Tell me a little about your background.

I have been photographing since I was a young child.  I began recording life’s events and slowly discovered the photographic beauty of nature.  Mostly self-taught, I became involved with the Cuyahoga Valley Photographic Society in the 1990’s.  Through this organization, I began taking intense workshops with the masters of nature photography—David Muench, Pat O’Hara, Craig Blacklock, David Middleton, Nancy Rotenberg, Rod Planck and others.  I was also fortunate to coordinate a workshop with Sam Abel, a National Geographic photographer.  Several years ago I also took a week long workshop at the Maine Photographic Workshops with National Geographic Traveler photo editor, Linda Meyyericks.

What do you love most about photography?

I love the creative process.  When I am out photographing, nothing else seems to matter.  All of my day-to-day worries and commitments fall away, and I become immersed in “seeing”.  With camera in hand, I look at a flower or tree or field more closely.  I wait patiently to observe the play of light on the subject.  My senses are heightened and I feel true joy in capturing what I feel on film.

What is your inspiration?

The natural world inspires me.  I am amazed at the colors, patterns, changes found in nature.  Fields, mountains, rivers, flowers, insects, clouds, trees, and rocks are the subjects that call me. 

What skills have you found to be essential for in your work?

One of the skills that I continue to develop is patience.  I’ve discovered that waiting is the key to great photographs.  Oftentimes it takes me a while out in the field to learn this skill once again.  I initially approach a subject in a hurried manner trying almost desperately to capture an image of what I am seeing.  After awhile, though, as I am surrounded by nature’s beauty, I learn to slow down, observe, wait for the light.  It is then that I capture some of my favorite images.

Do you have a favorite photograph or collection you would never sell?

Since I am able to make prints of my original slides, I suppose I could sell every image that I have taken.  There are a few of Christina’s house in Cushing, Maine, that I took several years ago that I love.  I feel I captured what Andrew Wyeth saw when he painted there.  These two photos hang in my living room and I will never be able to sell them since I signed a release saying that I would not sell them for profit.

As for favorite photographs, I have several.  My Water Lilies image is one of them.  I remember that morning so clearly photographing alone for four hours around a small pond on a picture perfect morning in Pemaquid, Maine.  Another favorite is of the Route 82 bridge over the Cuyahoga Valley.  That image represents several attempts at capturing the bridge, the fog, and the light.  Both of these images have become favorites with others as well and have sold successfully.

What is one place you wish you could travel that you’ve never been to in order photograph?

I want to go everywhere I’ve never been to photograph.  I have not found a single place in this world where I wouldn’t want to photograph.  Every place is special in its unique way.  Right now, I have some sort of draw to the Great Plains.  When Don, my partner and I, drove OutWest a few years ago, I fell in love with the grasses and sky in the Plains.  We will be traveling to Nebraska this fall and I look forward to trying to capture the movement, light, and expanse of the Plains.

You have a shop as well too.  What motivated you to open it and could you tell me more about it?

The Log Cabin Gallery began in 1999 when my good friend Cindy, a watercolor artist, came to Peninsula for a visit.  We opened the Cabin with her watercolors and my photographs for one weekend and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  From there, the Gallery evolved slowly beginning with friends and occasional shows to where we are today.  For more of the history of the Cabin, visit www.thelogcabingallery.com.  Today, we offer four seasonal exhibits with 25+ artists exhibiting during each show.  It’s a special place and difficult to describe.  I’d say a person just has to come visit to see what we are all about.

Where besides your shop might interested parties be able to view or purchase your work?

Throughout the year, I jury into shows and exhibit in a variety of venues.  My photographs are not at any gallery at this time other than The Log Cabin Gallery.  My photo notecards are available for sale in several shops in the area.  Since I work out of my home, anyone can contact me at anytime by emailing me or calling me.  I also have a website featuring some of my work.  www.dianeseskesphotography.com

What do you think the best aspects of the greater Cleveland/Akron arts scene are?

As I have become more involved in the “arts scene” in this area, I have discovered the energy and creativity that exists.  Just in the Valley surrounding Peninsula, there are enough artists and creative souls to keep all of the galleries in the Akron and Cleveland area filled.  Right here in our Northeast Ohio region, we have phenomenal talent.  I believe our challenge is in getting the word out there and developing a real pride in what we have to offer.

Is there anything lacking in the arts scene you would like to see more of?

There are two things I would like to see more of in the arts scene in this area—money and support.  In our present state, money is not as readily available for the arts as I believe it should be.  Creativity and self expression are key to the quality of life.  I wish to see funds available in schools, in business, in organizations that will support creativity in all areas.  As for support, I wish to see Northeastern Ohio residents take pride and promote local artists more.

Who are your favorite local or national artists?

Favorites?  There are so many!  My favorite local artists are all of the artists I have gotten to know.  Each individual has a unique view of the world and I feel enriched as I learn to see through new eyes. 

And of course since there is a silly question in all my interviews just for fun, here’s yours:

If  suddenly you sold a photograph for a million dollars, what would you do with the million?

I’d spend it within the blink of an eye!!!  First, I’d pay off all of my bills as well as my mother’s.  Then I’d take a year off and travel throughout the United States.  I’d purchase some new camera equipment, invest some of the money, and, hopefully, buy a small place or two with land in different environments—maybe a place in the mountains and one by the ocean.  I think that would pretty much take care of that million dollars!!!

I was just so excited to open my e-mail box today and discover that one of my jewelery pieces was featured on “See Pretty Things“, which is actually an award winning blog. Their editor featured my Seashore Swirls necklace. Considering it’s the high point of summer, I thought it was a nice choice, and one of my personal favorites.

I was looking through some links to my favorite jewelry designers today and as I was oohing and aahing, I felt I just needed to share with you some of the gorgeous one-of-a-kind handmade work that is available. For your viewing(and perhaps buying) enjoyment check out these links:

http://www.jeannius.com/
http://www.izamalczyk.com/en/gallery.html
Magdalenas Atelier
http://www.victoriavarga.com
Vintage Filigree
Sue Rosengard

Seriously, I LOVE the enamel work of Victoria Varga. You could have actually viewed her work in public recently at the Cain Park Arts Festival. Just check out this gorgeous bracelet! I don’t think I ever imagined resins could look so grown up!

There is such a unique and intricate collection at Vintage Filigree as well, with such rich colors and detailed designs! It reminds me of jewelry for royalty (without the royal price tag!)

I can’t believe I haven’t stumbled upon Arabella’s blog before, but in her blog (with the hilarious sub-title of “arty with a touch of gas”) she included a GREAT write-up of Cleveland area galleries, complete with many good photos. It’s an extremely well-written and helpful post so be sure to check her writing out @Arty Farty

Wow…that was fun! I was surprised at the level of excitement for Grandmaster Flash @ Ingenuity. Started off with tons of energy and the crowd was pumped. It definitely wasn’t groundbreaking in my opinion, but it was really fun to see people of all walks of life getting down to the same music and having fun. For a little over an hour, Cleveland was in sync just having a good time and all was well. More on this tomorrow. I have pictures and video. We’ll see how good they turned out

Photos on Flickr

I came across a link to this posting from Gallery U on Brewed Fresh Daily, and it sounded like a great event. From 6pm August 10 to 6pm August 11 the gallery will be presenting Mix: 24 hours of art. What I find really interesting is the improvisational nature of some of the work, as many pieces will be created during the one day festival. Read more about it at Gallery U Haul as it sounds dynamic in nature and really unique.

Awhile ago I wrote a blurb about the District of Design, those of you who were interested might want to check out a blog post by Erin of “BackTalk:The Blog”.   Her post,The Future “Milan of the Midwest”?
explains some of the discoveries she made concerning plans for the district at a recent City Club meeting. Check it out if you want to hear her take.

Did you know that Playhouse Square is the second largest performing arts center in North America with more than 1 million visitors a year?  This evening I was trying to explain this to my husband as he did not believe it until I started to emphatically try to bet him some major bucks it is so! I think sadly, that not enough Clevelanders may have stepped foot into the theaters to recognize why or how this could be.    A few decades ago we almost lost the historically and artistically significant gems, but the theaters were restored, and with the completion of the restoration of the Allen Theater just about ten years ago, the combination of the State, Palace, Ohio, Hanna and Allen theaters really do make Cleveland the home of the second largest performing arts districts in the entire country.  Not only that, we also get top-rate shows and are only second to New York city in terms of the number of productions a year.  If you have yet to ever check out these gorgeous theaters be sure to buy tickets for a performance soon.  You won’t be disappointed.

Before I forget, next weekend is the annual Waterloo Arts festival in Collinwood. It will take place this year on July 28th from 11:00-7:00 at North Waterloo and East 156th Street. The festival of course features art vendors, installations and exhibits as well as live performances. In addition there is the “rock and roll flea market”, food, childrens’ events and more. Of course of interest to this blog author is that the festival is practicing some “green” habits this year with bio-diesel generators, alternative energy demonstrations and (yum!) organic food vendors!

Learn more:http://www.artscollinwood.org

We wandered over to Ingenuity this evening and were rather surprised at the ease at which we found parking, and a little lost as far as where to go or what to do as there was a lot of activity, but no focal event that we could see. It was only later that we came to learn about the torrential downpour and heavy winds we missed which basically shut down the artists village for the evening, and postponed a lot of the out door activity. Fortunately with Playhouse Square being a host location there were several events going in successfully in the Idea Center, and the various theaters and lobbies as well as some open workspaces across the street on the other side of Euclid.

We luckily caught the Audio Ballerinas which I had been looking forward to seeing and the performance did not disappoint. With their sunglasses on and futuristic looking costumes they pack quite a visual punch. The fact that their costumes are also sound producing and interactive adds the auditory touch to their performance.

The gem of the evening, as evident by the constant crowds surrounding in attendance was “mindball” a game in which the participants actually control the ball with their brainwaves. Even better though is that unlike most energetic of adrenaline rush games of today, it’s the person who is most relaxed based on their brains alpha and theta waves that controls the ball! It was definitely a crowd favorite, and while it had to be rather complicated in engineering, it was simple in execution, and a brilliant idea.

We checked out a bit of the Troika Ranch performance, which would probably have been interesting in it’s entirety, but I think one definitely has to be into modern performance art to fully appreciate it.

There’s lots of little gems tucked away into nooks and crannies all along Euclid Avenue. The key is really to stop and watch, ask questions and to be careful not to just walk by something without stopping. It’s easy at first glance to dismiss some of the exhibits, but once you delve deeper into them while some still might not be of interest, many are fascinating. There’s even more scheduled for the weekend, and with sunshine being promised for the weekend I’d imagine there is less of a chance for Euclid Avenue to turn into a wind corridor again wrecking havoc anymore.