Fly Away

A couple of weeks ago, I found this pink balloon in the bushes along my driveway. No idea where it came from... a birthday party? The birth of a baby girl? Anyway, I brought it up to the house, intending to put it in the trash, but dropped it into the recycle bin instead. And then I forgot all about it as the recycle bin filled up. Yesterday, after the trash had been emptied, I noticed the balloon lying by the street in front of my house. Apparently it was rejected as a recyclable item.

As I left this morning to run some errands, I stopped and took this photo and then I put it inside the car - once again with the intention of throwing it away. As I finished my last errand, I opened the back door of the car and out it flew (it's very windy today). I turned to try to catch it again but it was out of sight.

The End.

Room 309

Post holiday, get-back-to-normal days... and I must get back into a photo-making  routine. I haven't done a photo-a-day project for two years; maybe I need that commitment to ensure that I at least get the camera out of the bag more often. 

For now, I just need to get through December.

Calendar Days

I worked on my 2012 calendar today. I have been making personalized calendars since 1998. The early versions had either family photos or copies of some of my paintings. Back then I ordered calendar kits and printed and assembled them myself. Those were also the days when I hand-painted my Christmas cards. The volume of each was very small. Thank goodness for the availability of online printing!

Each year, when I begin the photo selection process, I realize that I am more likely to compose a shot in portrait mode than landscape. Since I prefer calendars to be in landscape orientation, finding twelve images (thirteen with the cover) is not so simple. And every year I tell myself that next year... the calendar will have to be in portrait mode.

Last look

A late blooming rose set against the autumn color outside of my window. This view often has a negative impact on my productvity... causing severe bouts of daydreaming. I dread the time that the trees will be bare and the view will be boring and a little depressing. But that is something over which I have no control... the world keeps turning.

One, Two, Three, Four

I admit that I'm not afraid to roll down the window when I'm in my car, waiting in line for one thing or another, in order to take a picture. I'm rarely disappointed in the results. I will also admit that I have a problem with landscapes - always have, even when I was painting. I feel much more comfortable with still lifes, portraits and macros. Landscapes overwhelm me a bit... I'm never sure where to end it all, what to include/exclude, what is the focus? 

And I have to say, that with a few exceptions, my landscape images don't "wow" me. Don't get me wrong - I love the landscapes of other, more proficient photographers; those who seem to know how to frame the shot. Which brings me back to the open car window. Not that I consider this image a landscape, but I think in some way, the window frame gives me a reference. Not unlike holding up ones' thumbs and forefingers in order to evaluate a composition.

Another anomaly - I don't seem to have this problem when shooting infrared. Does black and white simplify the scene for me? Allowing me to place the elements in an interesting composition?

Autumnal Palette

Each autumn I am taken over by the color display put on by mother nature. Then, about midway (now) I start to feel as though I'm taking too many photos of leaves. I try to turn my attention to other, non-autumnal subjects but the color outside my window continues to hold my gaze. And later, during the non-autumn months, those images of gold, red and orange still please me as I flip through my galleries.

Another color also caught my eye today... possibly the last rose of summer. A pink rosebud stood out among the golden hues, against the blue sky. 

Leaf Peeping

I spent a few days visiting my family in North Carolina and took a drive to catch some autumn color. It was a perfect weekend - coolish temperatures, blue skies and lots of reds, yellows and golds. This shot was taken at a lake (could not find the name of the lake) at Crowder Mountain. The leaves here at home are just beginning to turn, so there may be more leafy photos to come. :)

Here is a wider view of the lakeside: