Dreaming in Orca

Since my encounter with a killer whale in Hawaii, I have become more curious about their history and lore. Yesterday I made this image of dolphins, osprey and the orca. There is a creation myth of the Pacific Northwest that tells the story of the blackfish falling in love with the osprey. In order to meet, the osprey would sweep down from the skies to the water and the blackfish would jump out of the water into the air. The offspring was believed to be the orca, this explains the white markings on its body. 

On Easter Sunday, I took pictures of osprey flying into the sun here at Accabonac harbor. I layered many images of the spinner dolphins, killer whale and the osprey over an old Japanese map of Hawaii. 

I am currently trying to create images that convey the dreamy energy of the orca and the gift that I experienced by being in it's presence. 

The Songs of the Ocean

I have just returned from the sapphire Hawaiian waters where I had gorgeous encounters with beautiful sea creatures. Mantas, Spinner dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Spotted dolphins, Turtles and an Orca! Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to meet an Orca in person, much less in the Hawaiian waters. This was a rare and special gift, perhaps a once in a lifetime experience. 

    Making contact with this beauty in the wild has had a profound effect on me. Of all of my underwater encounters in different parts of the world, this has been the most significant. I felt a power and grace emanate from this gorgeous animal that I have never felt until now.  Once I was in the water with this adult male killer whale, I heard and received the sonar that it emitted as it swam past me. It sounded like metal clinking on metal. I swam in with Deron Verbeck, a fellow underwater photographer and captain of a small boat. We were close to a research vessel that was tagging a pod of Orcas for the very first time in Hawaiian waters. These pictures were taken three miles from the Kona coast in water approximately one mile deep.  Since the encounter,  I have felt a very different energy in my body. I feel an opening inside of my heart and deeper connection to the songs of the ocean. I can see and feel that there are webs in nature that are interwoven, we are all connected, to the great mystery. 

     Orcas are considered the 'lords' and 'guardians' of the ocean. They invite us to explore the energy of alchemy and they are considered by many indigenous cultures to be portals to the stars and the cosmos. Dolphins are believed to be their warriors and sea lions their messengers. Since they travel in groups and mate for life, they are also symbolic of family ties, romance, harmony, longevity and power. 

 I also met the mantas and experienced their grace and beauty. 

The dolphins also moved me and I was thrilled to have this time underwater to discover their habitats and photograph them in the wild.  

All of these pictures were taken while free diving. 

Spinner dolphins. 

 Thank you Roberta, Carlos, Mike, Kavika, Daron, Brett, and Jeremy!

Aloha!

Autumn Sky

This beautiful sky and winds of change have arrived with the new moon. 

New light and textures from my afternoon walk today.

Hummingbird Medicine (Archilochus colubris)

 The magic of the hummingbird appeared this week the day of the full Harvest moon. 

 It drew nectar from the Cleome flowers and I was so happy to see this little green irredescent bird shimmer in the morning light. I could hardly believe my eyes. I had enough time to get my camera and take pictures of the beautiful juvenile female Ruby Throated hummingbird.

This sweet little photograph was taken with my iphone and it is a portrait of a Cleome flower.

The totem of the hummingbird represents the energy of joy. These little birds remind us to draw the sweet nectar from life and to work with the medicine of flowers. Hummingbirds are flying gems that encourage us to  step back and appreciate beauty in the forms of scent, taste and color while also  encouraging us to lean into a life of joy.

In late September they begin their migration South, they may fly as far away as the Gulf of Mexico. 

The are approximately 3.5 inches long and weigh less than an ounce. These are the only birds that can  fly backwards and upside down. 

Because this beauty arrived the morning after the full moon, I layered an image that I had taken the night prior with one of the hummingbird pictures. In the lower right hand corner of the picture is a tree peony flower that also grows in the garden here. While it is not in season, I added it to the image because I though it was so beautiful.

Below is one of my very first portraits. Last week I took pictures of my friend's beautiful children and layered a profile picture with the whimsy of the hummingbird that came to visit. It has been a very magical week and as the season is shifting and we are now officially in Autumn, there is a lot of activity in the woods and the butterflies appear to be heading South while the hummingbirds gather their last drops of nectar for their long journeys. 

Ezra and the hummingbird. 

Magic of the Day

The first day of Autumn.

Albert's Landing, Amagansett.

Butterfly People, Moths, La Luna and Mermaids.

The past lunar month has been filled with so many new energies and magical gifts from nature. It is almost impossible to share in words how beautiful the unfolding of this new experience has been for me and my dearest friends. 

After much dedication, creative design and focus I have opened my new online store:     

www.prettymedicine.com

I am now selling my creations that relate to nature. My collection includes perfumes, photography, silks, stationery and one of a kind pieces. 

I am thrilled to share my work in this new venue. 

 For those who participated in the launch party of Prettymedicine, it was a night that few could ever forget. My beautiful, kind and generous friend, a true butterfly diva,  offered to host the party in her incredible potato barns in Bridgehampton N.Y. These buildings were transformed into an elegant theater for a showing of my work and a sit down dinner party for over one hundred people. Magnificent scrim was printed with my artwork, delicate silks hung from the ceiling of a barn, over a hundred moths printed on glass graced a pale blue wall and sparkly crinkle lights shed warm light on everyone who entered the whimsical barn.
A dolphin, whale and peony graced the wall of one of the barns through a projector. It felt as though we were all transported into another dimension.

The finest delicacies were served with warm smiles and gentle hands. Candelabras lit the night as the sound of gongs, laughter and good company filled the air of a beautifully decorated space. 

The collaboration was perfect. Magic was around every corner and it was thrilling to create an event with such a beautiful,  generous and supportive friend. 

Thank you, thank you Queen of the Butterflies!

That night the stars were aligned, the sun softly set into the clear night leaving jewel tones in the sky, and the moon rose with a halo of light that looked like a pearl. For all of the guests, there was a feeling of magic, joy and an inner peace while nature was playing the muse and we were invited onto her stage. 

Nature, the beautiful hostess, my friends, and the helpers were all participants in the magic and transformational energy of the moths, the butterflies, the moon, the ocean and and the hummingbirds. 

All of my encounters with nature that have been documented were layered through my artwork and the decorations for the launch. A warm felt thank you to everyone who attended, gave me support, kind words and participated in the opening of the portal. 

There were so many beautiful helpers too....thank you everyone!

Many thanks to my special butterfly people, mermaid and mermen friends and mother nature for all of the support this past year!

The image above is featured in the Mermaid Collection. 

Please stop by my store and enjoy! 

Patterns in Nature

When I take pictures in nature, I often look for where the light creates patterns and there is a rhythm between light and dark. 

I often see patterns repeat and speak to me through texture, color and form.

I have collected photographs that I have taken over the years that have eye catching details. When I placed some of these images together they began to tell a different story.  

Ferns from Hawaii, flowers from all over the world, a sea shell from my grandmother's collection, an abandoned  paper wasp nest, coral from Bimini. a turtle shell, tree bark with lichens,  peacock and turkey feathers, and the magic whale shark skin. 

The light is growing fainter and more golden now and I am delighted to catch this light in my pictures. 

As the season is shifting, the leaves are beginning to curl a bit and change color. 

The wrens have left their bird houses and the bay waters are deliciously warm. 

The cicadas are singing as I write this piece, they too have their own rhythm and patterns to their songs. 

One group sings, while another will pause, they go back and forth, like a symphony performing for the stars.