Happy Holidays From Videoetry!

Merry Christmas, All!

The holidays are barreling down on us and I couldn't let them pass without sending my card to you.  It contains a compilation of shots I have taken in my home and in my community.  There is also a song I recorded with my son. 

May your holidays be peaceful, merry, and bright!  Happy New Year, too!

Hope you enjoy "Merry Christmas From Videoetry"

Ciao for now!
Mel

An "Autumn Moon" Is Rising in This Collaborative Videoetry!

Today, I introduce my second videoetry which I collaborated with someone to create.  Courtney Bowman, a fantastic photographer who is only a high school senior, shared this photograph with me to use for my "Autumn Moon" poem. 

Embracing the concept of the line "Removes the colors from our sight" from the Moody Blues song "Nights In White Satin", I had created a poem.   The videoetry required a cool shot of a moon in the fall and I happened to remember this photograph from Courtney's photo album on FaceBook.  It was taken in the fall of 2010. 

Not only does this photograph hold the requisite full moon, but it has one tree with full green leaves and yet another which is headed toward nakedness.  A perfect representation for this particular time of year.

Hope you enjoy "Autumn Moon" on Videoetry.  Many thanks to Courtney for her photo!

Ciao for now!
Mel

"Prayer for Texas"

My recent trip to Texas found me scootin' through the back country southwest of Dallas, meeting nice folks, and gaping at the expansiveness of everything.  People still smile there even though the ground is thirsty. 

Many said they were sad that I would see their land in a drought, but I still saw the tenacious beauty that is Texas.  I offer this prayerful videoetry in hope that rain will return soon.

Hope you enjoy "Prayer for Texas".

"Ode To Tahoe" and Labor Day Weekend

Happy Labor Day Weekend, Folks!

Today I reach back into my photo collection and use photos to create a videoetry about Lake Tahoe.  Wish like heck I was there!  Tahoe is currently in the throes of summer's last breath and will probably see the first snows soon.

fabulouslaketahoe made a comment on my "Shenandoah" videoetry on how beautiful it is up there in Virginia.  When I remarked to him that he lives in the most remarkable place, he commented that you have to work around stuff.  True, but that's true anywhere.  Even places like Yosemite have touristas everywhere getting in your photographing way.

I know I have eyed a huge bunch of these beautiful, yellow flowers at my kids' bus stop.  I keep fussing at myself for not bringing my cell phone to get a shot of those flowers in the early sunrise light.  They're at the end of our drive and next to ugly blacktop, but I bet I'll make them pretty!  If I do get some shots before they die, you'll be the first to know.

Finally, I dedicate this videoetry to two of my subscribers who a) live in fabulous Lake Tahoe and b) follow my videoetries.  I truly appreciate you laketahoeweather and fabulouslaketahoe!  Hope you enjoy
"Ode To Tahoe".

Ciao for now!
Mel

Quick Trip Yields Gorgeous Views and "Shenandoah"

Hi All!

Ahhh, a little trip to the Shenandoah River valley in western Virginia is just the cure for my little videoetry drought.  What amazing views from the valley, but to experience Skyline Drive that winds down the spine of the Appalachian Mountains?  Whoa!  I highly recommend it. 

Shenandoah National Park has a $15 per car fee, but it gets you to hiking trails, Skyline Drive (which is nearly 100 miles long), and a ton of overlooks.  We started at the top at Front Royal and drove to the bottom.  If you can't hang for 100 miles, there are many exits along the way you can use to leave the park.

I used the acrostic form of poetry to spell out "Shenandoah" (click to see video).  Hope you enjoy my latest videoetry.

Ciao for now!
Mel

Don't Get Stuck in A Rut

Unless it's in a beautiful canyon on Lake Powell that is! 

Hi All!

Today's videoetry features photos from some of the side canyons off Glen Canyon in north central Arizona.  The bath tub ring as they call it is quite prevalent in the spring as the mountain snows hadn't made it into the resevoir yet. 

Mix the white ring with the "Navajo tapestry" of manganese and iron oxide painted walls and crystal green waters and you have yourself a photographic feast for the eyes!

http://www.youtube.com/Videoetry?feature=mhum#p/u/6/E4mYefn2jD4

Ciao for now!
Mel

Happy Easter With Beautiful Desert Sunsets

Good Friday to you!

Since we have now come into the spring season and Easter is almost here, I wanted to post this videoetry with gorgeous desert sunset shots.  Again, Arizona amazed me with its beauty.  I would never have imagined such amazing color in a desert setting.  Very moving!

These shots were taken near Cottonwood, AZ and on Lake Powell.  I was dining with friends who live out there (lucky folks!) at the Wahweap Marina when that brilliant pink one turned even the lake pink!  Whoa!

The poem is about self reflection which I was able to do while putting around for hours by myself with the wind in my hair and the feast in my eyes.  OK, so I romanticized it a bit.  I was in a Corolla with the AC on - not a convertible! - but you get the picture. 

Have a blessed Easter and enjoy "Painted Desert".
http://www.youtube.com/Videoetry?feature=mhee#p/u/9/7TvorBwV-c8

Ciao for now!
Mel

A New Kid In Town...

Yippee! 

There's another videoetry person on board and I am honored that she allowed me to share her stufff. Her YouTube channel is EvaWilliams1988.  Here is her first videoetry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOhR1m69rx0.  I have tried to add it to my Playlist on the Videoetry site, but this is a direct link. 

It is thrilling to have someone else give videoetry a try and I look forward to more from her in the future!  (Got that , Eva?!)

Ciao for now!
Mel

MY Romance

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today, I am featuring a videoetry about love, of course.  It all started when I was driving last week with a printed photo on the dash of my car.  I noticed a reflection in the window with two people kissing and a sunset view of the road in the background. I stopped the car immediately and took a picture.

Knowing Valentine's Day was just around the corner, I decided to create a videoetry about my romance using scenery around our home. Remember, I feel blessed to have a poetic hubby! Happy Valentine's Day!

http://www.youtube.com/user/Videoetry?feature=mhum#p/u/6/ItryixCX3Jo

Ciao for now!
Mel

Mother Nature's Kiss

TGIF, Everyone!

Today, I want to highlight one of the first videoetries I placed on my YouTube channel.  It is called "Mother Nature's Kiss" and I wrote it in honor of a beautiful cliff at Yosemite National Park.  The image caused me to quickly pull the car over and walk back down the road to catch the perfect shot.

The sun created a shadow on the rock face (literally) that looked like lips.  I thought of how it could be Mother Nature herself kissing all of us, the spellbound tourists.  Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/user/Videoetry#p/u/3/CteOxgd6OfM

Mel

Rules of Videoetry

Hello!

I have created this site to highlight some of my own works (poetry, photography and videography), but really would love to have others share their talents here as well.  If you have created (or wish to create) a Youtube channel devoted to videoetry media and would like for me to showcase your work, comment and we can figure out how to do it.  (I'm thinking to highlight your channel in my sidebar.)

One must have guidelines for these things.  One that was brought to my attention by the fine folks at Youtube is that you cannot go over 30 seconds of a recorded song!  Took a little shaving off of the music in one of my videoetries to make them happy and me within the scope of the law.

Also, no one should submit pornographic images or vulgar language material.  A lot of things can be said cleanly! 

In this age of free self expression using the web, my goal is spread creativity all around. It makes the world a better place!  And this site will hopefully be a tool for videoetrophers everywhere!

Ciao for now!
Mel

Videoetry

Hello?  Is there anybody out there?

This is a new site devoted to those who wax poetic, love photography, and are willing to put two and two together into a video format. 

I became a videoetry person while creating a home movie of a trip my family and I took in the summer of 2010.  We went from Albuquerque, NM to San Francisco, CA over a period of two weeks.  That's a lot to pack in and my butt is probably permanently flattened from the extensive car ride.  Those who know me know that's a lot of butt!

Anyway, on our vacation, I wrote poetry about all the different things I saw while traveling.  My husband and son wrote some poetry as well.  When creating the home movie, I set trip photos to music and threw in some of the words that my family and I had written.  Hence, videoetry was born. (I actually woke up one morning thinking that word and that is what has inspired me to create this site and the Youtube video site I pull in for it.)

Now let's see if I can get one of the videoetries on here!

Ciao for now!

Mel the Videoetropher (Is that a word? - Nah!)