ARCHITECTURAL photos . . .

A couple more architectural shots just because . . .

[taken out the train window somewhere in Va. on the way home from NY.]

[across from Grand Central Station]

[hustling down one of the streets in NYC]

[inside St. Paul's Chapel]

POTD: Architectural Shots . . .

I love taking architectural shots and had a tough time limiting how many I posted. That said, I still need to work on composition; but I probably enjoy this format more than my attempt at portraits. Buildings do not sass back, or get tired of posing, or want to hurry up and go eat because they are starving.

ETA: This is Wonderworks -
"An amusement park for the mind, featuring over 100 interactive exhibits for the entire family to experience."
It was closed while we were there - but we're planning to check it out next visit. Wonderworksonline.com

Week 6: catch lights . . .

This week's assignment in '12 Weeks to Better Photography" is to work on getting catch lights in your subject's eyes. Gotta give a shout-out to my subject Savannah, she was very patient with me even though I forgot to modify my aperture setting to capture focus on both eyes. She didn't complain even once!

Play Time . . .

Yesterday I was playing around with one of my shots of the cherry-like blossoms and Allyson was impressed with the filter I ran. (isn't it cool when you can still impress a 16 year old!?) I thought I would play a little more on some photos of the flower/plant that edges our flower beds. I could spend hours playing around with all of the different filter options - and even longer if I knew more about all the different action options available in photoshop/creative suites. [now I know why my daughter used to spend hours on end messing around with her art and photoshop program]

color me SPRING ● ♥ ●

... a little color from our yard. I am going to have to research the pink blossom tree - it is not a cherry tree, but certainly has sweet blooms each year. Also a sample of the dogwood, rhododendron and some creeping phlox.

12 Weeks /Week 5: Composition . . .

This week's lesson in '12 Weeks to Better Photography' is to recognize some general rules for composition. #1: avoid distraction; #2: frame subject; #3: fill frame with subject; #4: eye on horizon. Another rule is the 'rule of 3rds'. [1/3 up, 2/3 down....yikes - math require...uh, gona have to work on that one]. I have found that some of the rules overlap and so far, I pretty much photograph what I find visually appealing and if it happens to incorporate one of these rules - yeah for me! I'm obviously going to have to practice more on this!

POTD: night shot . . .

This is a ...''quick, run back in the house, get your camera, change lens, hurry back out and hope the sky still looks the same" type of shot. True story....true colors! This week's POTD challenge is oddly titled 'earth, wind, & fire' with the objective to capture night shots. While I immediately think of the musical group and I could probably dig out and photograph one of their albums (yeah, the vinyl variety) - I'll go with the translation of 'night type shot'.

Entertainment . . .

I thought I would share a shot taken through the screen door Sunday evening. Mr. Cardinal was perfectly content, snacking around the shrubs and bathing in the pool ... when then this little pesky thing came along and quite literally followed him everywhere. Finally the Cardinal had his fill and flew off. Funny - we get 300+ channels and I resort to the entertainment outside the back door.

a little MACRO monday . . .

I especially enjoyed the variety of daisies on display at the Farmer's Market on our visit Saturday. Here is a little macro(ish) play. Allyson thought I was goofy picking up flowers and photographing them from the bottom - but I kinda like the change in perspective.

SPRING, glorious SPRING . . .

Allyson and I went to Charleston with the hope of getting the sensor filter on my camera cleaned - 1 hour away, and they didn't have the right cleaner - but not a wasted trip. We visited a quaint antique store, the county library to pick-up research for her writing assignment that is due Monday (don't get me started on procrastination), Blossom Dairy for lunch and a quick visit to the Farmer's Market. I am eager to visit the Huntington Farmer's Market sans children (and take my good sweet time!)

POTD: Motion . . .

This week's 2pea's photo of the day theme is "motion". Regrettably, the only motion we are getting around here is varying degrees of persistent rain! I decided, what the heck, surely in my volumes and volumes of pictures there is something that illustrates 'motion'. Surprisingly, there were quite a few. Here is just a sampling.

New Day, New Look ...

I'm giving a new format a try, now to figure out the sizing for photos! It is so frustrating because what works on the PC is much smaller when viewed on the MAC. Add to that, the kids are on Spring Break this week, so getting to the MAC is like waiting in line at a deli - take a number, wait your turn. On the other hand, it is good they are home because this week's assignment for '12 Weeks to Better Photography' requires the use of a human subject (sounds almost Frankenstein-ish ....mawahahahaha!)

... and since no post is any good without at least some picture - here are a couple of NY's "different" human subjects.

Good ● Riddance . . .

... leave it to us to have the good fortune of having a possum bust his way into the crawl space under the house and in the process mangle the wiring from the heat-pump to the thermostat. No heat for a week while temperatures dipped into 20s at night and highs of upper 30s/low 40s. Now that mother nature is going to warm it up a bit - we have finally bid GOOD.RIDDANCE to the vermin and hopefully will have a working heat-pump. hopefully!

NYC Finale/ Grand Central . . .

We wrapped up our visit in NYC with a visit to Grand Central Station and the neighboring shops. I can't count the times I've commented "its like Grand Central Station around here!" Surprisingly, while the place was pretty much non-stop busy, it was not overwhelmingly so (at least while we were there). I was not expecting the number of shops actually IN Grand Central Station as well as the variety of eateries downstairs. My small group wasn't that hungry around dinner time (didn't know teenagers ever to be "not hungry"...but anyway...) we opted for something light at the food court. Another group, however, decided to eat at a semi-enclosed "restaurant", with a waitress that they described as less than attentive (actually stood talking on her cell phone). When it came time to pay, her poor service was reflected in the tip. Apparently the waitress was not happy with this and actually chased them down through the food court area and DEMANDED a larger tip. HOLY COW!! I am amazed at how many people think that they are 'OWED' something versus 'earning' it. Had it been me - she would have been S.O.L. and frankly she could have chased me all the way home and my opinion would not have changed, nor would her tip. I'm glad we opted to sit it out in what appeared to be nice comfy chairs (reality check ~ hard.plastic ~ it is in the middle of Grand Central Station after all!)

By-the-way, found where the "Littles" live - and its right down the street from G.C. Station. There were several of these 'tiny' homes (&/or businesses &/or chapels) at various spots - where there is skyscraper, skyscraper, itty bitty building, skyscraper, skyscraper...[you get the picture]. Immediately made me think of Stuart Little and the Little's house.

We wrapped up our visit to NYC heading out (on foot) for the train at 5:45 a.m. the next morning and happily getting home around 10:00 p.m. What a day - what a trip! I am so glad I had this experience with my daughter and though she is not in any of the pictures I have posted (under section and code of the strict "NO PICTURES POSTED" agreement mandated by my children) - that is truly what made this trip so special.

NYC Saga / World Trade Center . . .

I will never forget 9/11 - where I was, what I was doing, and how devastatingly helpless I felt during the attacks. I remember the numbing disbelief of the carnage playing out right in front of us on TV; followed by fear, then relief that our family was safe, anger at the attackers, and ultimately pride in being an American. All within less than 24 hours. Visiting the WTC, I expected a rush of at least some of those sentiments - but they just weren't there. I think this was in large part due to the barricades surrounding the construction that prevented any actual visualization of the site. One of the people there commented that it never occurred to them how many people would still be making the pilgrimage to see the location of the former WTCs; and in hind-sight, they should have used fencing that you could see through.

The visit to St. Paul's Chapel, on the other hand, was heavy with emotion. The scent of ash still lingers in this Chapel that withstood those horrible events of 9/11. Exhaustion, strife, and even persistent hope resonate in this once functioning church that now stands as a memorial to the lost souls as well as acknowledgment and appreciation for the countless rescue volunteers from around the world.