Organic Light Photography Newsletter
Issue #13 - Winter 2006
© Youssef Ismail / Organic Light Photography - All Rights Reserved
Winter Light
The Fever
As I sit here writing this essay in northern California it is a nice sunny day with a temperature in the upper 60's - lower 70's and it's February! Now don't get me wrong, it is very nice, but there just seems to be something out of place. California is not the only place where winter seems to be absent either. The Midwest and the East Coast were also experiencing unusually warm winters earlier in the season as well. While other areas were being smashed by unusually high amounts of snow, wind and rain. Now last year, California experienced a fairly cold winter with much rain and a much higher amount of snow while the Pacific Northwest had a nearly drought-condition winter. At the same time the winter we had here in the San Francisco Bay Area was strange indeed. It started out normal and then became almost June-like with near beach temperatures that brought out the fruit tree blossoms. A couple of weeks pass and the Bay Area gets hit with a series of storms that dumped a total of 11 inches of snow on the surrounding hills and mountains killing off all the blossoms before they had a chance to be pollinated - a disaster for local farmers!
Last summer here in California and across the country we were gripped in a massive heat wave the likes of which rarely makes the record books. What will this summer bring? Speculation brings us nothing but worry yet one can't help but wonder what is happening to Mother Earth? I think it's clear that the Earth is ill.
One of the first signs of illness in the human body is the emergence of a fever.  A mechanism of the body that releases agents into our bloodstream and facilitates the speedy delivery of disease fighting cells to kill the virus or bacterium that brings our ails. When we get a fever, we take measures to help our body heal by resting, taking the necessary medicine and seeking out medical advice, which could result in treatments that require lifestyle changes. Now most fevers are not fatal but if the body temperature gets too high serious neurological damage to the brain or physiological damage to the heart can occur.
The urgency of regaining our health is great. It is even more pronounced when illness strikes a loved one, like a parent, child or spouse. The thought of losing someone that we dearly love due to illness is almost unbearable. I have always been disturbed to find that most people don't think of Mother Earth in that way. On the contrary it seems like the majority of people who inhabit the Earth have no problem trashing her, polluting her, or raping her of her resources. I remember as a young child seeing those commercials of that Native American man, Iron Eyes Cody, riding horseback and stopping atop a hill looking upon a city with the air choked in light brown smog or him paddling a canoe through a lake or river that is clogged with garbage. Then to focus in on his face, a face that is full of anguish and pain about what has become of the dear Earth with tears streaming down his cheeks. I felt his pain as a little boy just as I feel it today.
What are we doing to our Mother? Her temperature is rising and by it she is putting into motion the forces needed to bring her a healing, to rid herself of the source of her ills just like our bodies do to a disease-causing organism.  I think what worries me most is that what she is trying to rid is nothing other than us. If we continue to neglect our duty to the Earth of being her caretakers and stewards then we are sealing our fates as vermin waiting to be exterminated by the very entity that supports us. We need to wake up and start acting in a proper manner with regards to the Earth before we drive her to her demise as well as driving ourselves to ours. Its not just the moral thing to do but its also the fulfillment of one of our divine purposes - to be stewards of the Earth - as related in one of the sacred traditions of the Prophet Muhammad who said "God has made the Earth green and beautiful and has placed you as stewards over it".
If we don’t wake up and change what we are doing to the earth, we will be facing some serious consequences. It does not take much to make a difference. Drive your car less and only when necessary. If you can, drive a non-polluting vehicle like an electric car. Turn off the lights in a room when you are not in it and use energy efficient equipment. Recycle. Use reusable bags at the grocery store, or at least ask for paper bags which are not only recyclable, but come from a renewable source rather than plastic which is petroleum based. Reduce the amount of garbage that goes to the landfills by composting and then plant a garden and use the compost you made.
 Enjoy the organic veggies and fruits from your own garden. Or at the least buy organic foods and encourage the stores you frequent to carry organic foods so that less pesticides are used in the world. Plant trees - a lot of trees. The Earth would be dead without them. Pick up garbage if you see it at the beach, or the park, or along a trial or campground. Don’t be as mindless as the person who left it there in the first place! We can all do something to help make the Earth a little healthier and hopefully bring down her fever. She will appreciate every little thing that we do, and believe me our efforts will not go unnoticed. And last but definitely not least, go out and be with the Earth and fall in love with her. Because how can we take care of something that we don’t love?
Peace to You All
Youssef Ismail
Organic Light News
Organic Light Press
Late last year, Organic Light Photography took a big step forward by forming the Organic Light Press!
Now with a publishing arm, Organic Light photos can be seen in books, calendars and greeting cards.
Greeting Cards
The fisrt publication from Organic Light Press is the "Seasons Signature Series" Greeting Cards. The series contains 12 stunning Organic Light photos on glossy heavy weight card stock.  A signed image appears on the front of the card, with the reflection on the image printed on the back. The inside of the card is left blank for you to personalize the card however you wish.
The set includes some Organic Light Classiscs that have been released as fine art prints and some that have never been printed before.
The images included in the series are
Tidy Tip Morning
The Sound of Peace
New Beginnings
Aspen Haven
Sole
Snowy Hollow
Silence
A Place Unknown
Russian Sunset
Black Oak
Stranger and
Sky Fire
Black Oak and Aspen are two photos that have never been released as fine art photographs, in fact they are not even on the website...Yet!
The cards are sold individually with a matching envelope or as an assorted boxed set of 12 cards with envelopes (one card of each image). To order cards visit the Press section of the Organic Light Photography website today.
2008 Wall Calendar
Organic Light Press is also pleased to announce its first 2008 Wall Calendar with the theme "From Darkness to Light". This is a full 12 inch by 12 inch color wall calendar covering all 12 months of 2008. In addition, technical information about all twelve photographs and where and when they were taken is included as part of the calendar, not to mention the thoughtfully written reflections giving us daily reminders about moving from Darkenss and into the Light.
Currently only commercial orders are being taken in quantities of 25 or more. Retail sales will begin in July of 2007. More information can be found on the Press page of the Organic Light Photography website.
Digital Photography Classes
This past year I had the great fortune of teaching digital photography in collaboration with the Vista Homeschooling Learning Collaborative and the LEAD Center and the Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation after school program. At the start of this year, classes are also being taught in cooperation with a another non-profit organization - A Schmahl Science Workshop. Schmahl Science is a wonderful organization that is based on making science fun and learning by doing. The workshops and classes are both fun and educational and are taught by real-world scientists and engineers with real-world experience. They offer classes for all grade levels from 5th through 12th.
During the winter term, Organic Light Photography taught a Pinhole Photography workshop that spanned six weeks to middle and high school students through Schmahl Science. It was a great success! The students designed and built their own pinhole camera and made several exposures using black and white photographic paper as film. They then learned how to develop the film using tradtional photo-chemistry in a real (but make-shift) darkroom. Following that, they learned how to create positive photographs from their film negatives. Many great discoveries were made along the way and everyone had a great time!
In the coming Spring term, Organic Light Photography will be offerig classes with LEAD, Schmahl Science and the Los Gatos-Saratoga Recreation. Signups are taking place now. In fact, the Schmahl Science class is already filled!
Discussions are also under way to teach a "Nuts and Bolts Digital Photography" Weekend Course to young photographers with Keeble and Schuchat, the northern California premier photography store this summer. More information on this class in the coming months, so stay tuned.
So if you have a budding photographer in your home, and live in the San Francisco Bay Area, then you really owe it to your young photographer to enroll him or her in one of these exciting classes. They will see the world in a whole new way!
If you would be interested in setting up a similar class, or think that the school district, or after school program in your area would be interested in running a similar class please Contact Us and we can work out the details.
Did You Ever Wonder?
Have you ever wondered how Organic Light Photos were made?
Do you have a camera... like taking photos but were disappointed with the results?
If you could ask one question that you think would improve your photos what woudl it be?
Would you like to have that question answered by a professional photographer who understands your frustration?
Well now is your chance!
Just click the link below and enter in your question. You have nothing to lose?
ASK YOUR QUESTION NOW!
Photo Techniques 101: Exposure - Part 1
In this issue I start a series of articles directed towards understanding exposure. This seems to be the most often asked question during workshops and classes so now I will try to demystify this topic.
In Part 1, the discussion turns towards the Aperture. To read the full article visit the Techniques Section on the Organic Light Photography website now!
What else would you like to see explained here? Let Us Know!
Organic Light Website
Photo Of The Month
For February 2007 the Photo of the Month - Santa Cruz Winter, was taken last year in the Santa Cruz Mountains after a strange late winter strom dropped over 6 inches of snow in one night. Maybe not such a big deal to most, but to us living here in the San Francisco Bay Area, its major! The photo is on sale this month at a 25% discount!
So check in and let us know what you think. We'd love to hear from you.
Organic Light Workshops
2007 Workshop Schedule
 Do you own a camera?
Do you have a yearning to learn how to use your camera to its fullest capability?
Have you ever wanted to learn the techniques that will allow you to produce some award winning photos?
Or maybe you have always wanted to find some beautiful photogenic locations with the aide of an informed guide?
Then consider signing up for an Organic Light Photography Workshop.
The 2007 schedule is below. Just visit the Organic Light Photography Workshops page for all the details and register today!
January 19 - 21: Photoshop for Photographers - Concluded
February 16 - 18: Photoshop for Photographers - Concluded
March 9 - 12: Photoshop for Photographers - Last One This Winter! SIGN UP NOW!
March 30 to April 2: California Desert Wildflowers
April 20 - 23: Bay Area Wildflowers and Redwoods - FILLING UP FAST
May 18 - 21: Redwoods and Seascapes - FILLING UP FAST
A special note regarding the 2007 May Redwoods and Seascape workshop: This work shop will be held in conjunction with Calypso Imaging, now based in Santa Cruz. The locality of Calypso and the classroom facility there make it an ideal location to base ourselves for this popular workshop. Sign up today! Click Here!
June 8 - 11: High Sierra Excursions
July 20 - 23: Marin Coast and Headlands
August 17 - 20: Big Sur Coastline
September 21 - 23: Photoshop for Photographers - Last Chance for 2007!
October 5 - 8: Eastern Sierra Fall Color
November 2 - 5: Autumn in Yosemite Valley
2007 Art Shows
In the months ahead show conformations will start coming in. I am expecting several great shows to be in the line up.
May 11-13: Stanford Spring Faire, Stanford, CA - Confirmed!
June 2-3: Conejo Valley Art Walk, THousand Oaks, CA
June 16-17: Marin Art Festival, Marin, CA - Confirmed!
June 23-24: Danville Fine Arts Faire, Danville, CA
July 14-15: San Anselmo Art and Design Festival, San Anselmo, CA - Confirmed!
August 25-26: San Palo Alto Festival of the Arts, Palo Alto, CA
September 15-16: Mill Valley Fall Arts Festival, Mill Valley, CA
September 22-23: Plesanton Heritage Festival, Plesanton, CA
October 13-14: Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival, Half Moon Bay, CA
October 20-21: Danville Fall Crafts Festival, Danville, CA
November 23-25: San Diego Arts Festival, San Diego, CA
In addtion to these fine shows, You can always come by on Sunday Mornings at the Campbell Farmers Market when I don't have any other scheduled event. Its a wonderful market in the downtown area. So if you have a few hours to kill on a Sunday, I would love to meet you.
A Humble Request
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 what remains of our warm winter and the comint Spring! Till then...
Sincerely,
Youssef Ismail
Organic Light Photography
www.organiclightphoto.com
See The World in a New Light...
....Organic Light!
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