Dreamy, Lazy-Dazy Photos

I love love love to go blog visiting.  I seriously have to limit my time for soaking in all of the talent, spontaneity, color, wizardry and creativity presented by these fabulous blog genies.

Somedays I treat myself to "art" blogs

Other times to "photography" or "mixed media"

Then there are the "cooking/photography" blogs that I LOVE to read, but rarely give in to cooking their "delish" recipes.

Then I go all political...but those usually put me in a bad mood.

And so the circle goes and GROWS.

This week I have been once again pulled into photo processing: the kind that presents dreamy, sweet, fair-colored photographs that remind me of creamy grits and honey.  (remember I am in the South)

Susan Tuttle and Kim Klassen are masters of the pale, fragile, antique-like photographs. (There are many others who do this wonderful genre of photo processing.)

Kim offered a photoshop tutorial to transport our pictures into the land of gossamer and lemonade.

So I gave it a try. 

I came up sorely lacking...but I spent so much time on the pictures that I knew I had to salvage them by sharing.

At least I felt my time had a purpose.

In a past posting I shared some of these photos of passing pastures on our way to Raleigh, NC.  

But here they are in my humble first attempts at the

"understated."

Heart Thought:  it is humbling to want to do something well, but in the end you KNOW it will take much practice, patience, and more practice.  

Thank you  Kim Klassen for your textures and tutorials. 

Thank you  Susan Tuttle for your inspirational work.

The Influence of Photography

I just wrote a few words on my art blog about what inspires me to paint.  The focus was photography.

Photography has become an increasingly important component to my painting life. But even if I didn't draw a single line, or dab a brilliant color, photography would be of prime importance.

Photography allows me to recall, remember, reminisce, reflect on the stamen of a flower to the magnificent strength of the ocean; the pink of strawberry stained hands 

to the lavender fields of Provence; the blur of a bird's beating wings to the single drop of water.

My life is enriched by taking the time to photograph the smallest to the largest experiences.

I can't imagine not having a camera close at hand.

I would have missed 

this

Students observing art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Musicians' body language expressing a LOVE for their music-making.

Exuberance

Spiderman Up High

Memorable Meal at Sunset

Our first ripe tomato before the birds could find it.

This photograph was taken while walking through a park, over five years ago. I treasure it. I wonder who this woman is and where is she now.

Walking by a planter and noticing colorful artichokes. Photographing them I realized they were hand painted paper!!

Mango sherbet reflections.

These photos are NOT fine art, they are barely amateur, however they are personal treasures. 

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Heart Thought:  Everything is of significance. Everything matters too someone.

A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER

I believe we all know that a picture is worth a thousand words.

Once a week I wish to share with you lovely friends

a few favorite photos without commentary.

They are for your personal enjoyment, reflection, meditation.

Feel free to download.

click on photo to enlarge.

Reflections on Water

Water Water Everywhere

Let the sky open up

Drench us

Nourish us

Refresh us.

It has been two years since leaving our bucolic little village 

A village skirting the Chesapeake Bay

Home of yesteryear

Missed

Tonight as the sky bursts like a ripe watermelon

And seeds of rain scatter 

My thoughts return to this little village

Dotted with wharves

Strutting Cranes

Evening Fishermen in expectancy

Children climbing clouds on the seat of a swing.

Such a privilege to KNOW the mystery of the WATER.

Smiles are Contagious

Awoke to a very dreary, rainy day.

So lets Spread a Little Sunshine!!!

It was our Funny Bunny's Readers' Theater at school on Monday. Which always elicits tons of 

GIGGLES, SMILES AND LAUGHTER. 

Ah feeling much CHIPPER now, how about you?

Heart Thought: ever try keeping your face turned UPWARD all day long?  an hour?  30 minutes? 

Ramblings and Photos

Whew, very close to not participating in Ashley Sisk's Ramblings and Photos today.

I thought, if I can do this in half an hour, IT IS A GO!

Without a pause, today's words to interpret through photos.

  FAST:  

We just returned from Disney World where almost everything is FAST or FASTER or FASTEST.  But I was totally blown away by the stilt walkers, (probably a better name for this art.)  These amazing men and women walked through the crowds with speed and panache, just like cutting butter with a warm knife.

SHINE:

The sun glistened perfectly over the lacy webs catching  airborne petals.

LEFT:

We happened upon a flock of pelicans diving for fish. Such a fascinating way to watch someone dining!

PEACE:

Underneath the feeling of calm and peace is buried the past Jewish genocide.

A gate view at a synagogue in Budapest where  

the rocks are a specific memorial 

to lost loved ones.

PLAIN:

Driving through bucolic North Carolina, I glimpsed these bales of  hay. Alone, quiet, peaceful, the work of nature and man to provide sustenance. 

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Heart thought:  it is amazing how we are all so different when it comes to interpreting a glance, a meal, a religion, a decor style, or a single word. If you visit Ashley's post, you will see an amazing and vast interpretation of the above simple five words.  This is one reason that photography is so fascinating. 

Flowers in my Garden

Flowers are forever Beginning and Beginning again.

This spring some cropped up beautifully and others seem to still be slumbering...
here is a peek.

A flower need not be RARE to be beautiful.

Imaginary Blooms to brighten a wall. 

No water required!

How is your garden growing?  I hope a surprise shows up, something unexpected and charming!