise that are helping to get me to that next level. Never forgetting that I have a lot to learn, your support has given me the confidence I need to stick with this. From the bottom of my heart and from deep inside Stella's photo sensor, THANK YOU! And a special thanks to my wonderful husband who supports my passion with his unwavering praise and those shiny plastic cards.

That said, I have been asked to take photos of some special events and if any of you would like to have me and Stella at your next occasion please let me know. My current rates are like TOTALLY affordable.

added some of those old photos here

Today I had had enough of the afternoon clouds. I just wanted to be able to enjoy my last real day of summer vacation. The clouds came earlier today than they had before ruining my day before it had even started. I grumped around trying to decide what else to do since my plans were once again a wash. Nothing went my way. Every little thing turned into a disaster and I was beyond frustrated.

I threw my hands up, surrendered, and accepted fate. Head hanging low, I ventured down to Dominic's office to pick him up. As I drove past the Denver Botanic Gardens I saw a very unhappy and soggy Bride whose very special day was being ruined by the clouds. It really put all my stupid little frustrations into perspective. From that point on I decided I wasn't going to let those things get me down.

So I put in my other favorite Saves the day song, "Shoulder to the Wheel", and sang/screamed my frustrations out all the way to Dom's office. Once there, the clouds began to part, both literally and metaphorically, I was beginning to see some good in all of this. But then something happened...the most amazing rainbow appeared and spanned the eastern horizon with an intensity i've never seen before. We stopped at the end of the parking lot and gazed in amazement. I cried a little when I realized I hadnt brought my trusty sidekick with me to capture this moment but Dominic pulled out his handy dandy Blackberry and took a few shots of the momentous scene.

I hope that all of my Denver friends were moved by the sky's show. And I really hope that Bride had the opportunity to see it as well, may she look back on her day and remember that this was the day mother nature blessed the sky with the most beautiful sight Denver's ever seen and not the day it rained at her wedding. i will remember it as the day that almost turned good but i'm a big fat idiot that forgets my camera when it really counts. i'll have a bruise on my ass for a week.

Stories, lives. intertwined.
once, never, for a lifetime.
egos stroked.
Remembered. Forgotten.
Sorrow, Joy.
Pitied, Pain.
Rotten, suffering for one's gain.
never knowing, always going.
Lost, spinning, twirling.
Dizzy. Drunk.
Devour royal feasts.
filling, falling, failing.
whining, calling, wailing.
Beached Whales.
Sad.