Rossana Reformado's Photo Blog

The Rosie Show

2012-01-20T01:53:00.009-06:00

Today we were invited to be on the Rosie Show because she wanted to show Joe her appreciation for helping her out when she got locked out of her house. It was a fun filled day and the whole family is grateful to Rosie and her staff for the kindness and generosity that we experienced. Thank you Rosie, for being such a wonderful person. We really appreciate everything you did for our family!!

Check out the clip below.

http://www.oprah.com/rosie/Rosies-Big-Surprise-for-a-Helpful-Neighbor

Roscoe Village Coasters

2012-01-19T17:45:00.003-06:00

Coasters and wine charms can be purchased at Village Paperie (http://www.villagepaperie.net/) in Roscoe Village. Visit this wonderful shop that specializes in customizing special gifts! The two sisters that own the shop (Frankie and Johnnie) are extremely helpful and love catering to the neighborhood. Shop local!

Polaroids on Canvas!

2011-03-09T12:07:00.008-06:00

I finally took the plunge and will now be offering my Polaroids on canvas. These are three 20x20 museum wrapped canvas prints and I love the fact that they're lightweight, archival, and hassle free. New year...new focus. In a couple of weeks, I'll be taking my panels out of hibernation and larger pieces of art will be presented at the upcoming shows.

Wholesale show product shots

2011-01-09T19:08:00.012-06:00

I'm doing two wholesale shows this January and have been busy creating products shots to decorate my booths. Here are samples of my products that will be presented at the Chicago and Los Angeles Beckman shows.

Last Minute Holiday Shopping at Espresso Thy Art - Dec. 16th-18th

2010-12-14T13:10:00.004-06:00

My products will be available for purchase this weekend at Espresso Thy Art.

Click on the link below for holiday shopping hours and location information:
http://www.espressothyart.blogspot.com/

Architectural Coaster Series

2010-09-30T06:11:00.002-05:00

Product shots in the Garden

2010-08-24T23:44:00.004-05:00

Zion National Park

2010-07-02T18:02:00.007-05:00

Zion is the first national park we visted this summer. With temperatures as high as 98 degrees, even the most leisure hike was a challenge, especially with three young hikers in tow. The deep blue skies made a perfect backdrop for the majestic canyons that were framed by posing trees.

New additions to the Chicago SX-70 series

2010-05-12T17:22:00.008-05:00

It's been over a year since my last manipulation. Here are three new images that I'm adding to my Chicago Series. The film I used is 5 years old and is leaking along the edges. It makes me sad to know that I'm limited to what film I have left, but at the same time I feel euphoric when I'm manipulationg and creating new images. If only I had an unlimited supply.....

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T02:11:00.009-06:00

These images were taken at Christmas Mountain Village near Wisconsin Dells (summertime, of course). My infrared camera transformed these weeping willows into beautiful winter-like scenes. I love the way the trees are lined up along the edge of the lake, standing firm and tall, yet weeping so delicately.

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T05:48:00.004-06:00

International Photography Awards - Honorable Mention

2009-11-02T05:30:00.003-06:00

My "Trees in Infrared" series received an honorable mention in the 2010 International Photography Awards:

http://photoawards.com/en/Pages/Gallery/zoomwin.php?eid=8-2985-09&uid=&code=Trees

48 hours in Southern California

2009-09-03T03:41:00.008-05:00

Took a last minute vacation to find summer heat in southern California. Temperatures were in the high 90's and we cooled off by spending a beautiful morning at White Point Beach in San Pedro. I did a surprise photo shoot for a dear friend's granddaughter. She made our day extra special!

Reformado Photography, LLC Products

2009-08-23T01:25:00.005-05:00

Here's a quick look at what products are available on my ETSY shops and at Espresso Thy Art.

INFRA-"RED"

2009-08-12T01:40:00.004-05:00

i've been using my infrared filter on my lense to create prints up to 20x30. using a filter is more challenging than using the dedicated infrared camera because the exposures are long (up to 30 seconds) and that requires very still subjects and no wind, otherwise blurring occurs. in this photo, the clouds were moving slowly as the shutter was open, but i was pleased with the "soft cloud" effect. the wind was blowing quite a bit so the trees are a little blurry and the lake looks really calm and smooth.

Infrared Collection

2009-07-27T03:59:00.006-05:00

This is my new favorite video slideshow...a compilation of my infrared images to date. I've added the song "Canon" by artist Dax Johnson and find myself watching the video when I need inspiration....in other words...about once a day. I hope you enjoy it!

Click on the arrow below to view my world in infrared:

Birds in Flight - Ttv series

2009-07-07T02:38:00.006-05:00

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T18:29:00.007-05:00

Chicago Firefighter Calendar 2010 Photo Shoot at Espresso Thy Art

2009-06-26T01:15:00.011-05:00

Click on the link below to see the firefighters featured in the 2009 calendar:

http://animoto.com/play/wDpBw1StLAlIRgDF4F3Gxg?autostart=true

If you're interested in seeing firefighters pose for the 2010 Firefighter Calendar, stop by Espresso Thy Art on Wednesday morning, July 1st. These guys are going to create morning traffic with horns beeping and joggers stopping dead on their tracks to enjoy the view. Don't be shy....visit the cafe and show your support to these amazing guys who put their lives at risk for us on a daily basis.

Location: 4019 N. Damen (one block north of Irving Park)

Hinsdale Fine Art Festival - June 13-14

2009-06-06T22:43:00.008-05:00

These pictures of the Graue Mill will be available at the Hinsdale Art Festival on June 13-14. Show hours are from 10am till 5pm both days. I will be at Booth 141. Click on the link below for more info:

http://hinsdalechamber.chambermaster.com/directory/jsp/events/EventPage.jsp?ccid=318&eventid=23&qs=ccid=318visibility=2context=month

Espresso Thy Art - Now Open!

2009-05-14T22:34:00.005-05:00

the cafe is now open. here's the link to the blog for more info:
http://www.espressothyart.blogspot.com/

here's a slideshow of the cafe's interior and garden patio:
http://animoto.com/play/YeS9lCuJwx0oj2n3SIb1Zg?autostart=true

While we're waiting for opening day....

2009-04-27T16:33:00.019-05:00

here are pictures of what we plan on serving at the cafe. My sister Marissa has developed and perfected a phenomenal crepe recipe! Pretty impressive for someone who's never been to France. The strawberry and blueberry parfait that my sister Virginia made is also a proven winner. In the meantime, we're waiting for final inspections, so we're still unsure of the cafe's opening date. I'll continue to post photos of what food to expect, the interior of the cafe, and the progress of the reading garden.

Belgium Getaway

2009-04-18T01:56:00.019-05:00

INFRARED PHOTOGRAPHY

Amidst all the cafe madness, I somehow managed a quick getaway to Belgium with some friends. Our first stop was Bruges, which is also known as "Venice of the North." I felt like I was stepping back into medieval times with the cobbled stone streets, romantic canals, and gothic architecture. The weather was beautiful, trees were blooming, and clouds were dancing.

Painted Glass

2009-04-07T02:25:00.002-05:00

I love these little pieces of original art. Once I turn them into pendants, they will be showcased at the cafe! Three very talented artists were involved in creating these special glass tiles.

Where do the years go?

2009-03-31T05:32:00.014-05:00

I cherish these polaroids.......

green bay, WI

cabo san lucas, mexico

montrose beach, chicago

Today is a very special day because my clone is another year older. It seems like only yesterday she was a toddler, but guess what? Yesterday, she bought a diary with a key at the book fair! I didn't even know she had money!

Spring at the Mall in Central Park

2009-03-28T05:47:00.006-05:00

This photo was taken last April. I took a day trip to New York and was on a mission to photograph Central Park in infrared. You can imagine how manic I was once I got off the bus and entered the park. I completed my series in two hours as I raced through certain areas and captivated by others, specifically this "mall" area. It was 2 hours of pure adrenaline.

I just entered this image into the centralpark.com spring photo contest, so feel free to vote:

http://www.centralpark.com/photos/contest/latest

Happy Spring!

2009-03-20T11:24:00.002-05:00

polaroid sx-70 manipulation

Espresso Thy Art - Renovation Pics

2009-03-18T23:06:00.005-05:00

Renovation is still in progress, but once we get the counters installed and the cafe cleaned up, we'll set a grand opening date. We're hoping to welcome our customers in late April. Can't wait! Click on the link below for a sneak preview.

http://animoto.com/play/Oi2dVqlIfh512aWMWEXmUw

Smoothie of the Week - Avocado

2009-03-17T14:49:00.008-05:00

Move over shamrock shakes….hello avocado smoothies! My sister Marissa dreams about ripe avocados being covered with sweet condensed milk and crushed ice blended away to a cream so thick that she wakes up craving this smoothie! When her friend visits from Florida, they make every excuse to pass by her favorite Vietnamese restaurant, just so they can indulge in this delicious smoothie. It’s an addiction that she denies, but we’re certainly aware of. So....during avocado season, we’re serving these smoothies to keep a smile on her face. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum-Butterfly Haven

2009-03-13T09:15:00.008-05:00

Eight more days till spring......

Faces of Orchids

2009-03-07T01:09:00.037-06:00

I've always admired orchids from afar but had no idea what I was in for until I went to the Hausermann's Orchid Show last year. I was so intrigued by all the distinctive characteristics and decided to do a "Faces of Orchid" series.

All orchids have a single reproductive structure, called the column, which is formed by the fusion of the male stamens and female style. Orchids also have a modified third petal called a lip or labellum and produce enormous numbers of very tiny seeds.

I was so proud of these photos until I brought them to work, curious to hear feedback from friends. A co-worker who loves photography thought they were fabulous! However, one of my best friends who I rely on for good, constructive criticism, started to looked at them but immediately pushed them away. She refused to look further because, according to her, they were too "SCARY" . I was a little offended at first, but when I started to stare at them, I started getting SCARED too! Eventually I took the photos out of hiding and got other opinions with comments ranging from "exotic" to "erotic." Go figure!

Don't miss Hausermann's 2009 Orchid Show, going on through this weekend:
http://www.orchidsbyhausermann.com/

Passion

2009-03-04T19:14:00.007-06:00

As I was going through my countless photos today, I found this article that I saved back in September 2003. I was just beginning my photography business and was still unsure if I could make a living doing what I loved. The article inspired me to live out my passion.

Since then, I’ve always kept my focus, even after a few bumps on the road (and belly – I adore my 3 year old). Every year is full of change, hope, and adventure. Even in this economy, I can’t wait to open our café because my family and I will be living OUR dream together. We plan on becoming as successful as our parents, and with a lot of hard work, I believe we can keep the fire burning for a very long time!

Click on the article above for inspiration.

Smoothie of the Week - Lychee

2009-02-25T16:33:00.013-06:00

Lychees are grown in southeast Asia with trees reaching heights up to 35 feet. The fruit's translucent, sweet white flesh, which is covered with a pink-red rind, is rich in Vitamin C.

Lychees are a gem in my book. I was introduced to lychees in a can many years ago, but found fresh lychees at the Vietnamese market a few years ago. My curiosity got the best of me, so I splurged on what seemed like fruit wrapped in gold (costwise). Nothing compares and I plan on tempting our customers with this exotic fruit smoothie. It's my favorite!

Crema

2009-02-23T10:03:00.007-06:00

"Crema is the most critical indicator of a well-made espresso. The crema should be reddish-brown in color, and it should be smooth, rich, velvety, plentiful, and persistent."--Dr. Joseph John

I scoured the internet for great espresso articles and found two worth sharing by Dr. Joseph John:

http://www.josuma.com/documents/espresso_exposed.pdf

http://www.josuma.com/documents/anatomy_of_american_espresso.pdf

Espresso Thy Art article posted on www.examiner.com

2009-02-17T02:20:00.006-06:00

New coffeehouse opening soon in North Center: Espresso Thy Art
2 comments

February 16, 11:42 AM
by Dana Kavan, Chicago Neighborhood Examiner

North Center's main drag is stepping up its coffeehouse game. The busy Irving Park-Damen-Lincoln intersection already houses a Starbucks, but soon it'll be home to Espresso Thy Art, a locally owned coffee shop that'll have me passing on the venti Pike Place Roast for good.

Owned by three sisters, Espresso Thy Art merges an art studio with a cafe, dishing up one-of-a-kind paintings alongside frothy cappuccinos. I emailed with artist and co-owner Rossana Reformado about the inspiration for the cafe and what patrons can expect when it opens in March.

Why did you choose this particular locale/neighborhood for your coffeehouse?

Our parents own the building, and they operated a Filipino Bakery from 1987 to December 2007. We are familiar with the neighborhood as we grew up in the Lakeview/North Center area and have seen many changes throughout the years.

Can you tell me a bit about why you decided to open the cafe, and what role each of you will play?

My sisters and I decided to start an indie coffee house that also sold artwork. It’s a leap of faith that none of us really anticipated doing at this stage in our lives, but it’s also a venture that we are extremely excited about. My older sister, Marissa, will help with product development for the café, and my younger sister, Virginia, will be the café manager. On any given day, you will see one or all of us working behind the counter, and occasionally you will see me doing my artwork in what we call the “studio” area, where much of the artwork will be displayed.

Will you display artwork of other artists or just your own? What price point will your pieces be at?

The café will display my artwork and that of other artists. Price point will be anywhere from $4.00 for note cards, and up to $600 or more for original paintings. We will also have jewelry, tumbled marble coasters, and prints with a Chicago theme. We will feature artists on a rotating basis, and also plan to have art openings in the future.

What amenities will the cafe have?

The café will have free wi-fi for customers. Most pastries will be baked in-house as well as fresh breakfast and lunch items. Some of the items we will offer include freshly made crepes, Belgian waffles, Filipino baked goods, smoothies, and fresh fruit. Our coffee is specially roasted for our café, ground in-house, and handcrafted to order. We hope to have the backyard finished for outside seating during warmer weather. We will be growing fresh herbs and flowers in our garden for the enjoyment of our customers.

Espresso Thy Art 4019 N. Damen Ave.773/248-1935.
www.espressothyart.blogspot.com

Smoothie of the Week - Strawberry Guava

2009-02-16T15:09:00.004-06:00

guava fruit

Guava is tropical fruit rich in Vitamin A and C. I still have childhood memories of living in the Philippines, waiting for the guava tree to ripen and picking the fruits off the tree. The pulp of a ripe guava is sweet with a distinct taste and the outer skin can be crunchy and slightly tart, or soft and sweet. The strawberry-guava smoothie has become a favorite among friends and family, so by popular demand, it made the smoothie list to share with our customers!

Coaster Tutorial Using a Gel Medium Transfer - PDF file

2009-02-16T01:42:00.005-06:00

finally! my coaster tutorial is available here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21116420. i've posted some of my favorite items (double sided tape still tops the list) where i spend my wardrobe money. my sisters tease me about being fashionably challenged, but who needs new clothes when there are tons of marble tile, gallons of Golden glue and rolls of cork to be bought!

Molly's Cupcakes on Clark St.

2009-02-11T16:59:00.013-06:00

TURTLE CUPCAKE

TIRAMISU CUPCAKE

MIXED BERRY CUPCAKE

---------------------------

my sister-in-law stopped by at molly's cupcakes on clark street(http://www.mollyscupcakes.com/) coz it was strongly recommended by her friend. when i opened the box, each one looked like a piece of art......and of course, they tasted as amazing as they look!

Smoothie of the Week - Jackfruit

2009-01-31T16:13:00.006-06:00

as the "creative director" for the cafe's smoothies, i decided to give jackfruit a try. the fruit is native to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. although nothing compares to fresh jackfruit, the canned version is the next best thing. this smoothie was created using canned jackfruit with syrup, some condensed milk, and ice. it was D-licious!

Cajeta anyone?

2009-01-27T12:11:00.011-06:00

i'm a sugar addict, so...... if you say "mexico"...... i say "CAJETA!"

i stocked up on "obleas con cajeta" on my recent trip to mexico and it was worth the 48 hour trip!

p.s. do you think it's sinful to indulge in these at night when everyone is sound asleep?

48 hours in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

2009-01-23T00:56:00.002-06:00

virginia (my sister) was vacationing in puerto vallarta this week. my friend linda and i were lacking in vitamin D, so we decided to take a spontaneous 48 hour trip to mexico. the weather was in the 80's and absolutely perfect!

Reflections on Ice

2009-01-17T05:27:00.000-06:00

the lake is frozen but the heat wave starts today. temperatures are expected to rise above 20 degrees fahrenheit, but i'm staying in hibernation.

Sunrise

2009-01-15T08:02:00.000-06:00

the temperature outside is -10 degrees fahrenheit! here's a sunrise to warm up your day .

Thrillist Article on Coasters

2009-01-12T20:18:00.000-06:00

The coasters were featured on thrillist.com today. Here's a link to the article with the write up below:

http://www.thrillist.com/chicago/reformado-photography-coasters

Thanks Thrillist! See you soon when the cafe opens!

Thrillist ChicagoEmailed on: Monday January 12, 2009
Reformado Photography Coasters
Chicago might be renowned for its stunning architecture, but what good is all that majestic ingenuity if you can't set your Brandy Alexander on it? Support Chi arts the boozy way, with Reformado Photography coasters.

Eponymously named Reformado's helmed by a local photog, who snaps pics of 'Cago landmarks and institutions on an old school SX-70 Polaroid using now-defunct “time zero” film, alters the images with a bamboo skewer to give them a wavy, “painterly effect”, then gel transfers them onto distressed, waterproof-topped and cork-backed marble coasters. There are 30+ Chi designs (NY, SF, and Paris are also repped), with architectural standouts including two skyline shots, Buckingham Fountain (famed for spurting during Married...With Children opening credits), three signage-shots of The Berghoff (post-Prohibition Chi liquor license #1), and the exterior of God's favorite happy hour bar, Old St. Pat's church. There're also sportier options, e.g.: the Wrigley Field marquee proclaiming “CUBS WIN!”, the “Welcome To The World Series” outfield wall covering at The Cell, and a trio of American flags waving in front of Soldier Field (too bad patriotism doesn't make us the Patriots).
All the images are also available as prints, magnets, and even glass pendants -- but if you value jewelry over providing an aesthetically pleasing launch pad for your alcoholism, what good are you?
All coasters're under $13. Get your drink on at Etsy.com

Let it snow...let it snow...let it snow...

2009-01-10T17:02:00.000-06:00

it's been snowing all day today and the trees are covered with snow. over 10 inches have fallen and we've been shoveling all day.

these infrared photos were taken in august at the christmas mountain village resort in wisconsin dells. no shoveling required!

Winter in Kaui, Hawaii

2009-01-07T18:04:00.000-06:00

~warm morning wind in kaui, hawaii (infrared photos)~

~http://re4madoprints.etsy.com/~

Happy New Year 2009 !!!!!

2009-01-01T00:57:00.001-06:00

2008-12-31T10:21:00.000-06:00

Polaroid SX-70 Manipulation

2008-12-28T15:45:00.000-06:00

polaroid sx-70 manipulation of cafe logo

Espresso Thy Art

2008-12-28T15:29:00.001-06:00

As the end of the year is approaching, my sisters and I are looking forward to 2009 as we enter a new venture together......Espresso Thy Art.....an art cafe specializing in handcrafted espresso based coffee and delicious pastries baked daily. I have a little space for my studio and my artwork will be available for purchase. Grand opening date is still undetermined so stay tuned for more details.