Story Imager

This is one of the first photos I ever took with a 35mm camera. Up until I bought this camera I had only used point-and-shoot – Kodak Instamatics and the like. I’d never used a camera that allowed for the immense creativity of focus, aperture and shutter settings. I had no idea what I was doing. I was just sitting on grandmother’s porch taking photos of my nephew, Jeremy, playing with soap bubbles. It may be the best photo I’ve ever taken. I still have lots more to take so the jury is still out on that.

I bought a 35mm camera to take on a trip to Hawaii with my grandmother in 1982. We had a wonderful time and I have lots of great photos of that trip, including some special photos of her and me together. 

For some reason I’ve always thought that the soap bubble photo was the beginning of my love affair with photography. As I started writing this blog I realized it started way before that. My grandfather (on my mom’s side) was always taking home movies and my parents were always taking Polaroid photos of me and my sister when we were kids. This was when you had to manually pull the film out of the big, bulky Polaroid camera, wait for it to develop, peel it off the backing paper and then swipe it with this chemical stick (that was our job) so the photo wouldn’t fade. Home movies were on 8mm film that had to be sent out to be processed and then played on a projector. A far cry from the instant gratification of photography and video now.

I think it was our grandfather who gave us our first cameras. He was always into “gadgets” and Kodak started mass marketing easy to load 125mm and 110mm cameras with cartridges that made it, more or less, foolproof for anyone to take photos. We were probably about 7 years old at the time. When we spent weekends at their house we would do chores– raking leaves (they had a huge magnolia tree in their front yard. I hated those leaves) and doing dishes to earn money to pay for the film and developing the pictures. We documented our trips with them, Arizona, Mesa Verde, Marineland. Cameras then (for us) were only for special occasions, like vacations. I probably still have those cameras packed away somewhere in my sister’s garage.

As I got older I became the the person who documents family events. I took photos at family gatherings and special events. I was the photographer at both of my sister’s weddings – the first one at home, the second one in a church.

I probably missed some of the traditional photos you’re supposed to do at a wedding (because I didn’t know any better) but it was my gift to my sister and her husband. I took behind-the-scenes photos at friends’ weddings – the stuff the professional photographer misses because they’re doing the “official” stuff. When I was in my 20s I drove my mom up to Petaluma for the wedding of her best friend’s son. In one of the photos I got during the wedding the bride had her hand on the groom’s butt. His parents LOVED that photo.

In the 80s my grandfather wanted to learn photography so we took a class together at Valley College. I thought it would give us something in common and bridge a divide that had grown between us. It didn’t. That was when I learned to love the Dark Room. I loved putting on my headphones, cranking up the music, developing film and printing photos. Funny thing, our instructor, a wedding photographer, HATED darkroom work. He enjoyed taking the photos and had an assistant for the boring (to him) work. I think that was when I started taking more photos of things, rather than people. I captured the play of light and shadow, of texture and line. I had a Disneyland Annual Passport at the time and would frequently go there just to spend the day taking photos of the plants and architecture. 

I’ve also chronicled the growing up stages of my sister’s kids. Around the time the boys became teenagers they pretty much left the room if I had a camera in hand. They indulge me now from time to time. 

For some reason people give me cameras. I don’t know where they got the idea that I COLLECT cameras, but I have the beginnings of quite a collection now.  

 There are several cameras missing from this photo – my Instamatic cameras that are packed away, two cameras that were stolen from my apartment back in the 80s and I was given a 60s Polariod Land Camera that isn't in the photo.

When digital cameras came along it was a revolution. I was FREE! Free to shoot whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted and didn’t have to wait until I had the money to buy or develop the film. I was free to experiment and if it didn’t work out I could just delete the photo - no wasted paper, film or chemicals! I was able to blog my unexpected, strange and fun trip to New York in 2010 (check the blog archives for more photos).

I could shoot all the funny, quirky things I saw as well as document my adventure in The Big Apple. In the evenings I would come back to the house I was staying in and post my photos, chronicling my day’s adventures.

For years now I’ve been shooting photos at events at work, at events for non-profit organizations of which I am a part – PPLA, The Hollywood Arts Council, The Burbank Chorale. Often the photos make their way onto Social Media, company/organization brochures and newsletters. Photography is as much a part of what sustains my life now as breathing is.

Earlier this year, I shared my adventures in Ireland with my family and friends back home (see May/June 2018 archives for more photos). I captured my generous host, Jane, without whom the adventure would not have even been possible plus beautiful vistas and cute shops and shared my days with people who were far away. I have wonderful memories of that brief time in an enchanted land.

Recently I started The Well of Images, a personal brand photography business. So far I’ve worked with an herbalist, a Hollywood Psychic, and a composer. I am thoroughly enjoying shooting personalized photos for people to use on social media and their websites that reflects their specific business, brand and personality. In so many cases small businesses are in a niche market that Stock Photography doesn’t serve well and these people love having a folder of images that are specific to what they’re blogging or writing about right at their fingertips and they don’t have to search the web for something that will “do” just so they can have an image to go with their post.They also love the ability to edit the photos (make memes, add text, crop, etc.).

I’m building this new venture into a business that will support me after I’m forced to retire or if circumstances require that I leave California for a while. It will be portable so I can do it from any base of operation. I never guessed that my hobby would become a business that I love. I never imagined that my witnessing of my family’s journey through life was training me for this.

I’m a Story Imager. I am a witness.

You Should Be Committed!

Ever go to a Pagan Pride Day, street fair, school play, church carnival, community informational program, or any other community based entertainment, political or social event?  You had a good time, right?

Did you know that most of the people involved in putting on these events to entertain and/or inform you are volunteers? Volunteers are an indispensable part of community life. Some events would never even happen if not for volunteers–especially in these days of cutbacks in spending across the board.

Do you volunteer? If you don’t you should. Give back to your community. Find something you’re passionate about and find a way to volunteer even if it’s just a few hours or a one day a week. You really can miss an episode of Game of Thrones or Survivor and still have a full life­–trust me on that one. You’d be surprised how many groups, events or organizations would love to have your help. Of course the Pagan Pride Project always needs volunteers (follow the link to find and event in your area), but if that isn’t your passion, find something that is. Volunteermatch.org is a good source for matching up organizations that need help with people who want to do something.

You should be committed! Give something back to the people and places that support/educate/entertain you. 

When you volunteer:
Keep your word. Do the work you’ve volunteered to do. If you find that what you’re doing isn’t for you, that’s OK. Let them know, but finish out your commitment, do what you agreed to do, then bow out.

Be selective. Don’t over commit. Being overextended on your time and commitments doesn’t do you or the organizations to which you are your offering services any good. If you don’t have the time (or the desire) don’t say yes and then not show up.

Volunteering keeps you connected, it helps others, it gives you experiences you might otherwise not have, it looks good on a resume or job application. It’s good for you and good for your community. Get committed!

The Art of Sigils Press Release

AUTHOR/ARTIST GINA LESLIE RELEASES NEW BOOK

The Art of Sigils

Discover your Own Creativity Using Ancient Magical Symbols

Calling all creatives, those who want to become more creative, and lovers of ancient magickal lore! Author and artist Gina Leslie announces her new book The Art of Sigils, an illustrated guide to using sigils to unlock your hidden creativity and manifest prosperity. 

Available now on Amazon

What makes The Art of Sigils important and why you should read it.

“As an artist, I’ve been making and using sigils for over a decade, because I discovered this was the most accessible and productive magick I have ever learned to do,” Leslie explains. “Sometime in the last couple of years, the sigils became more than just a means to an end. They became a vehicle for creative expression that filled a need in my soul. As I talked to friends about the book project, they would often say to me ‘I’m not at all creative.’ It began to occur to me that many people mistakenly equate ‘creative’ with ‘artistic,’ which are not the same thing. 

“Unlocking your hidden creativity has the potential to help you solve problems in every area of life, be it a project you’re working on, a career dilemma, or even a personal matter. When we feel blocked or stuck, finding the creative solution can be the key to looking at the problem in a whole different way, and finally breaking through the barriers that are holding us back,” Leslie notes.

“The Art of Sigils is about looking beyond the magickal implications of sigils, and to use them as a springboard to get past that block and into a new creative flow.”

Book Highlights

The Art of Sigils features original artwork by Leslie, along with contributions from friends and fellow artists. Composer Alfred Surenyan wrote Manifestation, a hauntingly beautiful piece inspired by a sigil. You can listen to it here. Art Director Mandy Gough created a mysterious motion graphic, which you watch here. Leslie also ran an Inspiration Sigil contest on Facebook, inviting contributors worldwide to submit their creations. Three winners of this contest are included in the book. 

 “This is a book I never knew I wanted to write until it started coming together. I’m very happy and excited to share it with the world.,” Leslie concludes.

Sign up for her newsletter at http://bit.ly/2E2Fr1S to keep up to date on events, appearances, book signings and future books.

NOTE: Review copies available upon request.

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Heading Home June 9

Saturday, June 9

Got up very early this morning! Jane made me some tea. I’m torn about going home. There’s so much more to do and see here and Jane and I have such great conversations about everything so I’d like to stay, but I kind of miss my bed and my own space – plus, I don’t get unlimited vacation days and I have to be back at work on Monday so I guess it’s time to go home.

Getting through security and immigration was easy. The longest part was waiting for the stations to open so early in the morning. The flight home was more comfortable that the flight out. I had a little more leg room and could actually straighten my legs out a bit from time to time. I watched The Greatest Showman, Coco, and Lady Bird. 

When I arrived at O’Hare my departure gate was right next to my arrival gate so no trying to get from one end of the terminal to the other to catch my connecting flight (like I’ve had to do the last couple of times I’ve gone to Wyoming). I had time to do a little shopping. I got some snacks and a neck pillow (which made the last leg of the flight MUCH more comfortable). 

The flight to LAX was uneventful. I think I dozed a bit on and off. There were three seats in the row I was in. I was in the middle and a woman was on the isle. As we were taking off she was crying. I asked if she was ok and she said that she was. A few minutes later she told me she was returning home from her father’s funeral. Nobody claimed the window seat to I offered it to her. She declined so I took it. She asked if her daughter, who was sitting behind us could sit in the middle seat and I said of course. I’m glad they got to sit together on the flight home. I hope it made them feel better to have each other nearby.

Flying over Canada

 Apparently we flew over Canada on the way home.

 If you look right off the back of the wing, that's the new sports stadium they're building in LA near the Forum.

Fortunately I didn’t have to wait long for the flyway to take me back to Van Nuys. My sister got stuck in church so I ended up taking a taxi home. That was easy breezy. Donna and Ralph took me out to dinner when they got home. Good thing, since there was NO food in my fridge.

Such a wonderful trip! I am so grateful to the universe for finally getting me there and to Jane who not only let me stay with her, but planned such fun trips and outings that I never would have thought of on my own. It definitely was the trip of a lifetime!