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Let Youe Light Shine

This photograph of a simple votive candle with cross, is a reminder to light a candle and say a prayer for others and to count our blessings.

There is so much chaos going on in our war torn world, so much anxiety, that small acts of kindness goes a long way.

Writing someone a thank you note, holding the door, making coffee for your spouse, unstack the dishwasher (or load it), talk about what others want even if it's not what interests you, etc.

Put the spotlight on other people and not yourself. Listen to the Holy Spirit to provide the opportunities. Let Christ love through you.

And when you do this, it is through giving to others that we are blessed.






Thank you for reading,

Talk with you again next week!

Frank


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



Reference Link https://pixels.com/featured/votive-candle-with-cross-frank-j-casella.html

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Today is Ash Wednesday, and the start of Lent. Below is the message that I have been sharing for the past few years. Because, like when you keep reading scripture, it speaks to you differently each time you read it.

May you find new meaning from this as I do each year I read it.

Frank



- Measuringing Up To Jesus -

The other day when I was on Twitter a quote I saw from sales guru hit me: “You become what you think about all day long”. It made me ponder on what I think about every day, which lead me to realize how much my thinking – and lifestyle – has changed over the years.


I used to be more selfish, helping and serving others with the end motive of serving my own needs and ego, and praying for my own needs – talking to God more than listening. St. Francis says [that] it is through giving that we receive, and I took it literal.


Today … when I give of myself I don’t look for what I receive, because the real gift is how God is blessing others through me .. which I may never see. My agenda has become God’s agenda. Said another way, I live my life as a prayer.


If we focus our attention on bad news and gossip (about Christians) we will miss God's incredible, visionary, optimistic purpose for every believer: to grow so much in our faith that we shine like beacons to everyone around us!


God's vision for each church is that we would grow so much in our love for God that we'd love people the way He loves them: unconditionally and passionately. He want's us to be filled up with Christ's grace, truth, and purpose so that everything we do will reflect Him to those around us.


I assure you, the longer you look at Jesus on that Cross, the more He will speak to you about who you are and how you can become more Holy.


The greatest image I have of my late father is how he prayed the rosary, looking at the Cross, each morning in a room with only the window light – just him and God – before leaving for work.


The greatest image my children say they have of me is how I kiss the crucifix each morning as soon as I wake up. What they don’t see is how often I spend just looking at it in holy contemplation.


"If a hypocrite is standing between you and God, it just means the hypocrite is closer to God than you are." -- Zig Ziglar




Thank you for reading,

Talk with you again next week!

Frank


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


Measuring Up To Jesus - Wood Print by Frank J Casella



Reference Link https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/measuring-up-to-jesus-frank-j-casella.html?product=wood-print

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- Street Photography Artist Group -

Simply put, street photography aims to tell the story everyday life in public places, usually in urban landscapes. It is a form of candid photography, when the person is not aware they are being photographed, which creates more realistic and impacting images. The subject matter tends to be human and relatable, focusing on body language to tell the story.

For example, with this photograph - Red Lights - City of Chicago - of the morning light in downtown Chicago, Illinois, as traffic from both people and cars make their way in the city. Red stop lights and vehicle brake lights, and the movement of the people on the street, bring this photograph an atmosphere of the motion of city life - in the square format.

I recently was asked by the curator of the Street Photography - Artist Group on Pixels / Fine Art America to now run the group. The description for this group reads: ' moments from our lives in public places, and the environment that we have created for ourselves.' I have been a member of this group for some time, submitting my own images to be curated, so now I am the curator.

I never thunk!

I think street photography is an art - both in terms of how you capture the moment, how you move on the streets, and also how the photos look. My On The Street gallery collection for street photography reads: ' Because I carry a camera with me as often as I can, this is a gallery of Street Photography moments that always retains the human element. '

The best street photos are the simple ones. And to make a photo simple is more difficult than making a complicated photo. My photo mentor, John H White, always said to take simple moments that make big impact.

Fine Art Street Photography is not only about the subject, and it is not only about the scene, rather about how to create a compelling image including these elements that will tell a story. Fine Art Street Photography serves to interpret the scene, it adapts it to the vision and intention of the artist.

I feel that in order to make great artistic street photographs, we study more great art. What this means is to not limit yourself to just photos, but study the best art from history. Become inspired by the great sculptures and from great renaissance art, from the surrealists and the impressionists, the great poetry and the great stories, and the great works.

I have included the Street Photography Group in the list of featured artist in my weekly emails. This group falls within my mission of moments in time, and human interaction, that share hope, and the love of God in this world.



Thanks for reading,

Enjoy your day.

Frank J Casella

Image reference link: https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/red-lights-city-of-chicago-frank-j-casella.html
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New Hope

He is blessed who lives with his eyes on the Lord, not on the world.

Many times the key factor of a great photograph comes from it having strong composition. Yes, the story is important but, without strong composition the story gets lost I think.

Many times the key factor in having happiness in life comes from your hope. and structure in your life.

" The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man; it takes up the hopes that inspire men's activities and purifies them so as to order them to the Kingdom of heaven; it keeps man from discouragement; it sustains him during times of abandonment; it opens up his heart in expectation of eternal beatitude. Buoyed up by hope, he is preserved from selfishness and led to the happiness that flows from charity. " CCC 1818

The inspiration for this photograph - Springtime Blossom - came to me a few years ago when I was out for a walk with my wife and dog, and saw this out from the corner of my eye. The story here is that I love how this moment says new life that brings hope. The colors are catchy and a favorite of many.

I used negative space composition, which is a basic, but often overlooked principle of design, that gives the eye a "place to rest," increasing the appeal through subtle means. This together with the square format, makes this suitable for framing with a wider matboard.

This image is a part of my ' Phoneography ' Project that you may know I was doing for 2018, to put through its paces images from a smart phone camera with my over forty-years as professional lensmen. This was made with an iPhone 5s and the Flcikr App camera, and processed also with the Flickr App. (none of wich I still use).

I keep updated my tools when I can and as technology evolves, just as our lives evolve when we see new hope and respond to it. For example, when you are inspired by my photographs on your walls, I call this walls of hope.

The silent power of the love of God is all around us, we just have to condition ourselves to recognize and respond. And the reason is not only for us to grow, but to share it so others too may grow, for that is how God works in the world.

What is God doing through you, are you mindful of it, and how are you sharing it with others?



Thanks for reading,

Enjoy your day.

Frank J Casella

Image reference link: https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/springtime-blossom-frank-j-casella.html

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-- Opinions --

This black and white Art Photograph - Fleeting Moment - of a city urban moment in time in Chicago, Illinois.

The train, bike, cars, people wlaking, and bus reminds me about the culture of society, and the number of people and opinions we all have.

All in fleeting moments in time.

Although it is in Chicago, it can be almost any city in the world.

One of the best friends I have had taught me how every person has a right to their own opinion, but not their own facts. The power of democracy of the United States includes dialog and a fair debate. Because there is a difference between facts and opinion.

Yet, today you might say this is threatened a bit, I don't know if it comes from the behavior on legacy social media and just an overflow into the analog world, but it seems more and more that if people do not agree with what others do or say, we walk away from it instead of engagement.

I personally think we are falling away from God and the Ten Commandments, intentional or not.

Also, scriptures like, "The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”" Mark 12:31.

And, Jesus said to his disciples: "Love one another even as I have loved you." John 13:34

The best explanation that I have found on all of this is from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

[ 2286 ] Scandal can be provoked by laws or institutions, by fashion or opinion. Therefore, they are guilty of scandal who establish laws or social structures leading to the decline of morals and the corruption of religious practice, or to "social conditions that, intentionally or not, make Christian conduct and obedience to the Commandments difficult and practically impossible." 88 This is also true of business leaders who make rules encouraging fraud, teachers who provoke their children to anger, 89 or manipulators of public opinion who turn it away from moral values.

All this to say, that when you look at this picture, no matter what you print it on, that it may speak to you about how important it is to understand what the culture often rejects – how men and women should relate to one another in complementary ways and learn from the opinions of each other's thoughts and ideas to find the facts.

If we keep looking to the same people and sources every day, we have a limited view of the world around us. But when we engage with others outside our viewpoint, then we gain new understandings. This is what the culture of our society is about.





Thanks for reading,

Enjoy your day.

Frank J Casella

Reference https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/fleeting-moment-frank-j-casella.html

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Struggle

This square photograph I titled Lost In The Fog, a classic black and white of silhouetted trees and branches amungst the foggy morning.

It reminds me how working through our struggles in life can help us to find answers to our problems, and make it all worth it.

What are the difficulties in your life that you struggle with?

All of us go through struggles, and what makes the difference is how we respond to it.

In fact, on a spiritual note, if we did not have struggles we would not need God.

Many times we feel pain in our relationships, in marriage, work, or with friendships.

Some of us worry if we are married to the wrong person.

God gives us encouraging words to find answers:


' We know that God makes everything work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. '

~ Romans 8:28


A close friend once shared that when we go through struggles it is important to ask ourselves ' is it worth it '.

Because when we walk through that door of struggle or conflict, on the other side there is discovery.

The more you put it off, the more difficult it becomes.

But we can not change others, they have to want to change.

Again, Romans tells us that even in the worst situation, God can work things for our own good and for His own purposes.

.. and make it all worth it.

Even though it may not be what we want or thought.

So the question we then ask, for those of us who believe, is in what ways can God use me or this circumstance to help others?

.. for this is how God works in the world.

The most significant struggle may very well be one that, years latter, we look back as a turning point in our life or relationships.





Thanks for reading,

Enjoy your day.

Frank J Casella

Reference link https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/lost-in-the-fog-frank-j-casella.html

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Flower and Fence - Color Nature Photograph of a single orange flower in nature. Copyright 2011 Frank J Casella


-- Investment --

This photograph I titled ' Flower and Fence ' because of how the beauty of the flower stands out from the rest of the nature along the fence. It reminds me about how we can view life.

In other words ...

When you buy something, it usually means that you are looking at what it cost.

When you invest in something, it usually means you are looking at what it pays.

It is about how you use your time, talent, and treasure.

I can usually tell when someone is buying my Art photographs because they ask ... " This original art won't depreciate will it ? " ... or ... " Will this art increase in value? Is it a good investment ? "

I can usually tell when someone is investing in my Art photographs because they say .. " I love this ! " .. or " This will bring beauty to my home ! ".

There is so much Art in our culture today, that only a small percentage of it moves up (or down) in what you paid for it.

For example, since the invention of the iPhone / Smartphone camera, there have been more pictures made than in the history of photography.

-- go back and read that again --

While it is very possible that my Art, and the artists work that I share in my newsletters, are going to become wildly successful and have the value of their work skyrocket, I do not want collectors to purchase works based on selling point or potential investment value.

There is no guarantee of the future value of any piece of artwork. The value can go up, but it is also possible that it might go down. You have better chances talking to a Stockbroker!

Art can enrich collectors lives in so many ways - acquiring art can be a great adventure. Many people tell me how much my Artwork speaks to them, inspires them, helps them to live one more day. And they say how much what they collect says about them, and is passed down to future generations.

When I was a photojournalist, I made pictures that told stories that pulled at the heart strings and emotion of the viewer. Now that I am an Art photographer, I make my photographs with a higher quality that pulls all the emotion from the subject or scene in the photograph.

Some people purchase a photograph because that one piece speaks to them in some way. Others purchase several of my photographs because they invest in learning more about me and my approach to my subjects and how I present them (one reason why I am a blogger).

Another way to look at 'cost' and 'pay' can be with relationships .. like in marriage ... when two spouses look at what they get from each other and how it cost them, compared to when they look at how it pays to be a gift to each other (more on this in another blog post).

If you invest in Artwork that you love, it will pay dividends to you every day for the rest of your life!






Thanks for reading,

Enjoy your day.

Frank J Casella

Reference link https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/flower-and-fence-frank-j-casella.html

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-- Life Is A Work In Progress by Frank J Casella --



This photograph I titled Life Is A Work In Progress.


Man and machine work to resurface a single neighborhood road in Mid-West America.


Likewise, as we travel the road over the pot holes of life ...


... that it is important to make time to renew body, mind, and Soul.


And, as we search through the darkness looking for the light ...


... it is important to remember that life is a work in progress.








Thanks for reading,

Enjoy your day.

Frank J Casella

Reference link https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/life-is-a-work-in-progress-frank-j-casella.html

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This photograph I titled Through the Years.


I think that if this tree could only talk, the tales it would have to tell. .... look all its structure and growth . … and the twists and turns of the branches.


One purpose of trees is to give us air to breath and are just plain beautiful in every stage .. which makes the world a better place to live.


I think trees, like this, are very symbolic of life,


What did God have in mind when He made this tree?


What did God have in mind when He made you?



Reference link: https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/through-the-years-frank-j-casella.htmll


Thanks for reading,

Enjoy your day.

Frank J Casella



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Messages


With this picture - The Messages In Our Lives - made me think about how we respond to others has a huge impact on the world.

How we treat others makes a huge impact on how they see the world around them.

The messages in our lives shared through experiences and examples, though subtle, speak and teach louder than words ever can.

---

This is also very true with the artist professional network, and by our interacting with hundreds of thousands of artists, photographers, graphic designers, and brand respresentatives who participate in the Fine Art America (FAA) social network each day.

Something you may not know about when you shop on my website (or on Pixels / FAA) is the 'sort' option found at the Shop button on the top by the shopping cart button. Amung the options then on the left side panel you can select are 'Best Sellers', or 'Most Comments', or 'Most Votes', to name a few.

These are the social networking tools of the members, artists, and art collectors on Fine Art America (FAA), as well as those of you who have an account on my website. You can find the comment, like, and fav buttons on any picture page at the top right. Now, the reason I bring this up is because every artist and art collector / buyer uses these features in a different way.

The main thing I will talk about is the Favorites page only found on the FAA / Pixels profiles. Some artists Fav. all the images they upload, creating what I call a redundant Favorites page on their FAA profile .. but, hey, they want you to see their work. Nothing wrong with that, right? Others Fav everything they comment on, still others Fav to bookmark artwork they want to go back to (this I think is mostly collectors/buyers though), to name a few.

The reason many collectors / buyers use their Favorites page is to bookmark art online they can come back to and appreciate, especially when they don't have a use for printing it yet. Also, interior designers and the like I know shop the artist groups for features, and Fav those images they want to come back to .. because these images are ranked by the eyeballs of the group admins many times before they are ranked by the website system.

The ranking system moves images up in the website search, similar to how the Amazon website works, with the popularity of sold images having the highest ranking.

That is the thing about these three otpions - comment, like, and fav - though, when another member other than myself uses them it ranks (my) the work just a tiny bit .. but, as they say, every little bit helps, no? Some of us though, like myself, use these for what they actually do ...

I comment on others artwork when I want to express what I most appreciate about their work. I Like way more images than I fav., because it ranks it the same but does not post it to my Favs page. Finally, I Favorite artwork that I, well, consider a favorite ... I am very select / picky about this.

Why is that you ask?

Because customers like you tell me that when they visit my website, they actually click around a bit to find out more about my artwork or what my artisic vision is. So, since I have been intentional about what I Fav, many have said how much they go on a visual journey with my Favs.

So, as we transition from this past year to another year, I invite you to make a few minutes to go here on a visual journey too.

May these images from independent living artists tell you the story of God's love in this world, and most important, how much more He loves you. Although I Favorite the images that are orginal and unique, distictive, and make a positive difference in the world .. think about how much more God loves you, and how you posess these qualities too .. ask God to show you.


Thanks for reading,

Enjoy your day.

Frank J Casella



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