The Joy Of The Happy Accident

1 ColdLogic Photo Contest - Peep Sideshow

I can remember watching “The Joy of Painting” by Bob Ross on PBS with rapt fascination as he painted really amazing landscapes. No, he wasn’t a Van Gogh or a Rembrandt, but his calm joy in creating and teaching was infectious. I have never lifted brush to canvas myself, but it was the lessons that I learned from listening to him speak as he painted that were his gift to me.

One of those gifts was the joy of the “happy accident”. I found a clip of one of the times he used that phrase on youtube and it made me smile, once again. It is a short clip, really just of that quote, but it was exactly as I remember him speaking as he taught. You can click on the link if you want to see for yourself.

When I take photographs, I set up my subject, find my camera angle and then start playing around with Windlight settings. This is the same process I go through whether I am shooting myself, a landscape or a client. I may end up with 20 or more shots of the same image under different lighting conditions.

I do this for several reasons. What I see in my viewer doesn’t always translate to the still photograph. The shadows that look so wonderful in Second Life may end up looking like ugly blotches in the final picture. I also like to have different versions so I can play around in processing and a photo that may not be the best view in SL may end up giving me more freedom to experiment when working in Photoshop or PicMonkey. Plus, I like variety…depending on my mood, I might prefer a cooler or warmer tone when it is time to select a final version.

But mainly, I am looking for those happy accidents – when something pops out at me when I am reviewing my raw shots that I might have missed while shooting. And that is how I chose this photo.

I didn’t see the reflection in the sails while I was shooting. I was concentrating more on the lighting on my avatar and in the wider shot. But when I scrolled to this picture in review, I literally gasped. It didn’t have the dramatic lighting of some of the others, but when I saw the silhouette on the sails, the decision was easy. This was the happy accident that I love and so rarely find.

I processed this photo, but I didn’t touch that sail. How you see it is how I did when I first viewed the picture. I think I know what Windlight setting I was using (it is one of two of Jackson Redstar’s) but I doubt I could reproduce this.

And you know what? I’m OK with that. A happy accident should be appreciated for that moment that makes you smile, gives you wonder and takes your breath away.

Pretty stuff I’m wearing:

Dress: coldLogic dress – reynolds.may by coldLogic
Shoes: _CandyDoll_ Newell Heels for Slink High Feet by rebeca Dembo
Necklace: Cae :: Promise :: Necklace by Caelan Hancroft
Earrings: Cae :: Promise :: Earrings by Caelan Hancroft
Ring: Cae :: Promise :: Ring by Caelan Hancroft
Hair: Hair: Analog Dog – AD – yeah – dark reds by Queue Marlowe
Skin: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE SK Please Me Lips MEB C2 by Hart Larsson
Eye Makeup: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE SK Smokey Eyes by Hart Larsson
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) High by Siddean Munro
Hand & Feet appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand & Feet Appliers SK by Hart Larsson
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Pose: *PosESioN* Secret 10 by Dahriel (available at Kustom9)

Secrets

1 Secrets_025

There are a lot of sales events in Second Life. Some may say there are too many. And some don’t get a lot of press. There are arguments that the events take away from designers’ stores and prevent others from getting a foothold in the market if they are not allowed into the top-tier sales events. Others may argue that some events are a waste of time because they don’t include the best designers and are simply a way for the organisers to make a profit from the upcoming creators by collecting entry fees then not promoting the event to generate sales.

Many events have fallen by the wayside after not achieving enough interest – or cash – to continue. I find most of the events I attend by scoping out Seraphim, the self-titled “premier Second Life sales and event blog”. I admit that I have an affiliation with this blog as a blogger for their very own sales events, The Seraphim Social and Serafilms, but I have been a reader of this web page for almost as long as it has been in existence and have just covered my first event for them. They include not just the prime events, but the smaller and lesser-known sales and hunts, as well. And I have visited many of them.

I guess my argument is that whether there are too many events or not, each of these gives a designer in Second Life an opportunity to get their name out there. I have discovered many brands I probably wouldn’t have had it not been for traipsing through so many events. I’m not talking about the Maitreyas or Truths or Cheeky Peas of our virtual world; I mean the JfL Hats, the VIVID, the Thaino Designs, the Sax Shepard Designs, the Eternal Dream Poses in Second Life. These are all talented designers who do what they do best – create lovely things for the rest of us who are unable to bring to life the vision we might have of the perfect hat, the ultimate dress, the amazing house, the quirky accessory, the exquisite pose that we have been looking for.

So the secret is out. I have blogged items from all of them. I have been fortunate enough to become a blogger for some of them. But first, before that occurrence, I have purchased the items from these designers that I have showcased here on my blog. And in every case, I found them at one of the lesser-known sales events.

1 Secrets_014

Only one of those designers is featured in this post – Sax Shepherd Designs – but you can find all of the others in the archives of this blog. You will continue to see them here because it is no secret that once I find a designer I like, I stick with them. Oh, I will always add more to my repertoire because I’m always on the lookout for another divine creation. I do well at keeping secrets, but not when it means hiding these little gems from the rest of the world.

Pretty stuff I’m wearing:

Outfit: Asteria Creations-Graceful Outfit Ivory-Blouse-Mesh Short-Scarf by katherine Asteria (available at Limited Bazaar)
Boots: Maitreya Thigh High Boots – Black Gold Snake by Onyx LeShelle (available at Collabor88)
Glasses: Sax Shepherd Designs ! !SSD ~ 80’s Glam ~ Pince Nez by Sax Shepherd (available at The Theme Park)
Bag: [glow] Studio Precious Heart Bag RED by Anemysk Karu
*Earrings: Cae ::Pemberley :: Earrings by Caelan Hancroft (available at The Seraphim Social – can be purchased as a set or separate pieces)
Ring: Cae :: Promise :: Ring by Caelan Hancroft
Hair: [LeLutka]-SALOME hair – Jessica by Thora Charron
Nail appliers: {Wicked} Peach – Melody by Autumn Amaranth (available at The Theme Park)
Skin: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE NAT “Love Edition” MEB C2 by Hart Larsson (February Group Gift)
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Hand appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand Appliers NAT by Hart Larsson
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Pose: *PosESioN* Secret 2 by Dahriel (available at Kustom9)