Underwater Photographs

I love the mysterious and magical look of photographs taken underwater.  To me, I am creating the mermaids and water nymphs I have loved since I was a little girl reading Fairy Tales.   A few years back, I did a series of photographs with film underwater.  I took them in a gorgeous, clear pool of water by a waterfall in Vermont.  I took rolls and rolls of film only to have a few photographs turn out, but that is the way of photography for me-it is a long and patient process-and when I am finally getting the best photographs, the sun is setting, the water or weather has become either extremely cold or hot and my costumes or sets are falling apart.  Here is one of the photographs from the series that I have scanned and plan to scan more.  I  hope to get out my film cameras again!

Hope all is well with all of you!

xoxo,

merle

My Little Cats on a Sunday

A view into my bedroom yesterday.  How sweet my four little black cats are.  They each have such strong personalities-so different each other, but they love each other so much and I always find them hanging out together.  Pascal and Tobias are on the window ledge.  Bijou and Glas are on my bed.  Love these amazing creatures, my dear little folks.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

xoxo,

merle

New Photos for Sihaya Design Jewelry

I have been working on new photographs for the gorgeous one of a kind Jewelry of Sihaya Design Jewelry created by the talented Christina Allen Page.  I have had the pleasure to watch her Jewelry Line grow from a hobby to a successful business so this collaboration was very special for me.  Christina sent a few pieces from her Autumn 2012 Collection so that I could take self-portraits wearing the pieces in my own style.  Here are a few of the finished photos.  I am wearing the "Silk Roads" Necklace-a beautiful piece celebrating the colours of Fall and the turning of the foliage.  It includes fresh water pearls, worked copper set with glowing crystals and finished with a unique patina, and delicate vintage glass leaf beads that have been wire-wrapped in copper.

I like to tell a story with each piece of jewelry rather than have my photographs be a straight product shot.  For this piece, I went back in time and took inspiration from the Renaissance, Old Masters Paintings, the Pre-Raphaelites Art and the colours of Autumn. I have more pieces to photograph so watch this spot.  Please visit Christina's Etsy Shop Sihaya Designs Jewelry to see her many other Autumn designs as well as other unique pieces.  They are divine!

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Wishing you all the Best!

Merle

Day of the Dead Photos in My Shop

I have added new photographs to my Etsy Shop  from a new series about the "Day of the Dead"(Dia de Los Muertos).  This Latin American Celebration takes places at the beginning  of November.

from left clockwise, "My Dear Santos", "Skeleton with Heart Milagro", and "Dia de Los Muertos"

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 The"Day of the Dead"(Dia de Los Muertos) is a Latin American Celebration takes places at the beginning of November. It is a celebration of remembrance for our deceased loves and not meant to be at all scary. Instead, it is a day and night to honour them with gifts of food, flowers and candle light vigils to the cemetery involving the whole family. This is the one night of the year when their spirits are thought to walk among us so it is really just a big party for everyone. Skulls and Skeletons are common themes in this Holiday, but they are seen as fun decorations and teach us that death is something not to be feared. In the U.S., we celebrate Halloween at the end of October with some of these same themes(spirits, skeletons, skulls), but the focus can get lost on creepy, gory, scary things now. There are many fun and beautiful decorations, costumes and food that are also used to celebrate Halloween so it isn't all horror with a chainsaws(I can't stand that stuff!). I hope you enjoy my little collection. I brought many of the pieces in the photographs back from Mexico and New Mexico and have them displayed in a China Cabinet all year long. They are beautiful treasures to me!

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Wishing all of you a beautiful and blessed Fall!

xoxo,

merle

OPHELIA, OPHELIA, OPHELIA!

I am not sure what it is about this character, but I have been taking photographs of my friends and self-portrait of myself as "Ophelia" from Shakespeare's famous play "Hamlet" for many years now.  I never have thought that she is dead though.  Since I grew up the daughter of life guard parents who taught me how to swim before I could remember, I never really understood how she could drown from her heavy gowns.  I was always thinking, "Just stand up in that water!  Why didn't anyone teach you how to swim?!  Run away! That is one messed up situation!  Smack your brother out of it and run away together!".  Or, I thought that she was playing "dead" by floating in the water so she could sneak away like Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet", well we all know how that turned out.  Again, I was equally frustrated. 

The new "Ophelias" in and coming soon to my Etsy Shop Merle Pace Arts, from top left clockwise, Ophelia and the Roses, Ashore, At Waters Edge, Suspicions

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I suppose I am not a romantic.  Maybe once, but I would hope that now I am a girl who knows that when things start to get creepy and the years have taught me a few thing. 

I still have huge blind spots.  I have most definitely tried to understand a love in my life when things were going horribly down hill.  I have been stuck trying to understand and lost myself wanting the situation to work, wanting to find my "person" as he used to be-help him/save him when it just couldn't be done and I was being treated horribly.  So, there is that sadness and woe which I do understand.   

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If you are a Romantic, love Shakespeare's Plays, or choose to make up your scenarios, I hope these images make you feel something that moves you.   I must add that each time I go into the water for photographs, it is with great trouble and the water is always cold regardless of season or if I am inside or out.  And, on second thought,  I remember that these gowns were rather heavy and troublesome to move about the water in.  Swimmer or not, I think they could have pulled me down if I wasn't so stubborn to get my photographs!

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p.s. I think being used to throwing myself all over the place for photographs, doing a bit of yoga and have a little strength doesn't hurt either~

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I hope all is well with my Fellow Blogger Folks!

With loving kindness,

merle

Autumn and Haunting Photographs in my Etsy Shop

I have been adding new photographs to my Etsy Shop Merle Pace Arts almost daily.  I am choosing ones that have themes of Autumn and that are a bit Haunting and Dark just for the season so check them out!  Here are a few more self-portrait photographs that I put in my shop in the last few days.

from the left clockwise,  Heartless Home, Autumn Fauna, and Unwanted Dark

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These new photographs are being added to the ones already in my shop so those favourites aren't leaving just yet.

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I am editing more photographs and have plans on taking more as the leaves are starting to change colour, the temperature is a bit cooler and the days are shorter with brilliant orange hued sunsets.  My little nephew Skyler's 7th Birthday is coming up on 2 October so our family must get our costumes ready for the Pirate themed Party he wants to have.  It is time for me to take another set of photographs of him and his older brother Zach as they love to dress up for the camera.  They have a specific theme in mind, but it is top secret! Here is a hint, Black Feathers!

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Hope all is well with you folks in Blogland!

With loving kindness,

merle

"Roots" A New Photo in my Etsy Shop

I am adding new photographs to my Etsy Shop which have a more of an Autmn feel.  For me, that means that they are a bit darker, or have warmer colours, and maybe are haunting but not in a creepy kind of way. 

"Roots"

(detail)

I took this photograph in the creek and woods where I grew up just as the leaves were beginning to turn.  I have always found this tree's tangled web of roots to especially magical.  I love this creek, Fishback Creek.  We spent all summer swimming and hiking in it and all Winter skating on it.  These woods are still so mysterious-mythical, mystical.  I love the dark contrasts in this photograph.  For me, it is perfect for Fall.

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I am adding new photographs so keep an eye out.  Hope all is well with you folks.

With loving kindness,

merle