Photography and Prose

Thursday, January 17, 2013

3RD THURSDAY CHALLENGE WITH BRENDA

Several years ago I started some fun photography online courses with Kat Sloma.(click on name) In fact that is the genesis of starting this blog.

There was a group of us who stayed with Kat's series and often left comments on one another's blogs. It was certainly a feeling of "community."

(Kat is starting these classes again, you might want to check them out.)

One of my favorites, Brenda Gottsabend who writes How to Feather an Empty Nest (click on name) is worth a visit on a regular basis. My but she has blossomed in her art/talent and website design.

Brenda has an eye for structural compositions, light/dark, positive /negative space. Her style is very distinct.

Everyone once in awhile I find myself taking a "Brenda" shot. I see something I feel Brenda would "shoot" and go for it. One day I will post some "Brenda-inspired" photographs.

Brenda is hosting a fun and challenging opportunity for all of us, 3rd Thursday Challenge. The only prerequisite is to try something "different" from what we normally do. What might challenge us as photographers.

This is my first posting.

Macro Shots

I have a dedicated macro lens. I love close up shots that peek into the more minute details; but the challenge for me is "clarity and crispness."

The challenge is due to a physical interior tremor that is permanent and only worsens with time. So handling a big, heavy camera with a tremor is a challenge in all circumstances, but particularly macro.

I do have a good tripod, but find it a "pain" to use, it really slows me down to the point I lose interest. But after my last batch of macro photos shot last week, and shown today on this posting, I realize I will have to use it.

My Thursday Challenge is holding/bracing the camera steady, and most likely moving to more usage of a tripod.

(Anyone with tips on using a tripod quickly is welcome to share.)

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It was a very rainy day. The sky rolled in gray batting, huge raindrops leaking downward and I worried about our bird feeders' seed becoming soggy, for lack of a better word.

When the steady rain wound down, it was time for seeing what damage the rain brought. And while at it take some shots.

To counteract my tremor I decided to go for BIG BOKEH, thus masking some of the automatic blur I knew I would have.

Here are the good and not so good.

GRAY-WET-MISTY-WARMISH

STAR OF THE DAY: THE BIRD FEEDER

Note the tiny green leaf/middle of bottom tray. This is where I focused.

Charmingly, the seeds fell down on the broad green leaves. It reminds me of a fairy banquet.

Focusing on a few raindrops dripping off the feeder and a bare branch, the challenge became very acute.

On our porch is one lonely, forlorn and drooping geranium ...simply clinging to life begged to be photographed.

I suppose these are more "distant" macro shots, but so much of the subject was interesting that I didn't focus in on a single minuscule element. I also recognize that I "like to tell a story" and that often times requires showing a bit of the scenery along with the star.

I do love the close up, as long as the camera isn't focusing on ME!

Thanks Brenda !

Baskets of Ovals

It has been quite awhile since I participated in a dedicated "textures" photography group.

Heaven knows I have enough photos! When I decided to join Bonnie's Photo Art Friday, I wondered if I would remember the steps involved in layering with textures...I was pretty slow but came up with two.

The Waves that make Music seem to Know

Winter here in the south is much milder than when we lived in Maryland and Chicago. I wish for snow, but mostly we have rain and chilly temperatures.

On our porch, baskets of seashells still sit, oblivious to the weather.....they are just happy TO BE.

I love walking up to the front door and there the weathered metal basket sits filled with the textures and stories of South Carolina seashells.

I love the top shell with its many layers and tiny coral houses. It has to be The Grandmother Shell.

Bonnie's two textures, Arctic Ice and Lavender Halo were used on the photo.

Some friends of mine live on a wonderful acreage with weathered outbuildings, gardens, rusted sculptures, back acres of trees, stream and open pasture, and a really fun Chicken Chalet for their "ladies." Each lady has a name and a suitable personality. Each lays a particular color of egg from teal blue to golden rust.

While visiting they invited me to pluck a few freshly laid eggs and take them home. What a treasure, a "simple" meaningful gift.

I couldn't wait to photograph these beauties. I put them on a brightly striped napkin inside a wicker basket, placed where the morning light was streaming through windows, creating bold stripes of their own.

At the same time I took a shot of the empty wicker stool and superimposed it over the photo of the eggs. Blending the two photos resulted in the previous photograph.

Next was to apply two of Bonnie's textures: Nebula Overlay and French Script.

Eggs from the Ladies

Fun to try textures again. I have a lot to learn and as we say "practice makes ________."

Drop by Bonnie's blog and see her "texture special" she is offering and look at some really amazing work.

A New Year

To be Aware of the Wonder of Light

May your greatest wish come true in 2013 !

Thank you for being my friend and taking time to visit my blog.

This is a battery-bulb candle...that our sweet "little bits" is holding.

THE END BEFORE THE BEGINNING

Usually my intentions are earnest and sincere, whole-heartedly intended to be fulfilled.

BUT there are times when nothing evolves, it stops before it begins, the good intention evaporates like the frost on my car windows when struck by the first rays of sun.

To be honest I have several GOOD INTENTIONS that didn't happen in 2012, one of which was so simple, so lovely, such a nice opportunity but poof, like the frost, the opportunity vanished.

Kat Sloma, whom I have taken many photography related courses and learned so much from, offered an opportunity to post ONCE a month our favorite photo of that month. Not hard, rather fun. A GRAND IDEA I thought, but there was the necessary deadline, and despite her reminders via a newsletter, I never made the deadline. When I would think of it, the deadline had passed. And I might miss it this time, but I am here to attempt to fulfill 1/12th of a commitment to Photo-Heart Connection.

This is called "tidy-ing-up loose ends" before I do it again in 2013!

My phone camera and Big Mama were pretty busy during December there were so many super opportunities to shoot fun photos.....mostly fading gardens, skeleton trees, holiday lights and family...but we gained a new family member this past autumn and the camera really kicked up a notch with this adorable, photographic, "holds still" new Grand-Doggie.

BLOSSOM BROWN

Blossom was a mistreated, malnourished, ill, damaged, over-bred dog.

She is alive because a wonderful humane society rescued her and she regained some strength and vitality. The volunteers fell in love with her, but still, a year later, she remained in the humane center.

Ashley and Daniel met Blossom and saw all of her potential and that she deserved a better and more meaningful life. So they took her home as a foster dog. Love was immediate.

While we were visiting them in the autumn, the decision was made, Blossom needed to be a full fledge member of their home no more "foster" nonsense, but a full adoption and commitment.

It was one of those Really Good Ideas!

Blossom Brown received the full Christmas treatment.

Loads of love from visiting family, more photos taken than of anyone else, the privilege to sleep under the Christmas tree and feel the warmth of the lights on her once damaged back, special snacks and presents.

She fell in love with her long-legged Pink Piggy. They are now constant companions. The "mother" who birthed too many puppies, can now enjoy a "childhood" and be cared for and loved.

Yes, this photo represents what a healthy dose of humanity, compassion, love and friendship can do for a broken heart...

ANY HEART!

Blossom has truly lived up to her new name.

If you would care to join me as I once again attempt to post on a monthly basis my favorite photo of the month, join me at Kat's Photo-Heart Connection. (click on links above)

(And feel free to remind me of the deadline dates.)

Celebrate What's Right With the World

A few months ago I tumbled into an appealing and thoughtful photography website. Dewitt Jones is a professional photographer. His work is remarkable, among the best.

This seems like the right time to share with those who want to focus on the positive in their lives Dewitt's: Celebrate What is Right with the World.

It is so easy to get bound by the profoundly sad, the slowness by which we learn to cooperate and listen to one another. It is easy to slip over the edge into finding little that is positive in our lives and in the world.

I subscribed to his blog a few months ago and when I see his name pop up in my mail, I am eager to see what beautiful photo he has shared along with a meaningful quote.

No selling, or needing to read his blog, simply a quote and a photo. Of course there is much within his website to explore.

I am sticking a note on my computer to join his Celebration of What is Right in the World by trying to share one of my photographs on an almost weekly basis. Would love to have you join me.

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The quote is from Dewitt. Check out his site, Celebrate What's Right With the World: How easy it is to celebrate a birthday, a marriage, a holiday. How hard it is to hold that same perspective in our daily lives. Everyday we are inundated with messages that tell us what’s wrong with our world. It’s not surprising that we lose sight of all the things that are right with it; of all that is truly worth celebrating. As a photographer, I have a choice of what lens I put on my camera; a choice of how I am going to view the world. I choose to celebrate. Why? Because it imbues me with gratitude, because it allows me to see the best in people and situations, because it fills me with energy. This website is for those who choose celebration. A gathering place where we can come to share, to learn, to recharge, to take action. To change the world - one celebration at a time.

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The World's Most Precious Treasure

CHILDREN

Children come in all shapes, sizes, colors, beliefs, circumstances, abilities and disabilities and innate innocence.

Today's children, world wide, are our future, but for now, while young they are EVERYONE'S responsibility and blessing.

In our little spot in North Carolina, my husband and I have been blessed with five children, all of whom were once very young, rambunctious, inquisitive, adorable, not-so-adorable, noisy, while sleeping looked like angels, a true mix-match of energy and joy.

We have been blessed by their beautiful spouses;

which gave us

ELEVEN GRANDCHILDREN
to love and cherish.

There is a glow in a parent's eyes, that says: This is my child whom I dearly love and would protect with my life.

In honor of the children and adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the children of Syria, far off corners of Africa, Cambodia, Afghanistan....places where children, can not protect themselves and are suffering: I wish to share photos of children one could see anywhere and just smile. May all of our children be protected and cherished.