Saturday, March 24, 2012

IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT and ON THE TABLE


"In A Different Light" was another photo of mine that I accidentally saw "color reversed" and liked almost as much, and maybe even more than in it's original colors. I'm really drawn to the ethereal, even x-ray-like quality it has. (E.g., is it revealing more than we normally see?)

Here's the original, almost two and a half year old picture, "On The Table":


This "tableaux" is only the second still life I've arranged myself and then taken a photo of. I much prefer just stumbling across interesting things to photograph. Which is a little odd, given my increasing propensity for heavy post-production. Ah, well, this too may change. Especially as I've not taken any new photos in weeks. (I've finally admitted that's largely because I'm still babying my poor belabored ancient computer system, which may be the wise thing to do. I still don't know if I'm going to continue to patch this one up, or take the financial leap and get a new system.)

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

* * * *
‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,





[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

Thursday, March 22, 2012

XYLOPHONE, BENCH WARMER, and SETTING THE SCENE


"Xylophone" is exactly two years old, snapped on one of the regular long walks I was able to take before my arthritis advanced. This tree and the (now completed) construction are in Isla Vista, a small shopping and restaurant area between Goleta where I live, and UCSB. I used to really enjoy walking there, having lunch in a large airy pizza parlor across and down the street from this tree, then doing a little bit of shopping.

Here's "Bench Warmer," taken inside that pizza parlor:


And here's a going on three year old photo of that same pizza place, "Setting the Scene." It wasn't always so empty; it's just that I liked to get there either before or after the lunch hour folk (mostly university students). You can see the tree in the first picture above, in the background left of middle:


Ah, well, that's enough walking (metaphorically speaking) down memory lane for today.

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

* * * *
‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,





[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

THE OFFERING


I'd had no plan to post a photo here today. But was doing some heavy editing and wound up with the above version of a two and a half year old picture. It calls to me, so it's "The Offering" for today. And, yes, it is now in my "Hommage pour Hommes et Femmes" category. :-D That's the category in which my more Georgia O'Keefe-like and phallic flowers wind up. Though this is not the only reason I like it.

Also, I deliberately worked on this one to make it look as painting-like as I could. Given my recent increasing urge to do this with photos, maybe I should not only be sketching (as I mentioned in an earlier post) but trying my hand a water colors again. We'll see. Given my state of mind I'm just grateful I still feel like editing pictures on the computer.

By the way, when I say "heavily edited" that does not mean I actually move around or change the shapes or elements within a photo. I don't. I.e., those delightful petal shapes and curves were there from the giddy-up and I had a lot of fun high-lighting and "despeckling" them, once I'd stumbled on a crop I liked.

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

* * * *
‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,





[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****

Monday, March 19, 2012

GARDEN SLIDE


"Garden Slide" is two years old. It's another picture of mine that I have a certain liking for. It's partly the color of those orchids; the only color the beats it in my book is a deep purple. Also, as my camera doesn't do well with the intense contrast this sort of color generates, to have this lavender-pink show up passably well is a treat.

Guess it's past time for me to start taking some new photos. I found it almost (shock! :-D) boring this morning to go through my "same ole, same ole" picture files for something I could feel OK about posting here. Our gardens here are certainly showing all the engaging signs of spring. If it were just a matter of snapping one photo I'd have started taking pictures again already. But it's like that old potato chip ad: I can't have just one. I wind up wandering and snapping away endlessly, and messing up my schedule. Now, if that last statement isn't silly, I don't know what is! I'm retired and not working (even on a break from my volunteer work), what schedule do I truly have?

So all that said was just to arrive at the confession to myself that I've been wondering about the quality of my pictures, and whether beyond the pleasure they give me they are worth anything at all. Well, I now add that my finding personal worth in taking and sharing them is certainly reason enough to continue. Not to say I can't also continue to try to improve technically... so, take that you critical internal commentator!

NOTE: In most browsers you can click on a photo to view a larger version. And here’s the link if you wish to read an Introduction, Background, & Technical Aspects post about this blog.

* * * *
‘til next take, may you enjoy life in the ever changing light,





[aka: Patricia Kelly] **** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or photos, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”) ****