I am as passionate about photographing wrought-iron gates as I am about varnishing teak wood trim on boats. It is the light which reflects off the metal, just as it is the light that reflects like a mirror off of the varnish. You see, I look for the light in my life and that is where I find it. I love to share about how I found that light while speaking to a variety of audiences.
Lured to the San Francisco Bay Area by dreams of ocean sailing, I lived aboard a sailboat with my husband in the late 90’s. Eventually, I evolved from boater to landlubber, married to single, nurse to author, photographer, and publisher, and from living in an RV I renovated, to homeowner.
While living in the van, I traveled the Western States and Mexico for three years, photographing dozens of gates; I have hundreds of images from my journeys. Currently, I speak to a variety of audiences about the unique origin of my book, Opening the Gates of the Heart: A Journey of Healing.
This book is one which you can pick up and start at any point in the book. It transports you to that safe and tranquil place you remember as a child. Once you read a verse or two and go through the gate(s), you are able to put the book down with a lighter heart and go about your day. For those who did not have a safe and tranquil place as a child, this book will bring you both in present day.
Read in its entirety, Opening the Gates of the Heart is a pathway to peace. Read one verse at a time, it is a starting point for a meditation or daily reflection.
This book is composed of 42 photographs of gates and inspirational prose that reflects my own healing journey from the depths of despair and praying to die, to joy and inner peace. It has won several awards for spirituality, inspiration, and photography.
In addition to gates, I photograph colored light through cut-glass, which produces magical and vibrant abstract images.These photos have been the recipients of awards, as well. I invite you to visit my photo galleries at www.gatelady.com. Please feel free to contact me at carolyn@gatelady.com.
Artist Statement
“My art is about dancing with light -finding it, feeling it, and living in it. It is about sharing what I see through the lens of my camera. Come share the dance with me."
<p>Countless years ago, measured in thousands, the Gods came first. Monstrous creations were born of their frivolity. Like the Gods, some of the creations were peaceful, others not. Their duty to preserve the earth completed once more, however, the day came that the Gods had to leave earth. Unleashed and with loose regulation, the abominable creations left behind multiplied. In their midst, another conception came to be, and his kind would exist absolutely outside of the God’s purview.<br />Unmated, alone, and untrusting of others, Chatran was charged to go to a place and protect the father of a great child, yet unborn. This duty, however, was unknown to the most cognizant part of Chatran. Only the Beast, who resided within him, knew. As a result, the Beast led Chatran to Walhalla, North Dakota. Although his initial charge was to protect the father he found there, Chatran also gained a mate and Pack. With them, Chatran also found a new way forward, and started on a course that would lead to – New Alpha Rising: Ascension.</p>
Life's situations led me to journal for my peace of mind, my sanity, and eventually, my sobriety. Then, after injuring my dominant hand, I was forced to journal with my non-dominant one, and all sorts of deep words flowed forth. Research has shown, in fact, that creativity abounds when one uses the non-dominant hand for activity such as writing. This was the case for me. At the same time that I was journaling, I was photographing wrought-iron gates, and was becoming totally immersed in that activity. I had a body of gate images which I was preparing to sell to galleries. In the process of preparing them, I titled each image, using words from a list I had created of positive and negative emotions, ways to treat each other and ourselves better, and principles of living. Then one day, I had an epiphany. I wrote in my journal, words which matched a titled gate, giving it voice far beyond the visual element. A search of my journals yielded prose that matched about 25 photographs I had already titled. It was at this point that I realized what I had was a book. Since this discovery, I have developed the book, writing the remaining prose, as well as revising the ordering of the images to more accurately reflect my journey of healing. On 10-8-10, the book was officially published.
----"This is a lovely celebration of those who have been on the journey, and an invitation to those for whom the journey awaits." <div>Mike Farrell, author of <em>Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist, </em>California<br /></div><div><em><br /></em></div><div>----"This is a book of visual poetry frilled with the wisdom of being truly human."</div><div>Oriah Mountain Dreamer, author <em>The Invitation, Canada </em></div><div><em><br /></em></div><div><em><span style="font-style:normal;"></span></em><div>----"I am so moved by [this book]. It will stretch your heart, affirm the staggering beauty of the world and encourage you to realize that anything is possible."<br /></div><div>Christine Bode, Book Reviewer, Ontario, Canada</div></div><div><em><br /></em></div><div>----"You have a wonderful book/story because so much wisdom, truth, and beauty are shared in it."</div><div>Ronald Peterson, Freelance Writer and Editor, Michigan</div><br /><div>----"[This book] is a jewell beyond price. [Carolyn's] journey from a sense of isolation and despair to self-acceptance and love is an inspiration."</div><div>Caroline McKinnon, San Francisco Bay Area</div><div><em><br /></em></div><div>----"This book is a gem! It gave me hope. I do believe Carolyn's book will touch the hearts of many people around the world and give them hope."</div><div>Ursula Kauth, Business Consultant, San Francisco, California</div><br /><div>----"Carolyn's is a story of courage that anyone who has won a battle or is fighting a battle should read. It brought tears to my eyes. It brought me hope."</div><div>Leslie Ellis, Insurance Agent, San Francisco Bay Area</div><br /><div>----"She joins short verse with carefully chosen photography to exemplify emotions... It draws you in... The book takes one from chaos to preparedness with increased self-confidence and new respect for others..."</div><div>Geoff Pomeroy, Engineer, Writer, Musician, Ohio<br /><br /></div>