Movement

Ladies and gentleman, here's an image created this last week in class...  

I've been experimenting with the influence of music on imagery, however this one was created while listening to an audio lecture.... hmmm. 

Now, moving onto prep for my final assignment. I'll be producing a portfolio of 8-10 images within the next couple weeks. 

Valley Landscape

I had a fun opportunity to play with a little bit of HDR photography this weekend! This first image was by far the most successful. This is considered my first official HDR image.

Robert took me out for an evening stroll in the valley for our 6 year wedding anniversary. :) 

Shades of Blue

Fine Art Photography - Abstract

I'm not really sure how to even begin what I'm about to say... I've made abstract photography my focus in my Fine Art Photography class this semester. It's been challenging, but I've had such a blessing of growth. At the beginning of the semester I really struggled to wrap my mind around the subject, but as I progressed, I realized that constructing my own setting worked for me better, than trying to 'find' abstraction. This was a little bit sad for me, because I really was enjoying my outings... reminded me a bit of the old days, when it was easy to just pick up my camera and go! If I had only had the inspiration then, that I have now! 

It's been weeks of trial and error, as I've worked on idea after idea, image after image.... along the way, I've had some coincidences that have lead me into a deeper concept behind my work. Since then I've seen a major growth of inspiration, and success, that I feel has really raised the level of excellence of my work. This is something I'm constantly striving for; achieving a higher level of excellence that is. 

I went about my business as usual last week, not really knowing what I was going to shoot, but applying some new techniques to my work and my process, experimenting with ideas, and so on. Till I came across something I liked, and went with it. 

As my instructor has corrected and directed this semester, I've been tweaking my work, and my grades have been going up. But I was caught off guard this last week, when my instructor mentioned a connection to my work, with that of the master photographer Edward Steichen. WOW! I am extremely humbled, and have saved my instructor's critique as a reminder that the hard work is paying off. I view my instructor's work as very accomplished, and find it extremely inspirational, so I don't take what she says light hearted. 

After her encouraging words, I thanked her, and expressed how much it meant to me. Her response followed... "I call it as I see it..." 

I have not reached a climax in my photographical aspirations, rather I feel as I've finally arrived. I feel as though I've officially started my 'professional' journey in a sense. Even though I'm emotionally ready to graduate school, I'm blessed to have learned what I have, thus far. I thank God for the blessing of being able to fulfill my creative dreams, while being home with my children. 

Abstract Triptych

I am cultivating a love for diptychs and triptychs this semester! There's something conceptually very pleasing about them. 

Genre: Abstract

It's been an interesting semester, pursuing to create only abstract photography in my Fine Art Photography class. I'm enjoying the direction that things are moving.

Here are 3 of my best images:

Wonderful Evening

I'm finally back in some photography classes this semester. Has me quite busy, but its brought some great opportunities thus far, and we're only in the first couple weeks of classes!

Take for instance, the other night I went driving around, looking for the right subject, and the right lighting, and was greeted with some wonderful surprises.

Beauty after the Torrential Storm

We spent a fair amount of time hanging out in Walmart this evening.

After the skies darkened, winds picked up, power outage, and severe downpours, the employees of Walmart locked their doors. It's not like the vehicles could even be seen from inside the entrance. And not like I'd have wanted to leave anyway. Nevertheless, after biding our time within the aisles, and eventually the stock room, we decided to book it the 20 miles back home, before anymore storm systems moved in. Apparently we were under 4 severe warnings.

Well, I couldn't pass up the phenominal sunset that I was leaving behind, so I put my emergency lights on, and parked the car alongside the road.

Etsy Store

Progression is sometimes, or almost always in my case, slow and sure.

I have been working months to collaborate the small stock I have on my newly opened Etsy store! It's not much yet, but I will be working when time is available, to add more.

My goal behind the store is to progress and expose my beloved passion for photography. Meanwhile, I will be selling odd n' ends from a collaboration of interests and hobbies. I have to save money to move forward. So this is just a little something that I can do on top of everything else.

It would mean a lot if you'd take a peak at my shop :) Or send some love by liking my store!

Eclectic Treasures Etsy Shop and Cassandra Carrascosa Photography



-Cassandra 

Somewhere

Sometimes 

'SOMEWHERE'

 is right in the middle of nowhere.

Promotional Advertising

I must say, I'm pretty pleased with this promotional piece I made for my last assignment of the semester. I just may use it for my upcoming Etsy Store.

Vintage-y FUN!

I managed to get away for a couple of hours this last week, so that I could shoot for a school assignment, and I took the opportunity to have a few minutes of fun. Being I was after all, without kids, the weather was beautiful, and I had some idea that I'd been dying to try.

Here's just a couple of my favorite photos.

(and that most definitely is my latest vintage 'fixer-upper' camera.)

Fine Art Fun

After 5 years together, my husband and I have made it full circle back to our enjoyment in making my love of photography a hobby that we love doing together. When I started school about 4 years ago, photography was suddenly a very stressful job, as everything I did resulted in a grade that I will remember for life. Maybe not so much the individual grades, but the collective will reflect on my GPA that I will have to graduate with. That suddenly put a great deal of stress on me. I will admit, that I have demanded time and help from my husband, and I have been less than fun when I have fussed over things, while trying to employ my ideals to the skill level I envision. 

It seems that we no longer are able to do our loved adventures out doors with photography, but we have seemed to find a new form of enjoyment. I really enjoy my husband's participation and input. He will often spur ideas that come out much better than I originally imagined, and he often plays an important roll in helping me execute my ideas, where they call for more help than I can do on my own. Though I have done a fair amount of projects on my own, and improvised where I have had to, some are nearly impossible alone. 

I enjoy the conversations we have, during these shoots. I love relaxing in the evening with a glass of wine, my camera, my husband, and the endless possibilities of ideas that we can come up with while brainstorming ideas to photograph. These are some of my favorite moments, and these are some of my favorite images that I have recently shot for fun. 

Beauty....

... is in the eye of the beholder.

(pictures can be seen larger if you double click on them)

Light House

I was going through some old photos trying to put together a portfolio for this semester, and I ran across this image that I took on vacation coming up 3 summers ago. Good memories. 

Inspired by Planking

Forgotten?

This is one of my favorite places to photograph. I have been here several times over the last 5 years, and I enjoy the surprises that the different seasons unfold. Abandoned places like these are like a glimpse into the past. They are the skeletal remains of a chapter in someone's life.

This place always makes me wonder, 'Why did they they abandon this residence? And why did they leave so much behind?', 'What was daily life like when the house was filled with conversation?', 'Did children play in these woods?'

I was looking through several of the photos that I've taken and here are a few of my favorites. The place only continues to fall apart, and one day there will be nothing left standing. I still remember the place before any of its innards revealed to the outside. Back then I would have never guessed that there was a chair still seated by the window, as though it was waiting for its owner to lounge in it once again, while enjoying the sunlight rays pass through the window panes.

What was the story of this house? Who built it? The unanswered questions will soon be forgotten when that which remains turns to complete ruins.

1 & 2 Months