Constance Hobbs Art & Photography

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Florida Landscape

I make the drive across central Florida frequently to visit my daughter in Sarasota. She's attending school there. It takes approximately 3 hours to go from east coast to west coast. I was surprised to find that you pass quite a few cattle ranches along the way. I really like Florida. It has a lot to offer as a state. There is so much to explore here. We're still renovating and getting settled but I look forward to many long weekend trips in the future.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Happy Fourth of July

Who doesn't like the Fourth of July? So many vacations and summer parties are designed around it. Last night, in Delray Beach here in Florida, they closed off the main avenue that runs down to the beach. I was amazed at the amount of people who materialized to watch the fire works. It's certainly out of season for Florida but there were plenty of people and it was very festive.

The Swordfish Club, Westhampton New York

Aline Smithson who produces and edits her fabulous photo blog Lenscratch has a wonderful collection of summertime images by various photographers posted to celebrate July Fourth. I highly recommend for everyone to stop by and have a look. For those of you looking for photographic opportunities you will find that there as well. Enjoy!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Collect Give and Manjari Sharma

I'm sure most of you are familiar with collect give. If not, It was founded in December 2009 as a place to collect contemporary photography and donate to worthy causes at the same time. The photographers featured on collect.give have pledged to donate 100% of the profits from their print sales to worthwhile causes they support. They have a wonderful collection of prints available to purchase at a reasonable price and I highly recommend to anyone interested in photography do stop by there. If you are interested in collecting definitely stop by there. I recently bought a print from Manjari Sharma. I enjoy her work and was only too happy to help out a worthy cause at the same time. The purchase will support a Nepalese child to have education and food.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Airborn Sunset

I posted this image for its beauty, peace and tranquility. Let's just say it is the complete antithesis of my own mental state right now. We are renovating a house for several months now and I am exhausted from the project. Not to mention the distraction from my work. That adds another little zing to the experience. What is it that those statistical charts always say? Losing a loved one is the most stressful experience. Then its divorce and then its renovations? Well, anyway, its definitely up there in the top 5. I took the shot above from an airplane just as the sun was to disappear and sink beneath the clouds. Such stunning, simple beauty.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Evening Palms

There isn't anything lovelier than having cocktails or dinner out in the open air. In fact anything is lovely out under the open air. I really appreciate that aspect of living in Florida. One frequently gets to do just that.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Hurricane Season

Hurricane season is upon us in Florida. With all the crazy weather this past year it would seem likely that some serious hurricanes might be headed our way. I certainly hope not. Florida is another "big sky country" state. Perhaps not as dramatic as out west but much more dramatic than the north east. It's flat so one is able to see our truly magnificent sky. This image was not treated in photoshop and is completely natural color wise. It was taken looking west from Delray Beach Florida this past march.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Handicapped

Sometimes I wonder how this wonderful country of ours became so handicapped. Is it as simple as human greed in all it's various forms? Or is it the tremendous out sourcing of jobs, or is it the banks helping out only themselves? Loosen up the reins boys! What will happen if we continue down this path? No one dares to speak up because they are afraid to be pin pointed, singled out or even shot. What a state of affairs. Even the President can't do much because they will definitely shoot him if he steps out of line. Who are "they"? I suppose big corporate interests, power and money in all its corrupt forms, the mafia, even some of our federal agencies I'm sure. Just look at what happened to the Kennedy's. They tried to change things. It seems to me that our fore fathers cooperated more. They needed each other. Technological advances have isolated us and our antiquated notions of education are churning out less then well educated, whole and integrated individuals. I think we need a revolution in our educational system. How did things get this far and what are we going to do?

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Memorial Day Weekend

This is a photo of my sister in law with four of her five children in front of my house in Florida. I haven't been posting for a while because we have construction going on in our house. So much chaos. Help! My sister in law came over with her boys celebrating memorial day with a swim and some rock n roll. I want to wish everyone a very happy memorial day weekend. With thoughts for all those brave souls who are and who have been defending our country just so we can have lots of fun and rock n roll.

Friday, May 20, 2011

European Pleasures

One of Europe's great pleasures and something I miss is the proliferation of cafes, patisseries and boulangeries. They are so abundant that one can easily stop in for a coffee and a sweet or for that matter a glass of wine and a piece of bread any time of day. In Europe, which I am sure many of you know, things are condensed into villages, towns and cities with surrounding open fields and countryside. America, by contrast, is so spread out and dotted by strip malls. If it wasn't for Dunkin Donuts one would be hard pressed to find a place for a quick coffee. In the big cities of America you certainly can find cafes, but once outside in the burbs or the countryside forget it. I guess we have diners and coffee shops, part of our American classic heritage.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Sky Writing the Florida Way

© 2011 Constance Hobbs. All rights reserved.

This is sky writing the Floridian way. I have never seen sky writing like this in the northeast of the US or in Europe.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Surf and Sting Rays

Yesterday we were swimming in the ocean here in South Florida when we were called out of the water. A very large Sting Ray was swimming gracefully close to shore. We couldn't really be sure if it was a Sting Ray or a Manta but it was big. I'd say about 5 feet across and maybe the same long. I'd never seen a ray so close to shore. Maybe it's more common here then I realize? This photo is not a depiction of the conditions yesterday. This is another photo of a more northern sea.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Monday, May 2, 2011

May already

I can't believe it's May already. Where do the months go? It's no longer a question of days but months and years that seem to fly by. Is it the influence of the information age? So much information coming at us all the time. I remember the first time I moved abroad to Europe. Specifically to Geneva Switzerland. I felt as though the clocks had been turned back. There was hardly any information coming at me at all. I liked it. Less distraction, better ability to focus and less anxiety. More time to live and be free. A free mind that is. A free and uncluttered mind. Ahhhh.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Swans and Airplane

Do all kids have the dream of flight? I know I did. I often dreamt of running down our front lawn, stretching my arms wide, the air lifting me up and I would become airborn. I know all the psychological implications of this. So what. Who cares what some analyst thinks. It was a thrill to fly even if it was only in my dreams. I still love taking off in commercial aviation. The smaller the jet the better. In smaller jets you really get to experience the power and excitement of flight. The thrust presses you into the back of your seat. Simply awesome.

Summers Silver

I know its difficult to tell but the bushes above have the loveliest silver leaves. I think I have another image where you can really make out the shimmer. I will have to look for it. I have often heard from other photographers that their own favorite images are not the same ones selected by others, whether by galleries, publications or whomever. That's a curious thing. There is something about the image above that speaks to me. I often wonder how others respond.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter Palm Beach

A very Happy Easter to all. This is how it looks off the coast of Palm Beach today.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Springtime Silhouette

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Moon over South Florida

Have you ever noticed how as human beings we gravitate towards things that are familiar. This is not such a brilliant thing when you want to experience new and challenging things in life. It's insidiously subtle. Very easy to miss. One has to be very alert to catch the fact of this. I have found myself sometimes in situations that I would rather not, but was actually drawn to it unconsciously because it was familiar. How diligent do we have to be to experience freedom and the new? Pretty darn diligent I'm afraid. What does the moon have to do with this? Probably nothing but it is so amazing to look at. I wonder when man will colonize the moon if ever?

Friday, April 15, 2011

Floridian Nights

There is something tropical, mysterious, romantic about night time in Florida. The palm trees moving, rustling, swaying and the water gently rolling or violently crashing to shore. The delicate smells of exotic flora and fauna excite the senses. It's lovely being here. Life is such an amazing journey. It can be filled with such beauty and such sorrow. I think it's important to have work you enjoy and to ride the waves of life as graciously as possible. Most of all to be kind to those you love and those you encounter on a daily basis.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Lac Leman Switzerland

A year ago this spring I took these photos in a small town called Cully on the Lake of Geneva better known as Lac Leman. This is just one of many beautiful small towns that dot the shoreline on the Swiss side of the lake. The mountains you see across the Lake are in France probably near Evian. I came across these images as I was going through my files today. I immediately felt so nostalgic. What is nostalgia really? A kind of angst, desire, memory? Part of our human condition. I admire people with quiet settled souls. Mine always seems to be in motion.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Swimming in the Ocean

A beautiful mornings turquoise beach. This photo was taken off the north shore of Long Island in a town called Bayville. I often wonder how the colors in such images reproduce on different computer screens even when you save for the web? I hope you are able to see the lovely colors. Yesterday I was told that a great white shark was spotted off the coast here in Florida. I've heard about these sightings before, off the tip of Montauk on Long island, off shore from Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Are there more sharks in the oceans these days? I must research this. I don't think they have too many predators. One of my greatest joys is swimming in the ocean. At the same time who wants to be eaten by a fish? What a way to go!

It all started with the movie Jaws. I didn't go and see it for the longest time knowing quite well that it might ruin my joy of swimming in the ocean. It did. Thanks Steven Spielberg. Coupled with all the shark activity in the water here I'll stick to the pool for a while. The other day off the coast of Palm beach a man had swam away from his boat. Sharks began to circle around it. A police helicopter happened to be passing and noticed what was going on below. They lowered their helicopter as close as possible to the water in order to scare the sharks away. This enabled the man to swim back to his boat safely. Now, that was luck, no!?

Monday, April 4, 2011

Roses and Sharks

I've been told that roses are very hard to grow in Florida. Well, at least as far south as Palm Beach County. Bummer. I was really looking forward to giving that a go. I think I will give it a try anyway. I'm anxious to try orchids for their exotic appeal. It has started to get hot here in Florida. In June we will have been here for one entire year. A complete cycle of seasons. I once thought the seasons went from hot to less hot, but there are more subtle variations then that. I'm still very happy living here. Although I do get disturbed when they close the beaches because of the sharks. That happened this past weekend. I'm not sure if its the time of year or shark migration but there are a little too many of them for my taste.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Blue waters

Something to sooth the soul.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

On the relevance of art

Very interesting comment on the relevance of art by Jeanette Winterson, here.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Morning After

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Happy St Patricks Day

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Winter Walks

I came across this image in my files today and it reminded me of the late afternoon winter walks I used to make when living up north. I miss the biting chill of the air and the wonderful scent of burning wood. Trees are especially beautiful in winter when they've shed all their leaves and stand naked against the sky. Some trees have so much more personality in winter. There was a beautiful Japanese tree in Park Bertrand close to where I lived in Geneva. The branches draped and twisted in such an unusual way. I miss the mountains of Switzerland this winter too. It's 80 degrees in Florida today. Quite a contrast to my dreams of snow, cold, wood and mountains. Floridian life is hard to beat though. The weather is so agreeable this time of year. So gentle and kind. So, as much as I long for the cool snowy days of winter, I happily settle for the glorious weather in Florida.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

In the woods

It's so strange how I can suddenly be struck by existential thoughts and feelings. There are times when I can pin point exactly where these thoughts and feelings have come from and other times when I haven't got a clue. This is one of those haven't got a clue times.The image above I gravitated to so I suppose it reflects some of these feelings.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Gardening

Ive been thinking about gardening here in Florida. I know it will be a huge challenge. Between all the exotic pests, the extreme water requirements, heat, excessive moisture, drought and hurricanes, I will certainly have my hands full. The seasons are also reversed from what I am accustomed to. I wonder if I can wrap my head around this? The picture above is from my last garden which was lush with beautiful Hosta plants. I can't grow those in Florida. The amazing thing I can grow are fruit trees. You name it, it grows here in Florida. Maybe I should chronicle the entire experience on a separate blog.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Firearms

I am often surprised by how many Europeans find the prospect of living in America scary. Of course there are many reasons for this which I am too tired to discuss right now. Recently I went to eat at a restaurant here in south Florida and came across this sign at the entrance.The sign reads "All firearms must be checked and locked at the main store entrance. Firearms are not permitted into the restaurant entrance." Welcome to the USA. This is not the kind of sign you see too often anywhere in the world. The flavor of the wild west still remains here in Florida. Do you think this could scare off some of those Europeans?

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Birds in Flight

Today is my birthday and these birds that I recently shot seem to reflect how I am feeling. Life is such a constant flux of experiences. Holding on to any of them represents, to me, a lack of freedom. I don't think it's a question of memory but of holding on to those memories that's confining. Freedom is in letting go. The interesting part, the scary part, or the exciting part, depending on how one looks at it, is the unknown. What's ahead and around the corner. The human experience is a mystery. Trying to figure it out is futile. How can one understand the unknown? How can one have a relationship with it? Everything about us is the known. Our memory and past knowledge. I guess the issue of faith and religion comes into play here. Is the religious experience really a relationship with the unknown or a projection of ourselves and a need for security? Going with the flow as these birds do, naturally, easily, I think is at least one answer to happiness.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Egypt Abu Simbel

I have been to Egypt three times in my life. It is by far the most fascinating place I have ever been. Between the multitudes and chaos of Cairo, the unbelievable monuments in the south and the countries sweet and gentle people I return to my experiences there often in my thoughts. It's very difficult to explain to someone the mystery and magic that is Egypt if one has never traveled there. The scale of the monuments alone, as you can see in the photo above, is breath taking and mind boggling all at the same time. Above is Abu Simbel in Nubia southern Egypt. It sits on Lake Nassar which was created by the Aswan Dam. This huge temple was relocated to this location so as not to be drown by the dam project. While we were there people told us tales of gigantic fish which live in the lake because they exist and eat in the richly silted water. This may or may not be true? I never did find out for sure. This photograph was taken at sunrise and accurately reflects the color of dawn. I posted this image in view of all the current turmoil in Egypt. The new generation of Egyptians are highly educated and I am hopeful that the outcome of all of this will be positive for the Egyptian people and the area of the middle east as a whole.

Friday, February 11, 2011

The Ocean Breeze

The answer my friend is blowin in the wind, the answer is blowin in the wind.

Bob Dylan

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Jelly Fish and Sharks

Today, in the water of the intracoastal here in Delray Beach, there was this very unusual little creature floating in the water. My niece and nephew were with me. They recently stayed at the Breakers in Palm Beach and said there were lots of these little sea creatures floating ashore there. They told me they are very poisonous jelly fish. If you pop them open (which isn't particularly easy to do) and any of their interior gelatinous material gets on you, one must immediately go to the hospital. I was also told that they are baby man o war jelly fish and to be extremely careful when near them. To make things even more exciting the kids also told me about the shark migration which is going on presently right off the shore here in Palm Beach County. In the video below you will see a helicopter and then the dark specs below in the water are the sharks. The numbers are staggering. No swimming for me for a while.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

F Stop Magazine issue #45

©Eric Perriard

I am very happy to announce that I have three images in the latest edition of F Stop Magazine, issue #45 focusing on abstraction in photography. They had an enormous amount of submissions for this issue and I am pleased to have been included. You can see the entire exhibition under "group exhibit".