Bruce Barone ~ Journal
Archives (Old Journal)
Archives (BruceBarone)
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thankful. I am thankful today for words that arrive from old friends:
I know you saw I attended the Avedon show...Some remind me a lot of some of the things you've done.
And this:
Men like Bruce are rare.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Child. I am enjoying this image from last week's assignment:
Monday, December 28, 2009
At Mittineague Park.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Norman Rockwell and Charles Harper.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Rembrandt. We saw the Rembrandt exhibition today at The Wadsworth Atheneum.
For the next two years, the Wadsworth Atheneum is planning a series of small-scale dossier exhibitions inspired by works in its permanent collection and Rembrandt’s People will debut this series. The exhibition focuses on the artist Rembrandt van Rijn, Holland’s greatest seventeenth century painter. In the 1960s, the Atheneum acquired two paintings attributed to Rembrandt, a supposed Portrait of Saskia and Portrait of Titus. Although published at the time with much fanfare, both works have over time come to be identified as products of the Rembrandt shop.
Therefore, to introduce our public to examples of the very best painting by this great master and to put the two Atheneum shop works in context, the museum is presenting Rembrandt’s People, an exhibition that showcases Rembrandt’s portraits with works on loan from distinguished public and private collections in the United States and Canada.
This exhibition aims to demonstrate Rembrandt’s talent as a figure painter can be seen in these portraits, ranging from real commissions to imaginary portraits, self-portraits, or depictions of his family and friends in Amsterdam. Rembrandt’s People will reveal the artist’s distinctive, insightful style, presenting human beings that connect in a direct way with the viewer.
Curated by Dr. Eric Zafran, Susan Morse Hilles Curator of European Art
Self Portrait with Beret and Turned-Up Collar
1659
84.4 x 66 cm.
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas.
We are celebrating the feast of the Eternal Birth which God the Father has borne and never ceases to bear in all Eternity. . . . But if it takes not place in me, what avails it? Everything lies in this, that it should take place in me.
– Meister Eckhart
The Lord of Love, immortal and infinite, comes as a divine incarnation in times of great crisis to rescue mankind from disaster. In age after age, whenever violence and hatred threaten the world, the Lord comes down to inspire and protect those who turn to him, who live in harmony with the law of unity. He comes to protect such people from the heavy odds ranged against them, and to reestablish peace on earth and good will among all.
Yet there is another level on which this divine birth can take place. Every one of us has this choice: shall I prepare for the divine birth to take place in my consciousness by abolishing my own selfishness? It is up to you and me to keep our doors open, to put up a little sign, “Ready for receiving an incarnation.” But our house must not be cluttered up. It must be empty of selfishness and self-will. Only then can the blessed child be born in our humble hearts
.~Eknath Easwaran, Thought for the Day
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Christmas Eve. We had a great Christmas Eve Family get-together. We had prepared a fine menu. And what would a party be without shrimp cocktail?
And keilbasa:
And a Christmas cake!
And being with your children!!!
I was Santa but before I handed out the gifts I read Twas the Night Before Christmas. Lauren was my helper:
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
A Christmas Carol. I am thankful that Susan and I watched A Christmas Carol. We watched the 1938 version and I remembered how my brother, Dennis, and I would always stay up late to watch it on TV when we were children. It reminded us that people can change and grow in wisdom and in love.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Preparations.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Kind Words. There is a card on my desk which reads "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do." I think the same holds true for kind words; today Katie Himes, the new Miss Teen America writes:
You did an amazing job. They look perfect! :) Thanks!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
A Prayer. I was thinking of the writer Fred Chappell today and I found this short poem/prayer online which I think is quite beautiful:
Another
Bless, O Lord, our daily bread.
Bless those in hunger and in need
Of strength. Bless all who stand in want.
Bless us who pray, bless us who can't.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Rowan. Today I had the pleasure of
photographing 8-month-old Rowan, the daughter of a couple whose wedding I
photographed three years ago.
Except for the light in the house being somewhat subdued, it was a fun time
and I enjoyed making little Rowan smile. I brought along a Christmas hat and
a red scarf, both of which he wore and played with. I photographed her here
near the Christmas tree, with her mom and dad, and with her dog. I used my
50mm 1.4 lens which worked well inside the house.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Prosperity. I am thinking that my recent focus on prayer and meditation, on opening my mind to prosperity, has greatly contributed to me editing the hundreds of photos from The Miss Teen America Pageant, burning the DVDs, and getting them in the mail in less than two weeks (A wonderful Christmas gift for the contestants!). For this I am grateful. Here is Katie Himes, the new Miss Teen America:
Tuesday, December 15, 2005--Friday, December 11, 2009
Busy Week. Editing The Miss Teen America Pageant images and meditating.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Field Work.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
The Flu. And Cooking. This is the only photo I edited today. Stayed in bed all day. And one thing I certainly do not like about being sick is I don't feel like cooking.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Editing Images.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Joy.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Miss Teen America.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Miss Teen America.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Being Thankful.
I am thankful to be photographing The Miss Teen (and Junior Teen) America Pageants which began to day in Hartford. When I arrived at the hotel the first people I saw were Tiffany Amariuta's (Miss New Jersey) parents--old friends from many pageant events. They gave me a hug, said how happy to were to see me, and the I proceeded to unpack my photography equipment from the car and get set up in the ballroom for a series of portraits. There I got a big hug from Christina Caporuscio's (Miss Vermont) mom and she also said how happy she was to see me as this year's photographer. Her words mean much to me. Next, a wonderful hug from Bethany Camarda, Pageant Vice President and always a big supporter of me. Later, Debbie, Alexandria White's (Miss Junior Teen Amerca) mom gave a sincere greeting and said my photos of Alexandria and Kaitlyn (her other daughter and former Miss Teen America--both pictured below at December 3 post) are dear to her heart. I also had an interesting talk about prayer and spirit with Molly, the mom of Miss Georgia (more about this some other time).
Here's Alexandria in a moment of deep thought:
And here's Kaitlyn Tarpey, the current Miss Teen America and always a great pleasure to photograph:
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Preparations. Today I am preparing for my weekend photography assignment, which begins tomorrow in the late afternoon and runs through late Sunday afternoon, The Miss Teen America Pageant. It feels good to get organized, clean my cameras, charge my batteries, print photographs for display.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Receive. I am reading Open Your Mind to Receive by Catherine Ponder, America's foremost prosperity author. She has written more than a dozen books which include best sellers as The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity, and her Millionaires of the Bible series. She is a minister of the non-denominational Unity faith--long known as the "pioneer of positive thinking."
Some words and passages that I find particularly helpful:
You must be careful what you notice, talk about, or give your attention to, because that is what your are identifying with, and that is what you are inviting into your life. Whatever you notice, you are inviting into your life.
Whatever you talk about, you are inviting into your life.
Whatever you identify with in your thoughts, words and actions, you are inviting into your life.
What you notice, give your attention to, talk about, and get all worked up over emotionally is what you are inviting into your life--whether you mean to or not.
Open your mind to receive by noticing, giving attention to, and talking about what you want to bring into your life--nothing else.
Release is a word that works miracles.
Writing down what you want eliminated from your life can be a powerful form of release.
If you are not satisfied with your life, you can begin using your 'gift of prophecy' to improve your life. As you change your words, you change your world. As you improve your words, you improve your world. As you transform your words, you transform your world.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Holyoke Canal.
I am thankful that my photograph, pictured below, is included in the exhibition, "New Holyoke: 1999-2009," which opens Thursday evening at Wistariahurst. The museum director writes:
Wistariahurst welcomes local artists and photographers to the opening reception of an exhibition entitled “New Holyoke, 1999-2009.” Thirteen artists have captured the essence of Holyoke’s last decade in photographs on display in the Wistariahurst Gallery. “New Holyoke, 1999 – 2009” features iconic portraits, splendid scenic shots and a wonderful commentary of Holyoke with images from local photographers Bruce Barone, David Matuszek, Diego Angarita, Eileen Maginnis, Bill Finn, James Manning, Joshua Taylor, Denis Luzuriaga, Greg Saulmon, Mary Nelen, Brian Oelberg, Leslie Edwards and Torsten Zena-Burns. The exhibition is on view in the gallery from December 3rd to January 4th.
