Tea&Whiskers: October Newsletter
October Newsletter
Hello Dear Readers,
I’m Gwen, and my granddaughter is Kylie; together, we make TEA & WHISKERS, a website created and managed by Kylie.
A very large part of life is observing, looking, watching, being aware of what is happening or is going to happen.
I learnt to be aware of what was around me, to read the signs and who and what was around me.
I had to ride a bike for four miles to school along a lonely bush track. So, I had plenty of time to observe the bird life, the reptile and animal life. I learnt the tire treads of the neighbors’ cars and would know if they had driven to town, even my own family. I unconsciously planted the same habit in my children as we travelled, explored the area during school holidays and on Saturday drives with Dad.
I believe that being aware and observing life around us is very important. It could save our life or that of another.
As I delved into photography, I was urged to see with other eyes. To look beyond what I could see with my natural eyes. I had to ask, what else is there to see? Is there a pattern, a leading line, a color, a particular object? Is there a feeling I want to capture?
For the writer, it is a similar story. And maybe for the sculptor, the painter, they need to see with other eyes.
The art of observation allows us to be individuals, to create, to be our true selves. We look outside of the box; we look with different eyes; our instinct is not to follow the crowd but to follow our own path.
It is safer to follow the mob; it is also easier because we don’t have to think. Someone does it for us. But is this being true to ourselves?
“I observed and took it to heart;
I looked and received instruction.”
A Proverb.
This Month with Kylie
Observing the world around me is something I think has always come intuitively. My grandmother, Margaret, used to tell me that I had a sixth sense, that whenever I walked into a room, I would observe all that was happening and adapt myself accordingly.
Of course, I later learned this was an aspect of my autism, and hyper-awareness can be a bit of a curse in social settings.
Some of the comments I often get about my writing are that the way I write characters is steeped in realism, that they feel very grounded, my dialogue sounds like actual conversations, and the relationships feel like real relationships.
Such comments have baffled me, and still do, because I have never really interacted much outside my small circle.
I often hear about how authors should ‘Write What you Know’ – however, I prefer the idea of ‘Write what you Imagine you Know’.
I imagine I know a lot of things.
I was trying to describe this idea to one of my host girls a while ago; she was baffled by the very idea that I could picture in my mind entire scenes, whole characters and then just…write out what it was I was seeing in real time, as if I had painted that image in my mind.
So, I tried to start her on painting grass in her mind, just grass, green grass.
Nope.
So, okay, an apple: I told her to paint me an apple in her mind and describe it to me.
She couldn’t do it.
We both thought this was a fascinating difference in how our minds worked creatively.
It’s a very interesting exercise.
My amazing editor and I have been working solidly on my new novel.
You can sign up HERE to stay informed about the progress and release date.
Gwen's Stunning Photography
This Month With Gwen:
Gwenneth the Photographer
They have arrived!
The Cards, that is.
Below is the collection of five cards.
I have made packs of five. I will sell them for $22.00 + $6 Postage
Orders can be made below through my Granddaughter's Bookshelf Shop, and the cards will be posted directly to you.
This is an exciting moment for me to be able to offer a product showcasing my own images.
I am preparing another set of cards featuring flowers.
Botanic Gardens
Monday 12th Oct, My granddaughter, Lou took myself and daughter Diane for a photoshoot at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.
The Botanic Gardens are a beautiful place of peace and regeneration of the soul, among the great and ancient trees, the planting of flowers, and to observe nature, beauty, and the history of our pioneering visionaries.
Places to sit and meditate and not to mention the tasty food and drink available. I will share from time-to-time images from the shoot.
The image of a cockatoo in flight is one of my favorites from the shoot.
“Art demands constant observation.”
Vincent Van Gogh
Photographer of the Month:
A bit about who Ken Duncan is
Kenneth McLeod Duncan, OAM (born 20 December 1954) is an Australian photographer. He is regarded as being one of Australia's most acclaimed landscape photographers.[1]
He gained prominence for his work with panoramic landscapes and limited-edition photographic prints. In 1982, Duncan left Sydney to travel around Australia and photograph its famed landscapes.[2] In five years he produced more than 80,000 images.
Although the panoramic format is considered his most popular, he has also used many other different formats and media. He has produced several books and has won awards for his work.[3]
His first major publication was a pictorial book called The Last Frontier — Australia Wide published in 1987 by Weldon publishers. More than 65,000 copies have been sold.
His photograph of a bush homestead was used for the cover art of Midnight Oil's 1987 album, Diesel and Dust.[4]
At the 1988 ARIA Music Awards together with Creative Type Wart, Gary Morris, and Midnight Oil, he won for Best Cover Art. Ken Duncan in a Christian. ([5] (Wikipedia)
Something to Do:
This month we will look at settings on the mobile phone
The modern phone is also a very good camera.
There are different modes such crop, panorama, macro.
The portrait mode uses algorithms to blur backgrounds which make the subject stand out. This mode is good for pets, people and flowers.
Becoming familiar with camera modes empowers you to create great pictures rather than a snapshot.
Below is a macro image with a blurred background.
Observe the hairs or fluff on the buds. Macro magnifies wonderful details not seen by the naked eye.
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See you in November.
Gwen and Kylie
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