Let Lonnie's Light Shine on Dec. 14th at 7PM

Scenes from Lonnie's world:

Quickly loved by all he met

Surrounded by the children he loved to make silly faces with

On a lion walk with Ellyn on his first trip to Zambia

He even made friends on the side of the road...

...and with the kids, too

With Ellyn in Zambia

In front of the temple at Abu Simbel built by Ramses II

Ready to roll....

He made friends everywhere he went

He'd make friends before hitting the check out location, too

The proverbial "selfie with feet" pic from his various travels

He loved the incredible skies of Africa

Invite to Lonnie Henderson's Family and Friends across the globe to light a candle in memory of him on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at 7PM (whenever that reaches your time zone). Leave the candle lit for one hour. This will create a "wave" of light across the world. This will also be the 2 month anniversary of his death.

This is part of the annual World Wide Candle Lighting event sponsored by Compassionate Friends, a self help group for families who have children who have died too soon -- "that their light may always shine." Help to make Lonnie's light shine in a special way on this day and time!

First Day of the Dead Since My Son Left Us

Twelve days ago, we buried my son, Rulon "Lonnie" Henderson. His smile was legendary as was his kindness to strangers as much as to friends. Nineteen days ago, he left us for his new work elsewhere in the Universe.

These nineteen days have been the most difficult of my life so I deeply want to thank all of you who have made Lonnie's passing a bit easier by the incredible outpouring of your love and support. Mostly I am still speechless though some of you know that photography is my hobby -- one that Lonnie fully encouraged. 

From the moment I fell to the ground when the State Trooper gave me the horrible news, I became incapable of making even an acceptable snap shot -- nor did I have any desire to do even that much. But my granddaughter will need memories of this time when her family gathered around her to lift her up in her pain and her silent wondering about how such a thing could even happen to the uncle she loved so much -- so I had to try.

Then, while visiting Lonnie's grave the afternoon of Halloween, I felt that familiar urge to make a picture. Not that I had brought a camera for such a visit mind you! Then I realized that I DID have the iPhone Lonnie had encouraged me to purchased and I hesitantly took it out of my pocket. At first, I just took a picture from a distance, but that style of photography is not my usual one so I moved in closer for the photo above.

Earlier in the week, my granddaughter Justice had visited Lonnie's grave with his partner Ellyn. Together they brought flowers, but Justice also wanted to place a crayon with her Uncle Lonnie. Suddenly, that little crayon grabbed my interest and this photo was made:

For those of you who may have some Christian feeling, this photo -- which contrasts life and death -- may bring you some comfort:

Feel free to download any of these files for use on your digital media. They are not correct for printing though.

Justice is having a show!

Just wanted you all to know that my 7 year old granddaughter is having an art show, together with her teacher, Devon Lawless. It is being held at the Lily Pad Gallery on North St. in Willimantic, CT during the month of September. An artist reception is planned for Thursday, Sept. 11th from 5-7. Come on down if you possibly can! If not, add a comment below so I can share it with Justice and Devon, OK?

At 10 o'clock on the flyer is Justice's "Flying Cat in a Sack with Sixteen Wings." At 6 o'clock is her second attempt at drawing her ballet shoe from life. The exhibit includes three versions of the shoe. "Touch and Go" by Devon is at 2 o'clock. You certainly won't be disappointed by the work of these two ladies so come on down while you can!

Because Justice loves to draw, I sought out an art teacher who would be sensitive to the fact that Justice's mother is in jail for a couple of years -- someone who could help her process her feelings about this significant loss in her life. Devon Lawless, whose own Mom passed a couple of years ago, has taken Justice under her artistic wing and provided multiple opportunities for Justice to experiment and explore with a wide variety of media including watercolors, watercolor pencils, acrylic, crayon, colored pencils and more. Sometimes they work from imagination, and sometimes from life or even with tracing paper. Together they have developed a special bond.

Inaugural Exhibit Now at Lebanon Art Gallery in Connecticut

Several of my photos are currently on display at the new Lebanon Art Gallery which is being operated by over 30 involved artists on the property of Sandra Samolis. Open from Noon to 6PM Fridays through Sundays, this exhibit features over 70 different works that include a broad variety of media -- from oils, acrylics, watercolors, to woodturning and welding. Works will be on display until July 27th with a new exhibit beginning August 8th.

For this show I decided to stay with a water theme. SO, in addition to seeing my popular "Boat Reflection," you will also see "Tide Water," "Rockland Harbor," and "Dusk at the Portland Headlight." Online is a great way to view these images, but nothing beats "seeing them in the flesh." Stop by 927 Trumbull Hwy (Rt. 87 just south of the Lebanon Green) to see for yourself.

Tide water

Rockland Harbor

Dusk at the Headlight

To view my some of my other work, click here.

Visit my sales fulfillment site for a small selection of my work, complete with mats and your choice of frame, by clicking here.

My Photo Receives Award

My "Post Storm Sunset" photo received a Special Recognition Award in the Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery's June 2014 competition and resulting art exhibition called "Landscapes."  The gallery received submissions during the month of May from 18 different countries from around the world. They also received entries from 36 different states. Overall, there were 587 entries which were judged for this art competition. 

This image is available for sale as either a small, medium or large print with the large size measuring 12x18 inches on 13x19 paper. Contact me at jeanhenderson5@gmail.com. Or, view my other works at jeanhenderson.zenfolio.com.

Weeping Cherry in Spring

Washington, DC has its Cherry Festival in April, but here in Southern New England, the weeping cherry trees seldom bloom until May. 

Last year marked the first time I had made the up close and personal acquaintance with the weeping cherry as it bloomed in a neighbor's back yard. My hurried photographic efforts then showed my lack of familiarity with them -- so I showed the results to no one. But I began to notice that my town has cherry trees in a great many places.

This year I eagerly awaited the return of the cherry blossoms. Yesterday, just as the blooms were starting to "go by" in my neighbor's yard, I set out to try again before they disappear for another year. I am calling this single set of 4 images "Cherry Blossoms Leaving."

Cherry Blossoms Leaving

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In the next week or so, click here to view my other recent flower shots.

Spring Has Finally Sprung -- Again!

The crocus are up along the driveway at long last! Please vote for your favorite in the comments section below.

Windswept and Still

More of the Crew

Playing coy

The Square Ones

Remember to tell me which one of these you like best by adding a comment below. I'd really appreciate it!

PS: Sign up for my new e-newsletter for patrons, friends, and fans -- up in the right hand corner of this page. Premier issue will be going out soon! 

For more photos visit my viewing only website by clicking here

For selected images available for sale, click here

Looking at Willimantic via Fine Art America

Click here to purchase "Bridge Street Falls."

This falls is just upstream from the "Trestle Bridge on Mill Pond."

View from the new "Frog Bridge" that spans the Willimantic River today.
"Willimantic" is a Native American word meaning "Swiftwaters."

My Pigment Prints Now Available on Fine Art America

For the last several months, I have been pondering how best to extend my audience beyond my existing local market. Last night I reached a decision and have already acted on it. Each day I will post a photo to my site on Fine Art America. Once a total of 25 photos are posted, a rotation of additional ones will be uploaded. 

This decision has not been made lightly as I normally print each photo separately with love and care. My new course means that I am giving up control of the final print production (everything is 100% refund guaranteed by Fine Art America). OTOH, this allows patrons not only to purchase prints in sizes that I am not able to produce --which is anything larger than 12x18 inches -- but also to order photos on a variety of surfaces including canvas, acrylic, metal and/or greeting cards.

Still want me to do the printing? Contact me at jeanhenderson5@gmail.com so we can discuss the available options.

For my Fine Art America gallery and profile page, click here. 

Snow Day Blues

Jean's Facebook page

"Snow Day Blues"

First the Street plows came out, then the commercial plowers...

No neat nature photos seen from my windows, but some people are coming out at last while some of us are still dreaming...
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Summer in the Abstract

Winter permits extra time to take a second look at images captured during the busier shooting days of summer as well as to try some as yet unpracticed processing techniques. Here I present a few images shot with a consumer digital camera last June. Just some flowers found around Willimantic (which happens to have a very active and generous-to-the-community Garden Club!). I use my consumer model camera as a sketch book of sorts. The processing of these photos might also be considered to be sketches of a technique I plan to use more of in the future. Enjoy this breath of summer in the abstract with back and white images processed with the wet darkroom technique of selenium toning -- but all done digitally.

 
Feel free to shoot me an email at jeanhenderson5@gmail.com if you
would like further processing information.  




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