2012.09.27 The inability to notice

All the technique in the world doesn't compensate for the inability to notice.

~ Elliott Erwitt

And then . . . imagine.

~ Me

[ my son's pickup truck bed . . . filled with water, seeds, a leaf, and cloud reflections . . .

mouse-over for the "before" photo ]

2012.09.25 See a rose

You can see a rose in two ways.

First, through its beautiful petals.

The other, through its thorns.

~ Aries Eroles

The glass is always half-full.

I walk on the sunny side of the street.

Clouds have silver linings.

Things are always better in the morning.

And . . .

I choose the beautiful petals, not the thorns.

~ Me

2012.09.22 Make a fool of yourself

When in doubt, make a fool of yourself.

There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative
and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth.
So what the hell, leap.
~Cynthia Heimel

Leaping . . .
~ Me

[ from a wall at an abandoned car wash . . . mouse-over for the "before" photo ]

2012.09.20 There is nothing lacking

A Thursday photo-dump of recent, personal photos . . . 

people and things for which I am extremely grateful.

First up is my Anne.

Her Oregon summer job for the USDA has ended

and her job with the U.S. Forest Service doesn't start for a couple of weeks.

So my sweet daughter is "vacationing" at home.

We went for a visit to neighbor and friend,

Libbe of Willowfield Lavender Farm . . .

Wouldn't you just love to have a studio for your art?

Here is one room of Monrovia Mudworks where I took my pottery class . . .

The light caught my eye

when I was standing in the breezeway looking through the garage

and towards the slightly open garage door.

One of Jewel's ubiquitous tennis balls can't decide between inside or outside . . .

Sad or just a natural frown?

This should bring a smile to all the library patrons . . .

Mare's tail (wispy cirrus) clouds with moon . . .

A double reflection of me . . .

(I didn't realize it was a double reflection until viewing on my PC)

Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are.

When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

~ Lao Tzu

Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

~ 1 Chronicles 29:13

It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful,

but what you have in your heart.

~ Anonymous

2012.09.19 Composing the beauty

Beauty can be seen in all things,

seeing and composing the beauty

is what separates the snapshot from the photograph.

~ Matt Hardy

This beauty is a scooter just beyond the fence at Starbucks.

~ Me

2012.09.13 Without leaving home

Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.

~ Twyla Tharp

I would love to run away full-time :)

~ Me

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This past August, I participated in Kat Sloma's 2012 postcard swap.

The details are here:  Liberate Your Art description

Today is a blog hop for the participants (almost 200 of us).
The link is at the end of this post. [link removed]

Below are the 5 cards I received from 5 artists.

Kat also sends each participant one of her postcards.

She organizes, exchanges, and mails all the postcards.

Thanks, Kat!

From Kat Sloma at Kat Eye Studio . . .

From Shannon Joyce (no blog) . . .

From Dotti Rinehart at Camper KY . . .

From Jen Erbe Jennifer Erbe . . .

From Meg at Tangerine Meg . . .

From colleen e monette (no blog) . . .

These were my contributions

which are available for download by clicking on the Freebie Tab . . .

2012.09.10 The reality of the force

The artistic image is not intended to represent the thing itself,

but, rather,

the reality of the force the thing contains.

~ James Baldwin

Sometimes the photograph is more forceful and vibrant than the reality of the thing itself.

Other times, the photo is but a pale shadow of the reality.

Each of us decides which is which.

~ Me

[ pottery plate by Jolee at Monrovia Mudwords . . . mouse-over for the "before" photo ]

Shared with Sweet Shot Tuesday

2012.09.08 Take for granted

To think creatively,

we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted.

~ George Keller

I have lived in the same house for 24 years.

Same front steps.

Same siding.

Same downspout.

But something about the ivy this year caught my eye.

~ Me

2012.09.06 The best and simplest way

My aim is to put down on paper

what I see

and what I feel

in the best and simplest way.

~ Ernest Hemingway

. . . except I use photographs.

~ Me

These tomatoes are from our farm-share . . . local, organic produce ready every Friday.

Shared with A Rural Journal and This Heavenly Life and Share the Joy

2012.09.03 I see in color

In my photography,

color and composition are inseparable.

I see in color.

~ William Albert Allard

And in texture.
And in contrast.
~ Me

Once again, I tried "mouse-over" HTML code . . .
and, once again, I failed.
NO . . . W A I T . . . IT WORKS!
(It took 4 attempts.)
You have to be on the blog for the effect (not email or RSS feed).
Wow.
Hope I can do this again :)

2012.09.01 Arrange the unexpected

The marvels of daily life are exciting;

no movie director can arrange the unexpected that you find in the street.

~ Robert Doisneau

Or, in the side yard.

Standing in the shelter of the garage overhang,

a strong breeze preceded and then accompanied a quick summer shower.

The sunlight to the south never left.

It was lovely . . .

feeling the breeze and the mist blowing in . . .

watching the wind and light play with the wet leaves and grasses.

~ Me

Shared with A Rural Journal