Yes Future

Recently I was in Bayonne, France and walked by this message that stated, "Yes Futur".  Originally there was no "e" at the end of "futur" so in post production I added that character so it read "future". 

Ahhhh....the future!!! Such a mystery!!! I thought that this was a pretty powerful image because of the bridge, in the background, signifying a connection. 

I have added this photo to The Museum of Messages website. I think the composition turned out nicely.  

May your future be full of peace, joy, prosperity and love. 

Photo Competition - Your Help Is Appreciated

This afternoon I was inspired to enter some of my photos, from my series on "love" in The Museum of Messages, into an international photo competition called One Life.  I'd really like to continue exhibiting these images and sharing them with the general public. In order to do that it would be helpful to be awarded a cash grant and some recognition. 

If you visit http://helenavdevengoechea.see.me/onelife2012 and click on the link "Collect Me" at the top of the page that will help me to become more visible in the competition. Your help is much appreciated. 

Love In NYC

Hi All! Hope you are having a good week. 

Yesterday I decided to work on the The Museum of Messages.  As a creative I am inspired by expressions that are written all over the city. Since I am a photographer I feel that it is my duty to document these words because they have a very short life span. 

The Museum of Messages has its very own website. Yesterday I posted a few photos about love in NYC. 

Additionally their is a section on my studio website in which you can see some of the photos in a different format. 

I hope you enjoy!

In 10 days, Saturday September 24, 2011, my Photo and Design Exhibition will end at Miwa Alex, 24 E. 22nd Street between Park Avenue South and Broadway.

It started July 18, 2011 and has had a positive response. See designs and photography created in the studio. Also see photos from The Museum of Messages.

It is a lovely time of year to walk around the city. If you are in the Flatiron District, don't forget to go check the show out.

Opinions are welcome. Have a nice day!

Creative Opinions

This evening I will be attending a fine art photo portfolio review at Calumet on 22nd Street in NYC at 7 pm. In the past, I have presented my photo fine art concept, The Museum of Messages, to many other creative professionals at other reviews and gotten excellent feedback. This has allowed me to expand my ideas further. 

If you are new to this blog, I'd like to introduce the The Museum of Messages to you. In brief, since 2006, I have been diligently photographing messages that people write in the public domain about love, the environment, politics, humor, loyalty and more. After I shoot them, I return to my studio, download the messages, clean them up in Adobe Photoshop and post them to my online gallery. The reason I think this is important to do is because the messages don't have a very long life span because city cleaning crews paint over or wash away these words so I think it is important to document these visual voices for others to think about, learn and enjoy.

By profession I am a Marketing Designer that takes Professional Photographs. The way I have expanded my concept is by photographing fashion accessories with a message that I have found on the street, in my studio with my Hasselblad H3DII camera, and then in post production, I create a marketing piece to help one promote their products. If you'd like to see some examples, you may at http://www.helenavstudio.com/.

I am looking forward to getting feedback tonight. Your thoughts and opinions are welcome.

Joy To The World

Yesterday I was at my shoe doctor and when I walked into his shop I saw this bag hanging from his shelf that read "Joie au monde". Since the colors are so bright and I am learning french it appealed to me. That being so I took out my Canon G11 camera and photographed the bag. I was going to add it to http://themuseumofmessages.com/, however, I can't because I don't have RAW footage of it, only a .jpg. 

Happy New Year Everyone. May 2011 bring you much Joy!

Happy Holidays From Helena V. Studio

Yesterday I designed a holiday card that I plan to send out to clients and colleagues. I photographed this message in Chelsea last month and I love how I captured the spirit of an individual walking by the words. Inside the card I plan on writing, "May your dreams come true in 2011." You like?

The Museum of Messages on Kickstarter.com

The Museum of Messages, previously known as Discreet Messages, is a photo project that began in 1999. These photographs are images of messages that people write or design in landscapes, mostly urban, about the environment, love, politics, humor, fear, expression, loyalty and more. As an artist Helena V. thinks it is very important to document these visual voices because people are attempting to publicize their thoughts for others to read, think and learn.

Since these words don't have a very long life span, because city crews clean up these expressions, Helena V. feels that it is her duty to document these words with her camera and, when she thinks it is appropriate, she cleans up the surroundings of the messages she shoots, in Photoshop, so she can exhibit and publish them for others to appreciate.

Helena V. would like to continue to build this photo project but in order to do that she needs time. Time to scout for these visual expressions, photograph them, process the photos, clean them up, publicize them online and to search for exhibition opportunities for the public to see. Time is money and with your help she can move forward with showing others what is important to them and how they feel about the world around them.

If interested, you may contribute at http://bit.ly/9C37GE

New Photo by Helena V. Supporting Our Environment

Last week I lit and photographed the above orange purse in front of one of my photos from The Museum of Messages . 

In post production I added the green to expand the frame, added water coming out of the spout and set the type that says "be ("kind" is in the original photo) to our environment". You can see the original back drop photo (behind the purse) at http://themuseumofmessages.com/

Kickstarter helps people (like you!) fund creative projects.

I was introduced to http://www.kickstarter.com/ through PDN (Photo District News) magazine.

Kickstarter is the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world. Every month, tens of thousands of amazing people pledge millions of dollars to projects from the worlds of music, film, art, technology, design, food, publishing and other creative fields.

Currently I am working on submitting The Museum of Messages to Kickstarter in order to gain funding so I can continue to share people's written thoughts with the public.

The Museum of Messages + acurator.com Blog

Today I received an email from Julie Grahame, founder of acurator.com, letting me know that she posted a few photos from The Museum of Messages onto her blog. =)

Since I have been designing, photographing and assisting professional photographers I have had little time to work on The Museum of Messages . If you visit that homepage you will get some free hugs.

Free Hugs in NYC - Photo Of The Week

This summer I was headed to Governor's Island off the tip of Battery Park in NYC to go to a 1920's Jazz Fest. While waiting for a friend in Union Square I saw this dude holding up a sign that said "Free Hugs". I laughed, pulled my camera out and captured this message that made me feel really good because I was having a bad day. I hope it will have the same effect on you. If you'd like to see the photo a bit bigger click on The Museum of Messages link.

Think About The Future

Last spring I was walking out of my apartment building by Gramercy Park in NYC and came across this message on a post office box. I think this verbal expression is relevant for the times we are currently living in as I hear that many people are going through transitional periods in their lives whether it be in a career, an environment, a relationship, etc. This is a time of change! Do you agree? I have added this image to The Museum of Messages online gallery.

The Museum of Messages Blog

This week I have been working on creating a Photo Blog for the The Museum of Messages which will eventually be connected to Facebook as an application. Once this project is complete folks on FaceBook will be able to post a small version of one of my photos on their friends walls. What do you think. Do you like this idea?

The 911 Memorial Museum + The Museum of Messages

Today I received an email from Meghan Walsh, a public affairs employee at the 911 Memorial Museum in downtown NYC, telling me that she has posted some of the photos I shot at Ground Zero in 2006 on their blog.

You may see that post at this link:

http://blog.national911memorial.org/?p=2609

These photos are part of The Museum of Messages, a photo concept that I am currently building. If you'd like to learn more about this online museum, you may at this link:

http://themuseumofmessages.com/a.statement.html