Autumn 2005 Newsletter
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Dear Friends, Patrons and Supporters of Organic Light,
Organic Light Photography - Issue #8 Autumn 2005 Newsletter
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AUTUMN MESSAGE
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Well, we are in the midst of another autumn. It is amazing how fast time passes us by. It seems like only yesterday that I was discovering what an amazing display of fall color existed right in my own back yard, the Santa Cruz Mountains of the San Francisco Bay Area. And here I am today, a year later reflecting on this new fall season and what it brings. Like I have said in the past, autumn is a reflective time. A time of appreciation, gratitude and as always hope. This really hit home for my family and I this past week as we rushed our matriarch, my wife's grandmother, to the hospital in what appeared to be a life-threatening emergency. Thank God, everything was fine and we are all back home now. Although late, we celebrated Thanksgiving on Sunday, three days after Thanksgiving Day after the emergency subsided. Now I am not one to use the holidays to conjure up feelings, but this year the thought of losing a family member again, really made me stop and reflect on what it is that I am thankful for.
If I were to list off all that I am thankful for, I think I would be here for the next three hours typing and you would no doubt fall asleep half way through, if I was lucky. But I am serious about how long that list would be. We take so many things for granted that we just don't even realize it. From the simplest thing like being able to take a breath - take one right now and just see how it feels to fill your lungs with air - and as you do that, what pleasant aroma or fragrance do you smell? I know clichés are trite, but really when was the last time we 'stopped to smell the roses', let alone appreciate them and the fact that we can see their beauty, and smell their amazing depression busting fragrance?
Or how about a hug - yeah a hug. When was the last time you hugged someone you love? I have this little four-year-old boy who gives these hugs that just melt way any negative emotion you might have and immediately send you into Hug Heaven. And if that was not enough, I am thankful for sibling rivalry, for as soon as one of my other two beacons of joy see the youngest getting / giving a hug, they want one as well and before we know it, it's a literal hug-fest in my house.
Like I said, I could go on for hours. But the point here is that we have very much to be thankful for. And we should reflect on that seriously. For in the last twelve months we have seen the oceans swallow hundreds of thousands of people in South East Asia. We watched as war ripped apart the lives of thousands in the Middle East. We felt the pain of tens of thousands of our own countrymen when they were metaphorically swept away by the winds of Katrina and then watched a hundred thousand or more suffer as the earth shook and brought cascades of brick and mortar down on top of them, burying them alive in the mountains of Kashmir. After seeing all this, I am amazed that we are not down on our knees in total and complete gratitude to our Creator for the blessings and safety that we all have from day to day.
So this year, in light of Thanksgiving, please take a moment and the next time you sit down to dinner, look across the table and appreciate those you are sitting with, the food the graces that table, and the fact that we can breathe another breath as we move along in this journey called Life. And give thanks to our Sustainer and Protector, our Creator, for everything we have in our lives, because no matter what condition we find ourselves in we are truly blessed and know, that things could always be worse.
Finally, I want to thank all of you, my patrons, family and friends. For without you, I never could have kept Organic Light Photography alive and thriving. It just thrills me to be able to continue bringing you the amazing scenes of our natural world.
Thank you and Peace to you all.
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ORGANIC LIGHT NEWS
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*** WORKSHOPS A BIG HIT ***
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This past year saw the introduction of the Organic Light Photography Workshops. Each workshop was conducted over a four day period covering a total of three full days of instruction and photography in some great locations here in California. The reviews from the participants were very encouraging:
"I think this is one of the best training sessions I ever had. I feel that the two and a half days I spent in the
workshop were really worthwhile." - Avais Dinga, Fremont Ca.
"Gaps in my knowledge were filled, fuzzy concepts were cleared up and I learned valuable new tools" - Matt Kramer, Cotati Ca.
"I value highly your instruction and example throughout the workshop. I trust the others gained as much from the experience as I did." - Peter Neibert, Kentfield Ca.
"Workshop was a lot of fun & learned a lot & greatly enjoyed" - Jawed Umerani, Palo Alto Ca.
"Thanks for a wonderful workshop. It provided me exactly the jump start I needed. I'm feeling really excited about photography..." - Bryant Zwart, Kensington Ca.
"Everything about the workshop was perfect: The lecture portion, the fieldtrip (I hoped it was longer) and the invaluable critiquing of our photos at the end. Looking forward to more workshops with Youssef!" - Marcos Hatada, Fremont CA
The coming year will see an expansion in the number of workshops as well in the skill level. In addition, I have started a youth program that will be taught this coming spring in Charter schools. With the planned expansion of that into a week-long Summer Day Camp for youth. So if you are interested in getting your kids involved in photography and nature, then be sure to keep an eye out on upcoming Newsletters for more information on participation and registration.
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*** Tentative 2006 Workshop Schedule ***
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The coming year will see an expansion in the workshops offered, both in number and in skill level. I will still be offering the Beginning Level workshop which will include 8 hours of instruction and 1 and 1/2 days of in-field photography and instruction as well as an evening recap and review of the images made during the workshop.
The seminar portion will cover:
1. Camera Systems and Operation
2. Exposure
3. Lens Selection
4. Additional Camera Accessories
5. Image Capture (Film and Digital)
6. Lighting
7. Composition
8. Field Tips
The coming year will see the addition of the Intermediate Workshop level which will include a 4 hour seminar portion that will heavily concentrating on exposure and composition, followed by 2 days of field photography and filed instruction with image review and critiques each evening.
Also this year, you will see the introduction of the Veteran Series Workshops. This series of workshops will again have a 4 hour seminar portion that is directed toward creating unique, unusual and otherwise extraordinary photographic compositions and will challenge the participants to make stunning photos from the apparently mundane.
The Tentative Workshop Schedule for 2006:
Beginning Level:
April 2006 - San Francisco Bay Area Spring Wildflowers and Redwoods
May 2006 - Redwoods & Seascapes
July 2006 - John Muir Woods & Marin Coast
August 2006 - Big Sur Coastline
Fee - $325 per person
Space limited to 10 seats
Intermediate Level:
March 2006 - California Desert Wildflowers
June 2006 - High Sierra Excursions
October 2006 - Eastern Sierra Fall Color
Fee - $525 per person
Space limited to 7 seats
Veteran Level:
September 2006 - California Oak Woodlands
November 2006 - Autumn in Yosemite Valley
December 2006 - Winter Trees of the Santa Cruz Mountains
Fee - $650 per person
Space limited to 5 seats
More information will be up on the Organic Light Photography website shortly. For those of you interested in registering for one or more of these exciting workshops, send us an email and we can pre-register you and place you on our Workshop Mailing list so that you can receive full information as it becomes available.
Further details with all logistics and workshop locations will be on the website shortly. Visit the website under the Services section at
http://www.organiclightphoto.com/services/lectures.asp.
Check it out and Reserve you space now!
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HOLIDAY SPECIAL
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This autumn was kind. I came across a stunning scene in the Sierras along the Merced River. I spent quite some time waiting for the light to be just right and struggled greatly to expose the film just right. I came away with a stunning autumn forest scene that I am sure will soon become an Organic Light Photography Classic. So it is with great pleasure that I make the following offer which is good for the remainder of the year. With any purchase from the Organic Light Photography website from now until December 31st, 2005 totaling $100 or more, you will receive the following photo, titled Enchanted Forest, as a 8.75x11 inch image double matted to a size of 14x18 inches for FREE! The image is included here. Don't miss out on this incredible image, before this offer expires.
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2005 ART SHOW SCHEDULE
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This year's scheduled art show's are nearly at there end. If you have not had the chance to come to one of them, well you have really got to treat yourself. Come out to the great Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival. Its fun for the whole family and come by and say hello. Always glad to see my patrons.
Now until the end of the year, Organic Light will be on display and for purchase at the Crocker Galleria in downtown San Francisco at Post and Montgomery every Wednesday from 11 am to 3 pm until the end of the year. The remaining days are Nov. 30th, Dec. 7, 14, 21 and 28. Don't miss the unique opportunity to see Organic Light in person! And hey, Organic Light makes a great gift as well for that special person this holiday season.
And hey don't miss me at the Campbell's Farmer's Market on Sundays in downtown Campbell when I don't have a scheduled show. It would be great to see you all and even if you have run out of wall space, just stop by and say hello! Keep an eye out on the website for more show information.
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A HUMBLE REQUEST
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Operating Organic Light Photography is time and capital intensive. It survives by you; my Patrons, Supporters and Friends. I am grateful that you have in the past helped Organic Light Photography with your purchase of one of my Fine Art Archival Prints or digital image for publishing or web use. My request is that you pass on this email to someone whom you think will appreciate Organic Light and would like to brighten their lives, homes, offices, or publication with some Organic Light. Your continued support and patronage is what keeps Organic Light Photography a viable source of beauty and inspiration to all and bread on my table.
I thank you for your continued support.
Enjoy The Autumn and approaching Winter!
Sincerely,
Youssef Ismail
Organic Light Photography
www.organiclightphoto.com
See The World in a New Light...
....Organic Light!
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