who da Photoshop queen? who? who?

Teaneck T goes wild with Photoshop. Rendering done 7/29/07. Original photo of this wall at Sainte-Chapelle (Paris) at taken 10/16/06.


My eternal gratitude to the greatest Photoshop guru in America is still going strong. Norman, wherever you are, I hope I am still your teacher's pet.

For you Photoshop colleagues out there, making a photo adjustment like this entails the following: Make a dupe layer, then go to filter --> blur --> smart blur..... and then do 20 other complicated things, including making a sacrificial offering to the gods. Or you can just take the way awesome Photoshop class at Cooper Union with Norman. He. Kicks. Ass.

The original (unrendered) photo is below.

poll era begins

London. The top of some famous retail store near Picaddily Circus. Photo taken 6/14/07.


I loooooove survey questions. And since I can do whatever the hell I want in my corner of blogosphere, I would like to list some of my top picks on certain topics, and I would love to hear your responses of your favorites too. The part where you share your picks is important to me, so please see this as an open door invite. And let me know if there's a topic you want covered.

First up:

Top 5 Nonfiction Books I've Read the Past 5 Years -- and a brief explanation on why

1. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert = I felt I was reading about my twin sister. Teaneck T as travelling, meditating, feasting white woman. After I read it, I looked at the amount of reviews on Amazon that pelted the author for being so self-absorbed, and I was like, "Holy chihuahua! Mirror, face thyself!" Reason why I haven't jumped out the window yet given this discovery is that one of my favorite people of all time loves this book too and finds it one of the most beautiful book she has ever read.

2. The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz = I loved this book so much that at one point I announced I would buy it for anyone who personally asked me for a copy.

3. The Modern Library Writer's Workshop by Stephen Koch = when I read this for a CUNY Grad class called Being Prolific, I said, "my goodness, no one has ever told me any of this!" My high school friend Linda, who happened to be my classmate (reunited and it feels so good...) felt the same way.

4. Two-Part Invention: Story of a Marriage by Madeleine L'Engle = her Crosswicks Journal books, which are her musings while living out in the country, are far more beautifully written to me than the fantasy trilogy that brought her fame. This book in particular stands out for its eloquence. And the structure of the book mimics the Bach work (hence the name) -- left hand's notes upholds the right hand's; flashbacks contrast the present; spouse supports the spouse. It's brilliantly done.

5. You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay = this book opened up a whole new paradigm for me and forever changed the way I think. It has also oriented me towards other books that kept altering and deepening me.


Top 5 Nonfiction Books I Hope to Read in the Next 5 Years:

1. The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

2. Wayne Dyer's upcoming book on the Tao

3. Zen Driving by K.T. Berger -- ha ha!

4. The Portable MFA in Creative Writing by the New York Writer's Workshop

5. Spiritual Traveller: New York City by Edward F. Bergman = looking forward to going to every place in this book with camera on hand

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What about you?

the book I'm so grateful for

Holiday window display at Macy's. Photo taken 11/25/06.

I've just finished reading the final Harry Potter book. I must share with you my conviction that this is the most satisfying, most thrilling, most complete book I have ever read in my whole life. It is the pinnacle example of why stories, through books, have created book-lovers -- and truth-seekers -- like me through the ages. I am SO proud of J.K. Rowling for hitting this one out of the ballpark.

I haven't read the NY Times review by Michiko Kakutani yet, and I don't know if I will, but in case you'd like to, I've provided the link referencing it. My sister said that Ms. Kakutani deemed this last HP volume to be worthy of Joseph Campbell's mythos, and when I heard that I was skeptical, perhaps even jeering. Yeah right, my snob self said. Or rather, I would guess it said that, since I can't remember. Either way I definitely doubted such claims.

But now, after having completed reading the book, I definitely agree with this view. And I add that I am so glad that I took my time with it and did not rush through or stay up reading it like many people I know or heard about, because it was I who needed to be alert and rested when I got to the crescendo moments, the points of ultimate truth in the book's final sections. All the myths, and by myths I include the myths of major religions, came together in the book's climax, and when it does it is the reader who must stand up to it as the steady witness.

For those of you still in the midst of this tome, happy reading! This is the first time I've experienced a phenomenon where when I sat on the subway or on the bus there was always someone next to me or 2-3 seats away from me reading the same book. On the bus today I was absorbed in my copy, and when I happened to look up because the bus lurched I saw that the woman next to me was also reading her copy. Two strangers sitting side by side on an express bus, reading the same book. It's quite surreal. I commented to my fellow passenger how strange it was for me to see us reading like that, and she said she read the book already and was on her second go at it.

I don't blame her. I am now going back to book 1 and starting the adventure all over again. I still remember asking for it from my mom along with book 2 exactly 7 years ago for my birthday present. (Note the number 7 here, HP fans.) My mom was like, "You want what? Harry who? Under children's books?! But you're turning 28!" And I was like, "Look, you asked what I wanted for my birthday...."

J.K. Rowling has achieved quite the feat in creating this long, well-sustained symphony of a series. Right now, at least at this moment, I think she really does deserve to be the richest woman in England.

pinpoint even when it's pointless

Self-portrait, 5/16/06. This is standard, quintessential me -- in my study, with jeans and sweats and white socks, surrounded by paper and books and cluttered wires.


So I'm back. The wonderful A-goes-B, who is my co-rescuer in the murky depths of artistic aspirations, pointed out to me that I have not added new entries in this photoblog.

I could only respond with a sigh and a what's-the-point attitude. But really, there is a point. All people who are trying to create anything real and honest, and who make the creative life the centerpoint of their focus, battle everyday with the knowledge that they must stick with it even if, for all practical and social purposes, it appears pointless.

Not that blogging is it for me. It's not like this is what I do, or what I've quit my full-time job for, etc. But this photoblog does reflect an honest part of me, and A-goes-B has given me a sweet nudge and a nod, saying, basically, that this endeavor isn't all that stupid. And that in fact none of it is.

So let me resuscitate Friday Five. Granted, it's not technically Friday yet, but it will be in three hours, so let's just pretend it already is.


Teaneck T's Top 5 Reasons Why She Went Offline:

1. No one reads this blog --> not true, it turns out

2. I've forgotten this blog exists --> not true. That's just defense mechanism talking.

3. I've been unhappy from the sad events that have occurred these past few months --> true

4. I've been happy from the wonderful events that have occurred these past few months --> true

5. I've been addicted to the DVDs of 24's season five --> very true


Teaneck T's Top 5 Reasons Why She's Back Online (for another round):

1. I still have photos I want to post.

2. The idea of coming up with new formats on what to write about using this photoblog interests me.

3. I respect my buddy A-g-B, and if he says I should continue it, I continue it.

4. Photoblogging is waaaaay easier than coming up with a new draft of a fiction or nonfiction piece.

5. Because I can.