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Monday, July 21, 2014

Beaux-Arts Pont



Just a couple of photos today 
of the Pont Alexandre III
which spans the Seine.

Built in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition
along with the Grand Palais and  Petit Palais. 


Adorned with art nouveau lamps,
gilt bronze statues, nymphs, horses and cherubs,
it is named after Tsar Alexander III of the Franco-Russian Alliance. 

Interestingly, the first stone of the foundation was laid by 
Alexander III's son,
Nicholas II in 1896
and the Trinity Bridge in St. Petersburg
was created as a memorial to the Franco Russian-Alliance,
designed by Gustave Eiffel
and the first stone laid by French President Felix Faure in 1897. 

Wish we made more bridges like this one! 

(Photos copyright: Kirsten Steen
Info by Wikipedia)

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

My Heart in San Francisco



We are just back from a weekend in San Francisco
visiting my sister who is spending the month of July in San Diego.

Fun for the two of us to meet up there
since we lived in the City for 5 years as teens. 

We visited old haunts, took in the sites and views,
 had dinner at Scoma's and drinks at the Buena Vista. 
And my favorite: Sacrepantina cake at Stella's Bakery
and Raspberry Twists from Mara's, both in NorthBeach.
Such fun! 

I promise to return 
with many more pics of San Fran.
Til then, where did you leave your heart?!



(Photo copyright: Kirsten Steen)

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Letting Go Portrait Series



Friend and brilliant Portland, Oregon and San Francisco fine art photographer,
has spent the past 18 months photographing and recording over 100 people 
in the process of Letting Go,
the name of her series of touching and cathartic photographs. 

Everyone has something to let go of 
and these photos take you into the mindset of another's process
as well as inviting you to consider what you might well do without.
She has created a Kickstarter campaign to take the project international
and create a book from a compilation of each of the portraits
as well as words from each participant about their process. 

I was honored to be a part of the series
and since seeing more and more of these touching portraits
and reading the strong and brave and true words of each person about their process,
I find myself every day looking for new ways to let go
of what no longer serves me, 
challenging myself each day. 

An inspiring body of work,
an opportunity to help an amazing artist in a transformational project
as well as rewards for campaign backers,
please consider becoming a financial contributor to this beautiful series. 

Every dollar amount, large or small, counts!
Kickstart is all-or-nothing and there are (2) days left!


From Octavia:

'For the past 18 months, I have been photographing a series I call “Letting Go.” In a way, this series came about organically, as I traveled through my own city—Portland, Oregon—As the ending of 2012 was settling in, I wanted to create a fun and thoughtful series of people “ Letting Go” of what they do not need and starting the new calendar year with lightness. The photographs I have included are part of this series. My goal is to take this “Letting Go” portraits series and photograph people all over the world. Our universal needs to let go of something in our lives are apparent with in each of the 120 people I have photographed so far. My approach to each photograph is humor, grace, contradiction and sorrows—making a unique and intimate experience for others to walk into; a shift of consciousness from the obvious aspects of what does holding onto this object mean to your life, to what beauty and opportunities do you make available by letting go?
I have (now 2) days to reach full funding-Thank you for becoming a part of this beautiful project. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lettinggoportraits/letting-go-portraits'

Please click on the above link,
watch the video
and click 'Back This Project'
with any amount. 


"In the end, these things matter most: 
How well did you love? How fully did you live? How deeply did you let go?" 
~Buddha


(Photos by Octavia Hunter)