Blind Eye Photography

New website update

2010-10-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

Yes it has been a very long time since I have posted. So today I am just updating, and posting the new webpage where my photos, only will be seen, and hopefully sold.
It is still in the works but I have started to post photos... I hope you all enjoy

http://blind-eye-photography.webs.com/index.htm

Passionate Focus and Chicago ROCKS

2010-05-21T10:04:00.000-07:00

Well again I have not posted for a very very long time.
This is an update of the wonderful happenings of late.
I entered an art show in Chicago and two of my photographs were chosen to be in their exhibit!!! Pretty exciting yes indeed. The art show was sponsored by the Guild for the Blind in Chicago and took place May 13-21st
I submitted five photos and was thrilled to have two selected to be part of Passionate Focus. On top of that my Alcatraz Imprisoned won best of show. How exciting is that??
So on Thursday May 13th I flew to Chicago and was joined by two wonderful friends to share my excitement. Lorna whom I have known for ooooh 45 years about and Terri my dear friend from California along with Susan and Dan from Washington!! Susan's artwork was also shown.
During the show we were interviewed and here is link for that.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/disability_issues&id=7452458

Well there will be more to follow on this but for now... ttfn

SNOW

2009-12-06T14:09:00.000-08:00

Well the yucky white stuff has arrived!!
Can you tell I am not a fan of winter. Well of the cold and snow to be exact. Not a good thing as we now live where it will be both of those dreaded things.

So I need to make the best of it and look at the snow with a photographers eye.

So I bundle up in layers and take out my camera. I think my camera probably was in shock the first time in the snow too. LOL The frog pic well, it was a wee bit lost i think.

I think these pictures prove to me at least that winter and snow can be pretty after all.

our move

2009-11-22T11:08:00.000-08:00

Well as of the second week of November we have resided in North Dakota. Yes I said cold North Dakota :)
Sadly the economy took it's t0ll on us pretty much as it has for several people in California. We were given an opportunity by a very good friend and gladly took it. We are living in his family homestead that he was fortunate to buy back earlier this year. It is out on 240 acres and has a few barns, outbuilding AND a pond. Oh yes a tractor as well. Sold me on the tractore HEHE
So we packed up our belongings and drove on thru to our new home. The scenery on the way was a mix of very boring desert and stunning mountains. I am attaching some trip pictures to show the beautiful mountains in Montana.

Also Dan decided to do a little "truck" hunting on our way. The picture says it all.!!

More to follow but for now will sign off

the dragonfly

2009-08-17T18:30:00.000-07:00

Today we went out for our usual walk with the dogs along the pond across the way from us.
The one difference was I have a broken rib that hurts like hell. seriously hurts. Big baby I am, yes.
Well i am stubborn enough to want to go for the walk but also even more stubborn to take the camera along of course.
A third of the way along I tell Dan, sorry I am not gonna make it go ahead. He does, and i wander along the side of the pond looking for anything interesting before I head back.
Well I got lost it seems wandering and just watching the birds because next thing I know my phone is ringing. "where are you" Dan asks....
"umm still at the pond waiting for you to come by"
He proceeds to tell me he is at home, so I truly got lost day dreaming I think.
So... I head for home, and WOW, I see a beautiful dragonfly. Well it was to me, I know it is a bit tattered from the wind, but to SEE it and follow it with my camera, made it beautiful.
So needless to say I snapped away... and please enjoy my Dragonfly = RP happy day.

Been a Long while

2009-07-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

Well wow, I have not posted for some time now. I guess life kind of got a hold on me for a while here.
Too much happening to really get in to it all right now, but lots of change going on in my life that is for sure.
We (my husband and best friend Donna) just got back from an RP social in Oregon and that was oh so wonderful. Met so many new and dear friends, as well as connecting with ones already known.
Pictures of course will follow in the usual places.
But today just posting a couple of shots that came so randomly I feel like sharing.
It is also the biggest reason i don't leave my house without my camera.
We were just on our way to walk the dogs and well.... the pictures will show, I stayed behind for a while and Dan walked the girls.
I hope you enjoy as much as I did.

I refuse to lose...

2009-05-05T09:48:00.000-07:00

Last week was a really rough week for me, I spent several days in a foggy haze, yuck
With or without my glasses I was blurry and felt totally lost, depressed and just plain pissed off. Took me a bit to get past it, and to really get out of it I needed to write as well as take pictures. The taking pictures usually helps me to realize I can get around the funk, and sadness, well DAMMIT it rained on me! HAHA, ah well, I did get out and take a few pictures with my new macro lens, and the one i will post here reminds me of how I was seeing last week,
blurry around the edges, blurry in the middle, and a small area of focus.

I refuse to Lose...

Yesterday was a very low day
A hole I could not climb out of
Sadness wrapped its hurt
Around my aching heart
Yet tears they would not fall

A cloud covered my eyes again
Hiding the world as you see it
A fog, a blur, it was just there
Hiding the joy, the sunshine
My sight

I know it is to be expected
And I cry every time
I hide my tears from everyone
Cause hey, life goes on
As do my tears

Today I wake and still a fog
It gets hard to explain how I feel
Smile and say oh yeah I am fine
Inside I hurt, inside again
I am crying

So I will pull myself out of this hole
With words, and with a bit of hope
Hoping I take that special photo
That shows me I can do it
I just refuse to lose!

Nora K Devane

Flutterbies!!

2009-03-31T15:02:00.000-07:00

Today we took a long walk along the trail at Lake Natomas, and I was lucky enough to catch some pictures of butterflies. Was challenging to follow them around thru my view finder, but as you can see I got them!! When I come home with pictures like this it makes me forget the RP and blindness. So happy :)

Turf Wars

2009-03-20T10:29:00.000-07:00

The other day we were out walking the dogs around the pond. Well the weather has turned very nice and spring is definitely in the air. The following pictures were caught as these geese decided to get territorial! It was fun to watch and great that I had my camera in hand!! These guys get really aggressive!!

turf wars!

we are out of here!

a fly in my eye?

2009-03-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

The first blossoms are opening out front, and so there was a fly in my eye? :)

Where the sidewalk ends.....

2009-03-08T16:57:00.001-07:00

We went for a walk during a break in our rains, this caught my eye.

Photo Seminar review

2009-03-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

Well, last weekend was the Friedman Photography Seminar and I have to say it was amazing. From the minute it started til end of the weekend we learned so much information that my brain felt like it was going to explode. Gary Friedman and his wife were very gracious hosts, and Gary himself quite a character. He made sure that we were never bored during the long days, and they were pretty long days too!!
Saturday we started at 10 am, and with me were Dan, my husband and Adam our 11 year old nephew. The first day was covering basics of digital photography and learning how to get that perfect WOW! shot. We learned about the importance of composition and lighting which included the seven rules of composition! Also learned his secrets to great travel photos.
Saturday was full of tips from, as I said lighting, composition, rule of thirds, repeating patterns etc. A lot of valuable information swirling around in my brain at the end of the class.
Sunday class started at 9:30 am and this day was just my husband joining me as it was a class for technical information. This class we were to learn more about metering modes, f/stops, shutter speeds, jpeg vs raw, as well as using Photoshop to go from "good" to "great" shots. This was the class I was really looking forward to.
Gary showed us how to use your hand for example as a light meter (spot meter off your hand, overexpose by +1 stop and shoot away) Kind of nice to know you always have a light meter on "hand" lol
During this class as I hoped the light bulb DID indeed come on for me. In the past I would play around with my f/stops, shutter speeds, aperture etc, but after this class I now know how to use them better to my advantage.
We spent a long day with everyone in class asking questions as we went, which Gary gladly stopped his discussion to answer at length. We had several times the class went off course to answer a students question but he did not mind and we did get back to point eventually. In the future I hope to attend more classes with Gary. He asked the class what type of changes could be made to better suit this seminar and the class suggested a class one day and next day more hands on in the field. This sounded like a great idea to all and I hope to see it implemented in the future.
So now when I take my walks with camera in hand, I am thinking about what I am shooting, how it will look and how the camera sees it.
Anyone interested in taking a seminar with Gary will NOT be disappointed, visit his site, check out his books, (I personally have bought 3)
https://friedmanarchivespress.com/

going to a Photography seminar!

2009-02-27T09:13:00.000-08:00

This weekend I will be attending a photography seminar given by Gary Friedman https://friedmanarchivespress.com/seminars/index.htm
I am very excited to meet him and to learn more about my camera as well as photography of course. First day I am attending with Dan, my husband and Adam our 11 year old nephew, who i think will be an awesome photographer one day. He has already shown promise, which makes me very proud of him!!
Second day I am on my own, nervous about that because of vision, but I will get past that and enjoy the day!
So hopefully with this seminar a light bulb will come on in my head and maybe some more creative or WOW photo's will spill from my camera!!
Very excited for this class!!

Peregrine Falcon

2009-02-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

On our walk the other day I captured this shot, did not know what it was, but a good friend told me it is a Peregrine Falcon!!

Ready to take off!!

Canada Goose in a big flap

2009-01-25T11:28:00.000-08:00

Sitting by the pond for a while watching the interactions between a Heron and this Canada Goose, I was able to capture the posturing of this guy.

fog

2009-01-25T11:11:00.000-08:00

The past few days or so I have had a fog or fuzziness that has just been driving me crazy. It is like when you put your glasses on and they are dirty, so you are able to take them off, clean them and all is well. Not so with my vision. I wish that were the cure, I habitually take off my glasses to do just that only to realize even with them off my vision is fuzzy.
It has been frustrating, and I have really kept it to myself, not to bother my hubby as there is enough stress going on without my damn vision.
I realize my circle is getting smaller when I am out walking and where I could see my arms swinging as I walk, now I can't. I noticed yesterday just walking to the store that the street signs once again are so out of focus I cannot read them until I am almost on top of them. Guess I will really have to take my eye meds regularly to help with the edema and possibly fix the acuity loss. I dunno anymore.
Makes me feel like I need a wide angle lens for my damn eyes just to see the area around me. See my dogs, and not trip over them as I have been doing so much of lately. Thankfully they don't seem to mind mom stumbling over them, as they can't be bothered to get out of the way. :)
Oh well, just rambling through my frustration today, getting it out of my system and hoping I feel better for doing so. Damn eyes!

Great Job!!

2009-01-10T16:18:00.000-08:00

Hey babe! GREAT job on the site....I love it! Keep up the good work and know I am behind you 100% ----- ND

first walk of the year

2009-01-03T19:38:00.000-08:00

Went for a walk in the misty morning, these shots were taken without me wearing my glasses, I am pleasantly pleased. Love the ducks at the park, can you tell? :)
testing the waters
subtle colours
pretty feathers
reflection

foggy misty day shots

2009-01-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

the pond across the street in the misty morning

i just like this picture
busting out at the seams

random shots

2008-12-08T09:18:00.001-08:00

very wet morning
drenched
Sammie talking to me

misty morning dew

2008-11-25T08:29:00.000-08:00

tiny dewdrops

intense

Yesterday walked down to the park, the flowers were all misty and pretty with dewdrops
Here are a few of my favs.

busy buzzz

tiny drops of dew looks like diamonds

Messing with RAW setting

2008-11-22T11:02:00.000-08:00

So I started to mess with my camera the other day. I have been used to shooting with TIFF or super fine JPEG, but decided it was time to play with RAW. Well, I LOVE IT!!
What a difference it makes and you can really work with your photos so much more!
So, here are a few pictures of the flowers out front, nothing fancy but hey I love flowers!!

2008-11-14T08:56:00.000-08:00

On our walk the other day, I could hear this noise above me, could not see him but clicked a couple of shots where I thot this guy might be hiding. Found him!!

We walk our dogs every day along this creek path that has all kinds of folliage and wildlife, I am always looking for something to catch my eye, usually I am rewarded. It is a beautiful walk just for the peacefulness alone.

This snowy Egret is always along the creek walk, I always look for him :)

Then as I get home I see little things that catch my eye, so will share those as well

some days

2008-11-09T12:40:00.000-08:00

Some days I wake and my world is a blur
Like someone closed the shower door
It can't be opened
It can't be cleaned.

I try so hard to focus on that flower
The word on the page
That just yesterday I could read
Today, I need to magnify

You hold my hand to show me,
Where my glass is
Where my glasses are
Where your face is.

Some days, I need you to see
Cause some days,
It closes in
God Damn this darkness

Help me to not trip
As I stubbornly hold my head high
Miss that curb
Pretend that I can see

Some days it just closes in
Sneaks up, steals more sight
Breaks my heart
Makes me need you more.

Nora K Devane

Update again and Thank you

2008-11-09T12:32:00.001-08:00

Seems lately I have been neglecting this page. I need to get a bit more organized with my time.
Again I have had more vision loss and spent the past few days feeling very lost and sad with that fact. It came as a major shock as to how much I had really lost. Of course it is not like I had lost it over night. No, this creeps up, slowly but very steadily lately. Just being told an amount makes it seem like it is sudden. I know better but I still hurt and I still mourn the loss.
A very good friend of mine who has much less site then I do described it as a mourning and it so totally fit in to how I was feeling. She too is going through a vision loss and I also cry for her. I can relate and feel her pain just as much as I feel mine. We are not alone, yet when it hurts sometimes it feels like there is nothing and no one that can make the pain stop, the loss less scary.
So, I spent time writing, crying and talking to my wonderful friends and family to get myself through it. I always do get through but without the love and comfort of friends I know it would take so very much longer.
So this update is a thank you as well.
Today is a new day, I wrote this update without crying, so the healing has begun.
xox

Another update wow

2008-07-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

OK, so yeah I have totally not been paying attention to this site, shame on me.
Decided I needed to sit down and do a sort of update and maybe edit some recent photo's that I have taken to post as well.
Been busy I suppose, life sometimes does get in the way. Sometimes I just don't feel like it also
I have been taking a lot of photo's as always, some good, some plain crap LOL
This past month we bought a new camera for me to go more towards the pro side of what I really want to be doing and I have been just loving it.
Learning so much on how to use the new DSLR and just loving taking pictures with it.
Now am looking at a new zoom lens as well for it. Thai is a must pf course.
Well, that is all for now, will post some pictures later
ttfn

It has been a while

2008-05-02T16:14:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a little while since I have been on here. So an update is in order.

For a while my eyes were just a royal pain and I was a frustrated me, but I did my best to get past it.

Started going to pre-agility classes with our Border Collie Harlee end of April and after a rough barky start I think it will be fun. Harlee is a bit fear aggressive and well she will need to be worked with. I can do that. The second class was better for Harlee but a bit more difficult for me. The lighting there is not the best for a VIP and well I have no problem asking for help, which I did. They were fine with helping me out and as we get further on in the lessons I should be able to do this without help.

Was fun, I came home tired and so did our pup.Went to eye doc the other day for a recheck and wonderful news, my edema is almost totally gone! Also the side effect from the shot is totally gone!! That is great news, so I am pleased.I have been messing around with my camera lately taking pictures of flowers ALOT! Trying different settings and just click, save or delete!

Here are a few, enjoy!!

Low Vision

2008-04-17T09:29:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday was my low vision assessment and to be honest I felt like it was a total waste of time. I know it was not totally but how I feel at the moment.
My acuity is in the toilet, and regardless of me saying to them that I think it has gotten worse, I did not want it confirmed. Silly me, still get upset by something I knew was there, obivious. Oh well. hurts just the same.
I am frustrated by the fact that the doctor has me taking this shit medicine and well somehow I feel it is NOT working. All it has done is make me puke, puke and puke some more. How is that for fun?
Thankfully in regards to the med I do have some good days where I actually get some food to stay down. How exciting. I mean like I asked Dan, what size do you go to after you hit size freakin 0?? Or do I just disappear then? HELL NO!! bring on the buckets of icecream.. or something dammit!
Do I sound sarcastic? Maybe because I am.
So, now I have to wait for more insurance crap to be approved before I can even get on with any OT. whatever...plus the whole objective of the visit to low vision clinic was to get O & M training. Something that I have fought in my head for a long time. SO when I finally get to that zone... oh gee they don't offer it. I have to go somewhere else.
Now, that zone has kind of backed off, I am leary, and I am weary.
HAHA funny me.
Well, so today I am just venting, needing to write something, yet poetry won't come.
I am sad, scared, just plain scared. Some days it is like that.
Today is that way.
Tomorrow will be better, cause I always gets past it.
Guess I will walk my dogs, clear my head, maybe take camera cause if I take a picture and I "get" it, well I always feel better.
How silly am I really?
I just know I am me, and I don't know how to be any different.

Nora

Saturday

2008-03-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

Woke up Saturday morning, did not have a good sleep. Pain sometimes is just so annoying that sleep evades me. So, lack of sleep and then an overcast day made for a crappy eye day.

Well, regardless of pain or being able to see or not, I walk the dogs. it is a time that I so enjoy. My dogs look forward to it probably just as much as I do. We may not go as far as we used to before my hip issue, but they don't care. They are out with mom! Right now I am walking THREE dogs at one time. We have Austria visiting for a couple of weeks and she is a joy. I was not sure I would be able to walk all dogs together with my vision but have learned that I can do it with no problems.

So, we leave and the sky is overcast, hazy blah wreaking havoc on my eyes. I say to the dogs, good thing you all stop at curbs. Otherwise I am sure there would be sprains or strains on days like that.

We managed our walk, and I still had to go to store. Dropped dogs off at home and mulled over whether I should take my cane or not.. hahaha. Silly me decides NOT.

I could use it after all, bad lighting.. crappy blurry vision makes for a stressful long walk. With the dogs I have learned to trust them where they go etc. On my own it is different.

Goal... learn how to use cane AND walk dogs together... should be an interesting goal. I am lefthanded and dogs walk on left side. GRIN..will be fun, but I will do it.

So I come home, and dogs are happy to see me... I am grumpy... but dogs change my mood. I grab my camera and take some pictures.... why am I always happier with a camera and dogs as my subject?

OH well.. that was my day.. and here are some pictures.

words

2008-03-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

Words are never easy for me
I feel so deep and fear to share
So I choose what I say
Choose what I let out

It’s hard to say I’m afraid
Hey look at me
Hold my hand
Listen to me cry

I am used to keeping it all to me
Storing it, thinking on it
Building the words
The way to say it right

To make it not about me
But about a question, a thought
Make it sound okay
That I am not really afraid

Words pound in my head
Drowning me in the sadness
If only I could open the door
Find the key to let them out.

©Nora K Devane 3-20-08

Crawling

2008-03-24T16:42:00.000-07:00

I’m crawling out of the ashes
Trying to rise again
Undefeated
Reborn, the phoenix

Crawling through the pain
Fighting every step
Every tear,
Every horror

I’m struggling to walk
Standing tall
Head held high
Eyes clear with pride

Crawling through the ashes
Burning pain
Tearing my soul
Rebuilding my heart

Crawling, struggling
I will make my way
To the top
Spread my wings and fly

Nora K Devane
©11-01-07

This Ride

2008-03-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

This past week has been like a ride.. going to doctor, finding out that on top of my edema becoming worse, I now have glaucoma in my right eye. I have been up in the air how I feel..

I realize I have been kind of on pause...if that makes sense. I am starting to feel overwhelmed these days. So I sit and write...

I’ve sat back for so many years
Watching this ride
Seeing the ups
Hearing all the downs

Always avoiding my turn
Thinking I will never get on
My turn would never happen
Someone else was always in front

Yet here I am, first in line
On a ride I’d rather skip
The ups I miss
The Downs I am sinking in

Never did I think I would climb aboard
Feel this hurt,
Ride through this pain
Want so bad to get off

But here I am no return ticket
Just a heart full of fear
Head full of questions
And not knowing where to start

©Nora K Devane

I am struggling

2008-03-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

I’m struggling with this pain
The words are jumbled
They may never make sense
The pain so deep, I ache inside

You were evil, and I was so naïve
So long ago,
Yet I remember like yesterday
So much pain, so much hate
It’s all boiling up inside of me.

Don’t cry, don’t think, don’t breath
It won’t hurt if you don’t move
No one cares, no one ever does
Can you see them here, holding your hand?
No

“You are nobody, just do as I say
Then you won’t hurt
Then you won’t cry
Then I will be happy”
That’s what you said

Your friends can’t help you
They have their lives
They don’t need yours,
They don’t care,
“we’ll” tell them goodbye

“I don’t like how you look
Don’t like how you talk
Don’t like how you cook
Clean, or breathe
I will never love you”

You hurt me, I hate you
You made me hate me
You took my soul
You took my …I just don’t know

I am struggling
The words hurt
The memories hurt
I need to release them
I need to evict them

I am struggling
In pain, in tears
Alone I have felt this
Never to share
Cause you said
No one would care

Nora K Devane
© 10-17-07

2008-02-21T13:06:00.000-08:00

There are many facets to me, the deepest part of me I rarely have shared with people because sometimes it just hurts far too much. Now I am slowly breaking free of that pain. With my writing and my photography that has so been encouraged by my husband I am growing.

This following poem I wrote several years ago, slowly starting to realize who I am and what I needed to do. I am still growing.

Control

Sometimes I wonder who i really am
a mold, someone elses creation
where did the me go?
where did i loose control?

So many dreams let go the wayside
So much love lost
too much pain
too many tears.

Who is this lost person?
Finally trying to gain control,
Who am I
Is this time for me?

I did everything as I was told
Looked the way you wanted
became the "perfect" ideal
Talked the "perfect" talk

Looking the other way
when hurt
Closing my eyes, my heart
to all the pain.

Now I have to gain control
Find the lost me,
Build a new and stronger soul
Take my lfe back.

©Nora K. MacDonald 12-11-02

Afraid

2008-02-20T20:21:00.000-08:00

Afraid

How do i tell you I am afraid
what do i say, what words
I cry, and i hide the tears
how do i show you I am so scared

this strong front i have is just that
underneath there are tears
worries, heartache and fear
how can i show you I am weak

afraid of the dark
yet I could go blind
will you always be there
holding my hand, guiding me

How do i deal with this fear
how do I ask you to help me
I don't know the words,
I only know today I am afraid

Nora Kathleen Devane
©4-22-07

Yesterday

2008-02-16T19:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday my world became smaller
Surprising me, for I did not know
Yesterday my heart stood still
Filling with this fear and pain

Closing in was my circle of hope
The little bit I hold on to
That said I am okay
I am not going to be blind

It scared me, frustrated me,
Devastated my world
If only for a while
Yet my tears frustrated you

Frustrated you why,
Because this I should expect
Well, that angers me
Makes me very sad

Yesterday my world was caving
My heart was crying
Who do I tell?
Cause who understands

Tomorrow my world will be better
I will pick myself up
Wipe off my tears
Today, I am still angry

©Nora K Devane

An intro

2008-01-24T20:50:00.000-08:00

Hello, Blind Eye Photographer?? what might that mean?
Simply put I am legally blind and I take pictures. I have a retinal disease called RP for short.. to learn more you can go to this link http://www.jwen.com/rp/faq/rpfaq.html

Photography is my passion, as is my family. I have the most wonderful husband a person could ask for.

He is understanding, strong, loving and my best friend. He supports me in my dreams and in my loves. He is worth every wrong step I took in life to get to him. I love him more everyday.

My two sons of course I have loved since before they tickled my tummy to let me know they were there. I adore them and will always think of them as my babies, even though they are adults with lives and loves of thier own. No matter what they do in life, I will support them as best as I can with all the love I have behind them.

Thomas, mom and Ryan... my wonderful kids

The reason there is sunshine in my life

Next.. my furkids.. three of em.. yes that is plenty to love .. or is it? Sammie is our lab/greyhound "lap" dog, she is going on 7 but has the energy of a puppy. I love her to bits. Next we have Emmie that is our longhaired domestic terrorist... kitty. She rules the house of course as cats often do. She is her dads girl and tolerates me.

Finally there is Harlee or Harlequinn as she was named for her colouring. She is just over a year old Border Collie. This pup never runs out of steam and tests my patience at the best of times. I ADORE her as well.

So here you will find a mix of who I am. My photo's and my writings, all which are a huge part of who I am.

I write to work through my past and of course to deal with the unknown future. I write because it makes me whole again. I can get past the pain or even just capture the happiness.

I take photo's because I love seeing everything and remembering every moment in time, every beautiful sunset to each and every smile on my families face. That is who I am.

Memories in every photo.