Project Black: Parting Shot

Anna has called an end to Project Black, but she's promised a new theme in September. It's been fun!

On the absence of cows

It wasn't supposed to rain today. I had a full agenda of things to do and errands to run, including stops at the camera store and the library. After that, I was planning to track down some cows.

The cows in question are not your garden variety moosters. In fact, I've never seen any others like them. They would be perfect photo subjects for the Black Project -- that is, assuming the herd is still where I saw them last.

Alas, it was not to be. Halfway through my to-do list it started to rain. And it was clearly going to be the steady, all-day, buzz-kill variety of rain to boot. This is where I reach the limit of my dedication. I will hunt for cows, but I will not hunt them in the mud.

I did stop at the camera place and used a little bit of my inheritance to buy a tabletop studio, something I've wanted for a while now. (Mom loved toys too. Somewhere out there, I know she's smiling.) I wrestled the box back to the car with only a little water damage and made for the library, my favorite spot in town.

So there I was, arms loaded with newly arrived novels and nonfiction, when the real storm hit. The big plate glass windows shuddered under the onslaught, the roof thundered overhead, the doors shook on their hinges ... obviously, there was nothing for it but to settle into a deep, upholstered chair at the end of the stacks and read. In other words, I had a great excuse to do exactly what I really wanted to do anyway.

I spent the best hour of the whole week there, surrounded by books, lulled by the sound of water, relieved of the need to feel guilty. After all, no one would be expected to go out in weather like that, regardless of how high the laundry pile is.

Actually, the storm may not have lasted a whole hour. I kind of lost track of time. But hey, isn't that what libraries and Saturdays are for?

Soon as I find a spot around here that's relatively free of cat hair, I'll set up the new studio and choose a new subject. That light box is much too small for cows.

Project Black: Travel in Style

The wealthy of America's gilded age kept elaborate camps in the Adirondacks, and many went there in shiny, black, private rail cars like this one.

The Adirondack museum has wonderful displays, but they are not camera friendly. Everything seems to have informational posts standing in inopportune places, velvet ropes, dim lighting, and/or glass barriers. By the time you crop it all out, there's not much left.

Anyway, though it isn't black, I thought you might like to see inside the car. Click to enlarge:



For more Project Black entries, go to Anna's blog.

Project Black: Carnival

Thought I'd try something new. This photo of a local carnival was taken on a long shutter speed from a moving car. I kind of liked the effect.

*Click to enlarge.

More Project Black entries are here.

Project Black: Beads

I always loved the tracery of this beaded black collar, but I never thought about photographing it until today.

Check out more Project Black entries here.

*Click to enlarge

Project Black: Where Rivers Are Born

Another shot from the Adirondacks, a high mountain stream that flows to the head of the Hudson.

Note: Flickr.com is going to make me set up a Yahoo Wallet if I order a paid account, and I don't want one. So I guess I'll be uploading to Blogger for a while. Bummer.


See more participants at Anna's.

Project Black: Sunset House

This is a detail from a one-room, historical cottage on the grounds of The Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, New York. It belonged to the village doctor at one time, and was moved here from Forked Lake for all to enjoy.

See more Project Black Participants at Anna's blog.

And with this one, I have used up all my space for the month at Flickr.com. It's either stow the camera for a while or pay up for more space. Decisions, decisions...

Project Black: Traces

This is my first, humble entry in Project Black, a photo meme from Anna at Anna Carson Photography, which I found via JC's blog, Castleruins. There are some stunning photos in the group. Check it out, why don'tcha?

P.S. July 13: This is a view of Indian Lake in New York, taken from the shore. The speck in the upper left is a rather large spider. I tried several times to photograph the web, but couldn't find a vantage point where I could get the camera to focus on it. (Suggestions welcome on shooting spider webs.)