52 Photos Gallery 33: Polka Dots

Gatsby Cat ponders the sudden appearance of dots on his napping spot. (They're shadows cast by a vegetable steamer held up between him and the table lamp above.)

Posted for The 52 Photos Project and for Shadow Shot Sunday 2.

52 Photos Gallery 31: My Work

Work: Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something. - The Free Online Dictionary

This one stumped me for a while. I'm retired, you see. But I am directing quite a lot of physical and mental effort and activity toward producing interesting images and becoming a decent photographer. So here ya go: This is me, exploring the macro potential of a cheese grater.

That counts...right?

Posted for the 52 Photos Project
And linking to NatureFootstep Memes: Abstract

52 Photos Gallery 30: On My Way

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52 Photos Gallery 29: Round

This Greenman medallion is a detail on a Victorian fern stand I inherited from my aunt. It's about four inches across and is one of two (one on each side) that decorate a round, wooden, ball element about a foot in diameter. It is a strange piece, to say the least, very "Captain Nemo" in feel.


Oddly, the Greenman changes personality with the light and time of day. Here he is looking rather jolly:




Here, not so much:




Posted for The 52 Photos Project
Linking to Shadow Shot Sunday 2

52 Photos Gallery 28: Celebration

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52 Photos 27: Someone You Love

I had hoped this week's gallery would provide an opportunity to try my hand at portraits, something I  haven't really done yet. Unfortunately, my particular beloved someones were unenthusiastic about posing for me. On to Plan B: Cropping an existing photo to turn it into a portrait. Above is the result, an image of my younger son, Mike.

And for good measure here's an older one I did of my little nephew, who is too young to protest.





Posted for the 52 Photos Project

52 Photos Gallery 25: Starts With a C

"C" is for South Bend Color Run 2013...



and for my son and daughter-in-law finishing their first 5K, Completely Covered in Colors as they Complete the Course. This event was their motivation and goal, keeping them on track as they Cut Calories, lost weight, and started running. I am so proud of them both!



"C" is also for Creepy and for Clearly Crazy Characters:



I haven't been around for about a week because our phone/Internet cable was cut by workmen removing a tree across the street from us. Sorry if you've commented and I haven't returned the visit - I'll do better now, provided they get the new cable buried without breaking it. (It's currently just a heavy wire running along the road.) Cross your fingers for me!

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52 Photos Gallery 23: In the Circle

This determined little bee had the whole pond "buzzing". I do hope she made it to shore.


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52 Photos Gallery 22: In My Hands

Per Bella, the hands in question didn't have to be ours, and whatever it is could be ON a hand too, so here ya go: My mother in law's 83-year-old hand, which is much more interesting than mine, as she admires a ladybug. This one gave me a chance to experiment with focal point color, which was fun!

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52 Photos Gallery 21: Bright

Tiger, tiger, burning bright 

In the forests of the night, 

What immortal hand or eye 

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

-William Blake

I took my visiting mother in law to see the zoo today, where a dreaming white tiger reminded me of  Blake's immortal poem, and the poem reminded me of the current 52 Photos subject. Don't you  just love it when material presents itself?

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Shadow Shot Sunday 2

52 Photos 19: On the Line

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52 Photos 18: Light and Dark

Our challenge this week reminded me of a series of photos I took through a kaleidoscope some time ago and always meant to revisit. At the time, I didn't like them because the images weren't perfectly centered. But I've decided I'm OK with that.






There are a few more on Flickr, but these are the ones I like best.

Posted for The 52 Photos Project

52 Photos 17: Unusual and Uncommon

For this challenge, Bella sent us looking for uncommon things. So here's a two-fer: An advance reading copy of a novel (found at a library book sale) and a beautifully carved gourd by artist Bertha Medina, who is truly a "queen of dreams".

Here's Ms. Medina at work at the 2011 Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and some of her astoundingly intricate creations.(She graciously gave me permission to take pictures.)





I sincerely regret that I purchased only this one little tree ornament. Given another shot, I'd go for one or more of those big, beautiful pieces.

I know this is a pretty late entry ... hope somebody finds it ...

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52 Photos 16: Childhood Games

Summer: Running free on timeless days, hide-and-seek after dark, and sparklers on the Fourth of July.


Visit the 52 Photos Project for more fun and games with Bella and friends.

52 Photos 15: Fresh

Why should flowers have all the fun?

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52 Photos 14: Down Below

As Bella says, "Being up high somewhere gives us great perspective of how small we really are in this Great. Big. World!" I certainly get that feeling at the summit of Sandia Peak. That's Albuquerque down there.



This is the tram line to the top...




If the vastness of the land isn't humbling enough, you can look down at the stones underfoot and contemplate your momentary existence in time. The fossil layer is from about 300 million years ago, and the core of the mountains below that is granite dating back 1.5 billion years.




And if encountering all that immensity doesn't put things in perspective, I don't know what would.


Posted for 52 Photos Project

52 Photos 13: Layers / Stacks

Given the number of layers and stacks of stuff occupying my closets and corners, this week's assignment was almost too easy. However, scouting for a subject embarrassed me into cleaning up the piles instead.

Plan B: A quick dash into the Indiana heat, armed with garden shears, to raid the day lily bed. We don't usually see many of these three-layered ones, because the deer find them tasty. So. Layers, plus a chance to play with my new light box. In the air conditioning.

As for stacks, here's one taken at a factory that makes cabinet doors. These are going to be "rails" - the pieces that hold the center panel of a door:




Posted for the 52 Photos Project. And the top one may very well be linked to the next Weekend in Black and White, unless something better presents itself by then.

52 Photos Project 11: Red, White, Blue

  Happy Fourth of July!




* I'll be out of town for the rest of the week, so it will be a while until I can visit. Weather permitting, we'll be seeing the Tall Ships sailing into Cleveland Harbor. Hope you all have a spectacular holiday! *

**Update Saturday, July 6 - We're back! The tall ships were amazing. Here's a new shot of one for Red, White, Blue from the Parade of Sail, Cleveland Harbor: 

 


See more patriotic colors at 52 Photos Project

52 Photos Project 10: Neon Color

What a fun subject this week! There is something mysterious and exciting about neon, whether it's an art piece or just a simple beer sign. Neon is color on steroids, a magical beacon in the dark, an invitation with an otherworldly glow.




Real neon: The sign from the Hudson Museum, Shipshewana, Indiana




And neon colors: Glow sticks in a vendor's booth at Coveleski Stadium, South Bend, Indiana.




Light sabers, necklaces, and toys for sale at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.




A lucky kid with one of those toys. I wanted one too, but ... yanno. Grownups are not allowed to have that much fun.


See more neon colors at The 52 Photos Project

52 Photos Project 9: Chopped

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck? Quite a bit, apparently.


After being evicted from under the potting shed, this baby woodchuck started digging a new den under the woodpile. (He and my husband are engaged in mortal combat over territory. The woodchuck is winning.)


Posted for 52 Photos Project.