Mindy Arledge

Philadelphia Flower Show

2011-03-25T10:39:00.004-04:00

For me, Spring is the most anticipated time of the year. Winter really seems like it can go on forever, especially when it's March and it's still snowing. Luckily for us garden enthusiast in the Delaware Valley, there's the Philadelphia Flower Show right when we need it. The day that I got to go check it out, the weather was raw cold, rainy, and windy.

It was such a treat to see acres and acres of green plants, blooming plants, blossoming trees, manicured landscapes, faux gardens, world class floral designs, and even a greenhouse packed full of blooming orchids. I wandered around for hours. I did not want to miss any of it.

Just Another Reason to Grow Your Own And Buy Organic

2011-03-14T15:47:00.006-04:00

In the spirit of learning about the human body for the sake of health and healing, I decided to analyze an article on systemic pesticides for my english class assignment. I happened to come along the article in the Spring 2011 edition of Mother Earth News, "Systemis Pesticides: Chemicals You Can't Wash Off." I had picked up the magazine for tips and inspiration on getting the veggie garden started this year. While I am always true to being organic in my own garden, I have always bought conventional produce from time to time either because money was tight or I saw no other option. It only makes sense not to buy the $3.00 zucchini or $8.00 a pound red pepper, or to not drive 45 minutes to buy an organic potato. I would just wash them off really good.

As if there was not enought to consider for the educated consumer at the grocery store, Pleasant's article will only add to concerns. Readers will rething their food purchases as they learn in her informative and eithical article about the chemicals employed by conventional farmers that are actually absorbed into the plants' tissues- inside and out. Our parents may have taught us to eat our fruits and veggies and to always wash them before we eat them, but the new generation of pesticides cannot be washed off. Not only is exposure to these chemicals inevitable when the consumer ingests these foods, but the effects are still unclear.

Systemic pesticides have been inplicated in the mysterious disappearance of millions of bees, or "colony collapse disorder." They can remain in the soil for over 500 days. Pleasant asks the reader, "Do people really want to eat pumpkins that are so full of poison that they kill every cucumber beetle that dares take a bite?" Food for thought indeed. She informs us that EPA is undergoing a comprehensive review of these pesticides, but we will not know the results until 2014. Meanwhile, California's Department of Pesticide Regulation conducted its own tests- one reveals pollen with over three times the amount of poison needed to kill bees within minutes.

As for me, I'm happy to see more organic options available at the local grocery store. I'm making a grocery list for that store 45 minutes away and adding to my piggy bank little by little for the big trip. I have seeds ready and even some baby plants for an organic garden (planned to be the best one yet.) Yes, money is tight and good organic food is hard to come by in these parts, but why settle for anything less while putting money into the hands of companies that use chemicals so toxic the things I love?

Stethoscope

2011-03-09T16:10:00.005-05:00

Since I started schooling for a medical-related field, I could not help but to notice how many people say that a lot of their family members work in the health field. I am no exception to that trend. My parents actually met each other at a hospital. My mom was working as a nurse and my dad was installing televisions in patient rooms. In less than a month they were married.

My mom dug out her old stethoscope the other day. I was studying for an exam in Anatomy which covered the blood, the heart, and the blood vessels. The parts of the heart, the beating of the heart, and the energy moving through it came to life a little more. I listened to my heartbeat, the cat's, and the dog's. The cat's was the fastest.

Valentine Flowers, The Heart, The Blood

2011-02-19T18:31:00.007-05:00

How fun is it to learn about the Human Heart for Valentine's Day? It just so fell together that way for me. Funny how the universe just makes things fall into place sometimes. This Valentine's Day I was able to spend time with my significant other. "What do you want to do for Valentine's Day?" he asks. "Ask me about my blood," was my reply. I had a quiz in Anatomy the next day.

He had to go to Home Depot. I went along, per his request, dragging my feet and dreading staring at a whole aisle of nuts, screws, and bolts for what I knew would feel like an infinite amount of time. It was hard for me to even get out of the car. The dork in me wanted to stay put and study flashcards. I've like the old guy who is out with his wife who is trying on clothes when I'm in a home depot. Someone please get me a bench for this fitting room.

But low and behold- defying all expectations I ever had of a home improvement warehouse was the garden center packed full with orchids. "Come find me here when you're done looking at generator parts." I walked out with a little tropical beauty, Phalaenopis Bitter Sweet, the tag reads. She is golden yellow and deep magenta.

I actually went back to the box store. Something else had caught my senses. I needed something for my mom. What else says "you are the sweetest mama in the whole world" more that a pot full of soft pink hyacinths?

They now sit on the dining room table, filling the whole room with the fragrance of spring botanicals.

-Blood is actually a connective tissue, a liquid connective tissue. The living blood cells are suspended in a non-living fluid matrix called plasma. Because blood is constantly moved by the beating, pumping heart, the elements flow as a homogenous mixture.

-Erythropoesis is the production of red blood cells, also called erythrocytes. Red blood cells are formed inside the bones, by red bone marrow stem cells.

- Each red blood cell makes a complete lap of the cardiovascular system every 30-60 seconds. the red blood cell has a life span of about 120 days.

- Hemoglobin is the oxygen carrying component of the blood. Each hemoglogin consists of 4 polypeptide chains called globins. Each globin chain is bound to a heme group. Each heme has one iron atom attached that is responsible for carrying the oxygen.

- One red blood cell has 250 million hemoglobins and each hemoglobin can carry 4 O2 molecules. That's 1 billion O2's per red blood cell and somewhere around 5 million red blood cells circulating in the human body.

New Path

2011-02-16T12:27:00.008-05:00

It has been quite some time since I have posted anything on here. Looking at the main page, there is a lot to change. My last post was... June 8, 2010, and here it is now, February 16, 2011. If there was anyone peaking in on this blog, they have probably given up by now. I have been busy, not here, not behind the camera, not exploring the landscape- I've been hitting the books. School is what has brought me back to the blog.
Photography is on the back burner. In early September of last year I started classes full time at the community college near where I grew up. I knew that (especially with some convincing from my loving parents) I needed more education. I knew that I needed a career, not a job. I needed something with frills like health insurance, but being who I am, I had to figure out something I would be passionate about. Of course I need a decent paycheck, who doesn't? But I also had to figure out something that I could put some heart into.
When a couple of people close to me became ill with chronic conditions, I began to research their ailments and realized that I liked learning about that kind of stuff. Spending notable time in medical settings I could not help but to ponder what it would be like to work there.
Just as an artist works with his or her medium- a painter's canvas, a photographer's viewfinder, a weaver's loom... thinking back about it now, that's how all the doctors were looking at the people I cared about. They were looking for answers. The good ones, the ones determined to get it right, they had the same sort of restlessness of the soul until they knew what was wrong. I don't know how I saw it, maybe in their body language or tone of voice. I knew what that felt like. I also remember seeing it in every person who was passionate about their art. The way that they looked at their works in progress, caring so sincerely, getting closer towards their vision, but restless to find the answer.
Being practical, I knew that if I was to start over, an education for a job in the medical career might be a good way to go. What would be more interesting for someone who loves to take pictures and learn about health that to work with medical imaging? It was almost a revelation to the questions I had been getting asked over and over- how could I make a living out of taking pictures? why do you want to take pictures when the first thing people don't want in tough economic times is art?
So there I was, September, back in school, determined. Now I am in my second semester.
I have to be honest. When I was told that I had to take English Composition 1, I was irritated. I love writing, I love reading- especially the informal casual kind of stuff like my buddy's blogs or the parts of magazines that are mostly pictures with a handful of informative or inspiring stuff on the page with them. Hence the previous postings of my work. What it was that I found irritating is that I have a Bachelor's degree with a minor in Literature. English Comp 1, ENG101... "It's a degree requirement for the this program and it's not on your transcript," is pretty much what every advisor said. "But I have a BFA with a minor in literature, I have had writing published in magazines, I have great SAT scores..." It did not matter.
My first thoughts were how colleges are just businesses. Their goal is to make a profit off of me. One more class for me is more money in the bank for them. Instead of fighting it, I knew I would just have to go with the flow. I promised to keep an open mind, and the practical part of me knew for sure: of course I would learn something new.
The first day of class, the go-with-the-flow and have-an-open-mind part of me was proven right. My professor said all that I needed to hear when she was telling us a list of reasons why we might need this class someday. "What if you need to e-mail your boss?" Huh. If I ever did have my dream job, I would probably want to know how to perfect that. What about all those research papers for the big medical classes down the road? That needs some tweaking too. Art college literature professors were probably not as worried about MLA as future professors could be.
Last night we talked about blogs. I fondly thought of all the good times I have had making my little posts, more picture than word. For our assignment, we can follow one or create one. So why not make this one mine again? I've already realized that it will be an excuse to write out my thoughts, and an excuse to take a few pictures.

2010-06-08T22:01:00.004-04:00

One of my all time favorite perennial garden flowers, the Peony. All of these images are from the Cornell Plantation's Botanical Collection, where I found a nice variety to explore. To me these flowers have always represented the true beginning of summer. The flowers are big, bold, and stately, yet delicate and ephemeral. They almost look like something from a dream, timeless, with a scent to match that of the most lovely and deepest memory...

I arrived at this bloom the same time as a native bee. This appears to be the same variety that I remember around the house I grew up in. Almost white at first glance, but the center is a soft yellow and the outermost petals are soft pink.

This last image is a Chinese Peony or Paeonia lactiflora. In Chinese medicine the roots of the peony are used to treat gastric and intestinal disorders.

Foxglove

2010-06-08T17:28:00.003-04:00

Late Spring Flowers

2010-06-07T22:38:00.003-04:00

All My Dreams in the Other...

2010-06-07T22:32:00.002-04:00

All My Wishes In One Hand...

2010-05-25T23:10:00.004-04:00

Walking up the road, camera in hand. Wildflowers blooming on the roadside and out of the ditches.

New Collages and Framed Work!

2010-05-04T08:23:00.002-04:00

Lichens, Blossoms, Wild Violets

2010-05-04T08:20:00.001-04:00

Hellebore and Apple Blossoms

2010-05-04T08:15:00.002-04:00

FLIGHT

2010-04-27T16:20:00.004-04:00

These images have been composed for the juried show, FLIGHT, that will be held at the local airport here in Tompkins County. Hopefully I will have a piece or two in the show... It was a great theme for me to work and be inspired with. All of these images with be available in my Etsy store.

Spring Skies

2010-04-25T13:30:00.003-04:00

Black days of winter all were through
The blossoms came and they brought you
Clouds left the sky
And I knew the reason why
They made way for you and the blossom.

The seasons cycle turned again
An april shower now and then
Trees came alive
And the bees left their hive
They came out to see you and the blossom.

People were laughing, smiling with the sun
They knew that summer had begun.

The nights grew warm, the days grew long
Spring turned to summer and was gone
It seemed so fine
All the cider and the wine
But I knew you'd go with the blossom.

When spring returns I'll look again
To find another blossom friend
Until I do
Find something new
I'll just think of you and the blossom.

-Lyrics of Nick Drake's song, Blossom Friend

Waking UP

2010-03-21T22:16:00.005-04:00

The past week was, by far, the most beautiful week for weather in the past 5 months. It was nothing but sunny skies and gentle breezes. The thermometer even dipped a toe into the realm of "low 60's." Rare for these parts, but deeply appreciated.

The local landscape went from snow covered (some parts above my knee) to that dry-light-ochre-yellow-brown, hinting towards green color. Though it is a barren landscape, it is bursting with promise. Passing though the landscape with a window or two open just a little, you can hear people of all ages playing in their yards. Several homes were undergoing yard work. It is the most exciting time of year for this. It is not like work at all. It is a little visual game, pulling back the fall leaves we missed and stones that the snow plow pushed into the yard. We know we are winning when the ground looks like earth again and the old skeletons of winter are in a wheelbarrow. After so many months of snow and ice we really missed the earth.

Two weekends ago I remembered that I am lucky enough to live so close to a little piece of paradise- Cornell's Botanical Gardens. I checked their website and according to the "Bloom Report" witch hazel was in bloom. I went to fetch my camera, dog, and significant other for the first official nature walk of the season. This weekend I did the same. I could not believe all the things happening in the gardens despite the weather. Just a brief stint of mild weather and this place was lit up with all kinds of life and color. I don't know how our little plant friends can bloom after so many days of grey cold.

These plants passed onto me the feeling of joy coming alive again in a new season. Now I can't remember the last time anything inspired me so much...

Dreaming of Spring

2010-02-04T22:58:00.002-05:00

My Valentines

2010-01-13T22:31:00.006-05:00

Inspired by Valentine's Day, I created some images especially for the holiday. Heart shaped leaves, roses, peonies, strands of heart... Soft, airy, colorful and sweet. These cards and much more are for sale at my Etsy online store.

Living Light: A Celebration of the Finger Lakes Flora

2010-01-13T20:58:00.005-05:00

Above is my photograph, Wake Robin that will be hanging in the juried group exhibition, Living Light: A Celebration of the Finger Lakes Flora. Please read below to learn more about the show.

In the cold, gray months of an upstate winter, it can be heartening to recall nature's more abundant and colorful times of the year. A welcome reminder of this comes in the form of a new art exhibit, Living Light: A Celebration of the Finger Lakes Flora.

Hosted at the Tompkins County Public Library from January 18 through March 26 and organized by the Finger Lakes Native Plant Society (FLNPS), this juried art show celebrates the beauty and diversity of our region's wild plants and fungi. Fifty artists from throughout the Finger Lakes and beyond have contributed over 75 works in a wide array of media and styles, ranging from traditional botanical illustration and wildflower photography to more abstract treatments and sculptural forms.

The show's opening reception will be held at the Library from 4 to 7pm on Friday, January 22 as part of Ithaca’s Gallery Night, in conjunction with the Light in Winter festival. And for those interested in a more in-depth experience of plants and art, FLNPS has designed a constellation of workshops, walks, and educational displays. The exhibit and associated events are co-sponsored by the Library, with grant support from the Community Arts Partnership and the Brooks Family Foundation.

The art show was juried by a panel consisting of several FLNPS members and three prominent local artists: Camille Doucet, watercolorist and botanical illustrator; Eric Serritella, ceramic artist; and David Watkins, photographer. They, along with three professional botanists, had the complex task of screening and evaluating over 300 submissions.

Founded in Ithaca in 1997, FLNPS's mission is to teach people about native plants, the importance of conservation, and the threat of invasive species. The group regularly sponsors free lectures, field trips and special events.

For more information about the exhibit and its related events, visit www.flnps.org/artshow. To find out about other FLNPS lectures and plant walks, visit www.flnps.org or call 607-257-4853. More information about all events at the Tompkins County Public Library, as well as library hours, can be found at www.tcpl.org or by calling 607-272-4557.

Individual artworks in the Living Light graphic (above) are copyrighted by and used courtesy of their respective creators, all artists participating in the Living Lightexhibition. They are, clockwise from top left: Bridget Bossart van Otterloo, Susan Larkin, Margaret Neher, William Bay, David Ruppert, and Donald Specker.

Winter Landscape

2009-12-13T19:52:00.003-05:00

Pallets of blues, grays, and warm neutrals. Winter is the season of looking inward. The days are so short. We are told we need to sit still for a moment and reflect. Winter takes the most motivation to go out exploring with the camera. Too many layers to wear, too heavy boots, too thick gloves and the camera needs to be somewhere in between all the layers so that my body heat can keep the battery happy... but once I am out and moving the cold air makes me feel so alive. It is refreshing and energizing. I can go deeper into the woods. The light is brighter. The most fascinating things happen wherever there is water meeting freezing temps. The canvas is closer to blank. Simplified. Truly a different world.

Jim SchugTrail

2009-11-24T22:25:00.005-05:00

October Garden

2009-11-12T18:44:00.006-05:00

My parent's garden in south Jersey. A row of flowers for the border- Cosmos, Zinnia, and Mole Beans.

Elegant branches of a Dogwood tree.

A pack of Snow Pansies from our favorite farm market. These came back to NY with me.

An arrangement I made for my parents out of their flowers. I loved the colors of the hydrangeas- lime, turquoise, and a blush of purple. I found the ball mason jar in the basement. I had never seen one in an aqua color, and I liked how it made the orange colors pop.

Fall Light

2009-10-07T21:49:00.004-04:00

These photos are from the same weekend as the next post. When the sun is out and I am not at work it is time to be a weekend warrior. This was a late afternoon at a friend's piece of land in the western foothills of the Catskill Mountains. The land is set on the western side of a very large hill, so the sun just drifts down in the late afternoon like a falling feather.

There is a light this time of year that is characteristic of the season. It is a shift in color that starts right before the leaves begin their show. A Crisp, yet Warm glow.

Apple Picking

2009-10-07T21:14:00.005-04:00

These pictures are from an apple picking afternoon adventure a couple of weekends ago. Located in Newfield, NY, Little Tree Orchards was the perfect place to spend a warm sunny fall afternoon. We picked about a bushel of apples, with many different varieties. One of my favorite parts is getting to sample each variety that is in season. Little Tree welcomes this so that you can make sure you get what your taste buds like. I think my favorites had to be the Cox Orange, Empire, and McIntosh. Oooo- and the cider donuts are the best treat of the season.

Michelle & Paul III

2009-09-14T22:58:00.004-04:00

This was such a sweet and scenic setting for the ceremony... a pond, reeds, cattails, and big lovely shade trees. The sky sunny with big luscious clouds floating in the distance.

A few details. Flowers in lavenders and purples. The pond at sunset.

And lots of fun dancing at the reception.

Michelle & Paul II

2009-09-11T23:00:00.005-04:00

Michelle & Paul

2009-09-08T22:54:00.005-04:00

This past weekend I photographed the wedding of Paul and Michelle. It must have been one of the most beautiful sunny days of the year, just for these guys. Their outdoor wedding was perfect with blue skies and big fluffy clouds. This is just a little peek, there is more to come.

Recent Botanicals

2009-09-02T21:21:00.003-04:00

I know it's been a while since I have posted anything. This summer was just too short it seems, so I have been out trying to soak in every bit that is left of it. Flowers are nature's true essence of summer... Radiant, brilliant, smiling and happy, yet too soon to fade away into something else.

Yellow Summer Dreams

2009-08-10T19:44:00.004-04:00

There is something mystical and sweet about the light in August. Maybe it is the ingrained memories of the last warm and free spirited days before school returns. Maybe it is the blooming all of the late season flowers- the ones in the fields un-mowed and turned wild. Maybe it is the unacknowledged thought of summer being so full of life yet so ephemeral all at once.

I always enjoyed the movie, Endless Summer, where surfers travel the globe in search of warm days and big waves. I am not a surfer, but the idea is enchanting. I would love to chase that warm sunny day in mid-August...

Lucky for me, I have a camera.

Weekend Pursuits and Adventures

2009-08-04T22:24:00.005-04:00

Wow, what a great weekend it was! Friday's Ithaca Art Festival turned out great. To all of you who took my card and are looking at my blog for the first time, thanks for stopping by and checking out my work! Art Fest even beat the chances of rain- it cleared out right as the festival got going. I really enjoyed getting to show my photos and collages to so many people. I also really enjoyed looking at all the other artist who participated. So much talent and creativity in this little community!

Saturday kept the unusual trend of sunny skies. After work got out at the flower shop we ate a little lunch and decided to take a drive to Fall Creek. Instead of taking the trails we walked and waded through the shimmering water admiring all the little bass, crayfish, and sun-bathing garter snakes. A bright sunny day is the best treat.

Sunday I discovered some blooming tall bushes that will be identified on a later date. They might be tree peonies. Sweet and dreamy just like a perfect summer weekend.

Ithaca Artist Market

2009-07-24T19:33:00.005-04:00

Stop in Friday July 31st at the Annual Artist Market in Ithaca, NY. I will be there with lots of prints, collages, note cards, and more. It is free to get in and I'll have pretty artwork for all budgets! There will be some great artists there with lots of fun artwork.

Marc & Kelly 3

2009-07-21T20:19:00.006-04:00

Ode to Some Yellow and Blue Flowers

2009-07-17T23:47:00.005-04:00

In dreamy summer haze pastels.

Kelly & Marc Part 2

2009-07-17T15:00:00.003-04:00

Marc & Kelly Part 1

2009-07-14T23:56:00.006-04:00

A Few Classics

2009-07-06T00:00:00.004-04:00

Sometimes I get a little carried away on the lovely little details that make the big picture :)

I just wanted to post a few more of Marc and Kelly's wedding,

with a little more Marc and Kelly! Enjoy!

Kelly and Marc

2009-07-01T23:08:00.004-04:00

Here is a sneak peek at Kelly and Marc's June 27th wedding! Grey skies turned into a beautiful sunny day as they walked out of the church in Auburn, NY. The reception took place at Emerson Park on Owasco Lake- great views! Kelly made many of the ocean theme decorations and settings herself. I really admired her creativity and eye for detail. The event was so much fun to photograph: from the happy family, friends, and ladies in flip-flops to all the lovely decorations.

Ithaca Artists' Market... I'm In!

2009-06-10T17:31:00.004-04:00

Yay! Yesterday I received my acceptance letter for the Ithaca Artists' Market which will be held Friday, July 31st, from 2pm to 8pm at the Ithaca Farmer's Market. This is a summer juried show (there is also a holiday one in winter) featuring the talent of local artists in all different mediums. I will be there with framed and matted prints, note cards, and my new printed paper, calico, and photo collages. The market will include-

55 visual artist

10 arts organizations

12 food, wine, coffee, chocolate, and dessert vendors (Yum)

Music on both ends of the market (East Hill Jazz Duo and Brian Earle Duo)

Boat Rides on the lovely Cayuga Lake

And maybe performing artists!

Come visit me and see my work in person, along with many talented and fascinating artists that call this area home.

A Couple Portrait

2009-06-10T17:15:00.004-04:00

I just wanted to post a few photographs I took last Sunday at the Botanical Gardens of Cornell University. This couple, Kelly and Marc, chose me as their wedding photographer. I really like to do a casual portrait shoot with couples before The Big Day. Kelly made the wonderful choice of the setting. Not only is June a beautiful month in any garden, but this one featured a rhododendron garden in full bloom.

Horseback Riding the the Finger Lakes National Forest

2009-06-02T20:58:00.006-04:00

This project was inspired by an old friend who is working for Paint Horse Journal. She told me that her magazine is in need of people enjoying our national parks by horseback. A google search and a few e-mails later I came into contact with Erika Eckstrom of Painted Bar Stables. She shared in my enthusiasm for this project and organized a wonderful ride through the Finger Lakes National Forest on some wonderful horses. We were able to take advantage of the park's horse camp located right on the Backbone Trail.

We rode for 8.22 miles through woods, meadows, fields, and wetlands. Erika was a great guide. I know that everyone was awed by the incredible views of the region's green rolling hills. And what a great way to see the country side- by horseback!

And just when a day could not get any better, it did. After we returned to the horse camp a catered diner was waiting for us right across the road from the camp's entrance at The Red House Country Inn. We were able to eat and relax in the late afternoon sunshine with a delicious homemade meal. It was the icing on the cake to a wonderful day.

To anyone who lives in this region or will be visiting, I highly recommend that you give Erika a call and schedule a ride! It is a wonderful way to explore the beauty of this special region.

Still on the News Stand!

2009-06-02T20:21:00.003-04:00

The Spring edition of Finger Lakes Magazine is still available! I am thrilled to be a featured photographer for this magazine. The article has several of my favorite springtime photographs and some writing about what inspires me to do what I do. Plus, it has many very interesting articles about food, wine, things to do outside, and some of the hidden treasures of this region. You can find the magazine in such places as news stands large and small, Wegmans, Tree Forms, or Ithaca Coffee Company. Grab a copy while shopping for your local goodies, you will not be disappointed!

Photos, Printed Paper, and Calico

2009-05-17T21:52:00.004-04:00

This series of collages is a new project for me. As much as I love a good old quality printed photograph, I wanted to do something a little different. I am lucky enough to have a Grandmother that makes beautiful quilts, several of which I am lucky to have. These always inspire me- they are so colorful and finely crafted. They are a solid piece of functional art, yet so warm and comforting. So I went out to buy myself some little odds and ends of calico. I also had a stack of printed scrap booking paper that I couldn't resist buying, promising I would use in something, someday... And so a collage project was born.

Wake Robin

2009-05-04T23:00:00.004-04:00

The last two weeks I have felt like the luckiest girl in the world. All because of soft warm days and flowers. I have been exploring and looking, looking, looking and taking pictures. I could not ask for more perfect late afternoon light on walks. Last Saturday the wind even cooperated so that I could capture those sweet little woodland flowers.

For me, there is nothing better than wandering through the open land in the few hours before sunset. I notice the subtle nuances of the changing season- the things that happen in only a matter of days. There is so much happening, but still so much I missed. When I was out shooting the past two weeks, everything was new. And fresh. And Beautiful. And so perfect.

Warmer days

2009-04-24T22:01:00.003-04:00

Happy weekend everyone! It is supposed to be a lovely one here in the northeast. I just wanted to post some photographs of the earliest signs of spring- willow catkins, tree blossoms, and a nest. The nest is probably a remnant of last year- but all the summer birds are back with the warmer days.

And just to note how crazy the weather is in the Finger Lakes region of NY... Yesterday I woke up to the sight of snow covered limbs outside my window. Tomorrow will be only a few degrees shy of 90.

For a Good Cause!

2009-04-20T21:13:00.004-04:00

There is a benefit this Sunday, April 26 for twelve year old Shyanne Loveless in McLean, NY at the Elm Tree Inn. Friends and family have taken up donations for a raffle which will help the family pay for medical bills due to a brain aneurysm. The benefit will be held from noon until 5pm. If you are in the area stop in. As a donation, I have entered a chance to win a family portrait taken by me. Support a good cause and buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win!

The Elm Tree Inn is located at 2 McLean-Cortland Rd. in McLean, NY.

Give them a call for directions at 607-838-3313

Spring has sprung...

2009-04-18T22:50:00.002-04:00

Making a little seasonal color

2009-04-06T23:03:00.003-04:00

I was searching for some inspiration on a cold grey rainy day today. I decided to work with some of my photographs of spring botanicals from last year. (In the land photoshop there are no grey days.) The colors of the seasons always inspire me. I usually get little color obsessions for each season and all the changes between the seasons. This looks nothing like what is outside right now- it is mostly mud out there. It is inspired by the thought of what is waiting beneath the mud and all those warm sunny days to come.

March: In like a Lion, Out like a Snow Lion...

2009-04-01T20:04:00.005-04:00

When I woke up Monday morning I was surprised to see snow on all the tree limbs outside of my window. I had to get a photograph of the daffodils in my flower bed before I went off to work. Looking at these photographs now, the plants look like little soldiers of Springtime. By late afternoon on Tuesday all the snow was melted. Again.

Forsynthia

2009-03-23T23:31:00.003-04:00

A little tip that I read from the Upstate Gardener's Journal- starting around February forsythia branches can be cut, brought indoors, placed in water, and will bloom! It's a nice treat.

A walk in late Winter

2009-03-23T23:05:00.004-04:00

They say that in Ithaca, if you do not like the weather, just wait 10 minutes. Spring hasn't come to us yet, but at least we have had a little well deserved sunshine. I thought it would be good to take advantage of seeing the woods with no leaves or snow. We are very lucky to have a nice variety of trees that make up our woods. When walking on days like this one it is hard not to notice all the subtle hues of bark and branches: violet, mauve, sage green, sky blue... If you just look, trust me, they are there. It is also nice to see some shades of green from the mosses and ferns that were hidden under snow for months.

My Photographs for Life in the Finger Lakes Magazine

2009-03-19T18:42:00.009-04:00

I am very excited to have been featured in Life in the Finger Lakes magazine's Spring edition.

The article is called "Spring Woodlands, The photography and thoughts of Mindy Arledge." It features several of my landscape and botanical photographs as well as an artist's statement and what inspires me. They also put in a quote that I think about with my photography, especially this time of the year-

"The voice of nature is always encouraging." -Henry David Thoreau, Walden, March 18, 1858

It was a long, cold winter here in Ithaca, NY. When I was putting the photos and writing together it was sub-zero temperatures outside. Spring and everything that comes with it felt so distant, like a dream you just wish you could go back to. Now that it is finally getting warmer and the days longer, I am back out there with my camera every chance I get. The first signs are here, stirring up fresh ideas...

March Thaw

2009-03-09T22:55:00.004-04:00

A cluster of photos from this Sunday. It was foggy and raining on and off, but I just had to get out and do some cleaning in the flower bed. Bulbs are sprouting as the snow drifts continue to melt.

Birthday Party Photography

2009-03-07T22:58:00.004-05:00

This little girl's first birthday party was really fun to photograph. Although Mom was a great photographer herself, she wanted to enjoy the party and not have to worry about taking all those pictures. I captured the details and special moments of the party for them, giving them the memories to always go back to and share.

Slide Scanning Services

2009-02-02T22:06:00.008-05:00

My Great-grandmother, my grandmother, and her sisters in 1959.

Thanksgiving 1959- my mom, uncles, and their cousins.

My mom and great grandmother at the Jersey Shore.

If you have a collection of slides- new or old- I am able to scan them to create a digital image. The image can then be placed onto a CD and easily printed at any photo lab. The quality of the image is very high and you will be able to print up to 16x20" or larger photographs. I can also place the images onto a DVD with music. The DVD can be played on computers or home DVD players. It is a really fun gift to give to friends or family. I know from experience that people really cherish being able to see old slides from old memories turned into a photograph that they can hold and display. The old Kodachrome slides from the 1950's and 1960's are especially great.

I have been charging $5 per slide. The price includes touch-ups, color corrections, and your CD. Additional copies of the CD are only $1 per CD. To put the images onto a DVD I charge $15. I am also able to resize the photographs so that you can send them via e-mail or upload them on a photo-sharing website. For this I would only charge $1 per image.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I have experience working in professional photo labs, and will handle your slides professionally and respectfully. Thank you!
thisyellowsummer@yahoo.com

Greeting Card Design

2009-01-26T22:20:00.007-05:00

Mother's Day
Originally uploaded by thisyellowsummer

A design inspired by my mom. I designed this to be printed as a 5"x5" greeting card for Mother's Day.

It combines details of floral design with photographs from wild places.

Please contact me about designing custom greeting cards, postcards, flyers, or business cards for you.

thisyellowsummer@yahoo.com

Design Inspired by Nature

2009-01-26T21:35:00.002-05:00

I offer design work inspired by elements in the natural landscape: botanicals, creatures, the seasons... I am open to working with your ideas and your budget so my work can express your vision. Eco-friendly printing options are available.

A Favorite

2009-01-22T21:39:00.001-05:00

This photograph was taken early on a Sunday morning at Buttermilk Falls State Park. The mist, the early summer sunshine, and a long exposure were key.

2009-01-21T19:49:00.001-05:00

Welcome to my first posting. There is a lot to share.