Virtual (vir-tu-al) - adj.
1. very close to being something, or somewhere, without actually being it.
or...
or...
2. another word used in place of "cool" or "awesome" by urban white punk kids
"Dude! Photography is sooooo virtual!"
or...
3. all of the above
or...
3. all of the above
"I Believe I Can Fly"
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
Welcome to my virtual blog tour. I've been invited by a virtual friend of mine, Kelly at "Just a Click Away", to participate in this virtual meet and mingle. For the past few weeks, various blogs have taken the time to introduce themselves via the same four questions to the virtual blog-o-sphere, then pay-it-forward by directing readers on to a new blog the following Monday. Sort of a virtual open house tour. Except I don't have to clean. I love living in a virtually clean house...WINNING!
"Take Aim"
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
1. What am I working on?
Well THAT is the kicker! Work? I'm kind of allergic to it. To be fair, I define "work" as something I don't want to do. Probably not your typical definition. Welcome to my world. I might labor hard at something...but if it is something I WANT to do? It ain't "work" to moi. And that's probably the secret to my virtual longevity here at "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out". It's a labor of love.
2. How does my work differ from other's of it's genre?
I'm not so sure I'm all that much different. I'm just moi. If anything is "different" it is the fact that I fly by the seat of my pants...and my camera. Unlike other areas of my life in the real world. I virtually have no plan here. There, my secret is out. I just go where the moment takes me. This post is a perfect example. Yesterday morning I drove Thing #3 to Barnes & Noble to meet with her SAT tutor. Three hours to kill? Beautiful day? What to do? I headed to Valley Forge National Park to roam a bit. And take some photos. Truth-be-told, the clouds called me. I had to listen. It was much cheaper than the DSW shoe store that was right next to the Barnes & Noble...which was also calling me. My Better-Half would call that a virtual win!
"The Giving Tree"
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
3. Why do I write/create what I do?
It's my life, it's now or never. I ain't gonna live forever. I just want to live while I'm alive. My heart is like an open highway, like Frankie said I did it my way. I just wanna live while I'm alive. It's my life. (Bon Jovi virtually stole that from moi).
4. How does your writing/creativity process work?
Basically, I'm living on a prayer (I'm a Philly girl...I channel Bon Jovi a lot). Case in point? I virtually have no idea what my next post will be about. But when I DO know what it will be? It will be because a photo spoke to me. When I first began "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out" three years ago, it was all a ploy to keep me accountable to get out there and take photographs. Something to answer to. Totally photo driven. I've morphed. I'm still photo driven. But words have moved from the backseat to riding shotgun. But I do live in constant fear that I will never have anything that motivates me to take a photograph, OR to blog about....again. Thankfully, that's been an unfounded fear so far.
"Riders in the Sky"
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
Time for me to move this party on to the next stop. Ironically, I am leading you to a friend who ISN'T just virtual to me, she's actually real. I've known Rebecca (aka Becky) at "The Dusty Cellar" since we both were high school classmates. We were fellow marching band geeks. Now? We are fellow photographers and bloggers. Here's a bit from Becky, about Becky:
"Let's just say I'm a roam-ographer trapped in suburbia who takes lots of photos and blogs about them. Never knowing where I'll roam keeps the spontaneous side happy but makes the husband a little crazy. Once every 6 months or so he reads my blog and finds out where I've been and what I've photographed. I kinda like it that way."
Do yourself a favor, don't wait until NEXT Monday to visit "The Dusty Cellar". Go take a peak now. I promise, Becky has some mad photography skills that are sooooo virtual!
Here's where I "link up" today.
Please join me on Sundays for Song-ography.
This week's song title is Five for Fighting's "100 Years".
Great post, Kathy. You are very authentic and I've always loved your honesty... not to mention your mad photog skills!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize you knew Becky in real life - cool! Would you believe I've never been to Valley Forge - talk about a fail, growing up an hour away - oops!
ReplyDeleteI love your photography and seeing a little of our world through your minds eye...or camera lens...virtually.
ReplyDeleteLove the picture of the bird and the cloud! Including the text.
ReplyDeleteThat was fun to read. I like learning more about people and their creative process. I think you write very well and keep people interested in what you have to say not only through your words but also through your awesome photos. There were some fabulous one's here today. My favorite was The Giving Tree.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Not just cause it mentions me. LOL . But now this is going to be hard because my answers are so similar to yours. And here, all this time, I thought you and your blog were minutely planned out.
ReplyDeleteSo I just pick one person for Monday...and pay it forward with the same questions and that's it?
I think you can pick between 1-3???? And yes, same questions. Planned out????? Haha....I laugh at you! :)
DeleteParticularly love your photo of the giving tree. I had fun reading your post yesterday and of course admired those beautiful photos of the tree at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI love visiting Civil war sites. Wonderful photos
ReplyDeletehttp://naturalbeautism.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-good-random-and-fun.html
I knew you'd be great at this Kathy and so happy you agreed to play. The photos are stunning. Mother Nature must have been in a good mood!! The Giving tree is beautiful. Beautiful post Kathy. Xo
ReplyDeleteWow these photos are stunners!
ReplyDeleteFun post, those are interesting questions, and the pictures - wow. The titles - perfect. Man, do I wish we'd had an SAT/ACT tutor available for kiddo #2. We live next door to a university so you'd think that service would be readily available, but the closest was an hour away for a measly $900.00. Woozer!
ReplyDeleteI love this post, it is so very you. The way you think and approach life, grabbing it all and loving the whole thing. It is inspiring and refreshing
ReplyDeleteMollyxxx
I love this fun idea! : ). I can't wait to go and read more about Rebecca from the dusty cellar. How cool that you used to be in band together! What district did you grow up in?
ReplyDeleteGood ole Upper Moreland
DeleteGreat post....another very fun read! Heading to Dusty Cellar...NOW.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun tour idea!
ReplyDeleteGreat tour!! Boom, Bobbi and Gary.
ReplyDeleteLoving your photos.. So glad your decided on going to Valley Forge NP instead of DSW..
ReplyDeleteHugs~
What a great post, thanks for sharing in the Texture Twist!
ReplyDeleteLove this post. So fun to read what drives a fellow photographer / blogger. You are so much better with words than I am though ;)
ReplyDeleteHah - the moment I read 'it's my life. It's now or never' - I knew (!) Bon Jovi - YEAH! Haven't been to one of their concerts in years - too long... See you around, Kathy!
Lovely shots.
ReplyDeleteI very much enjoy the words that accompany your fantastic photos.
ReplyDelete