After doing mostly abstracts for the last couple weeks, it’s time to catch up on BeStill52. The assignment from a couple weeks ago was butter and eggs. I decided to make Egg-in-a-Hole for breakfast (something my daughter does for her kids), which fit the bill!
I felt like I hit the jackpot at Trader Joe’s yesterday when I found they had hydrangeas! I’m always on the lookout for them and even ask for them, but I always hear “Oh we just had them” or “I think we should have some next week.” So despite being a bit under the weather, I headed out to my garage “studio” and played with my macro lens.
Textured with Kim Klassen’s kk_thewait for Texture Tuesday
As I’ve mentioned before, I truly love my Going Abstract class from Kim Manley-Ort. It is definitely getting me out of my photography rut- and WAY out of my comfort zone. One of last week’s readings was on reflections, including a section on window reflections. When we went to pick our son up at the airport Friday, I brought my camera along, hoping to find some cool reflections. I was immediately drawn to a window display of large copper portraits of Lady Gaga and Hercules right next to where were waiting for Matt. In my mind, I was picturing an elderly woman or a child reflected in or by Gaga, kind of an ironic statement. Hah! This never happened. And, as always when I do “street” photography, I felt incredibly awkward and sneaky and ridiculous!
I learned right away that position and correct light helps. The lighting wasn’t the best for closeup reflections- and focus is challenging. But it was a learning experience, which I might actually try again.
And here’s Matt!
I spent a bit of time going through my photos from our trip to Vail last month and found I had quite a few photos that I didn’t post. I’m sure that this month’s Vail doesn’t look like last month’s Vail; all these spots must be covered with snow. And I might as well mention that this week’s Prescott trees don’t look like the trees I photographed last week; our fall color has mostly GONE! So autumn is becoming just a beautiful memory, as is our trip to Vail.
So. . . THIS week’s Friday Find is LAST month’s photos!
I love my abstract photography class! I am finding that the kind of photography I love to do the most (besides grand-boy photography, of course)- macros and closeups with a shallow depth of field- fall into the abstract photography realm. I had no idea! This week I’ve been photographing some of my shells with the intention of exploring their essence- and also their un-seashellness!
The un-seashellness of seashells (more of a pure abstract): 
The essence of seashells:
Here are a few more photos from last weekend’s walk in the neighborhood:
And here is another attempt at ICM (intentional camera movement)- this time edited with Topaz Impression (one of the Cezanne presets) and textured with Kim Klassen’s chill texture.
Linking up with Texture Tuesday today.
Our weather has turned chilly, the leaves have mostly all turned gold and are starting to be blown off the trees, so I decided to take a short walk in the neighborhood to capture leaves on the trees while they were still attached. I did take a few tree photos, but, inspired by my abstract photography class, I also found myself attracted to the shapes and patterns around me.
Berries in the sidewalk cracks:
Leaves in the rocks:
I’ll post trees tomorrow!
I never really thought about it much- not being a bird person- but I have spent most of my life living in or near the California Flyway. During childhood, I was fascinated by the formations of migrating geese and other birds flying overhead. When we lived in the Bay Area, I rediscovered the flyway, when we would drive over to the delta area under skies thick with birds heading south for the winter. I was surprised last year, to see huge flocks of water fowl at the lakes in Prescott in late fall- so I guess we’re on the route for migrating birds as well.
Last week I spotted the three pelicans above on two separate visits to Willow Lake- and was thrilled. I was used to seeing brown pelicans on the California coast- even a couple times in Benicia- but had never seen white ones except on Lewis Lake at Yellowstone. After reading the paper yesterday, I discovered that there is a story here. It seems that a migrating pelican became entangled in fishing line in Tucson a few weeks ago and was rehabilitated by a rescue group. Unfortunately, his friends had moved on to warmer climes by the time he was ready to fly, so the group sought out other flocks for the pelican to join. It turned out that a pair of pelicans had just been spotted at Willow Lake, so the recovering pelican was driven up here and released. Evidently, the Tucson pelican is one of the three in this photo- and the group has now moved on. In the shot below (in which one bird is out of the frame), I think the injured one might be the one on the right.
And in other bird news . . .
This was edited in the new Impression software by Topaz- I think this is one of the Van Gogh presets. I downloaded a free 30 day trial of the software- it is so much fun!!! I’m not sure if I’ll buy it- it is pretty expensive! But I’m really enjoying playing with it.
When I uploaded and did a few quick edits on some of my photos from yesterday’s walk at Willow Lake, I found that I had cropped a few into a wide-ish ratio. I was also thinking a bit outside the box due to the influence of my abstract photography class. I’m not sure what is going on here, but it looks like a theme, so. . .I’m going with it for today.
From top to bottom: fall leaves, weeds, liesegang bands on the boulders, and an ICM shot of trees
textured with Kim Klassen’s chill and friday2014 for Testure Tuesday
I’ve been having fun playing with my photography this week, because I’m taking Kim Manley-Ort’s abstract photography class. We’ve been given the task of looking at the work of a list of abstract photographers this week and thinking about who inspires us. Today’s photos don’t really fulfill that assignment, as I’m still absorbing what I’ve looked at and thinking about what I’ve already been doing. I know I love black and white and minimalist photography (abstract or not), fluid and out of focus images (Lensbaby, ICM), and light and shadow play. I love taking detail shots, which may or may not be abstracts. Basically, I really like to play with my camera! And, yes, with the editing too!
Here are two sets of abstract shots, which I ended up placing in grids after some color play. No, this was not the assignment!
Tire tread marks:
Glass patio table:
And then, here’s another attempt at intentional camera movement:
My friend, Verle, and I had a lovely walk at Willow Lake this week. We spent most of our time walking by the water, watching the birds and water fowl.
I always enjoy the reflections in the water itself.
But, I have to say that the highlight of our day was spotting two bald eagles at the top of this bare tree. As we climbed the boulders, trying to get close enough to get good photos, I noticed to my dismay that I had AGAIN lost my prescription sunglasses. However, they were quickly spotted by friendly hikers, so all is well!
melinda anderson photography 