Merry Christmas

This was not taken with my new camera, it was taken with the big one I spoke of in the last post. The new one arrived and I am very excited to use it but I need a card reader for sd memory before posting any photos to my blog.
This photo was taken at a friend's house on this Christmas day. The little statue resting among the cactus struck me when I walked by.

Christmas Present

I have been without a point and shoot camera for several months and as a result I have very few photos of this time past. I just don't get excited about pulling out the big, heavy camera so I don't. I guess that is silly but it's true.
Anyway - I found just the camera I want. It is a fixed lens Canon which includes options for full manual settings. I won't have to rely on the little digital wonder to set my shutter speed and aperture - I can do it myself. This feature is key for me. I will have full control of the outcome of my photos. I can even buy accessories to widen the lens or to give it more telefoto range.
I am so excited to get the new toy - I even payed a little more to have it shipped overnight. Yahooey!

Dad

My father passed away this weekend. None of us expected this.
I had an amazing dream Friday night... In the dream my dad and I were having a casual conversation but a really nice one. It was adult to adult, calm, enjoyable, enlightening. We were both just comfortable, sharing. This was a milestone. When I awoke I decided I would write to my dad and tell him about this dream. I thought he would appreciate it. Why didn't I just phone him to tell him? Because his hearing was shot and he couldn't hear me. We communicated in letters.
I received a phone call Sunday morning from my brother telling me my father had died. It appears from all indications he died Friday night.
Was it a dream or was it a real conversation? I believe it was real - I believe he and I openly communicated, finally, as he was moving to the next level. Thank you dad for all your love and effort. You are a good man.
This photo was taken circa 1990 when my dad visited me in Santa Cruz. He liked this area a lot. And I like this photo, a lot.

Hat #2

Ok, so this one is VERY different than the last. I like it more. It has way more personality. I drew it in ink on the bus on the way to school. Then, at home, I scanned it, enlarged it and transferred it to watercolor paper. Then I played with the paint - watercolor. Fun.

What do college students do at this time of year?

...STRESS! or in my case - stress and draw hats. But rather than go into the mundane stresses of finals and upcoming semester project due dates I will share a drawing, the first of several to come, of hats. Yes, hats. This is the motif I chose for my final Art project. They will be very different from one another, well, I think they will be. I am still creating them and really, who knows what will come of the whole concept. I am working on the 2nd one and 6 are due on the 13th.
This particular hat was done with prismacolor pencils. It is 8"x10".

Checking In

This is just a quickie to say I am still here. Life feels so good right now - I am busy with school and friends and cats and the approaching holidays. I will post more soon -

New kid

I decided right after Bean died to get a new kitten so A.J. would have some company when nobody else was home. It can take cats some time to warm up to one another, if they do at all, which is one reason I chose a kitten. Kittens, like young children, are less judgemental and more open to meeting others. I figured there would be a better chance of a connection if at least one of the parties started out open and willing.
It was a rough start. I kept the kitten in her own bedroom for a couple of days and for the first four nights so A.J. would have some time to sniff her out through the door. And so A.J. would not feel too threatened by the new kid on the block. When I let the kitten check out the rest of the house, A.J. took off to her safe place - under my bed. She was afraid of her for a few days. It has been a week now. The kitten has free roam and A.J. has already learned to trust and even play chase with her new sister. I am so happy they already worked things out. After just a few hisses and one swat, that I saw, they are friends. Our new girl's name is Emmy. Note the 'M' on her forehead.

Amen

I came across this great Taylor Mali clip when perusing this great artist's blog - Everything is Contextual.
Oh and yea, things look a little different. I decided to play with my blog colors instead of writing an Art History paper.

Sad

This is the drawing I came up with this morning - No plans, no goal - just from within - my pen, pencils and me.
My cat "Bean" - aka "Señor Guapo", "Mean Bean Green Machine", "Man of the house", "Beanie", and a few more endearing names we came up with during our 2 1/2 years together, was killed Tuesday night by a car.
His sister A.J. and I miss him terribly. He was a class act - always doing something to make me laugh.

Second Grade Teacher

Do you remember your second grade teacher? Remember what he/she looked like? Ever tried to draw him/her? I went for the challenge and though it looks nothing like her, it was fun trying.

Blast from the Past

I was going through my morning doodle sketchbooks - looking for ideas for a Color and Design project for school. I ran across this drawing I like - I did it in 2005. Though it is a woman on a bench it was inspired by the Mexican gentlemen who sit and chat with friends on the Watsonville City Park benches every day.

Breakthrough?

This morning's doodle. From nowhere (must be somewhere) comes this breakthrough of sorts.

I'm Here

...Well maybe not here. But I am around - in school - so busy. I hope to have something to post soon.
Until then ...

Everyday Suprises

Every morning (I miss one here and there) I climb up to my loft and push out a drawing. I may spend one minute or two hours with the ink and colored pencils - it just depends on the variables I am faced with on that morning. Though the mood, amount of detail and the subject matter change - the surprise and excitement I feel when I see the completed drawing rarely waivers. The joy comes not from - hey, that's a great drawing, but from the wow of where did that come from? How did nothingness turn into those lines and those shapes? In the beginning I face the empty page with no conscious thought, no stress about how it should look, no concern about judgment from myself or others. In the end I am rewarded with a little expression of myself I didn't know existed. I find this space a special place to be whether drawing, painting, photographing, writing, sculpting - whatever art form you choose. Do you feel it too?

Going, going, going

I took this photo at least a month ago but it just occurred to me right now that I like it. The contradiction between relaxation and going, going, going (by foot and plane) is appealing to me.

MIA

I have been wanting to take a certain photograph for the last two weeks but I haven't been able to find my point and shoot which I think is the ideal camera for this photo. It tends to be a little more subtle than my slr. I can't find my little buddy. It seems to be gone. I consider myself fairly organized. Even when my home gets a little messy I know things like my keys, wallet and my point and shoot are in one of three or four places. I have looked in those places at least 4 times now in hopes I missed it the first, second and third times. I can't find it. It's gone. Am I going to have to take my polaroid with me to get this photo? Hmmm. That might actually be the best way to capture the moment.
We'll see.
All I know is I want my point and shoot to come home now.

Shadows

The title of this post reminds me of the John Prine song called "Lake Marie". He asks in the song "...you know what blood looks like in a black and white video? Shadows. Shadows!"
This photo has nothing to do with blood, thank goodness, but it is all about shadows cast on my hallway wall this morning. The sun was dancing on the leaves of a potted palm which left beautiful shapes and lines swirling along the empty canvas. The wall is red, well more like brick, which I think detracted from the light and dark so I converted the photo to black and white to make more of an impression. Though I think more shadows in the lower right corner of the photo would make the image too busy, I don't like the empty space.
If you have time have a listen to the John Prine song I mentioned above. (the song is large in terms of file size and this is my first time experimenting with posting music on my blog so my apologies if it causes problems.)

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

I firmly believe beauty is in the eye of the beholder (though I failed miserably at proving that in a college paper back in the mid-eighties). I am sure the cliche is true because I know this drawing will not appeal to many of you. I, on the other hand, like it a lot. I prefer the actual drawing over the scan but you get the idea.
I spent a couple of hours on it - shading and doodling. I doodle almost every day, in the morning.

Switching it Up

I decided this morning when I was doing my daily drawing to switch up the visuals on my blog. Since I am in school now, pursuing a major in art, why not post some of my drawings. Eek. Scary. Here is a drawing I finished a short time ago. It is from a photo I took in Provincetown this summer. The drawing is done with Prismacolor pencils.

(The shadow in the upper right corner is due to a poor scan.)

Low Light Effect

My point and shoot camera limits the amount of control I have over exposure. I can make a few adjustments but when I get into a low-light situation such as a Lucinda Williams concert at the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, I just have to hope for the best. That is when I have to try to be a little more open minded and appreciate the effects a long exposure in a dark room. Or not.

Colorado Bliss

Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park

It has taken me some time to get back to my blog - Losing my kid was rough but the support I received from my friends and family was powerful. Thank you to all who stood by and to those of you who sent kind words. Lucy and I felt the warmth and love.
I think leaving for a vacation was the best thing I could do for myself last week. So I did. Thank you to Kathy and Michael for organizing an amazing adventure in Colorado. We spent two days touring Boulder, Lyons and Estes Park and three days listening to music at the 2007 Folks Festival in Lyons, Colorado. We had a great time indulging in the beauty only the Rocky Mountains can offer. The music at the festival was fun and inspiring. The weather was refreshing. The food - Yum! The friends - amazing. I guess the only thing I could have done without was the noises in our cabin on Sunday night - I was so sure there was a bear in our kitchen that I awoke Kathy and Michael so they could save my life. Kathy got up, marched right into the kitchen without any weapons - she didn't find a bear and assured me the newsflash I dreamed up while lying stiff as a board in bed - "tourist eaten by a bear while friends sleep in bedroom" - would not be seen flashing on tv screens across the nation.
I am looking forward to next year's festival.

David Rawlings and Gillian Welch at the
2007 Folks Festival in Lyons, CO.

Lucy 1993-2007

I will love you forever Lucy. Thank you for all the warmth, laughs, romps, love, licks and for cleaning up after the cats. I miss you, my girl!

Backyard Art

One of my many favorite things about my home is my backyard. I have always wanted to learn about gardening. I am not a natural gardener so I learn by looking at other gardens and magazines and reading information found on websites like Gardenweb. I was able to create a garden from scratch when I bought this home. It will be a work in progress as long as I am here which is part of the fun of it.
Another cool thing about my home is the really nice light in the backyard in the early evening.
This is an echinacea I grew from seed. I just love looking a little deeper into and under flowers. There is so much to see when you look for more.

Game? What game?

I went to the women's U.S. vs. Japan Send-off Series soccer match at San Jose State University with a few friends Saturday night. I was enthralled with the light coming into the stadium. It was gorgeous and made for beautiful shadows on the field. It wasn't until the second half of the game, when the sun set behind the stadium, that I could focus on what I had paid the big bucks to see.
U.S. 4 - Japan 1.

Lucy

My dog Lucy and I have been best friends for 14 years. She has been my one constant through some difficult times. We have had an amazing relationship and I am so thankful for all the good times we shared. We have enjoyed countless visits to the beach and romps in the snow - she has been canoeing and she even skim boarded for about 10 seconds. She was an artist at heart - drawing massive designs in the sand while dragging her favorite toy, a Frisbee, through tangles, turns and weaves in the sand. She has touched many hearts and won over many a meat filled hand. She traveled to San Felipe, Mexico twice.
Lucy has been a great dog - I can take her anywhere and she will hang by my side - no leash required. She has been so easy - we just click and work well together.
My girl is declining. She is blind now and mostly deaf. I carry her outside every few hours to do her thing and then I take her to her food bowl and water and then, wrapped securely in my arms, we walk to her bed where she settles in for another long nap. Lucy has cancer and is suffering from Cushings disease. She is exhibiting signs of pain around her eye which is where the cancer is so I am giving her pain meds twice a day.
My first reaction to all of this aging was fear and denial. Now I am trying to embrace her and love her and comfort her through the changes. She, as she has since day one, is being a trooper. She constantly walks into things but she perseveres and keeps going.
My girl is one of a kind and I will love her through this difficult time. I don't know if I can ever repay her the amount of love and support she has provided me the last 14 years but I sure as hell am trying.
Here's to my girl. Lucy Ball Falconer.

No photo

I don't have a photo to post today. I snapped a few of the morning light coming into my house this morning but they didn't excite me. I would rather show no photo than upload something forced.
I am in a transitional time right now. Drifting away from photography and more into drawing. A friend and I are in talks about a new creative business adventure. I will leave it at that until I am certain we are both in it 100%.
I know someday I will return to my camera but for now I need something different.

Algebra flashbacks

I have some time on my hands to figure out what I want to do with my life. I go in and out of wanting to go back to school to get a degree in something. I haven't made the leap yet because I haven't decided what I want to do when I grow up. Now is a good time to do just that.
So, back to school I go. My plan right now is to major in studio art. I am no master at art but I do enjoy it and I love drawing and doodling and sculpting so why not delve into some classes that will teach me more about those topics.
Not so fast. First - Math, science and communications classes. I really just want to play with clay and wire and concrete and paint and draw but I will have to wait to get to those classes.
I spent the last three days studying algebra so I could pass the assessment test at the local community college. I took the test today and passed. Intermediate Algebra - here I come.

Free Time

What does one do when they are laid off? Well, relax, play with the camera in the evening sun, relax.

Dog Dialog

Actually, it was more like a dog monologue. Beagle gets bossy about a stick he/she doesn't own.

A Step Toward Change

There comes a time when we have to step into change. That time is now for me. I was laid off from the Santa Cruz Sentinel on Tuesday June 26, 2007.

Pigs

I just told a couple of coworkers I feel like I did the day I was caught drinking in high school and had to wait to hear if I would be expelled. I was.

Today, I am waiting to hear if I will lose my job due to layoffs. I will know, apparently, by the end of the day.

Here is a photo I took this morning at an organic meat ranch in Las Lomas.

Speak your Truth

One of the privileges of being a photographer is the access I have to speeches I would not hear or even know about if not assigned to photograph the events at which they were spoken. The talk may be an award acceptance, a eulogy, a teacher's presentation to their students or a commencement speech. In some cases I may be looking at my watch hoping for it to end or I may feel the pressure of having to get a good photo and get on my way to the next assignment before the speaker has gotten to the heart of their delivery. Other times everything falls into place. I have time and the speaker delivers a profound message - a gift is given and I am there to receive it. That happened last weekend.
I accepted a freelance assignment from UCSC to shoot the Crown College graduation ceremony. While I was asked to get candids of the grads and the acting chancellor, the main objective was to get good shots of alumna Marti Noxon who would be speaking.
Marti Noxon, writer for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and executive producer for Grey's Anatomy graduated from Oakes College in 1987. Crown College invited her back to tell her story to the families, friends and grads of the class of 2007. The first part of the speech felt long and hard. Not because it was poorly written or spoken awkwardly but because she had a sad story. Anorexia, alcoholism, lonliness, desperation. She felt lost and didn't know what she wanted to do with her life. I felt fidgety and impatient at times. I wanted her to lift the story. It was hard to hear. After setting up the tragedy and struggle and darkness she said to the stone silent crowd "Thank you very much, have a nice weekend." Nobody made a sound for a millisecond then boisterous laughter filled the open field when she said "just kidding". It was dark, we needed to be lifted from that cavern.
She told us someone mentioned she had a knack for writing so she took that nudge and started writing. She began getting work as a writer. She had various jobs using her skills with words and even though she was making money she still wasn't happy. Again struggles plagued her daily life and unhappiness filled her soul.
Eventually, she awoke to the epiphany that she needed to write from her heart. She had to speak her truth. She stopped writing for the money and started creating for her soul. That is when she began to see and feel success. Doors began to open. She emerged from the darkness. Happiness filled her being. Marti Noxon persevered and is now a success in the tv and film industry and in her personal life.
Since hearing Noxon's story my mind has been whispering to myself - "speak your truth". I am dedicating this time of my life to finding that truth and celebrating it however I can.
Marti Noxon gave me a gift which I gratefully receive. I hope in speaking my truth I can give at least one person a gift they are waiting to receive.

Abby

I met Abby, a Cairn Terrier, at It's beach in Santa Cruz. Guess what her favorite game is.

Layoffs announced = Lack of Inspiration

It has been a while since I last wrote. The straight truth is my inspiration level has been in the toilet since Thursday June 7. It was on that day management announced eight people will be laid off from the Santa Cruz Sentinel. They left it at that. It has been six days and we still don't know who will be told to go home. This sort of environment is difficult to work in. Lots of speculation and worry.
Here is a photo of my name plate which still sits in the plastic sleeve on my cubicle wall. Perhaps this is the right time to remove the protective cover and make a firm stand as Kate Falconer - Photographer.

Smile for the Camera

A reporter and I visited a Shetland pony ranch in Moss Landing on Tuesday. The story is a preview of a Shetland and Miniature pony show in Watsonville this weekend.
One of the ponies and I instantly befriended one another. We were loving each other and working through the trust thing so much that the owner said to me - "He's for sale, you know." Yea, we were buds. Since I was there to shoot photos of the ranch, not to make life-long friends with a miniature-sized horse, I had to carry on with my business. I was shooting away while my new buddy stood by my side. He was nudging me and scoping out all of my gear. Then "OUCH!" I heard a scream - oh - that was me - "He bit me" I declared. And so he did - on my arm - it hurt. I don't usually scream - it just isn't part of me - but that was a scream. It startled me. Maybe more than the bite. I forgave him fairly quickly as I assured myself and the others he did it because he was feeling ignored. Not that biting someone else when you need attention is ok, but for that brief friendship, I let it slide.
The photo below is one of the other ponies - smiling for the camera... I think.

Laura Ellen Hopper

Laura Ellen Hopper a long time KPIG dj and program director passed away Monday May 28, 2007 after a short battle with cancer. She was 57 years old. Her name may be unknown to some but to others who tuned into the nonconformist 107 oink 5 weekdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. she was well known and liked. I didn't know much about her personal life but I loved her show and listened when I could. She introduced me to musicians such as James McMurtry, John Prine and John Hiatt. I had the pleasure of meeting Laura Ellen in the KPIG studio in Watsonville, CA last summer when we were doing a story about the radio station making cuts and switching to overnight automatic programming. She was welcoming and warm and kind despite the negative changes that were going on at the station she helped found in 1988.
I was very stunned and sad to hear she passed away. My heart goes out to her horse, two dogs, husband and the extended family of listeners with whom she passionately shared music.

Ptown

I am in Provincetown, Massachusetts for a week. This town is absolutely beautiful in every quaint, New England, coastal town way. Just about every nook and cranny is worthy of a photo or a painting or something artful.
This is the first photo I took of Ptown as we arrived on a ferry. To me it has a painted quality which is a direct result of shooting it through a window splattered with salt water.

High Dive

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is celebrating 100 years of amusement. I was looking forward to this assignment - lots of color and fun and action. I perused photo sites and photo blogs this morning to get even more inspired. I had high hopes of coming home with several great shots. The editor suggested I get photos of a special trampoline and high dive show that was in town for the summer-long party. I spent 30 minutes (a long time in photojournalist terms) shooting the acrobats. The photos had so much potential.
As I was trying to find the best angle I was reminded how difficult it is to get a great shot. There are so many things to think about - What is in the background? Is it clean? If there are things going on in the background do they help tell the story? Do you have enough in the view finder to tell the story? Is the composition interesting? Do you want to use a wide-open aperture to blur out everything behind the athlete or use the smallest opening to get everything in focus? What about the shutter speed? Don't forget to set your camera to stop the motion if that is what you want - or maybe you want to shoot slower to produce trails, showing movement. So many things to think about. In the end you may have made all the right decisions for a well exposed composition but without the moment, you don't have the great shot. This challenge is what keeps me coming back.

Drinking and Driving

This has been a difficult week in Santa Cruz County. There have been not one, not two, but three accidents caused by drunk drivers. Two of the three accidents resulted in the deaths of innocent people just going about their life. What is there to say. I have thought several times about the young woman who had been walking home from her boyfriend's house Monday night when she fell victim to a careless driver who had 3 previous DUI charges. Last night a 19-year-old college student was arrested for felony drunk driving and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated after he veered his truck into the rear of a bicycle travelling on the side of the roadway. That unidentified man was killed. Sad. Just sad.

This is by no means a great photo but it is the only evidence I saw from a nightmare that will haunt families and friends of this week's victims for years to come.

CHP Officer Grant Boles holds a bike an unidentified man was riding when he was hit and killed by a drunk driver on Thurber Lane in
Santa Cruz early Friday morning.

Private Snail Moment

I was sitting in my office at home procrastinating when I looked out the window and saw the late afternoon sun doing some cool things. I grabbed my camera to snap off a few shadow shots then I saw these two snails hunkering down in a little shaded place between fence posts.

Softball Sequence

I shot a varsity softball game yesterday. I came away with this little sequence. I didn't even consider submitting it for the sports page but now, a day later, I wish I had.

Harry

This is Harry. He likes to stroll along the bike/walking path which borders the Monterey Bay on the west side of Santa Cruz. His human mother has on her answering machine not to worry about Harry because he will find his way home. She says she receives about 7 calls a day from people worried Harry is lost. Harry is not lost, he is just making his daily rounds on his favorite walking path.

Couple in White

A couple of friends and I were walking through Golden Gate Park today when I spotted an older couple sharing a rock. They struck me as I walked by. They were dressed mostly in white and they had a sweetness about them that I could not resist photographing. I asked if they would mind if I took their photo. They said that would be fine. So I did. Here they are - a darling couple - strangers in the park.

I (heart) Sports

I had a realization on the job today. I love shooting sports and I miss it. That is how I got started in this business. I combined my love for sports with my passion for photography and started my own sports photography business. Later, I decided to go for something that would provide a consistent paycheck. Hence the newspaper job.
One of our staff photogs has 40 some years seniority over me and his passion is sports so he gets almost all of the assignments relating to sports. Can't argue with that one. But I can spend more of my own time out there shooting what I love most.
This photo will run with a story about the Watsonville High School varsity baseball team doing everything they can to get to the playoffs for the first time since 1991.

Key West - The other side

Ususally when you go to Key West, Florida you come home with pictures of the aqua and teal colored water or Duval Street or maybe photos of the lush tropical plants you see all over the island or the fabulous architecture lining the streets of this sometimes quaint town. I am looking for those photos but the star of my photographs so far is a baby chicken who remains nameless at this time. Surely she/he will get a name that will suit one who lives in a palace, is fed delicacies of corn chips and mango and has playtime in a yard filled with feathered friends and bugs galore. This little chicken just showed up at my friend Kathy's door (as goes the story we hear for all the other animals she has adopted) just two weeks ago. Anyway - this is Chicken doing the Key West kick it on the couch with me at kathy's house.

Shoe on a Roof

I have seen shoes is the strangest places and have thought of doing a series on just that. This may be the first photo in the collection.

Balloon Destiny

I shot this photo while waiting for an identity theft presentation to begin. I love it when I can look past my hands and see something that intrigues me.

Faces

I had 6 or 7 or maybe more assignments today - It has been so slow lately but today was crazy busy. One of my assignments was to photograph a mental disability support center open house. I was worried I would come away with someone chompin' on some free food or a speaker standing behind a microphone in front of a small crowd. I looked a little deeper and saw this.

Slow

I guess my creative juices are running low. I haven't shot anything I felt deserved an upload to my blog. So in the interest of keeping this fresh and moving forward I am sharing a photo I took of my cats. Uh oh - resorting to family pets. Perhaps not a path I want to go down. On the other hand maybe it will inspire me to push myself a little.

Anyway - this is AJ and Bean delving into treats.

Reflect

We all need to take a moment to reflect on our new sneaks. Actually, I think this little guy might be wondering if he got the right left.

Same Event, Different Year

Every year on Good Friday actors perform a re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross in Watsonville, the town in which I work. I like covering this event. I know what to expect in terms of the flow of the performance and I enjoy the challenge of finding a new angle, a new way to show the actors and the thousands of people who come out to watch the show.