Portals of Transition

Portals of Transition

Portals of Transition- Photography Exhibit by Teri H Hoover

on display at Mill Mountain Coffee Blacksburg, Va

January 2014- April 2014

Mill Mountain Coffee - Blacksburg VA

Teri H Hoover -Blacksburg Regional Art Association Exhibiting Artist 

Growing up near Buffalo, NY, there was a drawer behind

the kitchen table filled with paper, pencils and crayons.

As a family with six children we went through a lot of paper.

I can still hear mom reminding dad (an offset printer)

that we could use more paper. At age 12 I received my

first 126 Kodak Instamatic camera. I was in sixth grade. Stealthily, I would find subjects I desired to draw. Writing, drawing and photography co-existed until my early 20's.

In college at Alfred University, I truly enjoyed drawing and writing, but felt the greatest connection with photography.

For the most part doors, stairs and windows were among my favorite subjects. In the beginning I found photographing people daunting, but I did capture some great images of people unaware. My love of photographing people was found through photographing my children and family members and eventually moved beyond worke. For over 25 years I have enjoyed my work in the wedding and portrait fields. I have been blessed to work with clients world wide.

Besides working as a photographer, I have two grown children who are creative and witty. I am a serious lover of dogs-I only care for one at a time, but deeply admire those that can care for more. The outdoors recharges my soul and our garden was featured in 2013 on the NRV Garden Tour. As a full blown hoarder of fabric, I create quilts, bowls and wall hangings. I am also blessed with one patient and sometimes puzzled husband who travels a lot.

I have lived in Blacksburg since 1982. My focus of creating a home and raising children took precedent over other creative endeavors. In November 2012 I joined the Blacksburg Regional Art Association in an effort to give myself insight into just how artists “worked”. I am now Co-VP and love the supportive group of people I have found.

About these Images:

This is my first foray into displaying my images in a public venue. I am delighted to be a part of the BRAA which promotes artists to do just this type of thing. The collection of images you see here is the culmination of the need to finish what I began in 1979. I have over 2000 door related images. The 20 photos you see here were taken since 2006 in digital format. I hope to delve into my archives in the next year and print some of my earlier images.

Why doors? The word transition comes to mind. The symbolism of doors as a visual transition from inside to outside or vice versa is basic; but obviously quite captivating for me.

Enjoy the images, prices are next to each photo. Feel free to contact me at crystalirisphotos@gmail.

Information about my wedding and portrait work can be found at:

Teri H Hoover Photography on Facebook

http://terihhoover.wix.com/terihhoover-photography.

All images in this show are the sole property of Teri H Hoover Photography ©

All images printed at PFS- 290 Peppers Ferry Rd. NEChristiansburg VA 24073 540.381.9425

how to savor a moment

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Yup, I am still here... guess I have just taken a bit of an unplanned blogging break. My recovery from the June 26th surgery for rotator cuff repair is moving along. And while I am out of the sling; demands of real life and added PT time keep me busy.

I have been posting daily photos over on my Facebook page- 

TERI H HOOVER PHOTOGRAPHY . 

Feel free to join me there- But for now here is a small stone from my writing blog. 

I hope you can find a moment to savor. 

August 14, 2012  - a small Stone 
how to savor a moment Teri H Hoover

  



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savoring the seven pm sun 

the green grass of august glows gold

I melt into the moment.

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Photo Fun Wednesday-unpaused

Please scroll down for this weeks challenge entries.
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It is when time moves without my added effort. Days pass through the haze of sleep deprivation or pain meds. Last week slipped by due to a visit from my two sisters and a niece and nephew. My nephew needed to come down for his college orientation, he will attend Virginia Tech at the end of August. (so exited!)

Anyway here we are in week 5 after surgery for a torn rotator cuff.  I find myself here at 3 AM due to my shoulder screaming to change positions despite prescription sleep aids and pain meds- so I apologize if anything is amiss in this post----one handed typing is still quiet challenging. I am progressing steadily and even did a photo shoot with mt niece last week. It felt great to shoot a little bit again. I hope each of you are well.

Backyard Garden, Blacksburg, VA-July 24,2012

I took this macro while waiting for my niece to change outfits- I love the bit of the sundial on the right. The red flower is called a cardinal flower-and my humming birds love them. It hides a little up-side-down-heart, to the very left.

This photo contributed to:

I heart macro Sunday-Studio Waterstone

weekend flowers # 55
Macro Monday~at Lisa's Chaos 
 wordless wednesday 
 Random Hearts~Guest Heart Thursday 
 Photo Art Friday- Pixel Dust blog

Flower Art Friday~Photos by LeAnne  
 It is a small world after all

The sky above the Blacksburg Library 

This photo contributed to:

 Tina's Pic Story~A Piece of Heaven

Here are a few photos of my photogenic niece -

I cannot wait until I can shoot all the time again.

Photo Fun Wednesday...on Wednesday!

Please scroll down for this weeks challenge entries.

What do you know?It's Tuesday evening and I may have this ready to go for on time for my Photo Fun Wednesday blog post.  

So what is the deal with this self imposed Wednesday thing anyway?  Truth? It is the last vestige of my New Years non-resolution- doesn't that give you a fine picture of my resolve?  Like most people my resolve dissolves by February.  But in 2011 I had a break through year. I simply picked a word I would revolve around for a year. And that word was balance. Honestly, it was one the best resolutions ever... because I stayed with it.  

For the last three days of 2011 I fretted over a my new word for 2012. I considered joy....but that was too much word for me and settled on the word pause . (A link to my January 1,2012 blogpost.)

 

Over half way through the year I can tell you balance felt better to me. I felt like I was doing something.   Balance suggests movement between extremes.  Balance gave me direction. Funny how a year and a half later I am continuing to discover more about balance!  BUT what about this pausing thing?  The word which seemed to offer respite back in January has slammed into, "HELP get me out of here!"  The word of late has come to suggest lack of movement and in its most frightening form; entrapment. Wow... can we all guess where this has come from?  This surgery has put me into a giant sized PAUSE !! 

Here is a photo I took when I just could not pause any more,and yes I used my Canon 5D. No I am not at the beach. These shells are on the table out on the patio. I could not resist. I was sitting down when I took the photo. That is like a pause...

Backyard Garden, Blacksburg, VA- July 16, 2012

 For Pixel Dust Photo Art...although light is not the primary focus of my image-it plays a great supporting role in making my "high key" image

The photo above evolved when I wanted to add a border. So I super zoomed in on the shells. And this what came of that. Ahhhh pause...
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Then I layered a photo I had of a wet piece of paper (layers are everywhere). And then added it as a border to the photo above. I think this image stands on its own, it is so delicate.
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Here it is in black and white...just not as intriguing to me.

So I added another black and white...from client work folder. Isn't this family precious?

This photo is contributed to: 

~Black and White Wednesday~on Like Christmas Everyday

and

Black and White Wednesday (MAM)~

And then I did this photo on another day-(sitting down again)to thank all my blogging friends for all the sweet wishes during my recovery. If you look close there is a thank you card.

Dining Room Table, Blacksburg, VA- July 15, 2012

Same photo? You bet...Zoomed in, cropped, photoshop filters; poster edges and dry brush, with crumpled paper layer at about 35%opacity, 60%fill , and border of super zoomed,cropped and layered at about 35% opacity and 35% fill. 

The  photos above contributed to:

 Photo Art Friday- Pixel Dust blog

Flower Art Friday~Photos by LeAnne

  Random Hearts~Guest Heart Thursday

A Creative Harbor-Magical Monday   Summer Color 
I heart macro Sunday-Studio Waterstone

weekend flowers # 56
It is a small world after all 

From my heart to yours 

thank you...

Open

Blacksburg, Va- March 22, 2012

Taking in the sunshine.

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One Perfect Thing

Three Muses Challenge- One-

Random Hearts Thursday- 

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Backyard Garden, Blacksburg VA- March 2012

Process Notes: Created in Photoshop 

Main image of crocus and most image layers created from my photos- 

One layer (2971797493_0f6483196d_o)Digital Artist  Alice Popkorn 

And yes there is a heart shape hidden within the main flower. Sometimes we overlook the perfect things in our lives. 

Close

Backyard deck, Blacksburg, VA- Feb 15, 2012

We are getting close!

Quality control - Pepper Hoover tests and inspects the quilt I am working on.

(I had it on the deck- it was easier to add the binding there.)

liberated stitches

January 17, 2012- Small Stones  
liberated stitches by  Teri H Hoover

A nest of sewing machines

set into motion.

Their song stitched together 

with threads of conversation.

 

Blacksburg Presbyterian Church, Blacksburg, VA- Jan 17, 2012

Hello my name is Teri and I am a fabric-aholic.  Seriously, I do have a bit of fabric. I am blessed to be part of  two quilting groups. Today I was working a group of quilters who meet at the Blacksburg Presbyterian church, 2 Tuesdays a month. We trundle in with sewing  machines and project bags; working for 3-4 hours. I am usually late and only work about 2 hours. The above small stone (written observation) came about while sewing on my nearly completed quilt (started the week of December 5th).  Just call me the fabric liberator.   

faithful

 

 

 

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A faithful sun all along my walk.

the writing that came of this musing and images

September 23, 2011- Small Stones

edge by  Teri H Hoover

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The sun walked the edge of the clouds 

and never faltered.

Game Day

From my writing blog- A small stone Gathering 

September 2, 2011- Small Stones. 

game day by Teri H Hoover

Some thoughts on game day in my home town of Blacksburg Va- The home of Virginia Tech and the beloved Hokie Football team. I was never much into football. But I have always had a great respect for the Hokie community- which became even stronger after the terrible day of April 16, 2007 - we lost 32 people in a matter of moments... a 5 minute walk from my home.  I look on in awe as this community continues to find ways to to go beyond. These verses are simply a collection of impressions that I found on the first game day of 2011.

  

Hoots

hollers

Four more hours

until kick off

time 

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flocks 
of fans
marrooned and oranged

Virginia Tech fans
Hokies

 cars

draining

 into town

flags fluttering

hopeful and focused

seeking  premium

parking

now

the 
crowed roars
hot under
the September
sun

We shut  them down
We shut them out
the fans weary from their efforts 
empty the stadium early

Clouds 

huddling in the

humidity

rain

drops

Rain turns fans into unlikely athletes.

 

Dampness

Dispersing 

Draining and raining 

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distractions in my window

August 24, 2011 Small Stones.

distractions in my window  by Teri H Hoover

 Steppin' Out Summer Festival- Blacksburg,VA- Aug 6, 2011

If you have a window covered

in distractions-

you will not be able to see out of it.

Not much of a Small Stone - but be that as it may- this photo is a the result of a art prompt over on OzStuff-Three Muses Challenge-... the prompt was windows. There are three windows in this fun little photo - I labeled them just in case there is any question. This goes along with my nature to sometimes overstate the obvious and it added just the right amount of "where's Waldoism-ness" (ah spell check you are no fun at all) . I hope you like whimsy because I may be heading that way once in a while now that The Wedding is over and I cannot keep up with posting my writing. (Side thought... How is I was able to write and post all the way up and through the wedding? And now I am writing just as much - I know you were worried -but not getting it posted?? ) 

So we are doing the "let's do something new" when I "should" be working on __________fill in the blank- tell me that is ok...

ripples

In answer to Fiona's question 

over on her WOWH blog Sharing Thursday: Show us your garden.   

Here is what she said-

I'm very nosey. I'd love to see your garden. Share a photo or two.Write a few small stones. Write a descriptive piece.Tell us what you love about it, and what you hate.

Tell us how it looks in different seasons.I'm sure we'll have a great selection of gardens around the world to have a look around... big or small, humble or fancy, flowers or vegetable.

Here is what I wrote-

Serendipitous  - I found a small stone for today in the garden-as the world came into focus upon waking. It is cool enough to have the windows and doors of the bedroom open to the small but lovely garden. The garden I share with my husband is a very small walled in area that we have tended for over 20 years. A little man made pond sits in the back corner, the waterfall draws birds, frogs and dragonflies. There are dwarf evergreen trees, several varieties of small Asian maple trees and lots of flowers that find ways to thrive. A statue of Buddha happily shares the garden with St  Therese, Winnie the Pooh, a geisha and an angel. It is a lovely place with stepping stones that lead to shady spots and a purple bench. There are weeds hiding between the cardinal flowers and they don't seem to mind. I try to not let it bother me either.  I love that garden. 

 

August  18, 2011 Small Stones

ripples by Teri H Hoover


First bird call in the silent garden
rippling words into departing dreams.

Backyard Garden, Blacksburg, VA- July 2010

And what do you know there goes my 400th blog post.... flittering (against the spell check warnings) into the blogoshere!  Thanks for stopping by.

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promises

Sometimes I write- from my small stones blog..

August 3, 2011 Small Stones

promises by Teri H Hoover

 

        Huckleberry Trail, Blacksburg, Va - Aug 3, 2011

The idea of release hangs in the heavy clouds

beyond the path in front of me.

One stray raindrop finds freedom-

the rest break a promise and stay cloud bound.

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A Light in the Lantern

Backyard Garden, Blacksburg, VA- July 14, 2001

This is a test... this is only a test. I mentioned this lantern in my last post-there are  four of these little lanterns and I just finished cutting the tulle for them and packed them away.

Most things are piled neatly- well mostly neatly in the dining room. Nine days... But we leave for the Jersey shore tomorrow. Doesn't everyone go to the beach before their daughters wedding?  I am actually pretty relieved about that... I just cannot think any more about what I may not have done. I was up until three last night. This time it was not the wedding really. It is the thoughts that bubble up around events such as weddings.  The longings and wonderings, and that circle of thought that leaves one feeling diminished. I took a walk today  and wrote this on my other blog. And despite being a bit anxious I know God walks with me keeping my little lantern lit.    

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Artistic license

Hahn Horticultural Garden, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg,Va- July 3, 2011

I think I will just say that there is a lot of my creative energy being unleashed upon the world ... just not on my blog at the moment,  July 23 is fast approaching and I am consumed but not overwhelmed. My husband would surely say otherwise. (Our daughter will be married in New Haven CT- )There is a lantern hanging outside from the umbrella with shimmery white tulle with a flickering faux candle inside. You have to test these things. There is a hydrangea in a wine glass on a book with a candle burning on the dining room table - which I just photographed and sent to the grooms mother. She and I are doing the table center pieces together. There is a box of plates, napkins, cups, bottle openers and garbage bags - for the hospitality suite at the hotel.  There is a slideshow of wonderful photos coming together on this very computer. . There is my dress hanging on the closet door frame, and two open suitcases waiting like sentries between the closets.  We are surely doing more than we need- but creativity is spilling out in between quiet walks and moments of prayer. Blessings all.  


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Relief

relief
 
by Teri H Hoover

I recall yesterdays empty blue sky of unrelenting perfection,

relief is found in the white wisps

like the graffiti on my heart.

Blacksburg VA- June 30, 2011

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Turning towards July-with a ready heart - 

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the space between the clouds

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Starting July 1,  I will once again be participating in writing one small observation- like the one below- onto my writing blog. Click the link above if you would like to learn more about jumping in the river!
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the space between the clouds

from my writing blog

A small stone Gathering

Turf Grass Research Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA-June 29, 2011

An over zealous angle must have been in charge of sweeping the heavens today.

The wisp free sky was the color of  a child's brand new wading pool.

`   

One more day in June... 23 days until my daughters wedding. I could not sleep last night again. This is the second time in a month... I never have problems sleeping. This time it was centerpieces for the tables-which the mother of the groom and I have taken care of. From my perspective 567 miles away things are almost too ready.  The sky is almost too clear and blue.  So I am thinking about table center pieces at 2 in the morning because I wonder should I be doing more? Does my daughter feel my support? What am I forgetting? How can I not start succumbing to the odd feelings that I am not doing enough. Whoa there now -Breathe. So it appears I will continue to remind myself,call myself back to balance. Like I did last night - breathe and ask God to let me be a blessing in what ever way I am needed. That helped a lot. But now as it comes to night time again ...cue the ominous music.

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