3 Simple Changes

Patterns are repeated ways of responding built up over time. They move us many times into a comfort zone that could help us to resist life, change, growth.

During this week of my birth celebration, I chose to make 3 simple changes:

Moon & Branches

text & photograph 

© Ralph M. Ferraro,  2014, RmfTop@gmail.com

Got out early 

by the pond

Pondering relationship

fracture ~ Blockage ~ Breakage

Direction unclear

Mission unclear

Moon peeping thru trees

Branches - patterns on the moon

Music interrupted

out and moving toward the moon

Moon shining bright

Obstacles branches 

Become patterns of beauty

on the moon

Days ago, 

Student stressed

Mirrored in the face

Stop

Listen

Breathe, 

Rhythm of the breath

Everything else nothing

Just rhythmic breathing

Student face

Different mirror

Healing

Pivot - renewed

Calm - actively engaged

Days later

Student ~ thank you

Me ~ for what 

Student ~ you know for what

No words

No intellectualized constructs
unspoken feeling energy
Resonating, communicating
Healing, Two as One

Just smiles

Branches 

Obstructed view

Stress 

Transform

Moon shining bright

Obstacles ~  branches 

Become patterns of beauty

On the moon

My interview by Margo Grant & Daria Gradusova concerning my exhibits at the International Arts Festival

Ralph Michael’s International Arts Festival Experience –

an interview by Margo Grant and Daria Gradusova

to be printed in the International Arts Festival newsletter and on the IAF website.

Article & PHOTOGRAPH © Ralph M. Ferraro, 2013, 2014, RmfTop@gmail.com

 1.    Was the IAF a good networking opportunity?

a.     The IAF was a mixed experience in regard to networking. The opening night on Central Park West and the opening night in Jersey City were great opportunities to meet both talented artists and visitors to the exhibit who enjoyed the artwork. After the grand opening at each event, the visitors were few and far between. Even the artists were not around most of the day.

2.    Did IAF in any way influence your career?

a.     The IAF was an exciting experience for me. I was very grateful to have my photographs chosen for the exhibit. I enjoyed talking to the fellow artists that were on display. I also enjoyed taking visitors through the gallery to see my photographs and the work of the other artists.

b.    The IAF experience definitely encouraged me to pursue my artistic passion without reservation.

3.    Did you enjoy the vibe of the event? 

The IAF produced two different types of vibes. 

a.     The first vibration was the excitement of being chosen and on display for all to see. The ability to share my art, my photographs with other artists and with the public was truly a joy. This positive vibration was exhilarating.

b.    The second vibration was the joy of showing visitors around the gallery and helping them to experience the various artists. It was a joy to see their attraction to the different works of art.

4.    Would you recommend this competition for emerging artists?

a.     I would definitely recommend this competition to any artist. When I submitted my works, I felt positive. I felt that I was offering works of value. I didn’t know for certainty that they would be chosen, but was very excited when I got the news that my photographs were chosen.

5.     Is there anything you would like to see/add in 2014 competition? Different media, maybe graphic design, maybe a technology piece?

a.     I would like to see workshops spaced throughout the exhibit time that would enable artists to talk about their art and challenge the attendees to discover the artist in themselves. Art, at its best, invites people to connect with the self-activating, self-creating personality that Maslow states each one of us have. Art is communication; it is being playful; it is being creative and brings out the unique best in each person. If each person connected with his or her creative, artistic side, the world would be a better place.

b.    I would like the exhibit to be longer at least a week and easily accessible by public transportation (especially in Manhattan). If it is going to be in another location like Jersey City, then better marketing, promotion and time (not August when people are on vacation) need to be implemented.

6.     What advise would you give to those who are submitting their work?

a.     Be playful

b.    Be in touch with your inner spirit

c.     Allow your unique qualities, your passion to emerge in each piece that you do.

d.    Do not be concerned about whether someone else would like or value your work. A woman who came to the exhibit said, “there is a lot of shit masquerading as art, but if the work is truly art it will speak to the soul of those allowing themselves to experience the work of art.”

e.     Do not attempt to imitate someone else (famous artist) or style (classic, avant-garde, etc.).

Celebrating with my Artist (Musician) Friends

I was happy to be invited as a guest by Bin, and her fellow musicians to a Dim Sum Celebration in Chinatown today.

I am Privileged to have them as friends - I so thourougly enjoy their music, their talent and their company.

Some of the crew came later ... so I include photos of them playing for the staff @ Globe College.

Holiday Photography Tour

Professional Photography Tour

The colors on the Empire State bring home to me that the festive season of Chanukah, Christmas, and New Years is upon us.

I am offering a special photo tour package as you visit New York City this holiday season.

As a professional photographer I will accompany you on a 2 or 3  hour tour and document your being in the New York festival atmosphere photographically.

We will plan to visit a section of Manhattan and I will take your picture at the various locations. I will provide a DVD or Flash drive with the processed digital negatives within 48 hours to your hotel if you are visiting the city or will mail to you the DVD or Flash Drive if you are a local New Yorker.

The package includes a group  of up to four people who are traveling together. Please email me for rates for larger groups. 
Email: RmfTop@gmail.com

Dress Comfortably, wear good walking shoes and let’s go

Meals, tickets, travel costs are not included

Rates (Good until Wednesday 12/4/13 at 23:59 NY time):
More flexible schedules and price increase on 12/5/13 at 00:00 AM 12/5/13

Friday and Saturday,  Sunday Afternoon Tour (start at 11:00)

Except   Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve, New Years)

2 Hours                      $100.00 

3 Hours                      $150.00

Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday Evening Tour (4pm start)

Except    Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve, New Years)

2 Hour $100.00

3 hours $150.00

Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve, New Years  
Same price for afternoon or evening tours $300.00 

Same afternoon, evening hours

Sunrise Tours also available

Availability of tours depend on bookings.

50% Deposit required to book date and time, deposit is not refundable

the Bubble: the Magic of Relationship ~ Pt. II

Photo and Text © Ralph M. Ferraro,  2013, RmfTop@gmail.com

No part of this photo or text may be used or copied without permission

This week I was able to present my talk, 

"the Bubble: a Magical Relationship ~ Part II”, , to my Jade Toastmaster's Group and to students in several  of my College Classes.

You might ask what is a 

Bubble Relationship ... 

it has several components, it is:

•  not logical
•  Involves both
•  Emotional Energy ~ Joy ~ Pleasure 
•  Intellectual Energy ~ Openness ~ allowing ~ Choosing to interact with a creative flow that is uninhibited 
•  arises spontaneously
•  It is synergistic
•  a high level of positive energy
•  a state of Consciousness without thinking about it, without reasoning, without justifying, without planning
•  it is totally experiential, in the now
•  unparalleled Intensity
•  100% involvement (no shades of gray - you are either in the bubble or out of the bubble)
• You can only be in one bubble relationship at a time
• For a new bubble relationship to come into being, the older bubble relationship must end
•  It is a state of Joy, excitement
•  all else is excluded
•  baggage history (relationship, patterns, culture, religious dictums)
•  learned patterns of previous years, of childhood move aside to allow the now
•  the inclusiveness involves, 
• You, 
• the Person of Interest, 
• God or Source Energy
•  there is a unity
• you could  be in a crowded room yet
• the presence of others is extremely tangential, 
• as if they,  their thoughts or their observations, their comments did not exist, and 
• do not matter.
•  You and the other are 
• totally open, 
• vulnerable, 
• interactive
•  it is a live experience, not theoretical, not merely philosophical
•  It is fragile, Like the bubbles in the photo
•  Bubble consciousness can be maintained indefinitely
• both people must feed it by
•  allowing it to be
•  being totally open
•  communicating vibrationally and lovingly
•  not allowing others to interfere with the energy
• Bubble consciousness can stop instantaneously
• fear, anxiety, concern about “the others in the room” about “image” about “what others might say” can cause one or both people to suddenly say 
• “Oh shit, I am in the bubble”
•  “I am totally vulnerable (as opposed to allowing the pleasure, the joy to be)”
•  “what will others say or think?”
•  “I need to jump out of the bubble, I don’t know what to do ? … it’s scary.”
•  a person who leaves the bubble can block or seriously impair the communication with the other person for months or forever.

 Upon leaving the bubble, 

• the entire relationship can be so severely crippled because of a persons fear, inhibition, or defenses becoming activated and prominent. 
• The gates of relationship narrow significantly or close and 
• meaningful interaction between the two who had been in the bubble will be replaced with 
• increasing coldness, 
• increasingly fragmented conversations and / or 
• increasing physical distance.

I do believe this bubble experience is what we are meant to find. 

It is primarily a spirit state yet it is also physical. 

It is like no other human physical experience. 

To find it, requires 

• asking for / desiring  the experience, 
• allowing it to unfold, 
• having enough faith to allow it to blossom.

Comments, questions, thoughts are welcome :)))

Rmf

Magnetic Light

Attraction

Dark clouds

Light clouds

Which draws You

Image

Positive ~ Negative

What do we see

Beauty

contrast

All one

Rotate Bright

Rotate Dark

Create Your path

Explore

Refine

Inner Source 

Guide

Energize

Create

Beauty behold in all

Joy found 

Joy shared

Reflections - What do we see

Reflections - Ripples - What do we see
Small patches
large expanse in front
Small patches
down to the right
Ripples - movement
Reflections - What do we see



Prints - Imprints
Possibilites

Trees
Lines - Movement
possible directions
Do we explore
Do we activate
Do we engage
Beauty seen
Beauty unseen
Our vision
Our thinking
Breathing
Feeling rhythm
Connecting
Be open
Be ready
Accept
Transform

Pink ~ NYC support Healing of Breast Cancer

Walking to the Train from the Toastmasters Humorous Speech Contest, I noticed that the 
Empire State building was aglow in Pink.

Let us remember to support those who are struggling with Cancer and help them to heal !!!











New York is truly a great place of much beauty.
Part of it's beauty ... 
is a willingness to help those who are struggling with illness to heal.

Gallery Photos of Mary N...'s NY to Arizona Toastmaster Journey

Mary N has been a very active Toastmaster in the New York Area. She is now moving to Arizona ... so the New York Toastmasters threw her  a continuing journey Party.

Brian, Jennifer and Kasuao

Mark giving Mary a bouquet of flowers with her favorite colors blue and purple.

Penelope and Steve talking about Mary's accomplishments

Mary's leaving New York and continuing to the next part of her journey .... heading west.
















The Gallery of photos is located here
http://rmftop.photoshelter.com/gallery/TM-Mary-Neff-Oct-2013-Party/G0000vy0zEZFB6Hg/

AHEC "Careers, Community, Collaboration. and a Lobster Clambake!" Gallery Photos

I was appointed to be the photographer for the AHEC "Careers, Community, Collaboration. 

and a Lobster Clambake!" fundraiser.

I posted the photographs from this event on my gallery.

Aside from the great people who I met ...

I must say the food was delicious and cooked just right.

The gathering included a diverse mix of young and more senior people from Connecticut.

You can check out the photos on my gallery  http://rmftop.photoshelter.com/gallery/AHEC-LOBSTER-CLAMBAKE-2013/G0000EclrbxfbCRI/  

Milagros Day Purple Networking Gallery

I Posted my photographs from the Milagros Day Purple Networking Event on my Gallery.

Milagros Day Purple Networking Gallery

All photographs are
© Ralph M. Ferraro, MSW 2013, RmfTop@gmail.com

No license or permissions are given to use the photographs except for the Milagros Day Organization to promote their work and to  the individuals who attended the event to use the photographs for their personal use.

Milagros Day Purple Networking Event

all photographs and text are © Ralph M. Ferraro, MSW 2013, RmfTop@gmail.com

Milagros Day Purple Networking Event

I was privileged to attend and photograph the Milagros Day Networking Event last Thursday ...

The event was hosted by Ms. Dawn Diaz who is the founder of Milagros (Miracle) Day.

She is leading the group to help people transcend the trauma of experiencing domestic violence.

Ms. Diaz is vivacious, charming and truly inspiring.
She is dedicated to helping people open themselves to the beauty and talent within each of them.
Once they are open, she helps them realize it is important to radiate that inner beauty and talent.

Harold S. Reed, a retired Police Officer, now a Personal Development coach was a guest speaker at the Purple Networking event.
He shared his beliefs that his mission is to help people invest in their spirit.
He gave an inspiring talk and later signed copies of his book.

Karen (the woman on the right) is someone who is a source of inspiration to Dawn (Left).
Karen helped Dawn discover and implement her mission to help people who have experienced domestic violence.

Karen was very energetic and shared her enthusiasm for Ms. Diaz's work with her team in the Milagros Day organization.



As shown below, many people came to support the great work that Ms. Diaz, and her team are doing.
In addition to supporting Milagros Day, everyone I met was having a great time meeting other people and celebrating the beauty of the human spirit.

This interesting mural is located at the Western Entrance to the Grand Army Plaza IRT #2 & #3 train station in Brooklyn.

IRT Mural

As I travel around New York with my camera, I will post interesting details about the city.

Do you know where this mural is?

I will share the location tomorrow - 9/10/13

My brother Robert & his wife Meredith came from Connecticut to see my photographs.

They really enjoyed the photos. Meredith said each time you look at them, you see more !

Today is the last day of my exhibit at RoMA, in Jersey City. The photos will be on exhibit from 4:00 pm till 6:30.

Take advantage of this beautiful weather to come out & see my photos in person !!!

I will be  there from around 5:00 pm.


My friend Bogdan, took our photo with my Canon 6D, Canon EF 24-105 f4 IS USM lens and my canon 600EX-RT Flash bounced at a 45' angle.