In Praise of The Artist
28 Feb 2012 6 Comments
in Boudoir Photography, Family, Women Photography Tags: black and white, Glamour, movies, oscars 2012, Portraits, roaring twenties, silent films
True artists work for pleasure.
Auguste Rodin
I love the drama of black and white, the glamour of the roaring twenties, the memory of good old days when movies didn’t require censorship and guaranteed wholesome family fun–except for all that smoking.
Raised in the magic of Pixar color animation, my kids unanimously pronounce all black and white films as boring even if they came with a soundtrack. Now that the Oscar has gone to Michel Hazanavicius’ The Artist, there’s a good chance even my husband will join the family and “Make room for the old!”
© Sharon Birke
201 697 1947
Photography for the Goddess in Every Wife & Mother
xoxox
Like this:
Romancing Myself
13 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Empowerment, Portraits, Relationships, Women Photography Tags: Married women, Self love, self-care, valentine
Self-love is not so vile a sin as self-neglecting.
William Shakespeare
What’s so great about being a married woman when Valentine’s Day rolls around?
1. Nosy buggers don’t bother us with questions like “So who’s your date?”
2. We don’t have to wait for the phone to ring. We can pick it up and make our own reservations–and he better show up.
3. If we are among the lucky ones whose hubby brings a thoughtful present, we smile gratefully knowing we’ll know where to find the receipt for a return/exchange.
We learn (aka surrender) that loving ourselves is our very own business–not a man’s.
Do leave a comment to add to this list… And have the sweetest Valentine!
© Sharon Birke
201 697 1947
Photography for the Goddess in Every Wife & Mother
xoxox
Like this:
Giants and Other Winners
09 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Empowerment, Family, Women Photography Tags: fans, football, Motherhood, NY Giants, parade, Parenting, sports, Superbowl 2012
If at first you don’t succeed, find out if the loser gets anything.
Bill Lyon
My neighbors’ kids got her hooked on football this year. Sunday’s Superbowl sealed her conversion to the sport and their family took the day off from school to witness the NY Giants parade down Manhattan. They dove into an ocean of blue shirts, ducking streams of white paper rolls tossed about like footballs, amazed at the fervor of adoring fans who reveled in their heroes’ success as if they had played the game themselves.
With the lure of big checks, diamond rings, and celebrity perks, it is easy to forget that there could be more to gain from our disappointments and frustrations–if we choose to see them as steppingstones for learning and growth. Many lose a good night’s sleep fretting over their fumbles, missed passes and Hail Mary’s that went unheard by the gods. Unsung heroes like my neighbor wonder, “What about MY parade?”
How can you give yourself a parade for showing up in the game of life?
© Sharon Birke
Photography for the Goddess in Every Wife & Mother
Powerful Goddess is a trademark of DoubleSmart LLC
xoxox
Like this:
Flamenco Passion Fuels Courage
02 Feb 2012 Leave a Comment
in Culture and Arts, Glamour, NYC Nightlife, Women Photography Tags: dance, fitness, Flamenco, Glamour, gypsy, Le Poisson Rouge, NYC Nightlife
I have everything I had 20 years ago, only it’s all a little lower.
Gypsy Rose Lee
She was only 12 years old when her little heart was swept away by a flamenco performance. Since then, Marina Elana has dedicated her life to a dance that requires grace and the disciplined precision of the “compas” (rhythmic pattern.)
El baile flamenco is known for its emotional intensity, proud stance, expressive use of the arms and rhythmic stamping of the feet. In traditional flamenco, emotional maturity is required to adequately convey the “duende” (soul) of the genre. Thus, unlike other dance forms where dancers must turn professional early to take advantage of youth, many flamenco dancers hit their peak in their thirties and continue to perform well beyond their fifties–much like the way a woman owns more and more of her power with age.
“Classical flamenco,” the style used by dance companies, is characterized by a proud, upright carriage that makes every woman look like the Powerful Goddess that she is. At its most authentic, flamenco is danced informally at gitano (Gypsy) weddings and celebrations in Spain. “Flamenco puro,” the form closest to its gitano origins, is always performed as a solo improvisation.
And in the tradition of the courageous gypsies who originated this dance, Marina now makes New York her new home, designing her destiny with a production “Simplemente Flamenco” at Le Poisson Rouge this Friday, Feb. 3, 2012. Ole!
© Sharon Birke
201 697 1947
Photography for the Goddess in Every Wife & Mother
Powerful Goddess is a trademark of DoubleSmart LLC
xoxox
I LOVE hearing from you! Please find the comment link beside the title of the post you like.