Blog

To Learn and Grow

At the Minnetonka Center for the Arts this week, I taught my first Making Photographs class. It did not go as I expected it would. Each of the students was looking for something different from the class than I anticipated. It was a good lesson in remaining open. After pondering how the class went I realized that this is an opportunity for me To Learn and Grow as a person as well as a photographer. Learning and growth are not always comfortable. I am relishing the opportunity to use all of my skills in exploring how to move this disparate Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Can I Be Okay With This?

The first snow of this season fell last night. This morning it felt like I awakened to a different world. After my initial disappointment in seeing the snow I asked myself… Can I Be Okay With This? And by that I meant more — can I be content and happy with this, can I find beauty and grace in it, can I thrive with this signal that winter is almost here? As I often do in the morning, I picked up my camera and began to make photographs through the living room windows. And the beauty I found lifted my Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Everything Changes

As I gazed out the window at the reflections in the pond this morning I could see how quickly Everything Changes this time of year. A slight breeze made all of the reflections on the pond look soft and blurry this morning. The blurriness felt perfect to express how it feels like we went from green leaves to spectacular technicolor landscapes to empty branches in the blink of an eye. Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.    — Henry David Thoreau The tree Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Savor Everything

With the rain this week and the weather turning colder here in Minnesota, the beautiful color of the past week is quickly fading. The cottonwood tree in our backyard is completely bare now and the river birch is on it’s way to bare. Still, I plan to Savor Everything even the bits I usually don’t enjoy. Life is short and my life is filled with countless blessings every single day. As I listen to the news of our country and our world, I am reminded of just how privileged I am. Savoring each moment and counting blessings is the least Read more…

By Marilyn, ago

Sumac Leaves

There are several patches of sumac that grow beside streets in our neighborhood. Today I noticed many different variations of coloration on the sumac leaves in one of those patches. So I parked the car, got out with my camera and wandered on the side of the street photographing the gorgeous shapes and colors of Sumac Leaves There were places where the leaves reminded me of prayer flags flapping in the wind… Earth’s crammed with heaven.– Elizabeth Barrett Browning And others that reminded me of butterfly wings floating through the air… There is just wonder right in front of us, Read more…

By Marilyn, ago