Claudia Curici Photography
Exploring my passion for photography
Hart Window. Dallas Museum of Art.
I’ve always been fascinated by window displays and this one, created by American Artist Dale Chihuli and donated to the Dallas Museum of Art by Linda and Mitch Hart (hence the name, ‘Hart Window’), didn’t disappoint. I was there to see the Irving Penn photography exhibition which, if you happen to be in Dallas these days, is a must see. This is also one of the rare occasions when I used the 18-55mm kit lens I got with my Fujifilm X-T1.
Sometimes I find myself wondering about the role of art, or the role of any creative endeavor, and often I wonder if mine has any purpose, but I think art (seeing it, or creating it) makes one aspire to be more beautiful, more harmonious, more peaceful, more thoughtful. ❤
Thoughts about Dallas. The Traveling Man.
It’s been almost one year since I moved to Dallas, Texas, and I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I feel about the place. Actually to be more exact, I love Dallas and Texas a lot, but I was trying to understand why. We got many warnings even before we moved: ‘the place is special’ (they didn’t always meant it in a good way), ‘is a different country (compared with the rest of the US)’, raised eyebrows and ‘hmmmm’-s, comments about politics or rednecks-ness. Thank God I’m the kind of person who likes to take her own conclusions about a place and both me and my husband are open to new experiences. I loved Dallas from the moment we put foot on the land – there is something about the air, energy of a place that gives one a good or not that good feeling when they first experience it. For us it was love at first sight. The greens, the blues, the oranges, the smell of rain, the chilled vibes, the friendly people, always smiling strangers, excellent service, a certain type of “American West” romanticism, people’s love for their home or adoptive town or state. No city is perfect and there will always be negative things to mention if that’s what we are focused on, but for me there was something more than the total of positives and negatives that made me attached to this place.
“A real place feels like it belongs where it is” – this is something I read recently and it clicked with me. I feel Dallas is a real place, a place that belongs and that makes it easy for its residents to belong. We asked friends why they like Dallas and why they want to stay here. One of the most common answer is that Dallas is a place where you can still live the “American dream’. And I totally get what they say.
To me, there is something else. Is the SPACE. It’s breathable. It’s vast. The sky is big. And there is still a feeling that humans and nature share the space, harmoniously, without bothering each other.
I didn’t really plan this post, initially I wanted to share new pictures of The Traveling Man sculptural series by Brad Oldham, Brandon Oldenburg, and Reel FX Creative Studios. If the Pegasus (the flying red horse) is the symbol of old Dallas, The Traveling Man is the symbol of what Dallas is now and what it wants to become. Dallas and Texas will always have a special place in my heart.
The Traveling Man – Standing Tall. Deep Ellum Texas, Dallas
The Traveling Man – Standing Tall. Deep Ellum Texas, Dallas
The Traveling Man – Standing Tall. Deep Ellum Texas, Dallas
The Traveling Man – Waiting for a train. Deep Ellum Texas, Dallas
The Traveling Man – Waiting for a train. Deep Ellum Texas, Dallas
The Traveling Man – The Awakening. Deep Ellum Texas, Dallas
Encounters in Ennis. Horses.
While cruising through the Ennis countryside this past weekend, I noticed these beautiful horses on the side of the road, and although the light was not ideal (the sun was high up and in front of the camera), I had to take the best shots I could in the available conditions. The horses were so friendly, they seem happy to see me and they were coming towards me to pet them. I could’t (I have a fear of horses) but I talked to them and told them how beautiful they were 🙂
A selection of the images I made below, in the order they were taken, with my Fujifilm xT1 and the xf 56mm / 1.2 lens. I finished them with a VSCO Kodak Gold filter to give it a warmer and more romantic look (and a little bit of depth, since the light was quite flat).
The geography of identity
With May 1st here, it’s time to say goodbye to bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas. Today marked the Orthodox Easter, the first day of May, the day I saw bluebonnets for probably the last time this year. Horses, hawks, crisp green fields with wildflowers, big clear sky and Sam Abell. Solace, photography, beauty of nature. Currently reading ‘All the Wild that Remains’, by David Gessner. Humanity, directness, visual energy. Time. The geography of one’s identity. Grandma. ‘How could you not miss a place after living there for so long?’ I love Texas. I have to start journaling.
Graceful hawks
To start with, I’m not a connoisseur of wildlife, but I am curious and love nature and I’m trying to learn something new whenever an opportunity presents itself. During one of our stops in California, I saw two birds gliding smoothly and gracefully above us, and assumed they were hawks. While I was looking up some facts about hawks, I found out they could potentially be red-tail hawks, and these two I saw were probably mating (they were performing some kind of dance high in the sky and it was mid April). I wish I had a longer lens, but at the same time I kind of like the scale of the elements in these three images. The images were made with my Fujifilm xT1 and the xf 56mm, 1.2 lens.
Impressions, California flowers
“I must have flowers, always, and always.” – Claude Monet
Maybe it would be too much to say I am inspired by Impressionism, but I am certainly inspired by their awe for nature and especially flowers. California, which reminded me a lot of southern France, was one of the places in America where impressionism thrived.
For more California flowers check my previous post following my road trip on Pacific Highway 1, from Los Angeles to San Francisco: California daisies and poppies.
We are all in the same boat
“The sea, the great unifier, is man’s only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat.”
— Jacques Yves Cousteau, Oceanographer
#EarthDay2016 ❤
A balancing act
It was windy and cold while camping on this beach in Monterey, CA to watch the sunset, so windy I could barely hold the camera in my hands (hence I have no sharp picture of this sunset). Yet, this person was doing a balancing act on the rocks. The stone tower was standing strong despite the wind and waves, and so was the man. I keep wondering WHY he was doing this (it may not look in the picture, but it didn’t look safe at all). I have a feeling it was not about inner balance (I bet he already had that figured out), but a metaphor about harmony between man and nature.
California daisies and poppies
I am back from a road trip in California, on Highway 1, from Los Angeles to San Francisco, with stops in Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Cambria and Monterey. Until I organize my thoughts for a more rounded story, I wanted to share something colorful and happy – daisies and poppies captured on the side of the Pacific route. The entire trip was a feast for my eyes and can’t wait to share more. ❤
Dance, you are free
“Dance, when you’re broken open. Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off. Dance in the middle of the fighting. Dance in your blood. Dance when you’re perfectly free.” Rumi
Today is this beautiful soul’s birthday and I wanted to thank her for inspiring me every day. Happy birthday Maggie ❤
I’ve been inspired to do this photoshoot by two of the past WordPress photo challenges, Half-light and Dance.
Claudia Curici Photography 