Organic Light Pan

Well another Open Studio show comes to a close.  This was the first year that I exhibited all three weekends with the Silicon Valley Open Studios.  It was a lot of work, but in the end very much worth it.  I met many new people and some became patrons, thank you – you know who you are.

I also initiated a FREE Photo Giveaway this year during these past three weeks.  Any SVOS visitor, patron or even website visitor who sent in an email entry was entered in a drawing for a FREE matted Studio sized photograph of their choice.  I am still accepting entries until midnight tonight, May 16, 2010.  Once the entry period closes, I will be entering all the participants in at random.org and will announce the winner here on the blog Wednesday May 19th, 2010.  Good Luck to all who entered.

Finally the once-a-year SVOS discount comes to a close at midnight as well, so if you have not put in an order, do it now.  In the past I have used a mystery coupon with a unique code asinged to each and every SVOS promotion card that I either mailed or passed out.  Visitors presenting the card would then find out how much the card was worth towards a purchase of a photograph.  This year, I guess I was just lazy and offered a 15% discount across the board.  Thanks to all of you who made use of this discount.  Your purchase was geratly appreciated.

So stay tuned for the FREE Photo winner announcement in a few days.  Now, its time for a shower, dinner and bed.

Peace.

The 2010 Open Studio Exhibition starts tomorrow May 1.  For the first three weekends this May, May 1-2, May 8-9 and May 15-16 from 11 am to 5 pm, I will be pulling out all the photos in the my studio and will have them on display.  Classic Organic Light favorites, early works, and New never before seen NEW Releases will be on display and for sale as well.

This year, the sale will go on for the entire three weeks, from May 1st to May 16th, whether the purchase is made in person or online, there is a 15% discount on all photographs, custom posters and note cards.

In addition, anyone who makes a purchase in person or online, or visits the Open Studio Exhibit, or even just visits the website and sends in a name, email and mailing address, will be entered into this year’s FREE Photo Giveaway.  The lucky winner will be drawn randomly using random.org and will receive one Matted Studio Series photograph of their choice!

So to enter, visit the Exhibit in the next three weeks or go online and send in an entry from the Contact Page.  I will enter your name in the drawing.  The winner will be announced on Wednesday May 19th here on the Organic Light Pan web journal.  Good Luck to all who enter!

For more information on the exhibit and where the Organic Light Photography Studio is located, visit the Exhibits Page on the web site.

See you all soon.

UPDATE:  I was asked if I would consider residents outside of the USA for the FREE photo giveaway.  I considered it all day, and have come to the conclusion that I will honor all visitors, worldwide.  Shipping will be interesting as I cannot gauge the final cost, but I will open this contest for all – worldwide.  So send in your entries and good luck!

Death's Hand in Black & White

Death’s Hand which was originally released as a color photo, was entered as a Black & White photograph in this year’s Prestigious Black & White Spider Awards.  The Spider Awards have just notified the winners of this year’s competition, and ‘Death’s Hand in Black & White’ won 2nd place in the Nature Category among Professional photographers!  You can view the winners in the Nature Gallery and see the nominees that Death’s Hand was competing against at THIS LINK.

I will be issuing a set of 25 Black & White Limited Edition Prints of ‘Death’s Hand in Black & White’, 10 at the size of  8×10, 10 at the size of 12×15 and 5 at the size of 16×20.  They will be numbered consecutively as they are printed as orders come in.  The photos will printed on Ilford Gold Fiber Silk on the Epson 7880 using UltraChrome K3 inks and mounted and double matted using white archival museum rag board.  Framing is avaiable as well. You can place your order below.   Shpping and handling will be added at the time of payment depending on destination.  Worldwide shipping is available.

In a few days we will begin a new decade.  It is amazing how fast time passes when we are not aware, while we are busy with life, while we were preoccupied with meaningless things.  For me it has been a busy year but albeit not one that has been very fruitful. It was a year that tested our resolve to its fullest, and hopefully we have made it through in decent shape.

It has been a slow year for me in terms of bringing out new work.  I now have released 16 new photographs that can be viewed at the Organic Light Photography website.  They span the work from spring, summer, autumn and the early winter of this year.

In these last few days of 2009, I hope you will get a chance to have glimpse of this new work and hopefully decide to acquire one for your own.  I have truly appreciated all your support over the years and it is always my joy to bring some of our world’s beauty to share with all of you.

Please have safe new years and may 2010 bring all of prosperity and good fortune.

Peace.

New Crescent - Muharram 1431

This evening, in silence, the new Islamic year – 1431 began.  Now I don’t live in the Muslim world so I have never experienced what takes place upon seeing the new moon that ushers in the new Islamic year, but here in the United States, it goes pretty much un-noticed.   In fact if it is not the moon for the start of Ramadan or the moon that ends Ramadan, most Muslims never look into the sky or even bother to notice what the Islamic date is.  For me the new moon is an awaited monthly friend that I have been faithfully visiting for the last twenty years.  For me it is always a joyous event.  And although the moon never seems to be any different, every time it comes around it comes with a different sky as its backdrop.  And so it is always something new to look at.

Muharram Crescent and Clouds

So on this eve of the New Year, I wish all the Muslims a Blessed Muharram, and may the year 1431 be a safe, prosperous, and beneficial year.

Peace to you all.

Wednesday evening marked the beginning of the Hajj, the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca. The moon was stark, the sky was beautiful, and the air was bitterly cold. But when you do what you love, nothing can get in the way.

Dhul-Hjjah Begins

Good luck to all those making the Pilgrimage, may your scarifice be accepted and may you find what you seek.

No More Words

I just wanted to remind everyone of the Fall Photo Sale that is going on right now. Due to the inability of bringing the photos to the public on a weekly basis at an art show, exhibit or other market place, I have set up an online gallery where the current inventory can be viewed and purchased for Immediate Delivery!

In addition, The prices in this sale are the same as those at any venue where the photos can be purchased in person.  What this means is that you are getting a discounted price – discounts range from 5% for the larger pieces all the way up to nearly 20% for the smaller pieces.  That is a substantial savings from the normal website prices.  But these prices won’t be available for ever on this site.  So don’t miss this opportunity to get some Organic Light into you life TODAY!

Autumn Meadow In Yosemite Valley

This Autumn and for the near future it will be difficult to exhibit at local art shows and markets due to not having a vehicle to pull the trailer that is used to transport the show equipment to the various locations.  To this end, I have set up an online gallery of all the photos that I have in my current inventory that would normally be seen at an art show. 

The prices in this gallery reflect those obtainable at an exhibit or art show which have always been lower than the website price.  They are also immediately deliverable with a wait time of only 3-5 days rather than the typical 1-2 week delivery time with a regular website purchase for an on-demand print job.  I will be uploading more photos in coming days as I have much more inventory and availability of current inventory will be reduced as sales occur.

To view the gallery Click on This Highlighted Link or on the Autumn Photo Sale link in the Right Sidebar.  I have also listed the last scheduled workshop for this year, Maples and Redwoods, October 23 – 26 as well as private photography instruction or photo tour. 

If there is an image that you particularly enjoy that you do not see in the sale gallery, or the image you like is not immediately available in the size you desire, then please visit the Organic Light Photography Website Gallery Page and place your order there and I will be more than happy to custom print, mat and send it to you.

I truly appreciate your consideration in helping keep Organic Light Photography a viable source of beauty and inspiration to all and the source of  livelihood for me and my family.

I Sincerely Thank You.

~ Youssef

I hate to “toot my own horn” but I am featured in an online interview at Examiner.com.   Check it out and let me know what you think.

Space is still available in this month’s Maples and Redwoods workshop set in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  Visit lesser frequented canyons and old growth redwood groves and capture Autumn like you may never have seen it before.

'Why?' - Big Leaf Maple in Fall Color

Redwoods Glowing in Afternoon Light

Glowing Maple Leaves on Alpine Creek

For more information and to register visit the Workshop Page on the Organic Light Photography Website.