Miracles

One more finished. I really love how this one turned out. i pictured the Declaration Of Independence glowing...to represent Divine Guidance on the creation of it. I know you are wondering "how did you do that?" Really I don't know. I get in this zone when i am creating...recently I was told that it is the "R ZONE" meaning that you are totally in the Right side of your brain and that when you are in that zone you are lifted into a spiritual creative zone and your art comes together and you have no idea how to explain it when others ask. That is exactly what happened with this. In fact that is what happened when I first was figuring out how to do the photo shopping for Christ's scars on his hands when I first started. Every time I did it after that I was in that same zone...but with doing so many times..."the how" i did it stuck. So that I know now.

stage 3 (final)



Stage 2



Stage 1

I really love how this has an "OLD WORLD" Painter feel to it. The cool thing is with my shots like this...when you put the print in a room with low lighting the contrast give the illusion that the print is really glowing.

Now this next image is one that I did originally for my first collection. I just never finished it cause I wasn't sure how I wanted to finish it. There are still a couple of things I want to improve upon...which Im sure when I do Im sure no one but me will notice. "The ultimate curse of the artist" :)



This one is call "One at a Time"

There ended up not being much difference from the original. I added a sketch/pencil look around the edges so it was like going from a drawing to real life. It is not showing as strongly as I would like so I will end up adding to it more and having the sketched part show more toward the inside of the photo, but for now it works.

I am coming back from the dead. I apologize for not being on for so long. Balancing everything the last couple of months has been quiet the challenge. I have a great feeling that we will be getting back on track here. As part of this "new leaf turning over". I am turning my blog into an "On-line Art Studio" As I am creating new works of art I will be uploading the fine art photo as I go/or upload it in stage step of the progress of the photo. I am already in the process of the 2nd stage of "Captured Miracles" collections. This next collection theme is "God... The Foundation Of Our Nation" Fine art photos Depicting founding fathers, and other important historical figures and moments in history with "The Hand of God" as a part of the image. The first Images that I will upload are from my shoot a couple of week ago. 1st work of art Abigail Adams with letters from John "Letters of Faith" or "A Women of Faith" (open to suggestions) Sarah my model, was wonderful to work with. She actually plays the role of Abigail Adams in schools around the state and tells the children about Abigail and John and the important role they played in our country. Abigail has always had a special place in my heart. She is a woman of strength, head for politics and business. Loving mother and wife. Wow, what faith she had in the Lord and her husband. She spent most of her marriage separated from her husband, as he was out fighting for our freedoms in more then one way. She was home alone with her children and many  times not even knowing if John was still alive...she sacrificed so much for all of us to be free. John Adams was one of the few "Founding Fathers" to actually come back to a thriving business...all because of his wife. All the other founding fathers lost practically everything. Raw shot stage 1 Stage 2 the final Image...I still need to photoshop window panes in the window and also the scar on Christ's Hands and feet. 2nd work of art Thomas Jefferson writing the Declaration of Independence No title yet (open to suggestions) Weston is playing a young 27 year old Thomas Jefferson. The story that goes with this shot is... Thomas Jefferson spent about 2 weeks in his hotel room writing 2 paragraphs for the Declaration of Independence. When he would get stumped on what to write..."writers block" he would pull out his violin and play to get his creative juices flowing. In this shot there is still much to do, I need to photoshop the rough draft of the Declaration Of Independence so that it GLOWS, to represent the divine intervention that was a part of its creation. This first shot is a raw shot, in fact you can see my assistant Sarah in the background and the light tripod. I wasn't planning on shooting at this angel...but when I did it just fit so well. So I ended up going with it and photo shopped out the images in the dark background. stage 1 image One of the things I love about putting my projects together is how it all comes together. This shot, I knew I needed a 27 yr old young man, with sharp features, and blond to strawberry blond....long hair. (to pull back into a low pony) We were literally 2 days from the shoot and still hadn't found my model yet. I was toying with the idea of using a wig...but really didn't want to. I was afraid it would look fake. A couple of nights before the shoot, I was at a wedding and boom...right in front of my eyes was my Thomas Jefferson. (the brother of the groom) Most of my shoots always come together like that. I am literally divinely led to all the elements I need, including models. Stage 2 image (still need to touch up some spots) 3rd work of art Patrick Henry and his famous speach "Give me LIberty or give me death" No title yet (open to suggestions) Dr. Lance Hurly is a professional re-enactor of Patrick Henry. He is also the founder of "Founding Fathers Ministry" I emailed him after finding his site on-line and asked if he would be interested in working on this project. He is living in TX and just happened to have a re enactment job he was flying to AZ for the following saturday. So we pulled these three shoots together in 5 days, so we could have him in it as Patrick Henry. I love this shot, the wind came up out of nowhere and blew his coat tails up. I will be photo shopping in the inside of a church and have it slowly transform into the heavens above him. We will be getting the Church shot in the next couple of weeks. I am excited to finish this one. In the 5 days I had to pull all these elements together the Lord led me every step of the way. I was led to these wonderful actors that had the costumes and two amazing men, Bill Norton ( lecture for National Center for Consitutional Studies...he has been my historian in ideas and making sure we had historically correct info and items ...all the way down to the shirt Thomas Jefferson was wearing. Don Jolley and Historical artist was so key in helping with props and stage setting for the shoot. Wonderful wonderful men. Thank you both. ...oh and I can't forget Don's wife. She is and expert in the writing the print from that time period...She donated her time and talents and hand wrote and copied exactly the hand writing for both the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and Johns letters to Abigail. They were so amazing even Bill was impressed with the exactness of the draft and letters.

Wow, I can't believe how much time has gone by since my last entry. Days have been so packed with all that needs to get done. Here I am about to start another BIG project to add to it. That is ok, it is worth all the work. I am doing a shoot of a young Thomas Jefferson on saturday. I am still in the looking zone of the actor to play this part. So if you know anyone that fits this description and looks like his picture...PLEASE send him my way. You can email the photo and contact info to my email at helen@bounceproduction.com.

Tall and skinny. 6'2", blonde/reddish hair. Long enough to pull back into a pony or atleast long enough to fake it to look like it is pulled back...if the he looks like Thomas Jefferson in the face...then if we need to use a wig we will, but we are trying to avoid that if possible. We are doing the shoot this saturday, at 10 am in Mesa, AZ.

thanks
Helen

I know what I am to write about, is a touchy subject.  There will be those out there that would not agree with me. I respect that. I feel I must "Make My Voice Heard" on this subject. I am not sure how many of you out there have heard about the FOCA(Freedom of Choice Act) Bill. Whether you are pro-life or pro-choice it is a bill that is so radical that if passed will take freedoms away from all American no matter what their views are.

This past weekend I decided that I would like to do more to make a difference, besides the film clip that we put together (further down in this post)
Heaven's Gift is a shot I took of my little boy when he was 2 hours old( I did a home birth, that's how I was able to get this shot so soon after) At the time I took it I didn't understand the reason why I needed to do it so close to his birth. I just knew it needed to be done. Now I know. To show LIFE, it was not long ago that he was alive in my tummy as well as outside of it. If you look closely you can still see his umbilical cord is still on him.
This is a poem I wrote for the film. I am also going to have a "Life" version of "Heaven's Gift" print with this poem on it. Any Heaven's Gift Print sold with or without the print. I will be donating to a Family and or Life organization. (I am still in the process of selecting the foundation it will go too.)

with out poem


with poem


Heaven's Gift
I've been given a special gift
I choose to use with care
I choose to make a difference,
stand for truth and be aware

I choose to love and be loved
I choose to serve and to give
I choose to be and become
most important I choose to live

no matter my age, race or circumstance
cause right now I am to small and unable  
I pray you know I want a chance,
to show that i am able

My choice is to have a chance
A chance that I may start my life
My faith is in you to stand up for truth
and choose to save my life

A Chance to love and be loved
A chance to serve and to give
A chance to be and become
most important I want a chance to live
     by Helen Thomas Robson ©2009


I will never forget the moment that I found out about the purpose of FOCA, and what partial birth abortion was. Last month I was standing in line at the store buying diapers, talking to my aunt on the phone about it. When she explained what partial birth abortion was, I literally started to cry in line. My heart and soul where so deeply hurt to think that a person could do something like this to another...person...a baby. When I found out about all of this I was so mad, I felt there was nothing I could do to stop it. And the people with the "power" were going to do what they wanted. My aunt encourage me to do a film clip on it and share my findings. I told my friend Rachel that we had to do something about it and not just sit there. She and 3 other friends and over the last 3 weeks have been compiling information and research we have personally done on the internet and in talking with local experts on understanding the FOCA bill better. (The language and what it means.) We put the film clip together with the purpose of educating and encouraging others to do their own research and figure out what they believe, and then take action and stand up for it. This experience opened my eyes so much on understanding what I believe and why. Also the power of one. In sharing my passion to fight this, I am amazed at how others got passionate about doing their own research and taking action. So many wanted to be a part of the film, as well sending emails, putting posts on blogs etc. It has shown me the power of one, that it can spread to 10 then to 100's then millions.

We tried to find out when the bill will be going to the floor, but the closest information we got was a guess that they might try to get it in as soon as Obamba is put into office and the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade(which I believe is Jan 22 or 23)....point being SOON.
SO we were up all night last night finishing the film clips so we can post them on youtube today It's called "Make Your Voice Heard". There was so much information to share and tons we couldn't put. When we were done I realized that we didn't go in depth on the partial birth abortion and the Born Alive Infant Protection Act like I wanted too. (that will be wiped out if FOCA Passes, This act protects babies that survive other forms of abortion and are born alive. So that they are given medical help instead of being left to slowly die , on a counter, without medical help. yes amazingly babies are dying this way every day in america)

LINK TO OUR FILM CLIP, click here... "Make Your Voice Heard" video or here http://www.youtube.com/user/FightingFOCA

You can make your voice heard by going to :
Time is ticking so please act now!
www.senate.gov to find your rep and send a message
www.house.gov to read the bill and send a message to your congressman
www.change.gov to send a message to Pres. Obama asking him to not sign the bill.
www.fightfoca.com to sign the petition and read the bill for yourself (right hand side, center of the page for the link)

Some very important information...

Even if we win the battle of stopping FOCA, the war will still wage on. The Obama Administration, and the liberal Congress will push through piece by piece of the pro-abortion agenda. We need to help protect lives and the future of the family.

What happens if a bill does not pass. They (meaning those pushing the bill) will take different parts of what they want from the bill and put/hide it in other bills, and disguising it with fancy language. With the goal of piece by piece, still being able to get the laws in place that they want. We can still stop this....

What we all need to do is stay updated with different bills, an EASY way to do this is by regularly checking with, and subscribing to newsletters of 3 organizations. Their job is to watch for acts that effect families like this and inform us so that we can act and stop these bills from passing.
www.unitedfamilies.org United Families International
www.cwfa.org Concerned Women for America
www.nrlc.org National Right to Life

God Bless You
Helen Robson

Please Pass this on to friends and family to help spread the word

I am so excited we have officially announced our Opening Weekend Exhibit for Captured Miracles.
After all the hard work and vision of this project we are doing our first fund raising exhibit.
The exhibit is being done for Arizona Safe Baby Haven and Nie Recovery Fund (for Christian and Stephanie Nielson's children)

I would like to invite everyone to come the first night and as well as all that participated in the shooting the collection, to come the 1st night. (Thursday the 11th, speaking program at exhibit starts at 6pm) (you are welcome to come any of the nights night)


You are welcome to come for the exhibit which is free and we will be selling the prints to raise funds for charity. (Great Christmas Presents)
We also invite you to buy a ticket and stay for the Rockin' R Ranch Christmas Show as well. It will help in our fund raising efforts and I highly recommend it...it is awesome show that the whole family will love.

\When purchasing tickets be sure to specify which foundation you would like it to go to.
Nie Recovery or Arizona Safe Baby Haven.


************************************


Bring your family and share in the spirit of Christmas!!!

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday DECEMBER 11th, 12th and 13th
Rockin R Ranch and Captured Miracles
have come together to bring you a night full of Christmas Fun and the Spirit of Giving.

Rockin R Ranch Christmas Dinner Show ticket
proceeds go to to Nie Recovery and Arizona Safe Baby Haven
• All you can eat BBQ beef or chicken dinner
Tickets are $28 for adults and $18 for children (3yrs to 18yrs old) children under 2 eat free

Also, First art showing ever of the "Captured Miracles", a Inspirational Fine Art Photography Collection,
these images depict Christ interacting with modern day children in real life situations.
• Free and open to the public at the Rockin R Ranch in the Ponderosa building.
• Print sale proceeds will be donated to Nie Recovery and Arizona Safe Baby Haven.


Schedule for All 3 Nights

You can attend any of the three nights, just make sure that you say what foundation you want your proceeds to go too.
AZSafe Baby Haven will have a special program on Thursday night at 6pm
Nie Recovery will have their special program on Friday night at 6pm

5pm Art Exhibit starts
6pm artist Helen Thomas Robson will be speaking and special program for foundation
10pm art exhibit closes

5:30pm Ranch opens  with free wagon rides, gold panning and shops
6:30pm Dinner theater opens
9pm Show ends with a comedy gun fight to wrap the night up

You are welcome to come to one or both events at the ranch

Rockin' R Ranch
6136 East Baseline Rd, Mesa, AZ 85206 (on Baseline Between Power and Higley)
Call 480-832-1539
Reservations are required for dinner and you can purchase your dinner show tickets in advance, by phone.
 (please specify that you are coming to support Nie Recovery or Arizona Safe Baby Haven so it can go to the right foundation)

This is one of my favorites from the collection. Some of the shots from the collection came together during the shoot (i just knew the subject matter of what I wanted) and others where in my head, with every detail, for weeks to months before they were shot. This is one of those. I saw this in my head and knew it was one that needed to be in the collection.

I love the fact that we, as the viewer, are looking through the door into the child's bedroom, catching a peek of such a tender, loving  moment.

I wanted someone to look at it and see how it fit with them as a child...or even a child now.

It can represent a large spectrum of situations where a child is afraid....from nightmares and boogie monsters in the closet, to parents fighting in the next room and abuse. Two little ones huddle together to comfort one another and Christ right there with his arms wrapped around them...

I recently had a friend that told me  the photos from the collection reminded her of Christ holding her before, during and after the abuse she received as a child. That these images bring her so much comfort, even as an adult when she experiences flash backs. This is for her and all of God's children that have ever been afraid. Know that you are not alone... "Be Ye Not Afraid".... He is with you.

xoxo Helen


Which cropping do you like best?
Keep in mind that when the images are printed you will be able to see the children and Christ in better detail. Knowing that, which do you think looks the best? Please leave your comments on which one and why.

This morning I got my first "hate comment" about Captured Miracles. Saying that I am "tacky and irreverent for posing someone in Christ's robes". Truthfully it literally hurt my heart that someone took something that I have put so much prayer, thought, time and love into, as something I would do against my Savior. I do not hold anything against them, that is how she or he feels and they are passionate about it enough to say how they feel. I respect that they are standing up for our Lord Jesus Christ and for what they feel is right.  I am sorry to that individual for offending them and anyone else that feels the same. Please believe me when I say that is the last thing I would ever want to do and I hope that they see that, and understand my true intent and know that my heart is in the right place. I want so badly for children to know that Christ is real and that he loves them and that they are not alone. I felt that portraying him through "photography" would help impact children more strongly of that message and make it more real to them. That through prayer he can be right by their side.  When I first started this project, in the beginning I was a little uneasy about shooting Christ and portraying him in modern day settings. I was not sure how people would take it. Would they accept "Photos of Christ"? Would they be offended or would they feel the spirit in which it was shot and see that all intents are for worthy purposes of helping and serving others, bringing the spirit of the Lord into our homes through art. Something that is so badly needed with the amount of negative that penetrates our homes and children through media and environments that surround them in every day settings. I wanted to create something that even if it was in a small way would help us fight back and have some kind of part in uniting us all as Christians. Focusing on what we have in common in our beliefs and not our differences. In order to make a difference in this day and age, that is what is most important, our united belief in our Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. It will take all of us putting aside our differences and coming together to stand for righteousness to truly make a difference, I pray that I can always do my best to be a part of that.
xoxo helen

Well the date has been set. Prints will be ready for purchase Thanks Giving weekend. Wow, it is so nice to have that set. The last couple of days I have been on the phone with my printer and web guy, going over the last few things we need to have done before we can have them ready to sell. It took me so much longer to get this done then I planned. I am still getting use to the kind of time one has in the life of a wife and mother. You know back in the day when I was single, 29... 30 yrs old.... wow I could get a lot done in a short amount of time...It wasn't that long ago... only 3 yrs ago. This whole project would of taken me 2 months tops.  But it has taken me 8 months from the shoot. A year if you count the preplanning. I have to keep reminding myself that I was 6 months pregnant when I did the shoots, and had a baby, took care of a newborn and two year old, and have been getting all of Captured Miracles done, plus other responcibilities done that come with life. I have to remind myself with all of that and more, 8 months isn't to bad.

Today I got some pretty exciting calls about different companies that are excited to up wtih us to do some exhibits. I can't say anything yet, it is still in the works, but it amazes me how things are falling into place. It is a constant reminder to me of the Lord's hand in all of this. I can't wait to tell you what is coming on with all of this. When it is finalized I will spill my guts, but of course until then, I will have to leave you in suspense.

I do need a little help out there with some things. Right now I am in the process of looking for a company, church...which ever to donate the use of a facility for gallery exhibits during the holidays in the Arizona and Utah areas. This is cutting it close with christmas around the corner...but we had to make sure the photos were ready to go before we planned anything. If you have or know of a place that they would be willing to donate the space for a couple of days during the holidays let me know. These exhibits will go to helping Arizona Safe Baby Haven. They are in great need of assistance in getting new material out and establishing the Arizona Chapter. If you have any leads contact me through the site.

well, it is late, Im beat...this is the only time I get to work on stuff is late at night and I am starting to fall asleep. So I am outy
xoxo helz

Well the "E's" have it. I Got several comments on and off line saying they liked E best...actually that was the one that I kept getting drawn back too. Here is the final on it.



I finished "I AM",  I do have to say this is one of my favorites. I added some garbage in the shot. It was kind of a funny situation. My In-Law own a dinner show theater called the "Rockin' R Ranch" They were open this weekend so I had lots of garbage I could rumage through. Im sure the empolyees were thinking..."what the heck!!" Im sure they were, they were giving me the strangest looks. If you can picture me with a camera hanging around my neck and I am digging in the garbage for so "Good Peices" of garbage. Setting it up on the ground, taking a couple of shots...then walking over and digging for more that would work in the shot.  But it was worth it, look how much better the shot looks. It reads so much better now, that the baby is being pulled out of the trash. So many times people would look at the shot and not get it. Now they do. I love this shot cause it symbolizes so much more then representing "Baby Safe Haven Foundations". I'm sure many of us at times feel like we are being "re-born" in a way, as Christ pulls us out of the deep, dark, yucky, garbage. 

here is the before with out the garbage and scars on the hands


After




I am also in the process of getting the final shots to the printer. They are in the process of collaborating  (sp?) my files with their printers so that the colors are right. The only problem is that as I pull up each shot I find something that I want to fix or change. So don't be surprised if you see a couple of photos that look different then you have seen before. Here is one of them.

"The Masters Touch" I just love the old weathered look

Before

After