My roses are fading a bit, but they still make a lovely subject for still life photography. The pitcher is a bargain find from Michael’s- my Friday Find for this week!
Books, Shells, and Keys- and the Mystery of Room 217
This week I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed doing my still lifes for Kim Klassen’s Start to Finish class. I am slowly getting into my groove, and I think it’s because I’ve been photographing some of my old books, which I dearly love. And for a little twist, I’ve added keys and shells into the mix of props. As I’ve taken my photographs over the course of the week, I found myself imagining they were book covers for books I want to read, which made it even more fun. One of the keys (which my friend, Debbie found at a garage sale) appeared to be a hotel key- for Room 217. My imagination went wild with various ideas of what the story would be that featured that key on the cover.
All except for the last photo were textured using rue, retreat, or teddy from Kim Klassen. I think my favorite shots are the last two.
I’m linking up with Kim’s Friday Finds today. What did I find? A still life subject I’m comfortable with- and a bit of confidence!
We were just seventeen . . .
When my husband and I got to Chico on Monday, we checked into our hotel and then headed over to Peet’s Coffee, my husband’s favorite coffee place in any town that has a Peet’s (we don’t have it in Arizona). When I saw the Beatles mural on the wall down the street, I was ECSTATIC knowing that my friend, Carol was coming to town the next day. We were pretty much Beatles fanatics during the sixties- so what better photo op could there possibly be than a Beatles mural (unless it was Paul or Ringo in the flesh!)?
As I was standing between two parked cars to snap these photos, the owner of one of the cars came along and offered to take a photo of both of us with the Fab Four. We couldn’t resist!
Linking up with Kim Klassen’s Friday Finds- we found the Beatles!
In search of my still life mojo. . .
In the hopes of finding my still life photography mojo, I’ve taken on two of Kim Klassen’s photo classes- Start to Finish and Be Still. Both emphasize still life photography, a genre where I often feel awkward and uninspired. After two years of doing a Project 365 and another year and a half of regular photography blogging, I have taken photos of almost everything in my house- actually two houses! Time for some new inspiration!
My intentions for this class are to learn some new skills and to create some photo art that is truly my own expression.
I am just beginning to gather my props and was delighted yesterday when a package arrived in the mail that contained the family history items that my husband had gathered from his father’s home during last week’s visit to Kansas. Yay- props! You might notice a Mason jar in the background- it’s new! I had asked my husband to look in his dad’s house for some jars; when he mentioned it to his sister, Kathy, she gave him one of hers to give to me. How awesome!
This photo is edited using some of Kim Klassen’s older textures- soft grunge, archives, abstract, and scratchedmagicjuly.
I’m linking up with Friday Finds as well as my Start to Finish classmates.
Hippity Hop
Look who I found hopping around my front yard!
This was taken while sitting at my desk looking out through the window. She (I always think it’s a she) visits pretty regularly and hops from bush to bush, where she hides from the hawks and coyotes. I’m hoping to see babies!
HAPPY EASTER!
Textured with Kim Klassen’s waterfront 21. Linking up with Friday Finds.
My New Find
I’m ridiculously excited about this! When my photoblogging friends were here on Wednesday, Terri started talking about her Mason jars and how you can date them by looking at the way Ball is written on the glass- fascinating! After lunch, we strolled through a few antique stores, and I bought my first old Ball Mason jar (and yes, I bought a Blue Ridge saucer as well)! I can tell by the loop at the end of the word Ball (called a triple L) that this jar was from 1896-1910.
I’m sure you will be seeing this jar again in more photos. I took it out on the porch to photograph, but today’s light isn’t the best (so far it’s cloudy and gray). I brought my white backdrop and tablecloth out to lighten things up and added a sprig of heath- but I couldn’t do anything about the lack of morning light. Another day. . .
Something tells me this won’t be the last Mason jar I buy!
Linking up with Friday Finds today.
Editing Notes:
I am so behind in my 2B (Beyond Beyond) lessons! A few weeks ago, I discovered that the lessons had started up again (evidently quite awhile ago). My notifications weren’t coming to me for some reason (probably in my spam folder). It wasn’t until this week that I started looking at what I’ve missed, and now it’s almost over. 😦 Thankfully, the lessons will stay up, and I will have a lot of fun catching up- will probably do some marathon sessions. I actually used what I gleaned from Lesson 50 to edit this still life. Kim provided us with a set of workflow presets she uses to edit her photos= awesome! I already had many presets I’ve created or downloaded- they simplify my life so much when I want to edit quickly. For example, I had created some for different types of vignettes, for clarity, for midtone brightening, adding warmth, etc. But I had never thought to organize them into a folder- and put them in the order I would use them. They are all just randomly in a favorites folder along with other favorites I use all the time. Big head smack! I am so inspired to get in there and organize my presets! So today, I used Kim’s workflow- and it worked great! After taking the image through her presets, I popped it into Photoshop, added the anna texture, and I was done!
Talent
My friend, Debbie, has talent. Actually talents- many talents. I try not to be jealous.
This week she asked me to photograph some of her art work, especially some pieces she will be putting in a show (the turtle- upper left and the jewelry- far right). She has been taking classes in jewelry making and pottery since she retired, and now has added metal sculpture (the turtle, which is big, BTW). Look closely and notice that the earrings and necklace are made from old salt and pepper shakers in addition to the crystals!
Debbie also crochets, knits, sews, paints, and does zentangle among other things.
Here’s a pullback (is that what it’s called?) so you can see the setup for the photography. Nope, this isn’t my setup; she also has a tabletop studio photography kit complete with lights! Jackson is enjoying it in this photo!
Linking up with Friday Finds
It’s a sailboat!
When we lived in Benicia, I photographed the waterfront fairly often and would almost always take shots of and through the grasses (anise?) along the shore. When we visited last month, I found myself making almost the same shots. And here in Arizona, I do the same thing; there is something about grasses and weeds that call out to be photographed-at least by me. This one was taken in Benicia; in fact, there is a sailboat in the background!
Linking up with Friday Finds
Happy
I’ve got that Happy song by Pharrell Williams going through my head (it was in my Facebook feed this morning)- a great way to start the day! If you know it, sing (clap!) along as you look at these two photos from our walk at Willow Lake earlier in the week. I know that going on this walk certainly made me happy, as did remembering how to add a frame on each photo!
I used two of Kim Klassen’s textures in both: bien and daisy.
Linking up with Friday Finds.
Knotted
My daughter and I both discovered knitting a few years ago, and I have been fortunate to receive some beautiful gifts knit by her over the years. Both of us have drifted away from knitting in the last few years- me, because of hand issues and my other obsession (photography) and her, because she is an incredibly busy mom of two little boys (as well as being a preschool director). I was searching for photo inspiration on Flickr and found that KNOT was a topic this week. I immediately thought of knotted fringe and this beautiful scarf, made by my daughter. I think the pattern is lattice lace, and it is made with a beautiful, soft mohair.
I searched for a quote, and found this Japanese proverb. I’m not sure how true it is right now with the polar vortex (receding, I hope?), but like the sentiment.
I am linking up with Friday Finds today, not because I found the scarf (it wasn’t lost- I wear this scarf!), but because I discovered a new processing technique! I had already posted this image to Flickr, but this morning I added a frame, with an easy technique I learned from Kim Klassen’s Test Kitchen. I love how you can still see the image through the frame!
Textures are from Kim’s waterfront collection.
A Friday Find
Kim Klassen started a new link-up a while ago called Friday Finds. I hadn’t planned to participate, but I found fresh lavender last night at Trader Joe’s- does it count if you find it on Thursday?
I used a matte edit- not my usual style, but I think I like it here.
melinda anderson photography 