PHOTOGRAPHY
27 /
April 2012
What happens when you take two people, one cup of coffee and one camera? Recently while having coffee with a friend I offered that we take pictures of my cup of coffee using the same subject and camera.
One persons view
may be totally different from another persons view.
And both views are correct.
Both people are looking at the same object and have the same means to record what they see, but each will see it differently. Truth of the matter is that the difference is in perspective, and that perspective can come from completely different life experiences which creates our unique world view. The difference in perspective is what makes us unique and it’s what we can appreciate about each other. We are different and we might see things differently, but it’s appreciating and accepting those differences that makes us and our world better. Celebrate life by celebrating and accepting the differences!
24 /
April 2012
Cooks Pots and Table Tops had another great cooking class, bringing in The King Of Salt (my title!!), Mark Bitterman, the author of “SALTED, A MANIFESTO ON THE WORLDS MOST ESSENTIAL MINERAL, WITH RECIPES” and owner of The Meadow, a Salt, Chocolate, Drink and Flower shop in Portland,OR and the West Village in NYC.
Mark Bitterman, Selmier at The Meadow was a very knowledgeable and entertaining instructor. His knowledge of salt was amazing, only slightly less than his spot on impersonation of Julia Childs. It was worth the price of admission!!
The stand off between Keith Ellis of Cooks Pots and Table Tops and Mark Bitterman was brief and after light banter between them, the class was off and running. The first part of the class was focused on learning about salt, focusing on three foundation salts and three fun finishing salts. It was great to learn about the foundation salts and to appreciate the nuances between the different salts. FYI, Fleur de Sel is a great all purpose finishing salt Kauai Guava Smoked salt goes great on popcorn and vanilla ice cream!!
The second part of the class was the food demonstration, with Mark showing how to prep on both a cold and a heated Himalayan Salt Block. Keith prepped the salmon and had everyone suffering from knife envy when he pulled out his Shun Reserve knife and did the honors. To be honest I think his knife skills would have made a butter knife look good. The demonstration showed how easy it is to prepare and cook food on the Himalayan Salt Blocks
The first course was mozzarella and green apple on the cold salt block. It was amazing how quickly it soaked up the salt flavor and how easy it was to prepare a great starter.
Next we had fresh caught Chinook salmon, purchased at Newman’s Fish Market, cold cured on the salt block then served with fresh wassabi paste. I do have to put in a plug for Newman’s Fish Market here in Eugene, it is about as good as it gets. If you haven’t been there I highly recommend you stop and shop, they are friendly and knowledgeable, which makes for great shopping and great eats!!
The hot salt block demonstration was seared scallops, also purchased at Newman’s, and a flank steak sliced and seared. Like the salmon and the scallops from Newman’s, good meals begin with quality ingredients and Long’s Meat Market is as good on the turf as Newman’s is on the sea. Like my pitch for Newman’s, I have to highly recommend Long’s Meat Market for your quality meat products for quality meals.
The evening ended with a chocolate fondue cooked in a salt bowl … so decadent and so easy to prepare, life this good seems like it shouldn’t be this easy!!
Thank you Mark Bitterman, Salted, The Meadow, for an outstanding informational and entertaining class. You know the teaching is good when you can replicate the lesson and my salt block seared scallops were as good as I’ve ever prepared!
Thank you Kathy and Keith at Cooks Pots and Table Tops for providing another great class and thank you Rosa for the outstanding help in making the class go as well it is does. If you love cooking, love food or both, then I highly recommend taking a class at Cooks Pots and Table Tops. I can almost guarantee that you will not be disappointed!!
08 /
April 2012
Today was the first day of the 2012 Eugene Farmers Market/Saturday Market, the 43rd year, and you couldn’t have picked a nicer day. With mostly clear skies, no rain and very little wind, it was perfect weather to open the market season.
The Farmers Market/Saturday Market is as much a social event as it is a market event. Marking the end of Winter, it provides an opportunity to get out and shop, to see friends, make new friends and enjoy the comfort of familiarity of being a part of the community. Watching the stands being set up, getting my favorite treat ( a potato donut from Hideaway Bakery), checking out all of the current in season produce and of course seeing and hearing Eagle Park Slim was like comfort food for the soul. It’s a new season and life is good!
It was a great day for the opening offering familiar sights, smells and sounds … with familiar feelings.
I hope that many of you were able to attend the opening day and if you have never gone or have friends visiting from out of town, it is a Eugene experience not to miss!
Welcome back Farmers Market/Saturday Market!
Setting up, I enjoy the busyness before the Market opens.
Early Market is my favorite time, beating the rush and crush of the crowds.
Early shopping gets you the opportunity for first choice in selection. (Or second, or third or …)
The carrots were especially stunning in the sunny morning!
Picking up flowers to take home is always a treat, giving them away is an even better treat!
Hmmm, the harmony was palpable!
And of course Eagle Park Slim tied the event together!
Welcome back old friend, Saturday Market, you don’t look a day over 42!!!
07 /
March 2012
SMILING EYES, HONESTY, TRUTH, FRIENDLINESS … CHARMING!!
CHARM comes from the Greek notion of charisma, that compelling attractiveness certain people have that inspires devotion, or as Albert Camus believed gets you to the position of “yes” without having actually asked the question.
“Charm is being written out of modern life at a time when we have never needed it more. It’s being destroyed by an increasingly risk-averse generation of managers with an agenda to do the impossible: turn maximum profit while pleasing as many people as possible.”
Charm is effortless but it’s also a responsibility, it requires a degree of honesty and integrity and it’s something that can’t be faked. Charm is entirely human-it’s about character and individuality. Charm is about conviction-having an opinion,following an instinct, feeding a passion. The internet does not have charm, even though this is a charming statement.
Charm is unquantifiable, which is why many overlook it, yet it’s arguably the most important factor in securing repeat business. It’s fragile too, not something you can buy,takes time to nurture and requires safeguarding because, once lost, it’s near impossible to reinstate.
Charm is a special quality, a set of attributes fed by doing things based on human feelings. Honesty, integrity, simplicity, durability, tactility and charm are words that help businesses to thrive but can’t be taught because you have to genuinely possess those qualities. My staff possesses charm … And that is the difference.
1. Smile … A small gesture transforms transactions and makes them matter.
2. Be Honest … Be proud of qualities that can’t be faked.
3. Be True … Have an opinion. Don’t workshop your vision and values.
4. Be Friendly … We all want a bit more warmth.
5. And … Charm is not measurable but can definitely be powerful.
01 /
March 2012
The Glow
My only daughter, Nicole, was married on February 18th in Newport, Rhode Island to George Poulos, a very nice young man.
On Thursday evening before the barrage of events and activities of the weekend begin I had the opportunity to spend the evening with Nicole eating an amazing dinner at The Black Pearl. We spent almost 3 hours eating, drinking and most importantly TALKING! The most amazing thing about the evening was that I saw her surrounded by a light, beauty and serenity, absolutely glowing with happiness. This light followed her for the whole weekend and the radiant glow increased as the weekend went on. It was the most amazing thing to witness and it truly makes you recognize and appreciate the the incredible process of seeing your children grow into amazing people. For that I am truly blessed to have three of the most amazing children, who have grown from being great kids into incredible friends! For that I am truly blessed and humbled by the the people that they have become.
“To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children,to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch .. to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!” EMERSON
I share these blessings with you and hope that in your life you are able to find and recognize your own blessings and happiness, be they big or small!
31 /
January 2012
A wonderful Oregon landscape
The new art direction of the office is to have a static art display rather than a dynamic display that changes every other month. After more than 10 years of featuring two new artists every other month, I have decided to suspend the art shows and focus on a single artist. The work of Katsu Shibata, East Meets West Photography, is the featured art currently up in the main area of the office and it is a pleasure to be able to share.
“My art is all about absorbing myself into an activity.
I enjoy watching nature; changing constantly, never duplicates;
Light, color, subjects – They are all essential elements for the drama. When I encounter the perfect moment,
I am touched; I want to capture that scene.
I am absorbed in the process
- the wonderful space that one can be in.”
Katsu Shibata
Katsu paying meticulous attention to the detail of hanging his photographs
Bob Keefer of the Register Guard in the Fall of 2011 had this to say of the show Katsu had at the Hult Center Jacobs Gallery, “In the end, Shibata has taken a technical weakness of digital photography — its easy tendency toward brittleness — and turned it to artistic advantage.”
The Oregon Coast
Balance
Katsuyuki Shibata
East Meets West Photography
541-868-5571
Email Me
http://www.EastMeetsWest.smugmug.com
03 /
November 2011
I had an opportunity to shoot the shooter on Sunday, a moment to capture the photographer before he captured the moment.
I saw Bruce Berg on Sunday to have him shoot some new photos for updating my website. It was a real pleasure to work with him, a true professional in his craft. I’m always amazed to watch a professional work because they make the difficult appear so easy, and I have to say that that was my experience in working with Bruce. He made it seem effortless and I was very pleased with the experience and the results.
Based on my experience I would strongly refer him to anyone wanting a truly professional and great photographic experience. When my website is updated you can see the results and judge for yourself. I may be biased, but he really was able to put lipstick on a pig and make it look nice. (Me of course!)
11 /
October 2011
New art is up in the office for the months of October and November, featuring Images by Mairs Photography.
The display is up through November 26th and an artist reception will be held on Monday, October 17th, from 5-7 pm
04 /
October 2011
Spending time to make memories is a lot better than spending money to have things. Things don’t last and the good memories never seem fade, they only seem to get better with time. This last weekend I was fortunate to have had that opportunity, fishing on the Williamson River with my oldest son, Nathan, and Marlon Rampy, Wildwest Fly Fishing, the best fly fishing guide and friend out there.
Too often we get caught up in the daily race to do more, to have more or to be more. But there are times that we simply need to say “time out”, go out and play and build those memories of good times with good company. And don’t forget to smile!!
11 /
August 2011
New art has just been put up for the months of August/September and an Open House/Artist Reception is planned for August 15th, 5-7 p.m.
Featured artists are Katsu Shibata, color photography, “New Work (& Old Favorites)”, terra cotta sculptures by Linda Dyer, and oil pastels/postcards, “Neo-Ledger Art” by Don Dexter
I hope that you will have an opportunity to join us for the artist reception on the 15th or get a chance to see the show through the month of September.
