Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Avril Lavinge Lyrics to Alice in Wonderland song

[Verse 1:] Trippin' out Spinnin' around I'm underground I fell down Yeah, I fell down I'm freakin' out Where am I now? Upside down And I can't stop it now It can't stop me now ooooooh [Chorus:] I... I'll get by I... I'll Survive When the world's crashin' down When I Fall and hit the ground I will turn myself around Don't you try to stop me I... I won't cry [Verse 2:] I'll play the game But I can't stay I've got my head on straight And I'm not gonna change I'm not gonna change I'll win the race Keep up with the pace Today's the day That I start to pray You can't get in my way Nooooooooo [Chorus] [Bridge:] I found myself (myself) In Wonderland Get back on (back on) My feet again Is this real? (this real) Is this pretend? I'll Take a stand (a stand) Until the end [Chorus 2x]

Monday, October 29, 2012

Disclaimer ~






Disclaimer~~~~ Shelly Perkins is a current student of the University of Oklahoma and a professional photographer. She uses this blog as a process blog to record thoughts and ideas for future projects, to show current commercial work and to post anything that she may find interesting and want to share. The original works of Shelly Perkins is copyright Shelly Perkins Photography and may not be reproduced for any reason without the permission in written form from Shelly Perkins. Any images used in this blog by other photographers or artists are given credit when available and Shelly Perkins, Shelly Perkins Photography does not accept credit or any type of royalties from any such work. If you're interested in sharing any ideas, photos or additional information about anything found within this blog, please contact Shelly Perkins through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ShellyPerkinsPhotography




Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Space and Time found in Alice in Wonderland

~October 24, 2012
Space and Time
Alice in Wonderland

As I am beginning to explore different avenues of Space and Time I find myself continually drawn to a make-believe space that is of a timeless appeal. I love the story of Alice in Wonderland and how since its original writing in 1865 by English author Lewis Carroll, the story remains loveable. The adventure begins with Alice going into a rabbit hole and into a space where real life is turned upside down. She follows a rabbit that is continually worried about the time and being late. When she comes to a gathering at a tea party, she has found the time has stopped at 6 pm or tea-time and so the tea party never ends.
In researching and thinking about space and time one must wonder about the existence and acknowledgement of time. In modern day advanced civilization, time is recorded by the passing of minutes, hours and days on a calendar. Even the Mayans of long ago understood and accepted the passing of time and recorded it by the creation of a calendar. Prehistoric man may have thought about the passing of time as in the life cycle of animals or the growing seasons of vegetation. These long ago people didn’t record it the same way we do now but still understood that time does not stand still.
Time continues the same for all, however the way people observe it and how they record it through their point of reference is the only thing that’s different. Time is the same for all and exists within a space or a three dimensional location. Space and time exist together, while the differences are the ways people exist within in a particular space and record the time within that space. As for Alice and the time she spent in Wonderland, one must wonder if it was just a dream? Was the time she spent there actually sleep and if the space only existed in her imagination of a dream?

Alice in Wonderland, a fictional space in time, as it existed in the mind of the author, “Lewis Carroll” and his original manuscript.

Source of image: Manuscript of Alice's Adventures Under Ground (f. 45v / p. 88) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alice%27s_Adventures_Under_Ground_-_Lewis_Carroll_-_British_Library_Add_MS_46700_f45v.jpg

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Job Interviews and Social Anxiety

Job Interviews and Social Anxiety


Here are some tips for people with social anxiety for a job interview:

Treat Yourself Well
Avoid caffeine, get enough sleep, and exercise regularly. By following these three simple rules, you will greatly reduce job interview anxiety.

Visualize Success
Find a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed, close your eyes and visualize yourself being successful in your interview. Visualizing success is more than just positive thinking; when done correctly, you are getting your brain ready to behave in the way that you desire. This technique is used by elite athletes before competitions to improve performance.

Reduce Stressors
Reduce stressors unrelated to the actual interview, such as uncomfortable clothing, getting lost, or showing up late. Well in advance, choose an outfit that is comfortable and that looks good on you. If you aren’t familiar with the location of the interview, give yourself plenty of time to find it or do a trial run a day or two before.

Do Your Research
Being well-prepared is a great antidote to anxiety. Research your potential employer. Prepare answers to common questions. Every bit of preparation that you can do will help to increase your comfort level and make you feel more confident and capable in the interview.

Don’t Succumb to Pressure
Once in a while, you may be interviewed by someone who grills you to see how you handle stress. Although as a person with SAD it can be tempting to start spiraling into negative automatic thinking, such as “He knows I can’t handle this job; I should never have applied” or “They don’t really like me; I’ll never get the job”, stop. If you find yourself in this situation, realize what the interviewer is trying to accomplish and don’t let him ruffle your feathers. Know that the other candidates have been treated the same way and that it is no reflection on you or your capabilities.

Interview the Interviewer
A great way to feel less self-conscious in an interview situation is to realize that interviews are a two-way street. You are deciding whether you want to work for an employer just as much as they are deciding whether they want you to come work for them. Try putting yourself in this mindset and see if your focus doesn’t change.

Release Anxious Energy
Anxiety has a way of leaking out even when you think that you have it well-hidden. If you find yourself fidgeting, try doing something to release anxious energy that no one will notice, such as wiggling your toes.

Take Your Time
Realize that you don’t have to answer questions immediately. Pause before answering and collect your thoughts. If you worry about drawing a blank during interviews, a great technique is to take notes as everyone talks. This takes the focus off of you and allows you to refer to your notes after a question has been asked. If you start to draw a blank, keep making notes and comment that you want to collect your thoughts before responding.

Be Prepared
A well-prepared interviewee has an immediate advantage in an interview. In addition, being well-prepared and proactive will take the edge off of job interview anxiety. Be sure to bring everything that you think you might need, such as your resume, cover letter, business cards, references, licenses, certifications, and a pen and notepad.

Congratulate Yourself
Regardless of how you felt that the interview went, congratulate yourself afterward for taking the chance. Do something that you enjoy as a reward. Above all else, avoid ruminating about how the interview went or what could have gone better.

For information check out the link and the complete site~ Release Through Art.
http://releasethroughart.tumblr.com/post/35214914824/job-interviews-and-social-anxiety

www.shellyperkins.com

#art therapy, #social anxiety, #job interview, #help

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Working the Light at the End of the Tunnel





"The Light at the End of the Tunnel"

I completed my latest OU photography project based on an idea of light, which is basically what photography is – light. As I was working and researching possible ideas I continually found myself returning to the ideas of the “light at the end of the tunnel” or “tunnel vision.” These sayings represent a metaphorical meaning but I wanted to show a literal tunnel to represent the end of a long journey.

In life there are achievements that you’ve had to complete an extensive amount of work to achieve a specific final goal, as in college graduation, and you are looking for “the light at the end of the tunnel.” In death the “light at the end of the tunnel” can be a representation of the finality of this world’s death and the “light at the end of the tunnel” is the light beaming, inviting you to the new afterlife.

To show a literal tunnel for the metaphorical meaning I wanted to represent, I found there are not a lot of tunnels located in the state of Oklahoma, where I currently reside. I worked through several ideas with making my own tunnels of light, which is another project that I am continuing. I happened upon a series of tunnels located in downtown Oklahoma City which runs under the urban city blocks of the tallest buildings in the city. For those people who work in these locations the tunnels give the employees and visitors the ability to be mobile without ever needing to venture into an outdoor environment. The tunnels use different colors of lights as a key to a navigational map to guide you throughout this small city that lives underground.

I made a series of images of these tunnels where I found the vibrant colors of the fluorescent lights were placed in various geometric patterns throughout the long man-made underground. Each tunnel offered a different minimalist abstract experience of being an active part of an art exhibition or museum. The lights bleed onto the surrounding space that also becomes a part of the work. The work that is found in this area is similar to the work of the late Dan Flavin. A person wanting to experience his works can travel to Marfa, Texas where a large exhibit of his works remains.

In the final critique of my work I believe most people enjoyed looking at the images with the saturated colors. The minimalist views of the lights created an abstract art which I could control the way in which the viewers see the space, by the way I made the images. My placement of the camera in a particular space forces the viewer to observe the abstract art in a way I wish it to be seen. The images offer a different perspective than viewers who visit the area in person. I would have liked to add a transition area between the images of different colors. When visiting the tunnels, there is not really a transitional area but each tunnel abruptly starts and stops therefore I didn’t photograph what was not there. The final point of the tunnel was recorded as a dark space into the unknown because it was not accessible due to ongoing construction.

Overall I enjoyed the light project and making multiple visits to the site to experience and photograph the area. I like how the photographs came together in the series with a variety of different colors and different patterns of light. The light at the end of the tunnel came to an end of darkness into the unknown that is representative of life because no one really knows what the future holds.

Shelly Perkins Photography www.shellyperkins.com


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

"Postcard from 1952" - Explosions in the Sky



"Postcard from 1952" - Explosions in the Sky
Lovely song with beautiful images and a great story of life made by some talented folks. Wow, it brought tears to my eyes and I wanted to share it with you. If you're a Mama like me you'll love this. Enjoy, Shelly :0)

Click on this link to enjoy the video~ http://vimeo.com/41669642

Shelly Perkins Photography www.shellyperkins.com