Sheila Bocchine, Photographer

In February, I attempted a few pinhole portraits of pets and their owners. It was then that I realized that pets just don’t hold still when you ask them too. This lovely silhouette is of Aaron and his roommates dog, Coco, but Aaron calls him Shadow… because as he grew older, he lost his coco brown fur and turned black. You can kind of see Shadow’s ears near Aaron’s face.

So lately, I’ve been working out in my dreams and waking up sore… sore like I worked out in real life… it’s totally bizarre. It’s kind of exciting and proves my theory, that when we’re awake we’re dreaming and when we’re ‘sleeping’ we’re actually living our real lives. My ‘dreams’ are way more interesting than my ‘real’ life. In my dreams I travel to make-believe lands and find myself in all sorts of wild predicaments. Unicorns, aliens, heros… they all exist in my ‘dreams’. If in my awake state I’m thinking of someone I haven’t seen in a while, I visit them in my dream state, and those visits are often quite wonderful.

Last night I was catching up on reading some of my favorite blogs and I followed a bunch of links and found this, an artist (Jason Polan) in NYC that is trying to draw every person in New York. If you tell him where to meet you, he’ll show up, possibly unannounced and draw you… it only takes two minutes and then he posts his drawings to his website. If I were in NYC this summer I would totally contact him.

If you haven’t seen this interview yet…. well, I was interviewed for Without Lenses Quarterly Magazine and the article is now live! I’m pretty excited about this!

Have a wonderful weekend!

In February, I attempted a few pinhole portraits of pets and their owners. It was then that I realized that pets just don’t hold still when you ask them too. This lovely pinhole image is of Aaron his roommates dog, Coco, but Aaron calls him Shadow… because as he grew older, he lost his coco brown fur and turned black.

I have the most exciting news! The wonderful quarterly journal Without Lenses interviewed me for an article and it is now live! It’s a really great website and she features really fantastic lensless work. Plus Erin is a terrific photographer as well! Make sure to stop by her flickr and leave her some love-ly comments!

Here is a direct link to the article, because there will come a time when it won’t be featured on the front page.

***I’d love for you to post your best shot ever in my comment section!***

Yesterday Problogger had a wonderful post allowing his readers to share where they hang out in the social media realm. I believe he called it a love-in. Today on his Digital Photography School blog, he asked his readers to share their best shot ever. I started to write my comment and realized that I never posted my favorite pinhole wedding image on my blog (it was before I started blogging). The above pinhole photograph is my very favorite! I love everything about it, especially how they look like wedding cake toppers. I took this wedding photograph of Kristi and Joel in December 2006.

…well now that you’ve got me started…
My favorite garden series image is Bunny and Bird

My favorite black and white pinhole image is Fall Festival from Concordia, Missouri

My favorite pinhole portraits are Jessii by the waterfall, and Babs and Kiera

and… okay, one more… my favorite image from my last (currently up until August 11th) exhibit

Well, that was fun! I also did a fun experiment to see where I am on the internet using google keywords.
Pinhole Photographer: Top of page two
Pinhole Photography: Page Seven
Pinhole: Page 38

According to my Google analytics most of my traffic comes from searches on google for my name, Sheila Bocchine, or from twitter. None of my traffic comes from pinhole. I find that odd. What do you think?

**Don’t forget to share your best shot!

Found this lovely winter scene while walking in Scottsdale after a pinhole portrait shoot. So, of course, I pinholed it!

So, if you’re reading this blog, I have a favor to ask of you. My friend Vaiden’s mom has cancer and is asking everyone to send her mom a postcard. I requested the help of everyone a few years ago when my mom had cancer and I know the postcards brightened her day. Even if you don’t know her, a positive note on a happy postcard will make her smile! But if you do know Liz (her mom), then please, please, please make sure to send her a card!

She is an awesome lady… can kick your butt in scrabble, still goes to burning man, is a collector of everything, has the most amazing yard, and is just plain fascinating… and I know we can all help her feel better faster!

Here’s where to send them:
Liz Boyer
1407 E Palm Lane
Phoenix, AZ 85006

I do make and sell postcards, so if you’d like to purchase one from my etsy shop, I’ll get it in the mail tonight! AND! if you email me to let me know you’re sending it to Liz, I’ll waive/refund your shipping costs!

Anyone in Phoenix going to see the Cubs tonight? If so, I’ll see you there! I’m going with my undergrad alumni group, so we’ll be rooting for the Cubs (I went to college in Chicago).

My friend Kristian…. Italian male model, t-shirt designer, pet lover, super sweet, absolutely crazy… Took this pinhole portrait in Scottsdale Park, not really sure what the name of the park is, but I like to call it Scottsdale Park. You know, where the museum is and the Love Sculpture.

Weekend went by to fast. On Friday evening I had a tutorial on how to write a perfect press release. I’m going to test my new found knowledge out today! I also confirmed the exhibit at the Pie Braggs Factory for October!

On Saturday we photographed the wedding of Jessica and Diondre Travis. They planned their wedding in two weeks and it was fantastic! (more people should plan their wedding in two weeks) They were a gorgeous couple and had a gorgeous two year old daughter. I enjoyed both of their families and the highlight of the evening was watching them dance. I’m not sure where people learn to move like that… but WOW!

I love that Gary and I get to photograph weddings all the time. I couldn’t imagine doing anything besides photography. We get to photograph people’s celebrations and parties! We get to photograph family reunions, friends laughing and new beginnings. What could be better than that?

On Sunday, Gary and I both pretty much slept the whole day… then ventured out to photograph lightning in the evening. We were out for 4 hours coming home empty handed. BUT! We did use our fantastic iphone gps to take the back roads to a small town called, Florence, Arizona. Gary wanted to photograph their clock tower and we hung out for a while waiting for the storm to arrive. It never did. So we headed further east to Superior, it looked promising, sudden bursts of light flashed across the sky… but no bolts of lightening. Sadly, we headed home.

My last pinhole portrait of the fabulous Raquel and Tony in their backyard. If you ever get the chance to know them, you should… artists, dancers, organic farmers, super recyclers, stylish, funny, iphone users… they are both just totally ‘rad’.

Last night Gary and I went to our Yelp Party at Sol Y Sombre. It was fantastic! The food was delicious and the atmosphere was wonderful.  I enjoyed that it was on the second floor and that we were outside on the balcony.  I’m excited to see the pinholes I took. I’ll drop the film in the mail today. I actually have like 8 rolls to develop, it will be like Christmas when I get them back! They are all from the past month. I’m not sure why I’ve waited so long to mail them in. Well, actually, yes, I do… I was busy doing other things and I still have plenty of photos to post on my blog and flickr. Soon, I’ll have to start posting more than one pinhole photograph a day! Wheeeee!!!!!!!

After the party was over, I had Gary put a few drops of rubbing alcohol and a few drops of peroxide in my ear and I let the concoction do it’s magic.  TODAY I feel 75% better! yay!  I don’t think the ear coning did anything, but this magical combination worked wonders!  I can’t wait to do it again tonight.  I can even hear out of my ear again.  Man, that ear infection was wicked.

Oh Broccoli, how I adore you!  You may be one of my favorite vegetables, steamed with a little olive oil… or raw with hummus.  You’re crunchy in salads and make my pasta more healthy!  I wonder how many poems have been written about this fantastic vegetable.  These pinhole photos of broccoli are from Raquel and Tony’s Organic Garden.  They gifted me with some of their crop and I was in heaven, seriously the best broccoli I’ve ever eaten.

I do like the top pinhole photograph better, but there is something about the bottom one… so I decided to post them both.  I love how they are the same but yet, so different.  They were taken on the same day, one right after the other.

How are you enjoying your new iphone?  I am LOVING IT!  I am so happy with this product, I can’t stop using it.  I can’t stop playing with it.  I can’t stop learning new features and adding new apps!  I can’t stop using loopt or twitterific! My favorite features are the GPS/Map features!  I know this is really sad, but when Gary is driving I’m watching myself on the GPS.  I’m sure I’ll daydream out the window again soon, but right now, I’m completely infatuated with my new iphone.  I purchased the white one with a pink and see-thru case!

If you’re on loopt, add me!  I’d love to see what you’re doing all day!

A pinhole family portrait featuring Raquel holding their two little chihuahuas Poncho and Oscar, and Tony being sneaky in the background. Aren’t they just the cutest! You should see their magnificent garden. They gave us some of their extra broccoli and it was the most amazing broccoli I ever ate! They also gave us some extra seeds and we set up an indoor hydro kit and planted basil, dill, cilantro and some other stuff. Everything seems to be growing nicely!

I can’t wait to go our little garden and pick fresh basil for my salads! MMMMMMM!!

Tony and Raquel both celebrated birthdays in the last week and are having a joint pool party on Saturday evening. They are treating us to homemade vegan mexican food. They are both wonderful chefs and plan on opening a restaurant in upcoming years.

Pinhole portraits are available by yours truly.  Prices will be on my website soon.  Perhaps I will spend my lunch break adding them.

 Tonight! Scottsdale art walk… you wanna go? 

I was feeling ‘beachy’ today. My sister just got back from Hawaii and I spent 30 minutes ooo’ing and aaahhh’ing at her photos and am now visualizing a week on the beach…. sandy beaches, fruity drinks, dreamy sunsets, a coastal drive preferably in a convertible with the top down, stargazing with the sound of crashing waves in the background… sounds delightful! Gary and I will be in Santa Barbara at the end of August for 5 days and I am wishing it the end of August right now!

This pinhole of a jellyfish is from a trip to San Diego in 2005. The beach was covered with them, so many colors and sizes. I even found one that glittered in the sunlight. One day I will have a room in my home that is dedicated to jellyfish! I want a wall sized aquarium full of jellyfish! A room that I can host parties in with super comfy furniture, we’ll turn off the lights and watch the jellyfish while sipping martinis and listening to jazz. That sounds like the perfect party!

I’ve neglected to blog these past few days because I need to prepare some pinhole scans and get them ready for flickr. I might not have a chance to do that until Saturday morning.

How was your 4th of July? If you didn’t know, that is my favorite holiday, closely followed by New Years Eve. Holidays with fireworks are just terrific! I actually made of goal of not doing any work and succeeded! On Thursday night we went to Voce Ristorante and Lounge. AMAZING! I highly recommend it. Our Italian dinner was incredible, the atmosphere was fantastic! Deep red walls and chocolate leather couches with live jazz! Pure Heaven!
On Friday evening we headed downtown to First Friday and hung out with some of the raddest people we know! Gallery hopped, watched fireworks in the street from Chase Field, went to the Lost Leaf for some drinks and ended up back at their place for a little mellow party…
Saturday was Karaoke day! YES! I DID IT! It was so liberating! I was a little intoxicated, but once that microphone reached my hands I was the star performer! ha! I sang ‘I’m just a girl’ by No Doubt and even danced a little on the stage! Gary videotaped my performance and one day I’ll debut the video.
On Sunday I slept most of the day and then went to the dive-in movies at my apartment complex. We watched The Simpsons Movie poolside. It was the perfect way to end my party filled weekend!

Last night was Creative Connect. I’ve been getting their emails for almost 4 years, but went to my first event last night. So Much Fun! I look forward to more of those! It’s great to put faces with people who twitter and flickr. It’s also great to see so many people I know in a great setting. Max and Lucy, wow! That building was unbelievable. I didn’t even know Phoenix had places like that. I could easily move in! I’m sure they would love that!

Anyone going to Scottsdale Art Walk on Thursday? I’ve heard GREAT things about the exhibit at Lisa Sette Gallery. Gregory Sale will be there handing out Love Buttons, part of a project he’s been working on. I’m going! If you want to have dinner beforehand and do the art walk, let me know! I Must have a button! Also, the exhibit Local Produce has some fantastic artists: Matthew Moore, Carrie Marrill, Nissa Kubly, Angela Ellsworth… and so many more.

See how beautifully they work together? Send some love, frame some love! This is the perfect summer image, makes me want to lay in the grass and watch the clouds change shapes! You too can send this lovely pinhole image to a friend to brighten up their day!

I’m sad when I’m too busy to blog. But, being busy is good! Gary and I booked 3 weddings since Friday. I am doing a happy dance right now! One of the jobs we booked, specifically booked us because of my pinhole photography! Yay…my dance just turned into a full on Broadway production! We’re meeting with another couple on Friday morning and a couple more next week! I love my job!

Did anyone see the Euro Cup final game on Sunday? We went to Black Forest Mill German Restaurant. Their cable wasn’t working so we missed the first 35 minutes. Spain won. I wanted Germany to win since Spain ended up in the finals and not Italy. Oh well, the world cup will be upon us two years from now and Italy will win it all again! Go Italia!

First Friday is this Friday! If you’re in Phoenix and wanting to check out some art, make sure you hit The Trunk Space up to see The Grid II. Gary and I are both in it. 10 photographers each took a different section of downtown Phoenix and photographed it in their own style. All the photographs are only $25, so it’s very affordable for you to own a great photograph of your favorite city, Phoenix!

Last night I finally found a pair of glasses that I might be able to buy. I’ve been looking for about 2 years now, for a pair of glasses equally as amazing as the cat eye frames I have now. I still want to keep these frames and still use them, but I’ve been wanting something to switch them up with. Last night we went to Optica Waterfront in Scottsdale and I tried on pair after pair after pair. I found a pair of square Prada frames, black and purple, with sparkles on the sides! LOVE THEM!!! The guy told me they were almost $700. I didn’t freak out because I know I was paying for quality. BUT TODAY I found them online for $275!!!!! How totally rad is that! What do you think of them? Or should I spend some more time looking for another cat eye pair?

I leave you with these photographs Gary took last week of the brush fire in Phoenix. We drove out to 99th Ave and Baseline to check it out and walked as close as we could get. My pinholes should be back next week.

Oh, yes, one more thing. Saturday. July 5th. 7:30pm. The Grapevine. KARAOKE!!!! It shall be my very first time so please join me! I promise it will be a good time. Drinking and Singing! Be forewarned, you may want to bring ear plugs. I’ve been told I sound terrible…