Portrait Work Set To Music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PtB5_eEpLs

If you have 5 minutes to spare, watch the link above. I love the music, the lyrics and much of the photography. In this case, I don't think the photos would be nearly as powerful without the music. At the same time the images enhance the meaning of this beautiful song.

Another Shot At Fame!

Phil's assignment of taking pictures of a pet didn't excite me and I wasn't happy with my work. Here I tried again, using filters to make an ordinary image a little more interesting. I'm not sure if I succeeded to the point that others find these interesting, but I do. This is day 150 something...and many, many days to come. Ally the cat didn't become famous after her last photo shoot ...maybe this time Friskies or Meow Mix is looking?

A Family Celebration

Below, my niece Jamie reads at the counter unaware that I am snapping photos. A slow shutter speed was used because the lighting was dim; however, I don't think it is that soft. The blue ear-muffs? Yeah, she's a character!

Jamie is our family's artist in many ways. Below is a Light-Bright creation. Remember that 'toy'? I know I am biased, but I think her creation is terrific!

My sister Sharon hosted my mother's birthday party. I love her house because it is so 'warm'. Below is an image that reminds me of the warmth. The yellow, dim lighting reminds me of the cozy feeling insider her Adirondack-decorated home.

And below are some images of the flowers that graced the dinner table. The lighting is from spot-lights that are only about 6 inches from the flowers themselves. It's actually pretty harsh lighting but I took the photos anyway. Sometimes, when I least expect a photo to turn out, it isn't as bad as I anticipated.

A Spiritual "Flare" Today

Above, a beautiful stain-glassed window caught my eye. Its colors were bold and striking. I'm always appreciative of the art that goes into creating windows such as this one. Below, believe it or not, there is no manipulation. Waiting to pick up a friend (because I was early again) I suddenly noticed the cross that hangs from my rear viewfinder. I shot from low to high to eliminate the dashboard. I shot a multiple of six images to create the image below. Not until I got home late tonight did I realize the same "bluish" color showed up in both of my images today. It is now 11:45pm. I made this post by a mere 15 minutes!

These Boots Were Made For Walking

The other day, my friend Trish mentioned that I neglected to participate in her "shoes assignment". Feeling guilty, I tried the assignment when I got home from school. Not bad?
I sort of, almost, like these. So Trish, now you can't say that I didn't try.

Then suddenly, as I was finishing up my photo shoot, a large UFO approached the side window. I was blinded by the blue light from the spacecraft and felt fear as I knew the aliens were about to teleport me into their ship!! Unfortunately, something spooked off the craft and I am left to live in boring, arctic-Amsterdam.

Another "Light Box" Creation

I had forgotten to experiment yesterday with this glass-plated piece of art. This morning, I placed the glass plate on the light box, allowing the light to shine through. It is a simple photograph but one which would not be as appealing without the light box. In fact this plate used to be one side of a lamp, which I had broken years ago. I really like the simplicity of the art work and decided to keep this plate through several moves and cleaning phases. I have often thought, "Why am I keeping this silly glass panel from a broken lamp? I'm glad I did. Which do you prefer? The color or black and white?

Blinded By The Light

My good friend Trish and I used a "light box" in the hopes of catching some reflections, shine, silhouettes and other interesting effects. Above, the crystal seems to glow and shine brightly. There was no manipulation to any of the photos in this series. Below, I illuminated the top of the crystal. It appears that the light is coming from within.

Trish had any amazing idea of adding bubble wrap to my image. The bubble wrap is being held behind the crystal. I like the golden color being produced by the light's interaction with the crystal. Also, the bubble wrap gave the crystal itself some texture. These photos were trial and error. Much depends on the light of course. It was fun though to just 'shoot' and wait for the results. My art teacher friend, Diana, joined Trish and I, lending her artistic eye. She seemed both intrigued and impressed.

The images below were created by spinning a toy top on a student's desk. The first image is the top spinning and the camera set at a pretty fast shutter speed. The second image was taken at a slower shutter speed. There is a subtle but noticeable difference between the two pictures.

Thank you Trish for joining me in experimenting with light. It was fun and a learning experience. Go to my friend's blog to check out her images. She is a very knowledgeable photographer with a great eye. She is a follower of my blog so click on her picture (black and white) and you will be impressed. She is also a great story teller!

Cemetery Art

As I stated on Phil's blog, I was over confident in thinking I had photographed the correct cemetery in order to 'win' Phil's game. I had photographed angels and then learned I had captured the wrong ones! These photos are pictures I took today as I traveled back to the cemetery. As I have stated before, cemeteries are terrific places to photograph. There is a lot of beautiful art work to be found.

I wasn't able to photograph Phil's angels due to access. There seemed to be a service of some sort near the location and so I drove to different parts of the cemetery in hopes that the people would clear (how sad is that?) I'm sorry if I messed up the rules to this game; however, will the pictures below and my description satisfy others that I now know which cemetery Phil was at? Phil, am I correct this time? I'm pretty confident this time! The photos below are "old" however I believe I am in the correct cemetery this time.

Troubled Times

Upstate New York Cities are crumbling under the weight of poverty, neglect, outsourcing, population shifts and ineffective politicians. Driving around through the Mohawk Valley is, at times, depressing as empty building after empty building is seen. Places that once were thriving are now out of business, leaving behind the shell of buildings.

No one seemed to ring the "alarm" on the decaying nature of the Northeast. Perhaps fire wasn't the most dangerous threat to this building. Is there an alarm that can be pulled for apathy?

Below is another sad result of poverty and apathy. Humans aren't the only ones that feel the devastation of homelessness. Many of these kitties probably never had a home; however boxes and empty buildings shouldn't be the home that is settled for. They have no voice though. Like children, they simply deal with what is given to them by ignorant adults and policy makers.

One doesn't need to look far, in upstate, to feel the pain.

Incidentally, the Super Bowl, in these troubled times, pulled in a record amount of money for advertising. Obama, the hope of the people, just enjoyed the most expensive Inauguration in history. Recently, the Olympics were all the rage on television. It was the most expensive Olympics ever. Priorities?