Something to Go Round

Going Round

I dug into the archives a little on this one.  Sometimes it takes me a bit to get back to the gazillions of photos I have taken over years.  Okay, maybe not a gazillion exactly - give or take one or two and that might be more accurate.

Back to the whole looking at things in a new way . . . I love the shadow here.  What a terrific image with the different shapes.  Throw in the texture from that tire - and voila, I'm a happy girl.

We must use what we have to invent what we desire.  ~ Adrienne Rich

Just A Slight Change

Washed Away

Now this just makes me want to go to the beach.  I love the color of the water at the top.  Would you believe that this image and the one from yesterday were taken at the same time and same basic location?  It's amazing what a few little differences, such as position and lighting, can do to an image.  Fun stuff.

Don't go around saying the world owes you a living.  The world owes you nothing.  It was here first.  ~ Mark Twain

Do I Like It or Do I Not? I'm Still Not Sure

Untitled

Texture and light and abstract.  All things that I really enjoy when photographing.  I've been going back and forth on this one for quite some time.  I want to share it and then decide against it.  I like it, but find it a little distracting.  While quickly scrolling through my images that are in my "holding area", I was drawn to this one again.  And, well, that was it.  Tonight was the night I was going to quit talking myself out of sharing it and going with my initial gut instinct.  So, here it is.  Not sure what you all will think.  Is it art, is it not?  I don't really now, and honestly that is for each of you to decide.  For me, there is something about all that texture and the playful light, it just keeps pulling me in.  I'm not going to tell you what it is, at least not yet - can you tell me what it is?

I was also wondering something.  Is there anyone out there that is interested in learning some tips on taking better photos?  Not that I'm an expert by any means, but just some tips.  Let me know if you are.  I'm thinking about setting up some easy ideas to improve your photography.  Nothing technical, just very simple things.  And, I have also been asked to share how to use an SLR camera and am putting that together too.  So, if you are interested in something like that, please let me know.

All art requires courage.  ~ Anne Tucker

Oh Those Lazy Summer Days

Lazy Summer Days

Not sure what those are really, lazy summer days, since we ended up being pretty busy from beginning to end.  I can hardly believe that the summer is almost over - or at least the summer break for the kids.  Well, and that means for us adults with kids still at home too.

I took this picture from a very strange angle.  I mean, I was physically leaning and stretching to get myself into the right position.  It was not very comfortable.  All in the name of getting the shot I guess.  That is not why the angle is so crazy though - I did take several "normal" angled shots.  You know parallel to the skyline.  And then, just for fun, decided to tilt my camera.  I like that the image is not so normal.  Gives it a little zest or something.  What do you think?  Would you like to see one of the un-angled images?

I may have shared this quote before, I can't remember.  It is a good one, one that applies to this image and one that deserves a second or third reading. 

Is not amusement the very soul of life?  ~ Frances Milton Trollope

Oh and before I forget . . . so either you all are super nice and have gotten used to my lack of spell check at times, or you did not notice either.  I was expecting a correction on my title from last night.  As soon as I hit submit, I noticed that the title was misspelled.  Instead of two g's in goggles I had put two o's.  Don't worry, it was corrected last night immediately on my sight, just went out wrong on my email.  So . . . did you notice that?

The Goggles

The Goggles

Tonight will be a short one.  I hope you all had an enjoyable weekend.  And, since we are down to a few last days of late evenings, we enjoyed it at home catching up on one of our favorite TV shows.  Even though the weather might say differently, our summertime is quickly coming to an end.

I never think of the future.  It comes soon enough.  ~ Albert Einstein

Eyes on Me

Got Their Eyes on Me

It's not uncommon to hear this phrase around our house - I've got my eye on you.  We've said it for years and years.  And anyone that spends any time around us picks that one up.  In this photo, it was reversed - they've got their eyes on me.  Taking their picture that is. 

Don't you just love the warm sunlight tones.  I love how it really makes the skin glow and the eyes show up.  That lovely time just before sunset to take photos.  All the colors really pop.

Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you. ~ Walt Whitman

Halftime

Halftime

Taken during halftime.  It was a pretty bright, middle of the afternoon, day.  Not the best situation for lighting.  That time of day always creates harsh shadows.  Not to mention tires the photographer out pretty quickly.  But, that time of day can also create dramatic lighting.  I knew when I took this photo - I was shooting somewhat into the sun - that I would be able to get some pretty dramatic lighting after I got it loaded into my computer and had a chance to play a little bit.  I have always loved photos with a little more contrast.

Don't waste your time hating failure.  Failure is a greater teacher than success.  ~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes

Glorious

What A View

I do love clouds, even ones that don't look like anything in particular.  A good set of white fluffy clouds being highlighted by the sun is absolutely breathtaking.  So much so, I sat in my car at a stop sign taking this photograph early one morning.  And, would you believe me if I told you that the only camera I had was on my cell phone.  I'm still not sure how that happened, to be out and about and camera free, but I think my phone did just fine.

The earth has received the embrace of the sun and we shall see the results of that love.  ~ Sitting Bull

I Made It

Untitled

Hi there!  I'm back - after a few days of well, let's just say an interesting weekend.  First of all, I apologize for missing you on Thursday evening.  Some work was being done on my computer and I just couldn't keep my eyes open any longer waiting for it to finish.  And then, well, let me just say that I hope everyone out there had a much better weekend than I did.  I will sum it up in just two words - Food Poisoning.  I'm here to tell you that it's no fun at all.  On the bright side I think I may have dropped about five pounds.

And now it's Monday evening and all is - almost - good, so I am back to share the photo that I had all planned out for last Thursday.  After I was unable to post it on Thursday, I almost skipped it all together.  Somehow, this one really sums up my tumultuous weekend.

I do love clouds, and love them being photographed.  I spent a very long drive across country with one of my brothers passing the many, many miles finding images in the clouds.  It was a fun time for both of us and one that we both remember very fondly.

Life is a series of surprises.  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just Rolling Along

Rolling In

Now how on earth could I resist photographing such amazing clouds!  Really, we don't see clouds like this here very often, and when they come, you better take advantage and photograph.  Especially before the rain comes along.  I mean, look at that super dark cloud top right.  Yikes!

Nature does nothing in vain.  ~ Aristotle

It Comes to An End

S5

The last photo that I will be sharing from what was a very fun portrait session.  (Thanks again Sara for a great day!)

I had a hard time picking out the ones that I wanted to share with you all.  As I hope you can see, there were several very, very good pics to choose from.  It's funny, but I very rarely choose the same pics as my favorites as do the people that I am shooting.  Whenever I do a session, when scheduling our time to meet up and exchange the finished pictures, I am always asked how they turned out.  It's kind of a tricky question.  The ones that I like are usually so very different. 

I did however receive her graduation announcement and was so happy to see that one of my favorites was used.  It is a very good picture of her and one that shows her fun personality.

Follow your dream.  Transform your life.  ~ Unknown

Bottle in Blue

Bottle in Blue

This is such a fun technique called Painting with light.  It's so fun to do & one that never gets old to look at.  Looks very high tech to me.  When in reality, it's all about manipulating the amount of light you are allowing the camera to see.  It has to be shot in total darkness.  And with each take you never know exactly what you are going to get.

In this photo, I love the how the bottle is outlined.  Such a classic shape.  I don't know that there's anyone that does not recognize that as a Coke.

I never knew whether to pity or congratulate a man on coming to his senses.  ~ William Makepeace Thackeray

Roses - one of my Favorite Flowers

Ruffles and Watercolor

So, after taking photos of the Bearded Iris, my mom pointed out that the roses were in bloom and probably would make some really great photos.  I was quickly running out of room on my memory card, I had to make each photo count.  I really loved the edging of this rose - had such a ruffled almost lace feel to me.  Since I still had my camera set up for macro, I knew that the background was going to fuzz all together.  I had now idea how the light shining through the rose bush right next to this one was going to create such a wonderfully soft almost water colored look.  Love it!  I did not create that background in Photoshop.  I just played around a bit the with the highlights and the shadows.  Not sure if this is what my mom had in mind, but I'm hoping that she knows when a camera gets in my hands, I'm not sure what is gonna happen either - that is until I start taking those pictures.

If you judge people you have no time to love them.  ~ Mother Teresa

Powerful words and so true.  Judging is definitely a subject I have very strong opinions about.  It's one of those topics I've been wanting to get into, but just have not figured out how to "go there".  I think that judging people is one of the single most harmful things you can do to another human being.  It can only bring about hurtful things.  It does not open up the door to positive or encouraging relationships, in fact, I believe that judging a person does the exact opposite and closes them off to you.  Who wants to be judged?  Not me.  And certainly I do not want to be judged by someone else's standards.  I have my own beliefs and standards to live up to.  I really don't need anyone else's coming along and jamming up the works.

Youth

Candles & Cake

Tomorrow my little boy turns 12.  Wow, where did the time go?  Well, I will tell you . . . actually, more likely I will show you in pictures.  And that explains several of the pics from this week.  We have a pretty busy day planned for him.  Places to go, things to do and family to share the day with.  He is very excited for his day tomorrow.  And, thank goodness it's been a pretty busy - and very tiring - week off from school otherwise, he just might keep us up all night long.

And, why is it that when you have a break from your regular schedule you end up even more exhausted than normal?  Last night, Wednesday, just the middle of the week and we were all fighting to keep our eyes open as soon as the sun went down.  It's like that with vacations.  Have you ever noticed that?  When you go on vacation you come home needing a vacation to recover from your vacation.

Anyway . . . I am off to read for a bit before calling it a night.  I have a feeling the morning is going to come a little early in our house.  So, here is a fitting quote for the evening:

Youth comes but once in a lifetime.  ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Moment In Time

Shadow Cowboy

Each moment in time we have it all, even when we think we don't.  ~ Melody Beattie

An Aaah moment here

Aaah . . .

When you are having one of those days - the ones that last forever with no end in sight . . . just come to this photo and relax.  How can you go wrong with a sunset and two palm trees.  If this is not the image of relaxation, I do not know what is.  I can just picture a hammock swinging beneath those two trees, with a large beverage and a great book just waiting to be devoured. 

Or, maybe through those trees awaits the whitest sands and the bluest ocean you have ever seen.  Just enough of a breeze to keep the warm temperatures at bay.  And, maybe, just maybe some dolphins out for a swim. 

Nature does nothing in vain.  ~ Aristotle

Please Don't Hate Me, But . . .

Spray Part 2

. . . I'm sharing one more water photo.  I just couldn't resist.  Even though I told you all last night that I was ending the water series.  Really, I wasn't lying, I just could not get this idea out of my head all day long.  I kept thinking about the image that I shared last night - Spray.  I kept imagining doing a little bit of extra work on it - mostly in the area of cropping.  And so, tonight I present to you, Spray Part 2.  Hope you don't mind.  And now my mind can go back to all it's usual silly little thoughts and put to rest presenting this image a little differently.

The sincere friends of this world are as ship lights in the stormiest of nights. ~ Giotto di Bondone

A good friend gently pointed out to me that I did not include a quote last night.  So, tonight I will give you two (thanks Lynn for always giving me such encouragement!).

Most people see what they want to, or at least what they expect to.  ~ Martha Grimes

Tonight, I leave you with these two thoughts.  May we all be sincere friends.  And may we learn to see the world in new and wonderful ways.

Thanks to each of you for all of your support and interest in visiting my sight here.  I have really had an enjoyable time sharing my images and my thoughts with you.  But, even more, love to hear your thoughts on those things that I have shared.

The End - of sorts

Spray

The end - at least of the water pics for now.  This is the last one I am sharing from my initial shooting.  Definitely a fun project, with more in the future.  Now that I have a better idea of what works and what doesn't.  But, always bringing an open spirit to see where the moment takes me. 

I hope you have enjoyed the water pics as much as I have enjoyed sharing them.

Another good Moment

Ring

Man, oh man.  I'm not sure how it happened but somewhere along the line I got on someones spam list.  I hadn't checked my filter for about a week and there were like 30 messages - all spam.  What on earth?  And the thing I do not get about spam - the messages were being left on posts from almost a year ago.  Really, who goes back and reads comments on posts from over a year ago?  Strange.  I don't get that at all.  But, I guess that's just the way my brain works.

Okay, so this pic was one that I was very excited to see when I downloaded to my computer.  How fun is that little ring of water splashing?  Such a moment.

Some More Water

Going Up

I hope everyone had an enjoyable long weekend.  Personally, I did not get the day off.  And even so, it was a nice and productive day.  Lots of cleaning accomplished - vacuuming, sorting out clothing for donation, handing down and just plain get rid ofs, and even sorted out my office mess.  I'm so not good at keeping that area clean.

Thought I would continue on with the water droplet pictures.  Just a few more left to share.  Hopefully the best are yet to come.  We will see what you think of them.  It's been fun and something that I definitely need to shoot again!

And, I also thought I would share this quote that I came across earlier today.  It put a smile on my face when I read it & hopefully will you too!

A psychiatrist asks a lot of expensive questions your wife asks for nothing.  ~ Joey Adams