Geting published on CreativeLIVE

I am so excited! Tomorrow the lady with the Crazy Idea will be teaching a class on CreativeLIVE. Jasmin Star is one of the top wedding photographers of today. Just a quick look at her website and you're already inspired.


Jasmin will be teaching a class named "Getting Published. Shooting an Editorial Wedding". Maybe you are not necessarily into wedding photography, but I can guarantee you that this class will be nothing less than inspiring.

To watch the class FREE go to CreativeLIVE.com/live tomorrow at 9AM PT. While you're there you can also browse around course catalog to view their upcoming classes. They're all great and absolutely free if you watch them live.

Water Angel

I personally find this such an amazing artwork. What is even more amazing is that it was actually photographed by splashing water on the model. No, it is not added with Photoshop.

Jaroslav Wieczorkiewicz, the artist behind the artwork shares a little bit about it in this blog post (by Strobist).

Creative Highlights: Panning

*If you have your own DIY project, contact me at inspire@live.com to get featured on Creative Highlights.
Panning is the Creative Highlight for this week. If that makes you think of photography, you're in the right arena. I learned to do this via Daily Window. Can't wait to try it out myself.

Now from the outcome it may seem like you need a fancy DSLR to achieve it, but apparently it can even be achieved with an iPhone. So grab your camera (or phone) and go some place where you find a moving object or person.

Photo by: Mamatha Srivathsa

Basically all you have to do is:

• choose a shutter mode (if that option is available)
• start following your object
• press the shutter
• continue following your object with your camera

Easy right? If you need to get all of the nitty gritty details of how to get this done, you can just click here and it will take you to the original post. Happy Panning!

*Creative Highlights: Every Tuesday I will showcase an easy DIY project that we could make for that week. If you end up doing it, you can share about it in the comment section. Are you a blogger? I would encourage you to write about it and also share that too.

Live Life

 Here is a quote to get you started this week (not sure who came up with it):

"Taking time to live life will only inspire your work"

The picture is just one of the ones I uploaded today. I am really enjoying taking pictures with my camera. Check them out and let me know what you think.

It was a cactus bud

No, it was not an artichoke. Tracey G and Michelle had it right! Yesterday's Wordless Wednesday picture is of an cactus bud. This particular cactus called "Dama di anochi" (lady of the night) in Papiamentu, only opens its flowers during the night and it only does so about twice a year. Last night was the first night that one flower opened. Tonight all of the buds are supposed to open.

Here is a snapshot of what it looked like last night.

See the little bud on the lower right?

Wordless Wednesday - Do you know what this is?

The Best Camera Ever

Photo credit: Bea loves photography

Have you seen the pictures from my fun week? At the present moment I am still full of inspiration from all that I saw.  There is one thing that came to mind during that trip that I believe we can all learn from. After trying to capture every shot with my camera, I took a break and realized that I had a much more powerful camera than the one I was holding.....my eye.

Think about it for a minute, with the eye we can capture pictures in an instant without having to play around with shutter speed, aperture, or flash. Use of the eye is completely free and the images can never be destroyed.

Just like a photographer can photograph the most ugliest of things in an attractive way, we can also choose to see the ugliest situations in our lives with a different eye by creatively seeing the positive inside of it. Besides, make sure that you do not forget the beautiful moments your natural camera captures. Hang them all up in the gallery of your mind. This way you are always surrounded by beauty.

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I am currently working on making the InspirU CooCoo Facebook page. Head on over, like it and say hello. Can't wait to see you there.
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Pictures after a week of fun

As promised, here are some pictures taken during my time exploring Curacao.  You can find some more in the album "Curacao" on Flickr. It was an amazing week, but I did miss blogging.

The above picture is the most creative thing I saw this week, a pot made out of an ostrich egg shell.  

Relaxing

Will be exploring Curacao in the next couple of days. Will be back later with pictures (this one was taken yesterday).

In the mean time would really like to hear more about the most relaxing place you've ever experienced. (I will be checking the comments).

Wordless Wednesday - Whip your hair

Photo by ►CubaGallery  

Write it out

Inspiration comes to me in so many ways on a daily basis. This blogging adventure led me to read so many blogs that inspire me all the time. Just a few seconds ago I was visiting Dishwater Dreams where I read a sad but rather creatively put together story about her old house.

The way she wrote the story is so amazing. Three years ago I took a creative writing class that was mainly focused on writing stories. We wrote some really cool things, but I never continued growing in it. So today I am challenging myself and everyone else to creatively write something about this day. Here the two points that I still remember from that class.

• Use adjectives to bring life to the story
• Make sure your story has a beginning, middle and an end

Can't wait to see what everybody comes up with. It can be a long one or just 2 lines. Write it in the comment section, Facebook page or on your blog. Just make sure you let me know by commenting below. Will share mine tomorrow.

Photo taken with my new camera

Never Give Up!

Photo credit: Rebeca Cygnus

After a plan fails, it is so easy to give up and never try again. This is actually what most people do after a disappointment. These people are not aware of the fact that the average entrepreneur fails two to three times before succeeding.

While spending some time reminiscing things that I have experienced in my life, I have realized the importance of not giving up. Somehow every great thing that I achieved came to a point where I was just about to give up. A point where it seems like everything fell through and it was not worth trying anymore. The good thing is that a while back I read a book called Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success by John C. Maxwell. This book has completely changed my outlook on life. After reading it I passed it on to a friend, but luckily I found some of the quotes on a blog called Twice The Work.

A quote that I wanted to share was "If you always do what you've always done, then you will always get what you've always gotten." This is where creativity steps in. The quote is not an unfamiliar one, yet it is something all of us does more than often. So please take some time today, think of at least one thing in your life that you are not succeeding at and try to find a creative way to change it.


Here are some other quotes I loved about the book:

"Ninety percent of all those who fail are not actually defeated. They simply quit."                     Paul J. Meyer

"The fight to take responsibility occurs within. And rarely does talent, intelligence, or opportunity make the difference in whether a person wins that battle. It calls for character."    John Maxwell

"Sooner or later we get just what we expect."                                                                             Unknown

If you have not read the book as yet, I suggest you buy it and read it. Your outlook on life will never be the same.

Wordless Wednesday

Where would you like the road to take you? Been writing a lot so I thought this would be a good switch. (Via Ank | 2d studio in vorm)

I fell in love with a towel

During #commenthour last night I was sharing how I need more ideas of things to share. That's when Lindsey from Dishwater Dreams told me about this challenge she has every Monday for people to be more creative. You can find the button below. 

Anyway this week challenge sounds like this: "Look up for your computer. Now. Right now. Fall in love with the first thing you see. Now create."

The first thing I saw was this blue towel, so I added some colorful paper scraps to it, created this beautiful heart and took a picture of it with my new baby. Now I just hope that I'm the favorite on Monday.

My new baby

It is black, small, lightweight and does not leave me diaper surprises. Don't worry I am not being a racist, here is a picture of the two of us.

It is a Canon EOS Rebel T3 that I have completely fallen in love with. This camera is my first intent at photography. I'm at a starters level, but enjoy the challenge of learning more and more about this amazing artwork. In certain ways it seems like I am seeing the world to a different lens.

As I learn more about the ins and outs of the photography world I will be sharing more and more on this blog. In the mean time, here are some of the first pictures taken by my wonderful baby.

Would love to hear about your experiences with photography. Or you can just holla if you like looking at pictures. Does anyone know a good site to learn more about using DSLR cameras?

Breathtaking Curacao sunset tripych

Recently I stumbled upon these pictures I took of a breathtaking sunset in Curacao. So I decided to put them together in Photoshop and create a tripych.It was taken at my house, so that is why you can see part of the roofing with some trees. I thought it looked kind of cool and chose not to crop it out of the picture.

Other Curacao related posts:

- Orguyo | Triptych 
- Curacao flavoured artwork - Nena Sanchez 
- Curacao beaches - playanan di Korsou

Wordless Wednesday

Stairing into eternity

'The Tulip Stairs' (through Beautiful Portals) is an eye catching photograph showcases this beautiful staircase in the Queen's House in London. Martin Turner is the photographer behind the steps inside the former royal residence. Apparently Martin had to dodge some security guards to take it, like a photography fairytale.

'Stairing into eternity' is what I called it. The twirls seem never ending, the angle is just right, the lighting is perfect and the hues of blue completes its awesomeness. A picture I could stare at for ages.

Everything will be ok

In my part of the world we get Ascension day off, so I will be relaxing with my family tomorrow. Don't know about you, but this week has been kind of hectic for me. With a lot of things going through my head aside from all that is already keeping me busy. So this is the reminder I used to stay calm. Hope it will work for you as well.

The song 'Don't worry be happy' goes really good with the quote. Dancing like the guys in the music video will sure take ALL your worries away.

*Photography by Susan Fore

Fly away

Simply put, this is what I feel like doing today. So my plans for the weekend are trying to fly and go to the beach with my family. What are yours?

*Btw, is anyone else having trouble commenting?

Picture found via Meg W. on Pinterest.