Light and shadow

This week's assignment is to explore the interplay of light and shadow. For the photo to be successful the shadow must play an integral part of the design. All these were shot with ISO 50 film. For purposes of the assignment all "Light/Shadow" photos had to be on a separate roll from the "Light/Texture" photos...which was frustrating. I think the jellyfish here could go in either category, and the photo of Zeus in the "Light/Texture" post could equally well go here.

Light and Texture

The assignment here is to use light to accentuate surface texture. It helps on these to click and enlarge, in order to see surface texture well.

ISO 50, 125@f8


ISO 50, 2@f11


ISO 50, 125@f8


ISO 50, 350@f4

Pinhole camera: Close-up

Abstract aqua

Light and darkness

Artsy Friends

You may remember these two from my girls' week at the beach photos, but I spent time with both this week. Both are farther along the artsy fartsy (I really cannot stop myself: when I use the word 'artsy' I simply must follow it with 'fartsy') road than I am, so they offer me some inspiration and encouragement.

This is a cropped shot of one of the artist's displays. I love his/her? boldness. Wish I had made note of this artist's name!

Pieces of Puddle Pie

I went to a local art festival today (we seem to have a lot of those here!) but my favorite photo of the day was this one, shot as I was leaving.

Back side

Pollock's secret

I see one inch squares in my sleep

This is what I did all day long. I know, I'm really exciting company... just ask Bill how much fun I am when I'm hunkered over a cutting mat with an Xacto knife! This is for one of my two first projects in school, the one for my design class. The assignment is to precisely cut one inch shapes to illustrate harmony transitioning to variety, on a 9x12 grid, without using color or a third dimension. So I chose two shapes that suggest either a canyon a skyline. You cannot imagine how much difference a 64th of an inch makes until you start actually cutting these little buggers out! Ack!

Abstract art: Nature

Abstract art: Transformer

Guest photographer: Clark
We got back the pictures he took from his 8th grade trip....I'm not sure what he did (or didn't do) to get this one, but I really liked it, in a Mark Rothko kind of way. Since we saw the movie Transformers tonight, I thought I'd post this....it makes me think of transformation.

...it grows on trees...

Funky greens

The first photo is of the pool at our old house. It's having a liner replacement, and this is what a pool looks like underneath its skin. I thought it made a cool abstract.



This is the stuff that's causing all the trouble, from my son's stuffy head to, the vet thinks, my dog's scratchiness. This particular variety is oak pollen, but I think every bush and tree in town is pollinating.



And this is a funky little plant I put in last year. It's blooming now in my front yard.

Thoughts on the Vernal Equinox

The first moment of the first day of spring: hope




Imperfect specimens washed up on the beach: aren't we all?



In brokenness lies beauty

Natural inspiration

The first picture is that of a pen shell. Pens are 'grabbers', rather than diggers or burrowers in the mud. Their small, weak foot spins out bunches of strong "byssus" threads (now there's a Scrabble word for you!) into the muck. These latch on to buried shells and rocks. So tough are these strands that Roman emperors once had them spun into fine clothes. Pens bury pointy end downward. They are 6-8".

The second picture is of the new Arthur Ravenel bridge in Charleston, SC.

And as an issue of housekeeping, and wanting to keep my readers properly educated on the wonders of the coast...I've had to make a correction to the post from yesterday. So don't go trying to impress your friends at your next dinner party, until you've read the correction.

Framed

My errands today took me to the framer, the jeweler (my ring is so clean I took a pic of it too), the shoe store (my first Michael Kors), the park for lunch, the shoe repairman, the outfitter store (yoga wear), and Goodwill. But my favorite shot was the first one, in the framer's shop. Patterns aren't my strong suit like some folks (I'm thinking of Overread's blog, and some others). I think I do better with "telling a story" photos. What do you think is your strong suit? What kinds of photos do you gravitate towards? Anyway, while patterns aren't my strongest thing, I always do like them.



And for Julie, here's another weed shot cropped closer. I think you're right....I like it cropped better. It's amazing the intricacy of a simple weed!

Drive-by shooting

Snapping photos while driving is probably not the greatest idea, but you do what you have to...

Mast General Store

I'm a sucker for this downtown landmark. Who can resist barrels of candy sold by the pound and the ambiance of an old-fashioned general store?


If it annoys you for there to be more than one photo posted on the 'Photo-A-Day' blog, read no further. I usually stick to just one, but I'm feeling frisky today. Here are a few others:

The Lay of the Land

This topographical map was at Mast Store, and so my camera is on my town, pointing north, between Hogback Mountain and the Lookout Tower.

Aging Abstract

This was shot at the old mall, which is being demolished, presumably because a new mall will somehow be better.

The O's Have It

Backhoe art