Vintimo Fine Art Photography

Tim Leonard Family Fund

2012-01-02T14:56:00.000-08:00

The tragic death of 9-year old Tobiah "Zippy" Leonard in a Christmas day windstorm has forever changed the Whidbey Island, WA community I call home. Words don't exist to comfort a friend who has lost a child - but I can do my small part by donating 100% of all proceeds during the month of January to support Tim and his family as they begin to heal.

Click here to read the full story.

Clematis

2011-11-29T18:29:00.000-08:00

Summer 2009 was exceptionally beautiful here on my little island in the Pacific NW. The day I took this shot was amazingly warm and sunny - such a departure from these dreary winter days! I remember dawdling about my yard looking for inspiration - and when I turned back toward the front porch, the afternoon light on this clematis literally took my breath away! A finicky little creature I planted about three years ago, not sure if it would make it or not. Well ... think she's happy. :)

It's all about being at the right place at the right time.

BRUSH TO BONE MEETS GYPSY BONES

2011-11-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

I'm absolutely THRILLED to share that one of my all-time favorite photographs will be showcased on the cover of Author Christin Lore Weber's latest novel entitled, "Gypsy Bones," due for initial release as an ebook this fall. I'm honored to have been given an advance copy, which I'm currently reading obsessively! Gypsy Bones captivated me from the very first sentence. Christin is one of those rare storytellers with the type of eloquence and mastery of the written word that only comes along once in a good ten years, if not more. Watch this site for more info, because this is certainly one you don't want to miss.

For more info about Christin, visit her blog@
http://christinloreweber.blogspot.com/

To read some of Christin's writings, visit:
http://storyweaver.gather.com/

And to view the unedited Brush to Bone:
http://sandy-rubini.artistwebsites.com/featured/brush-to-bone-sandy-rubini.html

Shiprock No. 1

2011-11-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

"Am I willing to give up what I have in order to be what I am not yet? Am I able to follow the spirit of love into the desert? It is a frightening and sacred moment. There is no return. One's life is changed forever. It is the fire that gives us our shape." ~Mary Richards

Flourish and Decay

2011-09-30T17:32:00.000-07:00

"Nations and empires flourish and decay, by turns command,
and in their turns obey."

~Ovid

"Busy"

2011-07-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

In September of 2008, I was taking a mid-day stroll along one of the back trails at the Greenbank Farm on Whidbey Island. Wild blackberry vines were in full bloom - and that's where I caught this little guy, so very busy! Head and legs spattered with pollen, bobbing lazily from one flower to the next as though I didn't exist. Nary a care in the world. My hero.

To view more lovely bees and the rest of my fine art gallery, simply click on the photograph.

Bovine Demise

2011-06-21T12:55:00.000-07:00

"The tired and thirsty prospector threw himself down at the edge of the watering hole and started to drink. But then he looked around and saw skulls and bones everywhere. "Uh-oh," he thought. "This watering hole is reserved for skeletons." ~Jack Handy

Sparrow

2011-05-19T15:45:00.000-07:00

September of 2008: A road trip over the Cascade Mountains to catch one final blast of summer heat before the rainy season set in over Western Washington. About 10 miles east of Winthrop, Louie and I found a sleepy mountain lodge nestled amongst the sagebrush of the Methow Valley. On a stroll at dusk I came upon a tiny sparrow which had met an untimely death via one of the monstrous picture windows overlooking the lake. Though I wish the circumstances to observe her were quite different, I felt blessed to be given the opportunity to see Mother Nature's handiwork up close and personal. Click image to purchase fine art prints.

BUCK

2011-05-17T07:13:00.000-07:00

Oh, now this guy is my new favorite!!! Louie and I were on the back roads in North Bend last weekend - on our way for a slice of cherry pie at the old Mar-T Cafe (damn fine cup of coffee). Two amazing llamas were in a pasture on the side of the road. Their coats were long and thick as matted wool, multi-colored dreads that I imagine make them the cool hippy-types in the llama world. This guy just stood there, staring at me and chewing his cud. He had his ears back most of the time, and I suppose I was just asking for it ...

Click image to purchase fine art prints.

Harem

2011-04-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

Louie and I spent a lot of time in Eastern Washington during the Summer of 2010. Imagine my awe (and delight!) when we descended Washington Pass one evening at dusk to find a herd of elk in a pasture! We spent a good half hour watching them and taking photographs while the light quickly faded away. I didn't know for sure if any of my shots would turn out until I downloaded them the next day.

This bull elk and his harem definitely stole the show.

Soulful Tandem

2011-02-25T20:32:00.000-08:00

I'm absolutely crazy about birds. Eagles, ravens, hawks, heron, ducks, owls, woodpeckers, sparrows, chickadees. You name it - if it has wings, I'm fascinated. I'm blessed to live on an island teeming with these beautiful creatures and at times I get lost in watching them in my yard feeders - to the point where my son started calling me "the crazy bird lady who lives on the corner." Could be worse ways to spend one's time, yes?

I captured this lovely pair of seagulls on a blustery winter's day down at Possession Beach. While I struggled to cover myself from the wind, they floated about with ease, in a soulful tandem.

Aude-Marianne

2011-02-08T20:01:00.000-08:00

For one of the most beautiful souls I've ever met.
Her love is now off on a new adventure,

and she'll be with him every step of the way.

Self

2011-01-27T19:54:00.000-08:00

Creativity takes on many forms for me, which wax and wane like the lunar cycles (I'm a Cancer; go figure!). Writing, photography - and oil pastels and colored pencils, which were used to create this piece back in 2006. What I love about this medium is that it comes from a source deep within which can't be fully described or identified. I place a blank sheet of stock in front of me, choose a color - and when it hits the paper, I have no idea what's going to come out! The beauty of pure, raw creation. So many times I believe artists pigeon-hole themselves with labels. 'I am a writer.' 'I am a photographer.' 'I am a painter.' I say to hell with the labels, and just do whatever brings you joy!

Havilla

2011-01-27T12:42:00.000-08:00

"God's Country" certainly describes Havilla, located in northeast Washington. One can drive for miles on end across rolling, sand-colored hills, dreaming about ghost towns and the Old West.

Not much has changed in 150 years! Havilla is a tiny dot on the map, with a few houses and this beautiful church rising out of nowhere. I find that places of quiet and simplicity are the ones that speak to me most.

Mt. Baker Wilderness

2010-11-03T21:38:00.000-07:00

If someone would have told me a couple years ago that I would be hiking through the forests and mountains of Washington state with a pack on my back and a camera around my neck, I would have told them they were probably mistakin' me for someone else - or they needed to pour themselves another drink. Waterproof hiking boots, Camelbaks (huh?), bug spray, Cliff Bars and frequent trips to REI. Actually getting excited (most of the time) about hitting the road at 6 AM on a Saturday morning. Yup. That girl is me. 2010 has been an incredible year, as I've been to some of the most amazing places - like the one in this shot of the Cascade Mountain Range from Mt. Baker, looking down at the clouds. Yes, looking down. Can't wait for next spring.

Curves

2010-05-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

Oh, sometimes those 'almost missed' opportunities can be frightening! Louie and I were heading to Roche Harbor for a couple days in February, and decided to take a cruise through old(er) Anacortes on the way. We rounded a corner near the marina and saw a couple of these old beauties. Louie got all excited and pulled over so I could take some shots, though I was grumpy (not enough coffee) and hesitant to get out of the car. Thank goodness I did! It didn't take long for what I affectionately refer to as "The Possession" to overtake me, resulting in one of my new favorites: Curves. That old adage, JUST DO IT, comes into play more often than not in my life, at times. More to come soon on this series, for sure.

Raven

2009-12-28T08:18:00.001-08:00

On the way to Eastern Washington last summer, a detour off the Stevens Pass Highway led us to a little speck on the map called Index - the most beautiful bend in the river you've ever seen! While the boys headed down the rocky bank with poles in hand to partake in their favorite past time, I stayed back a ways with my camera. Twenty minutes later they were hailing me down the river to witness an amazing find - charcoal drawings from old campfire ash on boulders as big as compact cars. If I hadn't known any better, I could have been standing before the ancient petroglyphs of Colorado or New Mexico. Absolutely beautiful.

Brush to Bone #1

2009-12-21T11:31:00.001-08:00

August 2009 in Eastern Washington was gorgeous! Louie, Mac and I spent several days on Spectacle Lake, somewhere half way between Winthrop and the Canadian Border. While the boys did a lot of fishing, I went exploring. One early morning before the sun rose too high, I climbed a steep, rocky slope - just to see what was on the other side. Lured by the romance of abandoned settler outbuildings, gold mines and possibilities. What I discovered was a wide open, rolling plain of sagebrush, cow patties, and the beautiful, slender jaw of what must have been a young deer. Brush to bone...

Old Glory

2009-12-16T14:01:00.000-08:00

Here is one of my new favorites - "Old Glory." During a September drive to catch the Fall colors up at Mt. Baker, Louie and I happened upon a groovy little general store in the middle of nowhere that sold everything from old fashioned jaw breakers and home made cheese, to local Native American macrame art and Feng Shui CD's. The place was over 100 years old, with wooden floors and a ton of character. This flag was wafting lazily in the wind just outside the front door...

Redemption

2008-12-07T15:44:00.001-08:00

My 12-year-old son is a constant source of wonderment and one of my greatest teachers. For my birthday last year I told him the best gift he could give me was for the two of us to spend the day at our favorite beach. I brought along my new camera, just in case I found anything of interest. Well, not only did I find EVERYTHING of interest, I became consumed with taking pictures for the entire afternoon. When the day was done I realized I had completely missed an opportunity to spend some quality one-on-one time with my son - aside from taking photos of him, like this one. When I began working with this shot the first thought that came to mind was: Redemption. So now when Mac comes home from school and says, "Mom, you're STILL on the computer?" (like he did yesterday), I shut 'er down. :)

The Journey

2008-12-07T15:43:00.000-08:00

I was sitting at my computer monitor one afternoon and noticed the reflection of sunshine and falling leaves through the window behind me. What caught my attention when I turned around was tiny glimmers of blue floating among the leaves. I grabbed my camera and headed outside. Those glimmers were hundreds of miniscule flies. My neighbors must have thought I was an absolute loon as I darted around trying to catch one of them! I spent the next hour watching this little guy as he gingerly explored my yellow sweater, flexed and re-flexed his beautiful wings, and then finally took flight. Moments such as these bring out the kid in me.