Tag Archives: Twitter

We Did It!

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There’s nothing more fulfilling than being able to finish what you start.  As a former project manager, nothing is more frustrating than to set a goal and to not complete it in the prescribed timeframe.  Conversely, it’s totally exhilarating to reach a goal, ahead of schedule and to take a moment to celebrate.

So, here we go!  Congratulations to Quincy Sean Stallworth for being the 100th person to like my Facebook Page. Quincy is the winner of the Ten Facebook Likes in Ten Days Challenge, and will receive an 8 X 10 print of his choice from my collection.  I don’t think he knows that he won…or that he even walked into this situation, but it’s good all the same.

So – How exciting is that? I know I’m excited, because I’ll be honest: I didn’t think that I would make my goal of getting to 100 likes on my page by my birthday on Thursday. But I did, and although I’m really thrilled that I achieved this milestone in my photography journey, I’m ready to push even harder to continue to create images that everyone can relate to.

I see the future, and it looks pretty bright from where I’m standing. And I’m glad to know that I have all of you along for the ride to keep me company and to keep me honest.

Thanks to everyone on Facebook who shouted me out to their friends, linked to or reposted my images, used my images as their profile pictures, etc. Thanks to all of my blog subscribers. Thanks to all of you who have connected with me on Twitter, Flickr, 500px and PictureSocial.  Thanks to my friends on Tumblr and I promise to get over there more often.

Thank you to all of you whom I have met offline and allowed me to capture your greatness and uniqueness. Thank you to my friends and family who believed in me and had nothing but encouraging words to say to me when I had trouble believing in myself, when I had nagging self-doubt that kept me up at all hours of the night.

It really means a lot to me…all of it. You have no idea. I am truly grateful.
Onward and Upward!

Peace and blessings.

Last Chance to Express Yourself!! Don’t Be Left Out!

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It’s a new month! Let’s all breathe a sigh of relief as we say goodbye August, goodbye earthquakes and hurricanes! I’m looking forward to great things happening this fall.

And to kick off my birthday month, I want to make a final appeal to you for your help.  Earlier this week  I wrote a blog post asking for your help in selecting one of four photos to submit to a street photography contest this coming Friday, September 2nd.   Well, it’s Thursday, September 1st, and I haven’t heard from you…perhaps you had a good reason…maybe you didn’t read the original post, or the follow-up post I wrote yesterday …I understand.  We all get busy.

But for heaven’s sake…this is social media!  What’s social about ignoring a chance to comment, tweet, or talk smack on someone’s blog?   Yeah, I thought so!

Anyway, to those of you who took the time to comment on the blog, on my Facebook Page, or via Twitter, thank you so much!  Special shout-out goes to my friend Noel…you are so awesome!  If you’re on Twitter, you need to follow him.

And to those of you who are procrastinating or just being obstinate, well…. let’s just say, time is running out.  I really want to hear from you.  I really, really, really do.  I know you’re out there, lurking, and it would really be nice to hear your thoughts.   It will only take you about 5 minutes to look at each photo and tell/tweet me which one you like the best.   That’s all.  Nothing more.

Here are the photos:

Man, She's Not Impressed. Taken June 29, 2010 in NYC.

Look at this woman’s expression….classic NYC “nothing phases me.” Not even a man doing a handstand without his hat falling off!

If you don’t like “Man, She’s Not Impressed,” register your comment.  Tell me what you don’t like about it…and while you’re at it, choose from one of the other three images below.

Chicken Head. Taken June 19, 2010 in NYC

Yes, I called the above image “Chicken Head.” I took this at the 2010 Mermaid Parade in Coney Island.  She was wearing a KFC bucket on her head  and chatting away with her friend, totally oblivious to everything going on around her.  Appropriate?  Yes.  I think so.

Respect His Manhood. Taken September 27, 2010 in Jersey City, NJ

One of my favorites is the above image, “Respect His Manhood” which I shot on the streets of Jersey City, NJ last year.  A man who has the guts to use a frog umbrella in the rain without blinking an eye gets my respect.

Lovers In Their Own World. Taken June 29, 2010 in NYC.

Finally, I was going to go with “Lovers In Their Own World” (originally titled “Lovers Embrace Among the Chaos”) because I think it embodies what street photography is all about.  In the midst of all of the chaos in the heart of midtown Manhattan, in a city notorious for its anti-commitment, love em’ and leave ‘em sentiment, I captured this couple, holding one another in a tight embrace, oblivious to the madness.  They didn’t wait, they found each other, held on to one another, bags and all.  Believe me, that’s a feat unto itself (those of you New Yorkers can relate to what I’m saying).

Anyway, I don’t want to unduly influence you.  I want to know what you think. Hit me up on Twitter, Facebook or here in the comments.  I promise.  I won’t ask after today.

Thank you and peace.

Why Have I Not Heard From You? What Are You Waiting For?

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Another earthquake?  Another hurricane? LOL

Anyway, yesterday I wrote a blog post asking for your help in selecting one of four photos to submit to a street photography contest this coming Friday.   That would be the day after tomorrow….September 2, 2011….

After I posted, I got a lot of good feedback right away, which was really nice.  To those of you who took the time to comment on the blog, on my Facebook Page, or via Twitter, thank you so much!  You are the best and I really appreciate your input.

To those of you who are procrastinating or just being obstinate, well…. let’s just say, what’s up with that?  I thought we were cool!

It will only take you about 5 minutes to look at each photo and tell/tweet me which one you like the best.   That’s all.  Nothing more.

Anyway, here’s where we stand with the four photos, in ranking order, most to least preferred:

Most preferred:

Man, She's Not Impressed. Taken June 29, 2010 in NYC.

If you don’t like “Man, She’s Not Impressed,” register your comment by choosing from one of the other three images below, which are all tied for 2nd place… go figure:

Chicken Head. Taken June 19, 2010 in NYC

Yes, I called the above image “Chicken Head.” I took this at the 2010 Mermaid Parade in Coney Island.  She was wearing a KFC bucket on her head  and chatting away with her friend, totally oblivious to everything going on around her.  Appropriate?  Yes.  I think so.

Respect His Manhood. Taken September 27, 2010 in Jersey City, NJ

One of my favorites is the above image, “Respect His Manhood” which I shot on the streets of Jersey City, NJ last year.  A man who has the guts to use a frog umbrella in the rain without blinking an eye gets my respect.

Lovers In Their Own World. Taken June 29, 2010 in NYC.

Finally, I was going to go with “Lovers In Their Own World” (originally titled “Lovers Embrace Among the Chaos”) because I think it embodies what street photography is all about.  In the midst of all of the chaos in the heart of midtown Manhattan, in a city notorious for its anti-commitment, love em’ and leave ‘em sentiment, I captured this couple, holding one another in a tight embrace, oblivious to the madness.  They didn’t wait, they found each other, held on to one another, bags and all.  Believe me, that’s a feat unto itself (those of you New Yorkers can relate to what I’m saying).

Anyway, I don’t want to unduly influence you.  I want to know what you think. Hit me up on Twitter, Facebook or here in the comments.  Thank you and peace.

Check Out My First New Short Video on YouTube!

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Hey everybody, I’m doing a late summer promotion to get the word out about my Portraits of Philadelphia:  Camera Therapy street portrait project.  I created a short YouTube video slideshow (my first, yes, I was a YouTube virgin before now) of some of my favorite images that I’ve taken since I’ve been here in Philly for your viewing pleasure.  That’s all!  And while you’re at it, please subscribe to my YouTube Channel, that way you can be in the know when new videos are released.

May 24, 2011: Where Did She Go?

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Hey everybody, I just wanted to pop my head in to say hey and give you a brief update on what I’m up to these days.  I just posted an update over on my Facebook Fan page, but I figured there may be some of you who follow the blog who might be wondering what the deal is.

Yes, this is for those of you who haven’t quite gotten up the nerve to connect with me on Facebook yet.  Because I love you and appreciate your support, I’m gonna let that slide for now, but I expect for you to take that important next step real soon so that our relationship can grow and deepen.  Did I forget to mention that I love you?

Right now, I’m on a bit of a hiatus from shooting and photo-blogging to try to recharge and devote some attention to other areas of my life.  A lot has happened over the past month or so and I admittedly needed to take a break to breathe, recharge and reflect.  Don’t worry, though, your fearless stranger with a camera won’t be on hiatus for long.  I plan to be back on the grind real soon.  I just want to get some other things in order first so I can turn my attention back to shooting  and blogging.

However, I can’t not do anything, right?  I’m a Virgo, and we Virgos like to stay busy and mentally engaged. It’s hard for me to just sit around and do absolutely nothing.  So here’s what I’ve been up to, in a nutshell:

1.  I have been over at Tumblr working on my I Heart Brothas (aka Bro-Thology) project.   If you’re on Tumblr, let me know, because I’d love to connect with you.

2.   Since I’m an aspiring street photographer, I’ve committed myself to not only shooting, but studying the works of others who have redefined and elevated the genre.  So, right now, I’m studying the work of Matt Stuart and will be checking out David Solomons’ and Nick Turpin’s work as well over the coming weeks.  I also love the work of Eric Kim.  The work of the late Vivian Maier is definitely an inspiration when it comes to street photography as well, and if you’re not familiar with her, take a moment to get familiar with her life story; she was a fascinating woman.

….But the question that grows louder and louder in my head is:  Where are the African American women street photographers?  Inquiring minds wanna know.  

3.  Since the days are getting longer, I’ve made it a point to study the effects of natural light on everything around me.  Light and shadow are the essence of photography (you may agree or disagree with me on this and if you do, I’d love to hear your take on it) and I realize that I need to be more aware of these elements, as they can make or break an image. So, I’ve taken to walking around without my camera and just observing my surroundings at different times of the day. Other times, I will just sit by a window, listen to my favorite songs, and watch the sun filter through….. I know it sounds corny and lame, but, oh well.  I admit that I look for inspiration in the most unlikely and most mundane of places.

4.  Finally, I’m gearing up to post my May favorites to my Portraits in Philadelphia:  Camera Therapy series.  Look for that to drop in the next week or so.

So…that’s it.  That’s what I’ve been doing.  I’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to share your feedback in a comment to this post or hit me up privately via the contact page.

Let’s Connect!!!  Facebook | Twitter | Flickr  | Tumblr

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Photo,”Dog Loves That Human,” Accompanies Jersey Journal/NJ.Com Write-Up of “Images of Jersey City” Exhibit

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The good news keeps coming, everyone. I am completely overwhelmed.

I just learned late last night that one of my photos (Dog Loves That Human) that was selected to be shown as part of the Project Greenville-sponsored “Images of Jersey City” group exhibit that opens today was also selected with four other photos to accompany a write-up about the exhibit on the NJ.com/Jersey Journal website!!! 

The write-up by Summer Dawn Hortillosa of the Jersey Journal is here, and the link to my photo is here.  Go check it all out and tell me what you think!  I was stunned, since I’m pretty new to this game!!! 

With all that said, I’d like to take a moment to send my thanks and appreciation to Elizabeth Deegan, founder of Project Greenville and chief organizer of the “Images” group exhibit and the other judges, Jersey City Free Public Library Head Librarian Cynthia Harris and photographers Gary Nigh and Andrew Bovasso.

Also, I’d like to congratulate the other four talented photographers whose stunning images accompanied the Jersey Journal piece:  Felipe Lara,  Lorenzo Pickett, Max Delgado, and Dale Luker. I am humbled to be a part of this group.

Finally, I’d like to send a big thank you to all of my friends, family and fellow photographers who have been a major source of encouragement and support over the past year.  Without you, I don’t think I would have made it this far…I would have thrown in the towel and walked away.  So thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

What a fabulous way to kick off the weekend!!!

Let’s Connect!!!  Facebook | Twitter | Flickr  | Tumblr

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Announcing the New PWTP Facebook Fan Page – Go Check It Out!

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If you are a fan of this blog, be sure to head over to Facebook, check out, and LIKE the BRAND NEW PWTP FACEBOOK FAN PAGE! 

Well, it’ s not really “new” per se, because I activated it last year, but I decided to revamp it, i.e., clean it up, rename it and reorganize the furniture just for you! 

Think of it as a Daylight Savings Time gift.  In exchange for the hour you lost yesterday, you gain more stuff to look at in your Facebook news feed! Yay!!!

At any rate, I wanted to make it a place where I could showcase images from this blog, along with new images that I plan to post exclusively on Facebook, not anywhere else, not here, and not over at my Flickr page.

Here’s an example of a capture I posted this weekend to Facebook. The idea is that I’ll take, and share, quickies like this only on Facebook exclusively with those who follow me over there.  However, I’m making an exception with this one because I really want to entice you with my photographic charms.  I’d give you chocolate too, but that’s kinda hard to do over the Internet.

Also, since I’m all about photography without the pretense, I will also be posting informative and helpful, jargon-free (or close to it) links to some of my favorite photography websites.  It’s my hope that the resources I share will be helpful and not intimidating to those with even just a passing interest in photography.  I think photography can and should be enjoyed by all, and if possible, those of us who engage in the practice should do our part to try to de-mystify it, if that’s possible.  Okay, enough of the platitudes….

Lastly, I will be featuring, from time to time, links to images created by some of my favorite photographers of all skill levels. Yesterday, for example, I posted a link to the work of a really talented hobbyist who captures some really fascinating street and candid images in north Jersey.  If you’re on Tumblr, go check him out for yourself. 

The bottom line is this:  Go over to my page, click the Like button, and I promise to make it worth your while. If not, send me your address and I’ll mail you a box of chocolates :-)

In the meantime, thank you for your continued support, and I will resume my Photo of the Day posts later this week. See ya later!

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The Way I See It Today: Choosing Sucks. The End.

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Hello everyone,

Lemme preface my remarks by saying that I was going to write this thoughtful and well-reasoned post about how and why we make choices, and how we should take into account how compatible our styles of decision-making are to the decision-making styles of those we care about, whether they be people we love, like, work with, carpool with, or whatever. 

My post was going to be based on a piece I came across a few days ago entitled “The Gift of Choice” by life coach and motivational speaker Lolly Daskal, whom I follow on Twitter. I will say that it was a really good piece…if you’re into that kinda thing, you’ll probably agree with me.

But I’ve been playing around with the point I *really* wanted to make in my mind and decided (yes, I chose) that I really didn’t want to make my original point.

I’m just gonna come out and say what I really want to say:   Choosing sucks.

There are those who would say that as a woman, I am confronted with too many choices. And,they will also say that,  as a woman, I’m not really equipped with the right skill sets to sift through all of the options available to me and make the best or most appropriate decisions.

Perhaps those people are right.  It doesn’t really matter to me one way or another anymore.  I don’t care about the science or mechanics of decision-making, or whether or not men make better choices than women.

The bottom line is, I don’t want to choose.  Moreover, I don’t care about trading up to more, or better, or faster, or higher or cuter, or snazzier, roomier, brighter, crisper, or crunchier. 

I don’t want any of it. 

Deep down inside, I want a man who is strong enough, confident enough and sure enough to decide for me. 

Here’s what I would say to that special man:  “You choose.  You tell me what you want, and I’ll be happy to oblige you.”

I think I may be regressing.  Or maybe I’ve turned a corner.  Either way works for me. You choose.

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OOPS! I Broke My Camera. Now What?

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I came across a post entitled “What To Do When You Break Your Camera” (you can access the link to the original post below) this morning as I was perusing my Twitter feed and thought, Who breaks their camera?  Does that actually happen? 

As we all know, accidents happen. I have to admit, I am a bit of a klutz. I am known for tripping over air, and stumbling over nothing.  I just can’t help myself.  Fortunately, though, all my mishaps did not involve my camera. I maybe be clumsy, but I’m not dumb.  I try not to walk and take pictures at the same time.  I know my limitations.  

Also, I think my camera comes with a no-accident force field that is automatically activated when I pick it up to use it. 

Besides, no one actually plunks down a grand or two or ten or more for their precious camera equipment with the goal of breaking said equipment and rendering it absolutely useless.

Right?  Apparently not.

According to post author, photographer and self-described world traveler  Peter West Carey, photogs leave their equipment on moving vehicles, drop them from cliffs and all kinds of other interesting scenarios that I just don’t find myself in.  But then again, I’m not a world traveler. Yet.  I’m just a lowly hobbyist with a dream.

Despite this, Carey and all of the good folks at Digital Photography School share some really good tips on what we should do if by chance, our cameras get run over by an MTA or SEPTA bus, trampled by elephants or knocked into the toilet (I mean, what were you thinking anyway by bringing your DSLR into the bathroom?  That’s what camera phones are for, silly).

Carey walks the reader through what amounts to a protocol in the event your camera ends up in 20 shattered pieces on the ground.  I don’t know if I would remember every single step, but that’s just me.  Besides having a panic attack the size of Texas and maybe suffering a blackout of major proportions, I don’t think I’d be able to recall each and every step because I have horrible powers of recollection.

Anyway.  So what are the main takeaways from this post?  For me, I would start with the most important:  Protect your investment so you don’t end up in this kind of predicament in the first place! 

Keep your eye on your equipment and don’t haphazardly leave your cameras lying around like a set of keys and a pack of bubble gum.  Don’t put your equipment in situations that might lead to accidents.  Don’t bring your DSLR into the bathroom under any circumstances.  And invest in a good no-accident force field. 

:-)

Question:  Camera owners, have you ever broken your camera equipment?  If so, how did it happen? Were you able to recover your images?  Did you end up having to purchase a new camera?  What advice would you give other camera owners that wasn’t covered in the DPS post?

Speak your piece.

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Respect Your Tools…Protect Your Investment…Clean and Maintain Your DSLR

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Photo © by Jeff Dean

Image via Wikipedia

How to Clean Your Digital SLR Camera.

I grabbed this link  from my Twitter feed today and decided to take a look-see, in part because I’m nosy, and also because I remembered that I had been looking for tips on how to clean and maintain my Nikon.  Many thanks to the folks over at mahalo.com for this. 

I have to admit, I’ve been wondering how to perform cleaning and maintenance on my Nikon, but was too chicken to ask, and too lazy to go in search for tips.  As usual, good stuff falls in my lap when I least expect it to. Yay for me!

After reading through the post, I can say that what they’re suggesting amount to good, common-sense tips that will ensure that your camera will deliver quality images. I mean, for all the money we spend on these cameras, it would make sense to do some kind of routine cleaning and maintenance on them, right?  You buy or lease a new car, would you not get the oil changed or get it detailed or make sure the tires are balanced? It’s the same principle.

At any rate,  I haven’t done a top-to-bottom cleaning of the trusty Nikon yet, but I think it may be time for one.  *snaps on rubber gloves*

Question to the DSLR owners out there:  How often do you clean your camera(s)?  Does it make a measurable difference in the quality of your images?  Do you use pre-packaged kits  or are you like MacGyver with it?

Speak your piece.