Sheila Bocchine, Photographer

What a gorgeous Monday it’s turning out to be! I spent a little time updating my press page and wanted to share with you the recent blogs that are featuring my pinhole photographs:

PSFK -  PSFK is a trends and innovation company that publishes daily, provides consultancy and hosts events. We aim to inspire our readers, our clients, and our guests to make things better – whether that’s better marketing, better services, new product ideas or a new way of working.

Lubitel – A Russian blog by Maya Shelkovnikova.  She’s a fashion photographer.  Check out her flickr and her website.

swimming freestyle – A really great blog that features everything from art to travel to current events. He was also a finalist for the 2008 weblog awards.

Thank you for all the write-up love!  I really appreciate it! One more bit of fantastic news!  On January 20th, my website had 2,500 hits!  That’s the most hits I’ve ever had.  I was pretty excited to see that number!

Good Morning!  I woke up to find a link to my pinhole portraits on the Dark Roasted Blend blog.  Definitely check out this blog, but I’m warning you in advance… you may spend all day reading the weird and wonderful posts.

Today’s Link Latte alone kept me away from my work for way too long.  As soon as I post this blog, I’m going back for more!

Enjoy!

Happy Friday! When I found out today was Friday I really had to look at my iPhone to make sure that was correct.  I’m not sure where the week went! I’ve been quite the busy pinholing bee.

I’ll have new pinhole photographs to post soon, but in the meantime, check out this blog.  Gala Darling has the most delightful blog and on Friday’s she has a series called Carousel.  My pinhole photographs are featured on today’s post.

Thank you sweet Gala! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

In October Gary and I photographed the Believe Concert a benefit for Envita and the Fullness of Life Foundation. So I was lucky to catch the whole show on stage. I was mesmerized by the Harp. Did you know a Harp has more moving parts than your car? That’s just one of the fascinating facts I learned that evening. I also got to meet and hang out the Chevy Chase, as he was the host of the event.

I have some fantastic news! Over the summer I was in an exhibit in Middlesbrough, UK called LTLYM (Learning To Love You More) curated by the fantastic photographer Nicky Peacock. Well, the show is now traveling and my 16 sunburst pinhole images were chosen to be in the LTLYM exhibit at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art, in Gateshead, UK. (The building is gorgeous, definitely visit the website)

Housed in a landmark industrial building on the south bank of the River Tyne in Gateshead, BALTIC is the biggest gallery of its kind in the world – presenting a dynamic, diverse and international programme of contemporary visual art.

If you happen to be visiting or live in the area, make sure not to miss the Yoko Ono exhibit also on display. (Yes, I’m showing in a gallery that is also featuring Yoko Ono, one of my favorite conceptual artists, at the same time!!)

Week six’s adventure was had last night. My friend and very talented actress Joanna Ke told me about a weekly meditation class that Robert Pease was holding. I’m very interested in meditating and try to do so every day. I’ve come a long way since my first days of attempting, I couldn’t even do it for a minute without my mind wandering. Now I do it in 15-20 minute increments.

Last night was wonderful. I’ll definitely be going every Wednesday. You can too if you’re interested in learning more about meditating. It’s a free class (love offerings are accepted) on Wednesday nights from 7-9pm. The address is 4909 East McDowell, 85008. Look for signs in the lobby to find the appropriate room.

Last night Robert guided us through a 40 minute meditation, then we read some affirmations and finished with another guided mediation. The time flew and I was impressed that I was able to hold my attention for that long. We also learned about the Violet Flame. Each week, he’s going to teach a different meditation technique. I had never heard of the Violet Flame, but last night I was in the middle of a swirling purple and pink light of goodness!

Have you heard or practiced the Violet Flame? Do you meditate regularly? I’d love to hear about your adventures in meditating. If you’re in Phoenix, I hope to see you there next week.

Week six’s adventure is complete. 46 weeks to go.

Okay, now, I’m caught up!

Last Sunday I went to my friend Ashley and Nicky’s wedding.  It was my first Jewish wedding, and this is significant because, well, I photograph weddings and act like I’ve seen it all.  So I’m including it as an adventure.

It was a very lovely wedding at The Boojum Tree Hidden Gardens. It was also such a different experience to actually attend a wedding and not work it. The location was gorgeous, definitely check out the link. And more gorgeous than the location was the bride!  Ashley is generally a happy, smiley person, but on her wedding day, she was glowing!

Many traditions were kept and it was neat to witness a wedding with such deep historical roots.

Congratulations my friends!  I hope your first week of marriage was perfect!

Week five’s adventure is complete.  47 weeks to go.

Again… just catching up, week four’s adventure was had a few weeks ago…

I did a water fast for 36 hours.  It was pretty neat, but not as intense as I thought it would be. I kept myself really busy, doing something on the internet, so I was busy, but not doing anything strenuous.

I went to bed early that night, like before 8pm, but laid awake for FIVE HOURS thinking about food… I had to talk myself out of going to the kitchen for a midnight snack.  I was dreaming of making food, all sorts of fantastic raw food dishes. I literally created a recipe book in my mind, when all I wanted to do was fall asleep. When I finally did fall asleep, I slept really well.

I was kind of amazed at the amount of energy I had.

The next morning I had green juice to break my fast.

I started the fast just after Christmas. I felt like I had been non-stop eating for days so I wanted to give my digestive system a little break.

I would definitely do it again.  I’ve read that fasting one day a week is really healthy and I definitely think I could live on water one day a week.

Week four’s adventure is complete.  48 weeks to go.

Oh wow… so this post is long over due… I’m playing catch up today!

Week’s Three Adventure was has on a Wednesday, a few weeks ago.  On Wednesday afternoons Gary and I lend our time and love for art at a homeless shelter.  We teach and do art with teens.  It’s sometime I really enjoy doing and some weeks I even participate.

This particular week I taught them about Freida Kahlo.  I showed them a bunch of her paintings and taught them about symbolism… and then we drew.  They were so into their projects that they didn’t need my help so I decided to draw a self portrait as well.

It was a neat experience, because as a photographer, I do many many many self portraits.  BUT I have never actually drawn myself or my interests before.  I always say that I cannot draw, but after creating my masterpiece, I have to take that statement back.  I drew myself and my interests and did a great job too! Yes, I am patting myself on the back!

Week three’s adventure is complete.  49 weeks to go.