Week 7 - Beauty In Ugly

This week's inspiration by Eric Morgenson...

The Beauty in Ugly

A woman who cannot be ugly is not beautiful. ~ Karl Kraus

If you need a musical inspiration check out Jason Mraz's song The Beauty in Ugly...he rocks! ;-)

Thanks Eric for this idea!!!

I took this during the San Diego wildfires in 2007 which happened a little over a year after I moved to this beautiful city. I had never experienced anything other than major thunderstorms and tornadoes where I was originally from, so this was all new to me and my two little guys. It was pretty scary and ugly, but what I found solace and beauty in was how quickly the community came together to make sure everyone from all areas of the city were safe and knew they had a safe place to go to if necessary. I am sooo grateful and proud to call San Diego my Home. <3

~ Cat Cruz

I took this photo on a messy night out on the town.I was in a tequila bar called "tequileria" with some friends, and after having downed too many shots, I could barely see.The beauty of the way the tequila bottles looked took my breath away. The colour is powerful and the silhouettes are just amazing. Even though thinking of the tequila up on the wall made me feel ill, i found it beautiful. People find tequila ugly, especially the morning after. I found this arrangement beautiful, even the morning after.

~ Conor Meehan

Close up, it may not turn many heads but from a distance you can see there's "beauty in ugly" afterall :)

~Beth Iyaman

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." -Confucius

Taken at Santa Cruz Island : )

~ Kenna Hummer

The most miraculous experience on this earth is to create life.....Two come together and give there gifts and then from love a child grows in her mothers magic womb. We still know so little about that sacred sequence...but we have all experienced it. This is a picture of the placenta, The organ that feeds the growing child from its mother's life. It is created for that soul purpose and when its mission is complete it is expelled.....This is beauty.....

~ Lara Love

Here are 2 photos...the Frogfish photo was just taken a week ago in one of my fish tanks. It is a close up shot of his face. See if you can find his eye and mouth. It may look just like a rock but if a fish gets too close it is a quick meal. Something to note is that the Frogfish or Anglerfish is harmless to humans.

The Stonefish photo was taken in 2008 while diving. It is very easy to miss these beauties in the wild. You must be extremely careful not to step on or put your hand down on a stonefish. They are venomous and can be deadly if you do.

I have hundreds of photos of every frogfish or stonefish I have ever seen in the wild or had in my shop. These ugly creatures are truly beautiful to me.

~ Eric Morgensen

~ Natalie Warr

I was born in Brazil and my mother used to tell me that there were no parks with green grass for children to play on however, the cemeteries were well keep and a beautiful area for children to run around. I still think cemeteries are beautiful and a little reminder to appreciate life daily.

~ Melissa Grove

See you next week friends!!!

If you are interested in joining our photo projects please email us here: photos4inspiration@gmail.com

Week 6 - Self Portraits

As one of the creators of this fun group I have to admit, Self Portrait week is my favorite so far!

Man, we're a good looking group! :) And the feeling behind these photos is ammmmazing.

Thank you for continuing to inspire me!!!

This week's inspiration...

Self Portraits - a portrait of yourself created by yourself. :)

"I paint self- portraits because I am so often alone, because I am the person I know best."

- Frida Kahlo

I took this photograph of myself on March 25, 2010. I was all dressed for a special night as a friend's date for a music/charity event. I felt so beauty-full that day. I have learned when I take care of my heart, spirit and mind, it really shows through my physical being. I am grateful for the choice to love what I was born with and the choice to appreciate the uniqueness of my physical being.

~ Tabatha Conrad

"We make choices and look back on where we were… and while the grass always seems greener on the other side, I remember, I grew the grass on this side… and if feels great on my bare feet."

~ Mike Peleshok

Ironic that this is this week's inspiration! I just took this self portrait on Mother's Day. My boys surprised me with gifts and poems that they secretly did at school AND even gave me a chocolate chip muffin for breakfast with a candle in it and made me a banner to hang on the piano! This self portrait was taken to share with my family and friends to show how very happy and grateful I am to have the sweetest boys who gave me THE BEST Mother's Day gifts EVER! :)

~ Cat Cruz

Technology can bring you closer to people far away while simultaneously moving you farther from those closest.

~ Stacey Peck

I've been a sister, daughter, cousin, friend, lover, wife and now I get to be a mother!!! Life is a GIFT.

~ Beth Teel

Finally seeing my true reflection for the first time.

~ Nicole Price

Always trying to take a NEW photo for each week is my goal. Not knowing how this week’s photo would play out the opportunity finally came as I was driving home with my family from Portland. We had just finishing a wonderful exhausting overnight stay with our friends the Hubka’s, Bushwalla and Keith Benton. On the long road home the solitude of my sleeping family gave me an opportunity to not only photo myself but the most important people in my life.

~ Eric Morgensen

~ Tristan Prettyman rockin it! :)

~ Jennifer Light

Mediocre self portrait... studying for finals and work have kept me super busy.

~ Francisco Lovko

~ Natalie Warr

~ Melissa Grove

See you next week friends!!!

If you are interested in joining our photo projects please email us here: photos4inspiration@gmail.com

Week 5 - Night Photos

One of my favorite night shots I took at Balboa Park a few Christmases ago. I love the beauty of a child's curiosity...

~ Cat Cruz

Santa Fe Depot Downtown San Diego
~ Stacey Peck

Night Light.

~ Mike Peleshok

I liked the light behind the flowers.

~ Nicole Price

In true journalistic fashion: The results of a water line break on the evening of Thursday, May 6 in downtown Adelaide.

~ Lisa Bernstein

These are the two sweetest night time dreams I have ever dreamt of dreaming.
~ Beth Teel

~ Natalie Warr

Frogger
~ Tristan Prettyman

It's amazing what some clouds can do to a night sky!
~ Kenna Hummer

I thought I would share this photo that my wife took of Dawn and I playing a show together. Although indoors I love how it shows the colors of the darkend sky behind us along with the candles, lights and marina. Please go check out her music if you haven't had the chance to at http://www.dawnmitschele.com/
~ Eric Morgenson

~ Jen Light

Under the moonlight.
~ Melissa Grove

See you next week my friends!!!

If you are interested in joining our photo projects please email us here: photos4inspiration@gmail.com

Week 4 - ...Silhouettes!

Welcome to Week 4!!!

Thanks for joining us!

This week's inspiration...silhouettes!
One basic rule of photography is to never place the subject directly in front of the sun. However, silhouettes create mystery and magic! A perfect background to that subject would be a sunrise, sunset, or any backdrop that is lighter than the subject.

“Vehement silhouettes of Manhattan - that vertical city with unimaginable diamonds.”
~ Le Corbusier



NYC Public Library
~ Caleb Friend

The Solemn Surfer... I visit him often. He only lives a block away from my place and we share the same love for the beach. Now only if I could get him to teach me to surf! ;-)

~ Cat Cruz

I wanted to try experiment with something a little different and try a silhouette at night?? Fun!

~ Lisa Bernstein

Taken in Maui right at sunset. My boyfriend, Gavin Smiley, was my model : )

~ Kenna Hummer

~ Jen Light ~

~ Francisco Lovko ~

Last week while traveling home from the store the moon was full and bright. I raced home grabbed my camera and started shooting from my yard. Here is the result of the moon shining its light through the trees.

~ Eric Morgensen

Sometimes details don't matter...it's the beauty that surrounds you.

~  Melissa Grove

As our group grows and grows I feel more honored to be in it! What amazing views we all have!

Thank you for sharing your view with us!!!

See you next week!!!

If you are interested in joining our photo projects please email us here: photos4inspiration@gmail.com