What is Namaste?

In most Western yogic classes you may hear the word "Namaste" used as a greeting or in the closing of the practice. In other traditions, Amrit Yoga for one, the greeting is "Jai Bhagwan." In the Kundalini yoga tradition, the saying is "Sat Nam." 

While the words may be interchangeable, the heartfelt expression defined below, is not:

Art Basel 2011: South Florida Photography & Ecology

If you're a fan of my Photography by Monica page on Facebook you may have seen that I was invited to show work at Art Basel this year! Everytime an oppotunity comes along I realize my gratitude and don't know where to begin thanking people. It's all connected in one way or the other. One opportunity connects to the next, but most recently I need to thank Brady Newbill for his generosity in extending me an introduction to Breven Angaelica Warren, the host of the Angaelica Show where my work will be displayed. (I met Brady through his brother Travis, whom I met through the New Times crew, and the thread of gratitude continues....)

If you have some time/interest, please take a moment to check out Angaelica.com, which is a non-profit eco-organization expressing socially conscious messages through and for the support of artists. Sounds perfect for me, right? (I thought so too.) Most importantly, if you're going to be amongst the festivities in Miami, try to make it to the show!

Hope to see you soon!

Show Dates: December 1st-4th
Address: 2060 NW 1st Ave, Miami FL 33127

October Highlights, 2011

What a month! Here are a few of the highlights & some of my personal favorites:

Stitch Rock slideshow.



Loved these rings! (If someone know who's pictured here I'd love to link to their shop...)


Lowell of Jinx Remover Prints


J.Cole at Ft Lauderdale's Revolution Live! New Times slideshow.


Arctic Monkeys and Smith Westerns (playing Revolution instead of  Langerado!!) New Times slideshow








Slideshow of Oktoberfest in Lantana.


Possibly the biggest fan of the chicken dance, ever!

They've either been drinking bottomless boots of beer or are just this happy to be out of the hour and a half wait for parking. Maybe both?



Legendary punk rocker, Keith Morris at the Culture Room! Here's a link to the New Times slideshow.








A couple of firsts...a first opportunity to cover a show for Beached Miami, as well as photograph at the historic Fillmore in Miami Beach. Please look at how my images turned out, as displayed by the beautiful presentation on Beached Miami's blog. Oh, almost forgot to mention that it was a little band called TV on the Radio!!

First 100 people or so out of the venue were given these free posters!

A personal image I took of Bruise Cruise co-captains , and Jonas Stein of Turbo Fruits flavor, and Michelle Cable of Panache Booking fame. Polaroid film is instant magic! Get some at the Impossible Project.


Moonshine cherries and a Polaroid pack cover at KISMET's Delray Beach Vintage Halloween party and sale.


For the Swarm666 (Hosted by Black Locust Society) I returned to Ft Lauderdale for a consecutive night (previous night caught up with friends at the Laser Wolf costume party) to find a well, swarm of people braving the less than ideal weather to reach the Black Locust Society's warehouse. Here's my slideshow from the Broward Palm Beach New Times.














RikoLus














Tranced by the great music at SWARM.













These guys really wanted their photo taken.

Swarm666-Continued:


















A shoutout to PUREHONEY for doing what they're doing. It's the newest way to get the word out about your band, shows, or business. Featuring a new artist every month as well as a free CD's worth of music. This was the first month I advertised with them and am extremely pleased!! Interested? Check out the buzz, HERE.

UP NEXT:
1. Looking forward to covering the Radio-Active Grand Re-opening on Saturday, November 5th.

2. A chance to WIN a free photo session in my studio!! In connection with a Holiday shopping party I'm giving everyone a chancce to win. Simply "Like" my Photography by Monica page on Facebook, go to the party page HERE to comment that you want to win! Winner annouced on Sunday the 6th.

3. PLUS I'm showing some work and going to be guiding a meditation at the "Oneness" event at the Bubble in Ft Lauderdale on 11.11.11.
You can RSVP to the event by clicking the flier below. Meditating bunny image is the genius of artist/photographer Sean Murdock who will be exhibiting at the event as well.

A Harvest Wedding: Devin and Kate in Michigan!

You may remember I had the amazing opportunity a month ago to visit my homestate for vacation, but more importantly, I was there to photograph a lifelong friend's wedding. It was so refreshing to get back to the crisp cool air and the warm friendly mid-western dispostions. The trees were bearing their fall colors and the wedding took place in the perfect location at a rustic barn near Brooklyn, Michigan. There's so much I could say about the generosity and thoughtfulness of all of the people involved in this event, but I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. :) Enjoy!





The morning was beautiful but the cloud cover looked like there might be rain...luckily it cleared up!



The guys show up in style. Love it!!



The beautiful bride, Kate.





A mother and her daughter.

Invitations/Programs by Lindsay Pavey




The "survivors." Last photo of the night :)

THANK YOU Kate and Devin for allowing me to make many photographs of your day. It was very special!

These are just a few of my favorites. Here's the link to the full proof album if you're curious about all the details from Kate and Devin's special day.

Last Wedding of the Summer: Mary and Sean SNEAK PEEK!

Cape Cod has always been an amazing destination for generations of families who enjoy the traditions of the freshest seafood, blue hydrangeas, and beautiful seascape scenery. Recently I had the opportunity to capture this in celebration of Mary and Sean's wedding. Mary was one of my bridesmaids last year, so being a part of her special day was truly an honor!  I hope you enjoy some of these images from my trek up to "The Cape" to photograph my last Summer wedding of 2011. CONGRATULATIONS Mary and Sean!!


The bridesmaids and one very lucky photographer (me!) enjoyed a relaxing massage the day before the "big day." Look at this view!! Thank you Mary for such an amazing gift!



1. Hydrangeas! 2. Gluten-free wedding cake. Mmmm, I had the lemon flavor! 3. Custom welcome baskets for each guest including (of course) Cape Cod potato chips! 4. Eastham/Orleans landmark



An intimate bay side beach wedding on a picture perfect day!


The beautiful bride.


Sean and Mary.


"Just Mary'd"



HAPPY WEDDING!

Girls Night In: Fancy Party

I've never been the wine connoisseur but I'm open to learning. I'm very knowledgeable about teas, and have always been curious about learning the different flavors of wine but haven't really taken the time...yet! A friend, Amanda, had the brilliant idea to have a "fancy party" which entailed a few of us girls getting dressed all fancy and bringing a fancy bottle of wine that we've always been interested in trying, with some fancy hors d'oeuvres, of course! We're thinking of making this a monthly event. With food like this, why not?


UPDATE: A friend on facebook just referred me to her website, gulpclub.com. Wow! I had no idea about here expertise on this subject. If you are wanting to explore more into the world of wine and perfect taste pairings visit Coreen's website. I'm happy to know I have such a resource at hand. Maybe she'll make a special appearance at our next fancy party!

South Florida Live Music: John and John at the Speakeasy

It's been awhile since I've posted and I've got so much to share! Does anyone ever feel like they're so busy that just by waking up in the morning they're running late? Luckily I have yoga and a meditation practice to keep things in focus. Speaking of meditation, there's an event slated to happen on October 11th (11.11.11)  at the Bubble in Ft Lauderdale that I was invited to participate in. I'll be exhibiting some artwork and leading a guided meditation or two throughout the event. More details to come...

Last night was a great show for live music at the Speakeasy in Lake Worth. It was my first time there and as always Reed Fischer, of the Broward Palm Beach New Times, adequately summed up the the very eventful evening.Here's my pictorial commentary:

John Ralston attempts to rock his own face off.

Twinsies!


John, Dan Bonebrake (bass), and Jeff Snow (drums).

Jesse Dalton receiving applause for his drumming and memorization skills.

Jonathan Wilkins providing the tunes between sets.


Dan Bonebrake attacking his guitar.

Chris Horgan appreciates all fans. Here he plays for some ants walking across the stage...

An unkown person reads a sweet paper...

David Vanderslice begins his set. Wow, look at that rembrandt lighting! My instructor at the Art Institute of Ft Lauderdale, Mr. Sheffield, would be proud.
ET audition?
Then John invited this guy onstage....
...to PROPOSE to his girlfriend!

She said "yes!"
Luckily there was a photographer to capture the moment! :)
John invited them to dance while he played his next tune
in celebration.

And they all jammed together happily ever after.

The End.


For more images from the night, visit my flickr page.