Tina Harris Photographic Art

Bob and Ray -- My Boys

2011-12-17T20:12:00.000-08:00

In the interest of keeping Bob and Ray happy, I am also posting a photo of my sweet little boys! (They are officially old men now, as they just turned 10 this year!)

Bob and Ray's Central Oregon Christmas
photo by Tina M. Harris

My Sweet Little Girl

2011-12-17T19:53:00.000-08:00

Okay, so my girl is a little hairy ... and her nose is a little long ... but it was love at first sight when we adopted her (and who cares if she has 4 legs instead of 2??) If I can get her to stay still long enough, perhaps I will post a more current photo -- until she slows down a little, though, I hope you will enjoy this photo from the archives!

Gracie at 11 Weeks (c) photo by Tina Harris

Type your summary hereType rest of the post here

Chuck's Big Adventure

2011-11-20T18:18:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I have been a nervous wreck the last week or so.... Why? Well, because I was about to drive my brother Chuck to Portland International Airport to put him on a plane to LAX. So? Well, it was his first plane ride, for one thing. And, LAX can be a nightmare, even for people who are used to travelling. Also, I have been very protective of my older brother ever since we were kids -- and still, I managed to "lose" him twice when we were teenagers. Even though I found him (obviously), I guess the fear was still there that I might somehow "misplace" him. Thankfully, Kevin's wonderful other half, Lisa, called the airport and figured out what needed to be done to ensure that Brad and I could take him directly to the departure gate at PDX, and that she and Kevin could be there at the arrival gate waiting for him at LAX. (You are the best, Lisa!!)

Here are a couple photos from yesterday's big adventure:

Chuck's First Plane Ride, Ever

Mt Hood in the Fall (Can't Wait Until Winter!)

Catching the Last Rays of Sunshine

It was kind of scary driving up there -- as you can see from the photo of Mt Hood, the roads were a little snowy -- but things went much smoother than I could have hoped, and Chuck is now in Southern California enjoying some warmer weather.

Hearts for Haiti on Etsy

2010-01-22T21:29:00.001-08:00

A New Beginning (c) by Tina M. Harris

There is a new shop on Etsy that is working to raise money for relief in Haiti (http://heartsforhaiti.etsy.com) and I hope that you will visit it and consider making a purchase. 100% of your purchase price (after Etsy and PayPal fees) goes to Doctors Without Borders to assist the people of Haiti. I have joined hundreds of other Etsy sellers in donating items to the site -- and as of this writing, the site has already raised nearly $13,000! If you are looking for a great (handmade!) gift for yourself, a friend or a loved one this is a great way to help raise money for Haiti AND get yourself something pretty wonderful.

P.S. The necklace shown above can be purchased by clicking here.

Brad and his Friends

2010-01-18T19:41:00.000-08:00

Marvelously Strange by Tina M. Harris (c) 2009

I am just going through my photo files, and I came across this picture of my husband Brad hanging out with some of his "pals" outside his favorite store -- Archie McPhee's in Seattle. (Gee, I think another road trip is in order soon!)

A New Year ... A New Decade ...

2010-01-01T21:20:00.000-08:00

Today I am so very, very happy to finally have 2009 behind me. It was a very difficult year for me, for my friends, for my family ... Between the middle of November and the end of December my uncle, my mother, my aunt, and finally my husband all ended up having medical emergencies requiring hospital stays of varying lengths. A dear friend lost his wife during this period; another friend lost not one, but two of her young cousins; as I type this, a wonderful young man whose senior photos I had the pleasure of creating recently is in the hospital, having just had a large cyst removed from his brain. It was just a long, tough year.

Considering the Void (c) Tina M. Harris

But now as we begin this new year -- and this new decade -- I hold out hope that this will be a turning point for me, for my friends, and for my family. I am hopeful that 2010 will bring healing to those who have lost loved ones. I am hopeful that my family will remain healthy (because really the hospitals and insurance companies just don't need our money. They just don't!) I am hopeful that my husband and his business partner will finally have a home for their theatre. I am hopeful that my newest venture will be successful beyond my wildest dreams, and that my brother's business will finally take off and allow him to hire an assistant, and that all my friends and loved ones will see their fondest wishes come true. There is no way to know just what the year will hold for us, but I do remain hopeful that it will be a fantastic year for us all!

Saying goodbye to the holidays

2009-12-27T15:48:00.000-08:00

Holiday Rush (c) 2007 by Tina M. Harris

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want." ~Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes

May 2010 be a better year for all my friends and family -- and may all your happiest dreams come true!

More new necklaces on Etsy!

2009-11-10T21:38:00.000-08:00

One of the things that has been making me very happy lately is making necklaces. I need to get out and create more photos -- but I am sure having fun combing through my old pictures and thinking about how they will look around someone's neck!

all photos (c) Tina M. Harris

Sales have been going pretty well on my Etsy site -- and I have also been making custom orders for some of my co-workers who wanted necklaces with photos of their kids. Once things calm down after the move, I will really be focusing on improving the photos of my necklaces and making my online shop look better. In the meantime, my jewelry is for sale on Etsy at http://tinaharrisphotoart.etsy.com!

Moving ... Or, things I dislike doing

2009-11-01T16:43:00.000-08:00

You R Here (c) by Tina M. Harris

As I sit here surrounded by box after box of our belongings, I find myself feeling excited but nervous about our upcoming move. It isn't as if we are moving across the country -- or even across the state (thankfully) -- but the prospect is making me feel unsettled. I mean, I like Bend and we have been talking for a couple years about moving there, but I absolutely, positively hate moving. I mean, I HATE moving. I cannot fathom how some people do it so easily or so often. If it weren't for the fact that certain financial realities sort of pushed us toward this decision, I would probably drag out the whole moving thing as long as possible. I would love nothing more that to find a place where I can settle and spend the rest of my life, never having to pack a box and move it from one house to another again. Still, I am excited about the prospect of living closer to the hiking trails, and movie theatres and library that we love so much.

New necklaces on my Etsy site

2009-10-28T20:42:00.000-07:00

I have been having the best time making necklaces featuring my photographs! This may be my new great passion -- and I am hoping as I continue making jewelry and improving my skills that I can create some pieces that are more elaborate showcases for my photography. Here is a look at my newest batch of necklaces. (To purchase one -- or all -- of them, visit my Etsy site at http://tinaharrisphotoart.etsy.com !)

My new Etsy site is online!

2009-10-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

All photos & pendants (c) Tina M. Harris

I hope you will visit my site today at http://tinaharrisphotoart.etsy.com -- and tell a friend!

Etsy Store -- COMING SOON!

2009-10-17T22:29:00.000-07:00

pendants (c) Tina M. Harris

I am currently setting up a site on Etsy to sell my photographs, and items featuring my photos and other artwork. I have a lot of work to do, but I think I am off to a good start -- I recently made these charms for pendants, and can't wait to start on my next batch!

Megan R - Class of 2010!

2009-10-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos from a recent senior portrait session with Megan R - Class of 2010. Megan was a lot of fun to work with. Brad and I enjoyed talking to her about movies and books -- and the fact that she has been playing the bagpipes since she was eight years old!

We wish Megan all the best for an exciting senior year!

Apple Wine

2009-09-24T19:32:00.001-07:00

Apple Wine (c) 2009 by Tina M. Harris

I'm thinking it's time for Brad and I to drive up to the Hood River area on an apple run. Last year we bought about 8 different varieties that you can't get in the store -- there's nothing like a crisp, sweet, slightly tart apple!

Your Tip for Today

2009-09-23T21:44:00.000-07:00

When times get tough, just remember ...
things could be worse!

Bad Hair Day (c) Tina M. Harris

A note about this photo: this was a picture that I took of an ad in a bank window in the Georgetown area of DC back in 2003 or 2004. I don't recall now what the text on the ad actually said, but all I could think of was "so you think YOU are having a bad hair day?" I like taking pictures of window displays, and this one just made me laugh.

Decisions, decisions ...

2009-09-23T17:49:00.001-07:00

Untitled (Angel) (c) 2001 by Tina M. Harris

"Hmmm ... chocolate shake, or a long walk? Or a long walk to get a chocolate shake?"

Thought for the Day...

2009-09-19T20:58:00.001-07:00

Chicago, 2005 (c) 2005 by Tina M. Harris

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will take you there." Lewis Carroll

Autumn Approaches Once More

2009-09-18T23:47:00.000-07:00

Mt. Monadnock, New Hampshire (c) Tina M. Harris

As another summer comes to an end here in Central Oregon and we move into my favorite season -- fall -- I can't help but feel a little sad. I know I have probably said it a million times (so get ready for one million and one!) but I really miss New England at this time of year.

There are no words to describe the incredible beauty of the northeastern part of this country when the days begin to cool and the leaves change color on thousands of trees, seemingly all at once. To say it is breathtaking is really inadequate to describe the feeling you get when you see the riot of color throughout each valley and on every hillside. It is truly a shock to the system. If you have seen it, then I think you will agree that it is a most amazing work of art. Of course, there is heartbreak in autumn, too, even as we celebrate the beauty of that brief season. All too soon the moment is over; the trees are bare, and the earth is blanketed in somber cloaks of brown and gray and white -- and we wait again for the day when the seasons change and the beauty of autumn returns to steal our hearts away once more.

TGI(A)F!

2009-09-17T19:27:00.000-07:00

Any Other Day(c) 2009 by Tina M. Harris

Thank Goodness It's (Almost) Friday!

What makes you happy?

2009-09-12T18:02:00.000-07:00

Tulips #2 (c) 2009 by Tina M. Harris

I've been thinking this week about life, and about the things that make me happy. Too much of us spend too many hours of too many days focused on all the things we "have" to do and too little time on the things that make us happy. Days pass by in a blur, one year melding into the next and the next, and we wonder where the time has gone. Are we happy? Do we know?

Times are tough. Many of us are struggling. The economic downturn hit many of us hard, and despite the assurances that things are turning around it is sometimes difficult to believe. But I saw a video this last week that made me thing about my own attitude (you can watch it by clicking here), and to question what it is that makes me happy and how my life could change if I would learn to see differently. So, I am going to try that for a while. I am going to stop fretting about money, and how to make more money, and what I could do if only I had more money and I am going to start thinking about what really makes me happy in life -- and I am going to try focusing on that instead. Care to join me?
Please feel free to share your thoughts or comments.

Class of 2010 portraits - Katie P

2009-09-04T17:59:00.000-07:00

All photos (c) 2009 by Tina M. Harris

I had a great time working with Katie, who will be a senior this year here in Central Oregon. She has absolutely beautiful green eyes, and a great smile. She was full of energy, and always ready with that smile, and it was just a pleasure helping her create some great senior photos! (I also took a few photos of Katie with her mother, Carol who will also be a graduate this year! Congratulations to them both!)

Cat Nap

2009-08-26T21:10:00.001-07:00

Cat Nap (c) by Tina M. Harris

Napping ... It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it!

My Way at the Tower Theatre

2009-06-21T02:05:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of taking the production photographs for Innovation Theatre Works' production of My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra, which was created in partnership with The Tower Theatre in Bend, Oregon. My Way stars Daniel Guzman*, Alyssa Marie, Tom Kelleher and Noelle Marion. The production was directed by Gary Lee Reed, with Musical Direction by Brent Crayon and Choreography by Barry McNabb.

Here are a few of the photos from the show ...

*denotes Member of Actors Equity

New Images of Julia R - Class of 2010

2009-04-25T20:31:00.000-07:00

all photos (c) 2009 by Tina M. Harris

I had another photo session last weekend with Julia, my beautiful spokesmodel for the Class of 2010. She is just such a wonderful (and patient!) subject. She spent her spring break in California looking at colleges, and Brad and I are just so excited for her as she enters this next chapter of her life. She is a talented and bright young woman, and I predict great things for her!

Here are a few shots from our recent session. It was a gorgeous spring day -- actually, it was quite warm for this time of year in Central Oregon. I think it was in the mid 80s last Sunday. Anyhow, it was perfect for taking pictures ...

Central Oregon Class of 2010 -- now is the time to book your Senior Portrait sessions! The new school year will get here faster than you think, so don't get left behind! Contact Tina at tina@tinaharrisphotoart.com to book your session today!

Class of 2010 "Moments Matter" Senior Portrait Contest

2009-03-21T22:48:00.000-07:00

Attention Class of 2010 -- if you are a student in Deschutes County and you will be graduating in 2010, then you are eligible to enter the "Moments Matter" Senior Portrait Contest for a chance to win a Deluxe Portrait Package! This package includes:

• (2) 8x10 prints (1-2 poses)
• (6) 5x7 prints (up to 6 different poses)
• (4) 4x6 prints (up to 4 different poses)
• (48) wallet-sized prints (2-4 different poses)
• CD with 15-20 photos from your session, ready for emailing or posting on your MySpace or Facebook page

Your photos will also be featured on our website at www.tinaharrisphotoart.com in your own online gallery for six months, and may be included in future marketing materials for Tina Harris Photographic Art.

Only one lucky winner will be chosen at random from all entries received between now and May 1st -- click here for more information or to enter.

Remember, we must receive your entry no later than May 1st -- so enter today!

View from Pilot Butte

2009-03-19T21:19:00.000-07:00

A view from the top of Pilot Butte in Bend, Oregon. It's a short -- but steep -- 1 mile hike up to the top of the butte, but I always feel it's worth the effort it takes to get there. Add the dramatic skies that we often have here in Central Oregon, and who could ask for a better reward!

View from Pilot Butte (c) 2008 by Tina M. Harris

Julia R - Class of 2010 Spokesmodel!

2009-03-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had the opportunity to work with Julia, my spokesmodel for the Class of 2010, and all I can say is "wow!" She was such a joy to work with, and we are already planning our next photo session. I wanted to share a few of my favorite pictures from our first shoot -- aren't her eyes amazing?

Julia is a very talented singer, and is also interested in acting -- and she hopes to pursue those things once she graduates in 2010. I first met her last year when she was in a production of "Urinetown - The Musical" that my husband directed. She was fun to watch, and I am looking forward to watching her in the coming year (before she ends up leaving us for some big city college somewhere!)

Check out this new Etsy site!

2009-03-13T19:28:00.001-07:00

Art Deco Lady Bottle Cap Earrings by Mia Karnatz

My dear friend Mia Karnatz has finally decided to start selling her wonderful bottle cap jewelry again, so I thought I would post one example of her work along with the link (click here) to her Etsy site. I own a pair of the earrings shown above, as well as one other pair -- they are so much fun and I always get comments on them. Be sure to check them out!

Type rest of the post here

Damn you, Phil!

2009-02-27T20:45:00.000-08:00

Smith Rock (c) 2001 by Tina M. Harris

I found myself cursing Punxsutawney Phil this morning ... Seriously, where does that rodent get off, anyhow? I am definitely looking forward to spring -- and hiking one of our favorite spots here in Central Oregon.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T (The Hat)

2009-01-26T20:15:00.000-08:00

Cat in the Hat #1 (Bob) and ... #2 (Ray) (c) 2009 by Tina M. Harris

Don't Bob and Ray look gorgeous?? Not everyone can pull this look off, but they can!

There is a GREAT fan page on Facebook for -- you guessed it -- Aretha Franklin's Inauguration Hat, and I just had to get in on the fun as well.

Speaking of the hat, it seems the internet is ablaze with articles about Ms. Franklin's chapeau. Here are just a couple -- for all you HAT fans!

January 23, 2009; "Lasting Buzz Over Aretha Franklin’s Hat" By Katharine Q. Seelye for The New York Times

Flickr: Aretha Franklin's Hat

A Little Spot of Sunshine ...

2008-12-11T21:03:00.000-08:00

Well, here comes winter -- and already I am feeling the need for a little summery color. (Just wait until winter really hits us!) I can't really stop to smell the flowers this time of year -- but that's where the photo comes in. It make me feel a litle warmer just looking at it ...

Daisy Rosehips (c) 2005, 2008 by Tina M. Harris

A Special Gift

2008-12-08T16:57:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, I received a wonderful gift from a cousin whom I have never met in person: a photo of my paternal grandmother, Violet. It is a sepia-toned photograph which someone meticulously handcolored, giving my grandmother's cheeks just the faintest touch of pink. When I saw it I suddenly knew who my father looked like AND which side of the family I took after.

When I was a child everyone remarked that it was obvious who my father was, but where he got his looks from was a mystery to me. No matter how hard I tried to see some semblance of my father in his own dad, it was just about impossible. Although they both had naturally wavy hair, a wicked sense of humor, and short tempers (as well as the same first, middle and last names), my paternal grandfather was average height and thin, with grey colored eyes and a long, pointed nose. Dad was 6'3" and heavyset, with hazel eyes and a broad, rounded nose. My grandfather looked like a school teacher while my father looked more like a linebacker. But when I saw the picture of my grandmother I knew her instantly, even though my brothers and I never met either of our grandmothers, and we had never seen pictures of Violet. I believe that if someone had handed me a hundred portraits with my grandmother's amongst them, I would have been able to pick it out of the stack with little difficulty. The photograph was truly a special gift!

(P.S. The one thing I did NOT inherit from my father via his mother are my blue eyes. Those are a gift from my mother. Thanks, Mom!)

Shaniko Fire Truck

2008-12-07T16:59:00.000-08:00

Shaniko Fire Truck (c)2008 by Tina M. Harris

Well, here we are again -- another holiday season upon us, and me wondering how in the world another year has nearly reached an end. So much has happened ... not always the things that I had anticipated, (and not always things that I welcomed), but hopefully I have learned some things that will help me in the years to come. As I write this, I and welcoming the holidays and looking forward with great anticipation to 2009. I expect many great things to happen for my family and loved ones. I hope this post finds each and every one of you healthy and happy!

Bob and Ray 2008

2008-11-16T21:39:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I have posted photos of our "children" so here they are! (Wasn't it nice for them to pose for me?)

Ray, top photo
Bob, bottom photo

(c) 2008 by Tina M. Harris

My first magazine cover!

2008-10-23T22:11:00.000-07:00

I received some exciting news recently: a photo I took on assignment for Green and Solar magazine was selected for their cover! I had a great time taking photos of this home -- the owners were wonderful people and it was a beautiful and cozy place. Anyhow, here's what the magazine's cover looks like ...

Photo (c) 2008 by Tina M. Harris

A Long Goodbye

2008-08-04T21:03:00.000-07:00

I have been feeling somewhat melancholy lately, and this photo really speaks to my current state of mind.

New Blog for Poetic License Photos!

2008-07-30T20:30:00.000-07:00

Because I have had a good response to the "Poetic License" photo project, I have decided to start a new blog for those pictures. The address for that blog is poeticlicensephoto.blogspot.com. If you are interested in participating in the Poetic License Photo Blog, please visit this new site!

Blue by Lisa Haney (c) 2007

2008-07-27T21:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I am so happy -- I've got one friend who has already agreed to participate in the "Poetic License Photo Blog" project. This picture was taken by my friend Lisa Haney in Maui in 2007. Anyone else want to join in??

Blue

2008-07-27T14:36:00.000-07:00

I felt almost guilty taking this photograph of Brad staring so pensively out the window ...

Am I Blue?

2008-07-25T20:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this is my response to a "poetic license" project I have given myself to try to get my creative juices flowing again. I have written various words on slips of paper that I have placed in a glass bowl, and I will draw one word and create photos that represent my interpretation of said word. This week's word was "blue." I came up with this idea because I was thinking about the labels we give things and how we respond to the world around us when we are suddenly faced with things that don't seem to conform to those labels.

Let me know what you think about this idea -- especially if you decide to try it yourself!

So Busy He Can't Remember His Own Name

2008-06-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

Brad and his partner Chris Rennolds are getting ready for another fundraising/friendraising event for their new theater company, Innovations Theatre Works. We are hoping that Chris will find out any day now who the female lead will be in their first full production in September, Driving Miss Daisy. I took this photo of Brad at their gala on May 16th. I thought it would have been even more appropriate if he had been wearing about 5 other name badges, because I think he was definitely having a Sybil moment when I caught him here ...

Left Behind

2008-06-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

The Annual Church Picnic Has Been Moved This Year

The last cheerful strains of Kumbaya
abruptly ended
as the bus doors swung open, setting us
loose in the warm August air.
Just over the balding hill, sunlight
bounced across Legg Lake, silver flashing
like a bag of spilled nickels.
The annual church

picnic had commenced.
It had always been this way – the picnic held
down at the lake, ‘cause ya never know
when a baptism might break
out. I kicked off my dime store flip-flops
and plunged my feet in the cool
water, dozens of kids fanning out across the park
for hide and seek, and furious
rounds of capture the flag.
The adults busied themselves with grilling
hot dogs and talk of God, and no one

noticed when Bobby Lopez dropped
his G.I. Joe into the water and followed
close behind. Some of the older
kids had been exchanging
dares, and that was why my brother John
had set out for the buoy in the middle of the lake.
No one really thought he’d make it all that way
as his hands slapped the gentle
waves again and again, but there he was
inching slowly toward the bobbing red marker.

When he finally made it to the center
of the lake, it took a few moments
for everyone to realize his shouts were
not cries of joy, but fear
and sorrow. He tried to lift
the buoy from the water but sunk
beneath the weight, and I held my breath
as someone nearby whispered
“My God, is that …”
All around me feet were pounding
a frenzied rhythm and people were flinging
themselves into the lake, splashing like
dying insects along the water’s edge. I made my way
through the crowd in time to see
the lifeless body placed into his mother’s arms,
JESUS LOVES ME!
splashed in big wet letters
across his chest. Hot dogs burned and stuck
to the grill, as the congregation
of the First Baptist Church
stood silent, watching as his mother wept.

Tina M. Harris © 2007

Giving in to Her Habit Cost Her an Arm and a Leg

2008-06-12T21:34:00.001-07:00

Visiting Across the Back Fence

2008-06-11T20:50:00.001-07:00

Despite a few brief days of really lovely weather back in February, these last several months have been cold and gray so often that it makes the (allegedly gloomy) weather in Seattle seem positively paradisical. Seriously, I am beginning to have doubts that winter is ever going to end in Central Oregon. Okay, so it IS supposed to be in the 70s tomorrow (at last), but man this has been a long, cold, dreary, depressing spring ... I liked this photo because it is a little shot of color to brighten the day -- something we all need from time to time!

Can't Wait to Meet You

2008-06-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

Dad's Hands

2008-06-06T20:39:00.000-07:00

Friendship

2008-06-04T21:19:00.000-07:00

Crushed

2008-06-04T06:30:00.000-07:00

Randy's New Tattoo

2008-06-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

Making Life ... Easier?

2008-05-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

Gotta love that Bank of America. Good thing they are helping make life "easier"!

Urinetown - The Finale

2008-05-14T20:09:00.000-07:00

Well, the last performance of Urinetown - The Musical was this last Sunday at the Tower Theatre ... What a fantastic production it was! I had the best time watching the actors bring the world of Urinetown to life. I just wanted to post a few photos from the show and to thank everyone who was involved either on-stage or behind the scenes with this production.

Now I am looking forward to the official launch of Central Oregon's first professional (equity) theater company, Innovation Theatre Works www.innovationtw.org which my husband Brad and his partner Chris Rennolds are starting. More news to follow on that later!

By the way, you can view ALL of the rehearsal and production photos for this production of Urinetown - The Musical at www.myspace.com/urinetownblog.

Urinetown -- The Postcard

2008-04-25T20:39:00.000-07:00

Urinetown - The Musical opens in less than a week here in Central Oregon, and Brad and I have been trying to do some last minute stuff to help promote the show and to remind people to purchase their tickets. Here is one of the postcards that I created -- it features actor Rod Dahl as Caldwell B. Cladwell, the evil (or is he?) CEO of Urine Good Company.

Rod is just so funny. The actors who play his daughter Hope and Little Sally have created a hairdo for him that looks like waves on the ocean -- it has gotten much wilder than what we see in this photograph. Everything about the production is meant to remind people how ubiquitous water is in our lives, and Cladwell's hairdo is yet another example of this. It has just been so much fun watching everything come together for the show!

Hello! It's been a while ...

2008-04-15T19:28:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay ... I know I have not been posting. I'd love to blame it on my recent surgery -- but the truth is that I was only really out of commission for a few days and could have been posting things during my 3 weeks of medical leave. And we won't even bring up the fact that I have been back to work now for over a month. The truth is that I just have not been taking many pictures and I have felt rather uncreative lately. (Noncreative? Creatively challenged? Hey, I like that one!) In any case, I am trying to get back into the groove, and working with Brad on his theatre projects is helping inspire me a little -- which is my very long-winded way of saying that I have some new photos! Brad is currently directing "Urinetown - The Musical" at the Tower Theatre in Bend May 2nd through 11th, 2008 (you can get your tickets now at http://www.towertheatre.org/!) and I have been going to rehearsals to take cast photos for their MySpace page. Here are some of the recent pictures:

I can't wait for the play to open. I have to tell you that I have been laughing myself sick at rehearsals. Thank goodness they are stopping and taking breaks to tweak things as they go along, so that I can catch my breath! (It makes me wonder: can a person really die laughing?? I guess we'll find out!)

If you have not seen it, we have set up a MySpace page for UT -- you can visit that at www.myspace.com/urinetownblog to see more cast photos, read the Urinetown Blog, and enjoy a clip of one of the musical numbers from the original Broadway production of Urinetown - The Musical.

It's good to be back -- and I will try to be better about posting on a more regular basis. Thanks for checking in -- and to those of you who have been giving me a hard time for not posting, you can take a break now! :-)

"Same Time, Next Year" at 2nd Street

2008-01-18T23:37:00.000-08:00

So, I volunteered to do the production photos for Second Street Theatre's production of "Same Time, Next Year." It was the first time I have ever tried to do this sort of thing -- wandering around a semi-dark theatre while the actors are on stage doing a play -- and I had a wonderful time. Here are a few of the photographs from my session. The actors are Vicki Pennock as Doris and Don Delach as George.

Second Street's production of "Same Time, Next Year" continues through February 2nd, 2008. You can visit their website at http://www.2ndstreettheater.com for more information on this and other upcoming plays.

Season's Greetings

2007-12-03T20:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays from Bob and Ray -- and Brad and Tina, too!!

Around the Corner ...

2007-10-21T21:17:00.000-07:00

My brother Chuck reminded me last night that the holidays are just around the corner. I think I must have looked surprised when he reminded me that Thanksgiving is just about a month away. I can't believe that we are already 3 weeks into October. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, as we are being inundated everywhere we turn by Halloween candy and cheesy costumes -- but since they seem to put that stuff out sometime around the start of summer these days it just doesn't really serve as a good reminder of the time of year. Far better to go by the weather, right? Except that they have been forecasting snow for us here in Central Oregon since the start of autumn. (It hasn't happened yet, but there's always the threat of winter hitting us at any second -- screw the calendar).

As Brad and I were driving home from a trip to Bend to take in a film (Across the Universe -- go see it!) I noticed this tree and something about it spoke to me. I remember telling Brad when we lived in New England that I found bare trees depressing. Something about naked trees just filled me with a sadness I couldn't describe, still can't describe (and anyway he had always loved the starkness of the trees in winter, so even if I had found the words I wanted I don't think I would have been able to make him understand my sorrow). As we drove past this tree standing all alone in the middle of a construction site, I knew I had to photograph it. I found the shredded plastic clinging the the branches to be lovely -- as if it has come along specifically to cover the naked tree, to try to stave off the wintery chill that's just around the corner ...

Seasons ...

2007-08-25T22:26:00.000-07:00

As September nears I realize that summer is rapidly fading and fall is just around the corner. Already the mornings are darker and cooler as I take that 2 1/2 mile bike ride into work each day. Soon the roads will be filled once more with the yellow blur of passing school buses and the steady stream of frazzled parents shuttling their children to school. I think my growing sense of melancholy as September approaches has become heightened since I left Southern California 6 years ago, a fact I attribute to living in places where the change of seasons can be truly seen and felt. Now I know my dear friend Mia is going to remind me that California has seasons, too, but as memory serves there were only two -- Warm and Hotter-than-Hell, with not a lot in between. (Sorry, that's just how I remember it!) In any case, I feel strangely torn between sadness at summer's passing, and longing for the shifting colors of autumn ...

My July-August show at Cross Creek Cafe

2007-08-04T11:37:00.000-07:00

The following pictures are from my show which is currently on display at Cross Creek Cafe in Redmond, Oregon through the end of August -- with special thanks to owners Tammy Mills and Noel Davis for their support of my work.

Sign of the Times?

2007-07-26T18:42:00.000-07:00

Trying to Re-energize ...

2007-07-24T19:44:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how quickly 2007 has been zipping by. It has been an eventful seven months, that's for sure! I decided to post this photograph, mostly because the title -- Running on Empty -- seems to sum up how I felt during this last month. Thankfully I feel as if I am catching my breath again. If I haven't thanked my friends and loved ones enough for all your kind words and support while my mother was in the hospital, let me take this opportunity to tell you how much I love you all.

So now I am trying to get back into the swing of picture taking. I've been carrying my new point-and-shoot digital camera with me everywhere (sorry Sarah and Laurie, but it's a Canon!) and I have been having fun just photographing whatever strikes my fancy. I am thrilled with the new camera -- it's so much easier to schlep around than my SLRs for day-to-day picture taking.

In closing, I hope that you are having fun whatever you are doing today. Thanks for checking in!

P.S. If you live in Central Oregon, I hope that you will stop by Cross Creek Cafe in Redmond (507 SW 8th Street) to see my new group of photographs, taken in various locations throughout Oregon. The photos will be on display through the end of August.

Losing my Mind ...

2007-06-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

I feel a little like I am losing my mind at the moment ... My mother has been in the hospital since this past Sunday, and the doctors still don't know how they are going to "fix" her. In addition to the ongoing issues with her heart, the artery to her one working kidney is now blocked and despite working on her for several hours last night to place a stent in that artery to get the blood flowing to the kidney again, they were unable to get past the blockage. This problem is causing her blood pressure to shoot way up, and then drop way down, which is hard on her already unhealthy heart. As if that weren't enough for her to deal with, fluid keeps backing up into her lungs making it difficult for her to breathe. So, my husband Brad, my Aunt Helen, my Uncle Don and I have taken up residence in the ICU waiting area and we're just awaiting the next step ...

Healing Reins in Bend, Oregon

2007-05-23T16:39:00.000-07:00

These are a few of the photographs I created this last weekend from an event at Healing Reins, a therapeutic riding center here in Central Oregon which works with disabled and at-risk children and adults, pairing them with trained horses and certified riding instructors. They had a riding competition this past Saturday, and I volunteered to be there to photograph some of the event. I am hoping to work with them more in the future -- I had a wonderful time, and it was great to watch the riders and the pride and joy they experienced as they worked with their horses.

For more information regarding Healing Reins, please visit their website at www.healingreins.org

Missing the Signs

2007-05-16T21:55:00.000-07:00

As I was working on some new photos this past week in preparation for this month's artwalk, I realized that I am still spending too much time listening to my vicious little inner critic. You know the one I mean: that rotten little voice that says "just who are YOU trying to kid? How dare you go around imagining that YOU can create anything?" Boy, it's exhausting trying to fight that self-doubt day in and day out!

Angels Flight

2007-05-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, my theme for this month's AWE (Art/Walk/Explore) event here in Redmond has to do with angels. The title for my show will be Angels Flight -- and here's the first picture people will see as they enter my studio.

Lost at Sea

2007-04-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of working on a new show for the May artwalk here in Redmond, and I have decided on angels as a general theme. This one is titled Lost at Sea. In light of the events at Virginia Tech this last week, I feel the need to believe that good walks among us, even during the darkest of days.

For all the angels in my life, thank you.

Mom Had a Soft Spot for Peaches

2007-04-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

Things have been a little crazy in the last two weeks, and my dear friend -- whom I will call "red-haired Laurie" -- reminded me that I am woefully behind on posting anything on my blog. So, here's something new I just created as a response to a challenge from my husband, Brad. He is working very hard on getting a professional theater going here in Central Oregon, and he agreed to have a couple of actors stage a reading of a short story called "Yellow Cake" by Portland writer, Josh Beddingfield for the First Friday artwalk in Bend (and for the Third Friday artwalk here in Redmond). He asked me and the other 3 artists who are part of The Loft to create an artwork inspired by the story. I have titled my piece "Mom Had a Soft Spot for Peaches."

"Yellow Cake" appears in the Spring issue of the High Desert Journal . It's told from the point of view of Geegee, a 48-year-old woman whose family and friends spent years working in uranium mines around Utah. When she finds out that she has lung cancer, (most likely from her exposure to the uranium dust), she goes home and digs out a jar of yellow cake that her dad had kept from one of the mines he worked in. "It's an old, heavy mason jar like the kind mom would use to can peaches with when she was well enough to drive to Cortez and buy fruit ... Mom had a soft spot for peaches and every time I look at the blue glass of the jars I think about that." Something about this image really touched me. It made me think about my own family and friends, and the health scares we've been through in the last couple of years. Geegee is a strong woman who's determined to live her life on her own terms, a trait I admire greatly.

It's good sometimes to have an "assignment" to inspire you -- so thanks, Brad, for the challenge, and thank you Sarah (aka red-haired Laurie) for keeping me on my toes!

Resistance is Futile

2007-03-27T19:28:00.000-07:00

I took this photo in The Dalles, Oregon on St. Patrick's Day. Click on the image to get a better look at the FedEx truck.

Sorrow ... or, Things Done in His Name

2007-03-13T22:02:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post a new picture, but being very pressed for time this week I will refrain from my "random musings."

Old Poem, New Photo #2

2007-03-07T21:57:00.000-08:00

I Heard the Story Much Later ...

after Dad's funeral,
when mostly strangers sat
in the living
room, picking at a jello mold.
It went back to the summer
he was twenty. An old
girlfriend who'd kept in touch
told it in her smoke
stained voice. The story doesn't
matter now,
but that day even Mother laughed.

by Tina M. Harris
poem (c) 1993, photo (c) 2007

Redmond's Golden Arches

2007-02-20T23:19:00.000-08:00

If you drive around Redmond these days -- or just about any place in Central Oregon -- the one thing you see time and again are new foundations being laid where once there might have been cattle and horses. After a six-month lull in new building, it seems like the earth movers are out with a vengence. As I stated in my previous blog, I am thrilled by the prospect of a revitalized downtown area. I think it will be fantastic when there are art galleries, and cafes, and places for people to gather. But I know all of that comes with a cost, and evidence of that cost is everywhere. Three new "For Sale" signs just cropped up in the last week as three more farming families decided to get out of the business of raising cattle or sheep or llamas to move on to ... who knows what. Do we really have to sacrifice one thing for another? Can't we have lots of wide open spaces and art galleries? Redmond is going through some growing pains right now. I guess I am feeling them, too.

Fade

2007-02-14T20:06:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make - one which is no secret to my family or my good friends, but which may be news to many of my new acquaintances here in Central Oregon. I was not born in this area. In fact, I was not born anywhere in the state of Oregon. Admitting that is hard, but even more difficult is the admission that I am from (and here I will try to whisper) california. Yes, it is true. I am "one of them." It isn't that I am not proud of my California roots. Many of the warmest, most wonderful people that I know are Californians, either by birth or by choice, or both. It's just that here in Oregon - particularly Central Oregon - my brothers and sisters to the south are often met with disdain, (and occasionally, downright hostility). It is, by and large, Californians who are moving here in droves and snapping up acre after acre of farmland to build their housing developments and their Starbucks, who are demanding better restaurants and places to shop, who are just plain driving the local folks crazy with their "California ways." So, I have taken to telling people that I moved here from Maryland -- which is true -- but I was never really from Maryland.

The thing is, I really, really love it here in Central Oregon. I have always felt something of a connection, even though my first visit was a mere six years ago. Perhaps it's because my mother is from Redmond -- a town she returned to after more than three decades in Southern California. My parents met here in Redmond, (at the bowling alley on Sixth Street that will soon be fading into memory). I have an aunt and uncles and cousins who live here. I heard story after story about what it was like to grow up in Redmond. In any case, I love this town. I certainly I do not want to see it become "Little Los Angeles," nor do I believe anyone who migrated here from California wants to see every piece of farmland razed and miles of freeways and crappy malls erected in their stead. But I have to admit I do long to see more art galleries and restaurants and bookstores in Redmond. I'd love to have a place for my husband and I to go to on a Saturday night that does not involve driving 20 miles south to Bend. I feel like all of that is on the horizon. Redmond is already looking at a master plan for revitalizing the downtown area -- a plan that includes live/work spaces for artists, new restaurants, an arts complex, and streets that are more pedestrian friendly. I am excited by the prospect. I think a vibrant and thriving downtown would benefit everyone in Redmond, oldtimers and newcomers alike. And I say that not as a native-Californian, but as a resident of Central Oregon.

Seattle Blues

2007-02-09T21:23:00.000-08:00

I'm just posting this photo because I like it. (And because my good friend Sarah wanted me to update my blog more often than once a week!) I took this picture when Brad and I were in Seattle last fall. I can't even remember what the sign was for, but I loved the colors and I turned my camera this way and that until the red stripes were at an angle that I liked. I found myself taking a lot of abstract photos like this while we were there -- it was fun to just concentrate on color and line and not worry about trying to take "Pictures of Seattle." (Although I have several shots of the Space Needle and Pikes Place Market, of course!)

Sunflowers

2007-02-07T20:10:00.000-08:00

Well, it looks like the winter weather is making a return visit -- and here I was getting all set for spring! I don't know about you, but I can really use a splash of bright color right about now. (Yes, I realize that gray is a color too, but COME ON!)

Old Poem, New Photo

2007-02-01T17:52:00.000-08:00

Tale from the Crusades

Towns tick
past with names

I won't remember this time

Sunday. I've left

you alone

with your cracked bone

china teacup

and well-thumbed Agatha

Christie's. When

Monday overtakes me,

all this

will be forgotten, too.

My Two Wonderful "Boys"

2007-01-31T20:47:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Susan reminded me recently that I had not shared any current photos of Brad's and my "kids." Geez, what kind of mother am I? (P.S. Click on the photo to enlarge it and to read about Bob and Ray).

Closed for the Season

2007-01-20T19:32:00.000-08:00

This morning dawned clear and cold, as the January sunlight tried to peek through the gaps in our blinds. Realizing it was Saturday, I pulled the covers around me a little tighter and tried to drift back to sleep. I was faintly aware that Bob and Ray, (our charming feline children), were chasing one another up and down the stairs, and I gave serious consideration to yelling at them to stop, but that would have required getting out of the warm bed, venturing out into the cold room to open the door, summoning the energy to chastise them ... and, well, I just chose to ignore their exuberance and concentrate on going back to sleep. Of course, the harder I tried to drift off, the more my mind churned.

I have been feeling a little unsettled lately. Perhaps it's leftover stress from my mother's heart attack just before Christmas, or maybe it is simply the winter blahs, but as I turned and tried to burrow deeper beneath the blankets I imagined myself hanging from a very steep precipice: at any moment something would happen that would ultimately decide my fate.

Ray began mewling outside the bedroom door; and sighing, I rose to greet the day ...

Another Cluckin' Job

2007-01-06T17:25:00.000-08:00

My fine feathered friend was out there again today, dancing on the street corner, trying to entice the passing motorists to turn off the highway and check out his employer's tile (Always in Stock!) ... I don't know whether he danced for joy or to warm himself against the freezing cold. The high temperature today was only expected to reach the mid 30s, and we hadn't gotten there yet. Some people honked ... others waved ... but mostly cars just sped on by, paying no mind to the guy in the chicken suit.

Brad turned our car into the Walgreen's parking lot across the street -- we had another new prescription for my mother that needed to be filled -- and as we rounded the corner and out of sight I wondered how many times I had seen this person standing on the same corner, in the same bright yellow costume, waving the very same sign. What did he think about as he danced on that corner, hoping to catch the attention of one or two consumers who just happened to have some income to dispose of (and a need for some new tiles)? What WAS his story, anyhow?

With the plastic bottles of pills rattling in their little white bag, we turned back out onto the road and waited for the light to change. The friendly fowl was just a few feet from me now, and I smiled and waved, raising my camera to capture his image. He stopped dancing for a moment, and seemed to stare back at me as if wondering what I was thinking about, and what my story was. I made the picture, and smiled again as I lowered my camera. He waved and resumed his dance as our car turned the corner and headed down the highway.

Just Waiting ...

2007-01-04T19:21:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have those days (weeks, months) when you feel like you are just waiting for ... something?

How I Spent My Christmas Vacation

2006-12-30T20:58:00.000-08:00

It's amazing how quickly things can change ... One moment I was sitting at the airport with my mother and oldest brother, waiting to see them off for their flight to Southern California to spend Christmas with my two younger brothers. The next, I was trying desperately to remember the names of my mother's many medications as the paramedics were loading her into an ambulance. Literally minutes before she and Chuck were scheduled to board their plane, my mother had a heart attack. Thankfully she is fine now, following 9 days of tests and angioplasty and beeping monitors and nurses who were always wonderful despite the fact that they are horribly overworked and (I suspect) incredibly underpaid. But I realized that night how quickly our lives can be turned upside down.

As another year comes to an end, I hope that I will carry the lesson with me. Let us all try to make each day count - because you never know how quickly things may change.

One more new photo

2006-12-19T19:28:00.000-08:00

Just thought I would share one more recent photo ... I spotted this as Brad and I were walking through Sisters. I call it "Desirable Country Living."

My new blog

2006-12-19T18:37:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my new photo blog! I am starting this in the hopes that it will keep me producing new works on a weekly basis (if not more often!) My intention is to post a new work at least once a week. For my first photograph, I thought I would share a portrait I created during a trip to Portland, Oregon's Saturday Market. This is not a brand new work -- but I like it and thought it was a good picture to start this new blog with. I call it "A Song in My Heart."

Happy holidays -- and check back regularly for new works!
Tina Harris

~~www.harrishills.com~~
NOTE NEW WEB ADDRESS!www.tinaharrisphotoart.com