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"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter." --Ansel Adams


The moon rises while the sun illuminates the tree tops from the golden hour sunset.

I don't believe in coincidence. That beauty and timing like this is to me a sign of God's love in the world. As only He can do.

Whenever I try to do two things at the same time, they both fall short of their full potential. Things line up for a reason, with God there is no coincidence.

I mean, I was walking my dog when I made this picture. But I had to stop walking and make the dog sit, so I could 'focus' to click the shutter.

The lesson here for me, then, is to keep your focus on the main thing, and make the world a more beautiful place to be.

Enjoy your day.

Frank J Casella


Photo: Moon Over the Golden Hour


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" When we have nothing to give,

let us give Him that nothingness.

Let us all remain as empty as possible

so that God can fill us. "

- St. Mother Theresa



Only courageous people are known for their honesty.

It is a lot easier to rationalize through life, or make excuses. And when we are bold enough to be honest with ourselves and others, people come to trust us for the truth even though it may hurt.

Likewise, with this photograph, the bold sunrise gives way to the soft colors of the sky, because once we take that first step of being honest, everythig else falls into place.

Sometimes we have to work through the mess, and the struggles, and with hope, but faith, God will show us the way.



" God does not love us because we are valuable.

We are valuable because God loves us."

- Fulton J. Sheen





Wood Print - Bold Sunrise Pastel Sky



Thanks for reading, talk with you again real soon.

Frank


'Pictures That Share Hope and God's Love in the World'


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Morning Sunrise Pine Tree Silhouette



"I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances;

I know also how to live with abundance.

In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,

of living in abundance and of being in need.

I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me."


-- Phil. 4:12-13







May you have a great week, and a great start to the New Year!

Frank


'Pictures That Share Hope and God's Love in the World'




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Winter-fold Branches

The morning sunrise shines on the soft, snowy tree branches, while illuminating the Fall leaves causing a beautiful backdrop.

This moment in time makes me think how much God covers us with his purity and love, while also illuminating our lives from Heaven above.

I think it is important to be mindful of this as we go through life and work through our struggles and our successes. In the end, it is not about us, but about what we do to bring the love of God into the world.

There is not a more timeless purpose than this for our lives, at least for me, and makes life worth living.


Thanks for reading, talk with you again real soon.

Frank


'Pictures That Share Hope and God's Love in the World'




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Frank J Casella - American. Photographer. Catholic. Co-founder. Living in Chicagoland - USA. Pictures speak in ways that words can not. Since I was a kid, I've been perfecting how to put the viewer where my subject is - I call this "Pictures People Listen To".

I've been a Documentary and Stock Photographer since 1988, and Independent Artist exclusively on Fine Art America since 2013. Though, I've had a camera in my hand since I was a young boy. I produce and sell pictures of moments in time, and human interaction, that share hope and God's love in the world, through my Catholic Faith.

I'm also co-founder of Chicago Catholic Men's Forum, and Executive Director of Catholic Men Chicago Southland, since 2004. When you foster a Man in holiness, the positive adjustments he makes creates a upstanding man, husband, or father, and this impact can be felt for three generations.

I'm a product of Columbia College Chicago and, shortly after, my childhood dream became reality when I was assigned to photograph the ministry of the (Roman Catholic) Archbishop of Chicago - the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin.

My artwork style is inspired by Norman Rockwell. I'm privileged to be nurtured by John H. White - Pulitzer Prize photojournalist.



Life Mission:

My life mission is to share hope and God's Love in the World. Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” ~ Luke 9:62



Testimonials:

"Frank Casella .... is like an Old World artist, creative yet meticulous, inspired yet careful, in awe of visual beauty yet not afraid to engage it through the lens of his camera. .... Frank Casella's work is what we mean when we say that photography can be an art".

-- Rev. Anthony J. Brankin, Chicago Priest and Sculpture


"Frank, I just wanted to Thank you again for coming to our photo club and your program on visual storytelling. I know we all got something from your presentation. It was a good idea the way you got us involved in your program. ....

.... For myself it was humbling to see how well you can design a moment to last forever. And your sense of getting the essence of the subject, that simple moment. I have a new respect for black and white images and I understand how it can enhance an image. Thank You again Frank it was a privilege for us to have you as a program presenter."

-- Tim McGrath, c/o Park Forest Photography Club


“Frank, Great Work and great job on your Website. Your work is thoughtful and good and you are an excellent Godly man and photographer”.

– James Klein Lenderink, Commercial Photographer



Stay Connected:

If you would like to see new artworks released, latest promotions, and website blog entries,sign up for my Mailing List - LIst.FrankJCasella.com - delivered one to three times a week ... Direct to your inbox! Unsubscribe at any time. I am very intentional about my use of social media....


To that end, here are positive reasons why I post primarily on my own blog or mailing list, not on social media:


1. Having a home

This site is a creative outlet for me and my works. When I want you to know something, I'm going to talk about it here, both with pictures and with words. This is where you'll be able to find me over time and space. This is my home.

For example, people in my old neighborhood used to just drop by to sit on the front porch and catch up; this site serves the same purpose for me. It's something we can depend on so we can always be in contact.


2. Internet citizenship

This is called the "web" because our sites all interconnect with links. Hyperlinking is what gives the Internet its richness. Following links has helped me learn so much, and give back. My own blog site lets me do that.



Where To Find Me Online:

Newsletters are my favorite creative outlet. I invite you to subscribe to the following based on your interest, and I will see you in your inbox soon!

SundayLetters - Weekly picture, life topic, and latest blog entries or creative projects.

Official Website - Latest photographs, promotions, and art related posts from this blog..

CMCS Blog - A Blog to Nurture Catholic Men's Spirituality


Follow my Photography Page on LinkedIn - Linkedin.FrankJCasella.com

Check out my personal pictures and projects at the Personal Work Collection - Photos.FrankJCasella.com.

... If you find an image there that you'd like to see for sale, drop me a note - Contact.FrankJCasella.com.


View My hometown photo project 'Home Sweet Homewood 1 Day' at - Homewood1Day.FrankJCasella.com





Come back here to browse my website, bookmark - FJCPhoto.FrankJCasella.com

Search My Stock Photos on www.licensing.frankjcasella.com


Drop me an E-mail and say hello - Contact.FrankJCasella.com. (Phone calls by appointment made via email.)







“As a photographer, the big secret is entering into the charisma with the person you have in front of you. If you don't feel it, you'll never do it well.” ~ ARTURO MARI, Vatican photographer

As we roll from one decade to the next, I think about in 2010 my being an independent artist was not even a thought.

Today, it is all I do with my photography.

But it is not about my photographs, as much as it is about sharing with humanity.

Faith. Hope. How God Loves the World.

You are reading this because you connect with this mission, and provide it - me - your valuable attention.

Happiness is never found by the person shopping for it. Rather, genuine happiness is the byproduct of making someone else happy.

You have shared this work more than I ever could, and spread happiness into the world, and thus fulfilled this mission.

The words Thank YOU! do not seem to say enough how grateful I am to you and what you do!

The simple moments that made the greatest impact in 2019, at the link below are how they fall into the big picture of this mission.


All Time Best Sellers



A happy and prosperous New Year and decade to you and yours!

Frank


'Pictures That Share Hope and God's Love in the World'




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Looking for a gift and can't decide what to buy? No problem. Give them a gift card!

Just in time for the holidays... gift cards are now available for purchase on FineArtAmerica.com and Pixels.com!


When you checkout, the gift card will be e-mailed to you at the e-mail address that you provide on the checkout screen. The gift card will be attached to the e-mail as a PDF (click the link below for examples). Print it out and deliver it to the recipient... or simply forward the PDF via e-mail!

Go to www.frankjcasella.pixels.com/giftcertificates


If you have friends and family members who need new artwork for their walls... but you're not sure what to buy them... give them a gift card!

You can use Pixels gift cards for the full line of prints and products on www.shop.frankjcasella.com

On this gloomy day, when the sunlight is trying to peek through the clouds, I was drawn upon the juxtaposition between the tree branches and the antenna on a neighbors roof. How both in their own way bring a sense of contentedness to either nature or the world around us.

It sort of reminds me of the Norman Rockwell painting, New Television Antenna, only in reverse. Where the Rockwell picture depicts the first in a new era, this picture illustrates one of the last roof antennas giving way to cable and satellite signals, and the internet.

The silent signs of change, in the changing seasons of time.


Reference link to Rockwell artwork

https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2018/06/rockwell-video-minute-new-tv-set/


Thanks for reading.


This photograph is from my personal work collection



Thanks for reading, talk with you again real soon.

Frank


'Pictures That Share Hope and God's Love in the World'

Decorate your home and accessorize your life with incredible works of art, and help support living artists.


I have curated my site into several best-of-the-best image collections for every room in your home or office!

But don't let that overwhelm you.

It doesn't matter if you're decorating an 800 square-foot bachelor pad in the city or a 5,000 square-foot ranch out in the country...

we've got incredible artwork that's just your style for every room of your home!

There are dozens of additional collections in (mostly) alphabetical order to browse through on my site. When you find the perfect piece, we'll deliver a museum-quality masterpiece right to your doorstep.


Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Frank


'Pictures That Share Hope and God's Love in the World'


START SHOPPING

" Failure is an event, not a person ". - Zig Ziglar


We either succeed or we learn.


When I sit in the presence of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and give thanks for life and every breath I take, I realize how much it's more about the big picture of things and less about me.


"In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thes. 5:18


Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family and friends to break bread together and have fellowship.


A time to be grateful for food, shelter, and clothing. A time to remember those before us who worked and believed in the legacy of America.


At Thanksgiving we sit around the table and share what we are thankful for because, while as President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nation-wide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789, as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God....



Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Lord, we thank you for the goodness of our people and for the spirit of justice that fills this nation.

We thank you for the beauty and fullness of the land and the challenge of the cities.

We thank you for our work and our rest, for one another, and for our homes.

We thank you, Lord: accept our thanksgiving on this day.

We pray and give thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.


From Catholic Household Blessings






==== Happy Thanksgiving!====


~ ~ ~ From My Family To Yours ~ ~ ~






Frank

About.FrankJCasella.com


'Pictures That Share Hope and God's Love in the World'



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