COUNTERPOINT & MANIFESTO

Had a devilish time finding anything I felt like posting today. Had the same problem finding a photo to go with my daily dream poem post on my other blog, too. Maybe all the "June gloom" out there seeped into my brain. Where I live in south central California we tend to have foggy mornings in May ("gray") and June ("gloom"). Finally settled on these two versions of the same extreme crop of the center of a red rose. I'm always tickled by those partial concentric circles certain roses make as they unfold. "Counterpoint" is above, and "Manifesto" is below.

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.

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‘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”) ****

"Lights & Shadows" (greeting card in two versions)

Recently, I posted my first effort at designing a greeting card using my photos (click here to see that post). I've since designed and had sample cards printed for six additional cards. The above, "Lights & Shadows," is one of those and probably my favorite second only to that first effort.

These cards are all 5"X7" on good weight card stock, blank inside, and come with an envelope. I'd thought I'd have a sample book for folk to order from at my photo exhibit in July, but have since cancelled the show. Not sure what I'll do now as I definitely do not feel like getting into even the simplest of marketing. (I've ear-marked a couple of the sample cards I have as birthday cards for friends. I'd continue to order and use them this way, only they're not cheap to have printed.) This may wind up to be another creative effort of mine that just sits there, questioningly, and that other folk encourage me to pursue in some way. Ah, well, I've plenty else to be concerning myself with for the foreseeable future. And it was great fun to design these cards. Not to mention how surprised I am each time I see them. (Did I really design those? :-D)

OK, since posting the above I've had some feedback about that photo in the lower right on which I changed the colors. Sigh. It makes folk uncomforable as it's not the natural colors. Normally, I'd leave it as is, going with my own vision. I think it works because of all the angles and shadows, and the green that echos the green in the photo above it. However, this is not just for my own personal enjoyment but, as a greeting card design, supposedly also for "public consumption." Therefore, others' discomfort with those changed colors does carry more weight than it might usually. So, here's a revised version, returning the colors of the picture in the lower right to normal:

And, to be honest, I can now see how the changed colors in the original version of this card sort of make that photo jump out a bit from the group of pictures. Ack. It's such a difficult process to figure out when to stay true to my inner vision and when it's good to make changes based on others' responses.

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.

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‘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”) ****

FRONT OFFICE SURPRISE & SHAPING UP

No new photos to post so I started wandering at random through my folders for one to post today. This one, "Front Office Surprise," is the first that I liked. It's from January of 2010. As I may have mentioned here before, we have the delight of a changing variety of floral displays on this Front Office waiting area table. The blooms are usually from our own gardens and arranged by one of our residents. This display was particularly arresting, IMHO. The combination of flowers, leaves, that graceful unusual color vase, the little basket, and the warm wood around ... just lovely. I took quite a batch of pictures of it at different times and from many different angles that day. It was a challenging shot to get, given that window to the right, a white brick wall (cropped out) to the left, and that there are many large windows behind the viewer casting a lot of light on reflective areas -- making a shot from other angles even more problematic. (All this is said acknowledging my minimal camera tech skills, of course.)

And here's another picture from that batch, that I posted here some time ago, now called "Shaping Up" --

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.

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‘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”) ****

HEAT WAVE'S END & THE HUDDLE

My rooms have been a little warm the last couple of days when I got back to them after being out and about. Which put me in mind of the photo above ("Heat Wave's End") as I closed my window this morning, now feeling a bit chilly. I could wish for better clarity (resolution?) on this picture, but I like the colors and the petals' curves.

The roses in the photo immediately above ("The Huddle") were planted in our Memorial Rose Garden a couple of years ago in memory of a woman (Mariah) whom I'd liked very much and wished I'd gotten to know better. I was therefore surprised to find this color had been chosen for her rose bush; it's one of my favorites. It's also the sort of rose that tends to grow in close together groups.

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.

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‘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”) ****

GOOSE BUMPS & BESTOWAL

"Goose Bumps" above is a brand new edit of an old photo. One of those I've edited many times since I took it in September of 2011. The original is of the full succulent (cactus?) and I kept trying to hold on to more of it than shows here. But there was always something obstructive (dead leaves, shadows, too much white where sunlight fell on it, etc.). But I just didn't want to give up on it and finally arrived at this re-colored, very small crop. And even it required a wee bit of "painting out" of dark specks.

"Bestowal" is another from the same day of photos as the one at the top of this post. It, too, enticed me to keep trying to find a satisfying edit. First, I reversed the color in this umpteenth new crop, then re-colored it.

I was doing this editing of old pictures in preparation for my photo exhibit that was to be in July. The operative words in that sentence are "was to be." I have since decided to cancel the exhibit. Too much for this old lady to deal with this summer. Maybe later, maybe not. But certainly not now.

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.

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‘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”) ****

THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK & THREE'S A CROWD (2)

I'm not all that enamored of either of these pictures today. But I'm headachey and more than usually impatient of finding photos I really want to post. So I settled on these somewhat experimental ones to share that have things about them that I do like.

I've been following "The New Kid on the Block" (above) for some time as it gradually extends upward. It's now begun opening some small, sort of trumpet-shaped blossoms, spaced singly along the branch. It's actually a somewhat deeper blushing orange color, but I've not been able to get a shot that comes out any closer to it than this one. Each time I pass it I'm amused again by how it stands at a distance from those familiar orchids blooming away in the background, even as it echos their dance. It's in a pot on the sidewalk, and is the first time it's bloomed. (It may be an altogether new plant in that pot than in seasons past; I don't know for sure.)

Not sure why I was drawn to crop "Three's A Crowd (2)" this way, nor why I like these changed colors. I can only say I enjoy the contrast of textures implied between the central thorny stalk(s) and the two fleshy side groups, and how I can readily project a sense of caution and care onto this arrangement. Also, I find the somewhat water color effect pleasing and the way the curve of the thorny branch and the pot (vague, background) echo each other creating an interesting shape between them. But ultimately I'm not clear whether this photo (as currently edited) works. Hm, as I typed that I realize I do really like this photo and that it really does work ... for me. The problem is I think it probably runs afoul of a lot of others' artistic and photographic expectations and beliefs. Expectations and beliefs be darned, I've posted it. :-)

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.

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‘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”) ****