Is Lomography For You?

Photo of La Sardinia

Don't know what Lomography is? You aren't alone, but once you discover it you may never go back! It seems some Austrian students were vacationing in Prague and discovered a inexpensive Russian built camera called the Lomo LC-A. They picked some up to use on vacation. When they got the film developed they found it had some fun and quirky results like light leaks, saturated colors, and vignette shadowing. A few years later a group of Lomo Lovers was founded known as the Lomography Society International. The society developed the ten golden rules of Lomography.

1. Take your camera everywhere you go.
2. Use it anytime--day and night.
3. Lomography is not an interference in your life but part of it.
4. Try the shot from the hip.
5. Approach the objects of your Lomographic desire as close as possible.
6. Don't think. (William Firebrace)
7. Be fast.
8. You don't have to know beforehand what you captured on the film.
9. Afterwards either.
10. Don't worry about any rules.

Photo courtesy of The Aviary

Now, 20 years later the cameras have a cult following worldwide that encourages experimentation and exploring the world around you. There are several versions of these 35mm cameras (La Sardina and Fisheye 2, the Diana 120 medium format camera and lots of fun film accessories that are available at The Aviary.

Read more about the development of Lomography into a passion and see lomography around the world at Lomography.com. Lots of great photos to give you ideas what you can do with your favorite camera plus a variety of cameras and equipment you just can't do without. My favorite?

Diane F+ Love Letters with Flash 

 

The above Diane F+ is a limited edition for Valentine's Day. Get it now before they're all gone!

 

 

 

Culture From Around The World

Promotional Video by Katie Buehner on YouTube

For anyone who thought opera was stuffy and no fun, try heading to the Moores Opera House in Houston to see Moscow, Cheryomushki, a modern Russian comic opera by Dmitri Shostakovich. The opera is sung in English with the English lyrics projected above the stage. The opera shows Soviets with a sense of fun. Who knew?

When a new housing project called Cherry Town opens in Moscow see how the residents compete for the new housing. The audience will laugh as they watch the fight for the primo apartments using any means--and I do mean any!

Yearly presentations on Russian television were 'must see TV' for many years. Now residents or visitors to Houston are lucky enough to be able to see the Houston premiere of Shostakovich's opera. Don't miss your chance to see Shostakovitch's opera presented at the Moores Opera House at the University of Houston directed by Buck Ross and able his cast as they bring a little bit of Russia to the Lone Star State. Say Chair-YO-moosh-kee!

January 25 and 28, 2013 at 7:30 PM
January 27, 2013 at 2:00 PM

Hungry In Delco?

Clipart from 123rf

I live is a relatively affluent part of Delaware County. Most people where I live don't have to worry about their next meal...or do they? With the way the economy is today you never know if your neighbor is facing bankruptcy or losing their home or even just doesn't have enough food to eat. Many food banks in the area have closed or cut back on how much food a family can get. Sometimes a family's food supplies run out before the month is half over. What to do?

The real question should be why aren't we each individually doing something? Why aren't more of us actively providing food for our less fortunate neighbors? How often do you go to the store and could pick up a product that is 10 for $10 and could drop it off at the food bank? Or you could fill out a form to give to your local food bank? Or we could use the dollars we get back from CVS to buy foodstuffs for the food pantry?

Often we do these things around the holidays and forget to give during the rest of the year. News flash--people are hungry all year round. Hunger doesn't stop just because you gave over the holidays. And it's not just a single person who is hungry, it's entire families. Families with medical issues that mean they can't go out to work. Families where there is abuse in the household. Families that are just POOR. More and more people are just that...POOR. We can't ignore the word. Poor is not a dirty word. It's a reality in the world today. Our world. My world. Your family's world. Our childrens' world in the future. Poverty is not going to go away but we can mitigate it. We can all do our best to help people are in need.

Sometimes I listen to senators and representatives talk about cutting entitlement programs. And I think of the lines at the food pantries and want to scream at them YOU WANT TO CUT WHAT? If they have to cut something cut the ability of people to buy junk food (and yes you can still buy junk food with food stamps, also known as SNAP in Pennsylvania.) Provide them with healthy and fresh food and teach them how to cook it. Like other problems today good nutrition would help alleviate them.

Many medical problems have their roots in poor nutrition. Education problems often are partially due to poor nutrition. Anti-social and criminal behavior has been linked to poor nutrition. So more and better food will help solve a variety of problems. Sure, it won't happen all at once. It will take years. Yes, that's the disheartening part. No instant gratification. No magical transformation from the way things were to the way things can be.

But the real magic, the real magic is in the hearts of the people who reach out and give, people who pay it forward, or people who hope someone else will pay it forward in case their children ever need food. You will get instant gratification. Instantly feeling good about what you've done. So get out there. Give. The real magic is how good you'll feel doing it. Fill the bellies of hungry children. It's guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Delco Flu Shot Clinic

 

Haven't gotten your flu shot yet? Worried about how to pay for one? Delaware County Council, the Delaware County Flu Task Force in combination with the Pennsylvania Department of Health have organized a free walk in flu shot clinic.

 

The Clinic will be held from 10AM to 1PM on Saturday, January 19, 2013 on the Penn State Brandywine campus in Media PA. For more information call 610-891-5311.

 

And after you get your flu shot touch base with your local Avon representative to get some antibacterial gel that you can carry with you. 99% effective, perfect for flu season.

Laughter is Catching At the Academy of Music's Presentation of Catch Me If You Can

 

The musical Catch Me If You Can is coming to Philadelphia so get your tickets now to catch this laugh out loud production based on the real life story of Frank W. Abagnale Jr. who conned his way in and out cities across the United States.

 

Tony Award®-winning director Jack O'Brien's latest Broadway production, based on a film directed by Steven Spielberg for Dreamworks, comes to the Philadelphia Academy of Music Tuesday, January 15-Sunday, January 20, 2012, so mark your calendar and save a night to enjoy this show with friends and family.

Laugh as you watch FBI agent Carl Hanratty chase con man extraordinaire Frank W. Abagnale Jr. as he uses his legendary charm, boyish good looks and imagination to go from one con to another kiting checks to pay for his expensive life style on the lamb, always staying one step ahead of the law. Not only does he outwit the law, he falls in love and gets the girl (truly a story perfect for a Broadway musical!) Hanratty is obsessed with catching Frank Jr. and watching 'the chase' is half the fun!

O'Brien is famous for his productions of playwrights from Shakespeare to Tom Stoppard, and he has also received acclaim for directing Broadway musicals including Hairspray, The Full Monty and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Now he adds Catch Me If You Can to his list of  hits. The show was created by a Tony Award®-winning 'dream team,' with book by Terrence McNally (The Full Monty, Ragtime), score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray), choreography by Jerry Mitchell (Hairspray, Legally Blonde). Teams that have previously wowed audiences with their expertise on the stage, the combination once again will have you on your feet clapping by the end of the show.

Photo courtesy of The Kimmel Center

 

Catch Me If You Can is part of the Broadway Flex Package available for 2012-2013. What is the Broadway Flex Package?

"This season’s remarkable Broadway lineup features toe-tapping scores, hilarious predicaments, and soul-stirring tales of friendship, discovery, survival, and love. Now you can create the Broadway season of your dreams! Simply select three or more shows to build your own flex package. Season ticket holders enjoy the best seats in the house, plus locked-in savings of 10%*, guaranteed parking, and priority access to Broadway’s hottest touring shows—BEFORE they go on sale to the public."  

This is a deal you cannot resist! Order tickets now.

Interested in winning a pair of tickets? Enter my ticket giveaway on WDW(Wedding Day Weekly)Blogging For Brides.


**Tickets were provided as compensation for writing this blog post. All opinions are my own.

Tuesday, January 15	7:30pm	buy tickets!
Wednesday, January 16	7:30pm	buy tickets!
Thursday, January 17	7:30pm	buy tickets!
Friday, January 18	8pm	buy tickets!
Saturday, January 19	2pm	buy tickets!
Saturday, January 19	8pm	buy tickets!
Sunday, January 20	1pm	buy tickets!
Sunday, January 20	6:30pm	buy tickets!