Jordan

The other day I was trying to get some pictures of the neighbors cats. I don't have any cats and no cat pictures but i wanted some for Halloween pictures. However, Jordan was real interested in what I was doing so he keep running back and forth in front of me. Having raised 6 kids of my own I thought it was funny, but it was driving his dad crazy. I just stopped trying for the cat and took pictures of Jordan instead. Jordan's parent's are always worried that he'll bother us, but personally I like having him around so to show his parents it didn't bother me I decided to make a copy even if the picture was not my best because he was moving. I took it down to the local Wal-Mart to print the picture (my printer was out of ink) and they demanded proof that I took the picture and was not copying a professionally done photo. How funny But in a way flattering, too. You just never know when one of those delightful moments will come into your life. Jordan's dad was surprised and delighted, too. All in all a pretty good day.

Stop Light Game

Look and you will find it--what is unsought will go undetected

~Sophocles~

I have noticed that the more photos that I take the more I notice and appreciate the world around me. One of my weaknesses in taking pics is being fast enough to catch some moments as they come and go. Not everything stays in place like a mushroom or flower. It is really hard to set up the camera frame your shot, get objects centered, get everything in that you want, keep things out that you don't want, etc. So to practice these skills I've made up a game for me to play. I get out my camera put it on the seat next to me, set it to auto (there's only so much I can practice at once), roll down my windows and go on my way. Whenever I come to a stop light I turn on my camera, look around, find something interesting, frame my shot, snap the pic and repeat till the light turns, turn off the camera and continue on your way. Believe me if you get too involved someone will honk and let you know. This does not work with stop signs because you have to keep moving up and you could easily bump someone - stick to the lights. You have to be quick and it's fun. I've also noticed that I have very little trouble finding something to photograph (see above). It's also much more fun to edit them because they are not perfect or your ordinary subject I feel quite free to give them an extra dose of editing. Fun, fun.
I did have one problem; I had a hard time saving my photos because at first I called the game the red light game and forgot it had a double meaning. Silly me or maybe naive me. If you have a camera and especially if you're the passenger try this. Please remember Driving and Safety come FIRST don't get carried away but have fun enjoy your errands.

Mushroom Serendipity

I have loved the word serendipity for many years now, ever since they came out with a series of kids books called "Serendipity Tales". They were sweet little stories where things may not have turned out as the characters wished but they always had happy endings with good lessons. My kids loved them and we are now looking diligently thru thrift stores trying to find them. By now you may be wondering what mushrooms have to do with kid books, weeell Sat I went to the Pharmacy to pick up a prescription and picked one up and went home only to discover at home that it was the wrong prescription. It was one they owed me but I wasn't out of yet. So I called the Pharmacy and they still had the presription I was out of and needed, so back to the Pharmacy I went. When I got there I had to park in another spot but what did I see was the BIGGEST pile of mushrooms I've ever seen. Photo OP. What could have been an annoyance turned out to be a delightful experience. Serendipity! I gave them a prescription that could not be filled till today and the mushroom piles had started forming a HUGE fairy ring. Again serendipity. Many times if we just go with the flow and look around we will find annoyances turn into delight and learn to love the word SERENDIPITY.

Ground Level Photo Workout- more photos

If you would like to see more go to my flickr photostream and I have many more mushroom pictures and by tomorrow I will have more edited and put on flickr. I think by the time mushroom season goes away I will have enough pictures from all differant angles to do my own book on mushrooms. I just don't know enough about mushrooms to do a book. Anyone want to collaborate on one with me?

Ground Level Photo Workout

This morning was a wonderful, pleasant, cool morning; a nice change from the afternoon Georgia heat. I was enjoying my morning walk with my dog Rascal and enjoying being outside. As I was walking I noticed that the mushrooms had grown tall enough to see the stems so I decided that once Rascal was walked I'd get my camera, without my tripod and try for some ground level shots of the whole mushroom. Well I got my camera and back I went, I'd had a nice little warm up walk. Now for the pictures; you wouldn't believe how many deep knee bends are involved in getting ground level pictures. You know you have to put the camera on the ground, stay there to line up the photo, take the pic and get up again. What was I thinking? Anyway by the time I got done I was hot, tired, and sweat was dripping into my eyes; just like I'd been working out in a gym (but this was more fun). I then had a cool down of my walk home (a very slo-o-ow walk). Now it may not seem like I did a lot of deep knee bends but there were a lot more picture taken that have yet to edited so it really was a good workout. I have found that I have gotten more exercise since I've taken up photography. There are plenty of hobbies out there that can increase your physical exercise and have fun while you're at it. I personally like swimming at the gym, too. I just have to get there.

Sunset or Sunrise

Behind this Gravemarker

is it a

Sunset or Sunrise

A sunset, a last hooray,

before the dark,

where things will never

be the same

OR

A sunrise, a new beginning,

bright with promise,

where things will ever

be improving.

October GOALS

I have not paid much attention to this blog over the past month but my highest priority goals were to find some good inexpensive editing software and learn how to use it. Now even though I still have lots to learn I have also learned lots and its time to move on with my priorities. First it was getting used to my camera as top goal, then editing, now in October my top priority shifts to developing and making my blog run smoothly and keeping it interesting and up to date. I won't stop working on the others just the priority changed. I look forward to finding out how well I do; if you have any suggestions please feel free to let me know. ;-D Enjoy my newly edited photos.