"Without rivers there would be no oceans. Without mountains, there would be no valleys. Without summers, there would be no winters. Everything happens for a reason, and each element plays a crucial role in the grand scheme of things."
~Gift Gugu Mona
Coming To Grips With The Mountains And Valleys of The World
“Autumn is as joyful and sweet as an untimely end.”
~Remy de Gourmont
When I saw this cart, I couldn't help but feel sorry for it. It has an injured wheel/paw, and clearly no one is helping it feel better. Yes, even grocery carts have the ability to make me over-think life. I just felt bad. I dunno, maybe it was because earlier in the day I did some reading about Trump destroying some Art Deco art, while demolishing the Bonwit Teller building to build Trump Tower. It was an offensive move then, and as far as I am concerned, it's outrageous even now! Art Deco just happens to be my favorite style of anything, from Art to table linens, to architecture. I have lots of it around my home, so I found it especially disgusting that he is also tearing out some Art Deco design in the White House. The Lincoln bathroom is decorated in Art Deco decor. It was designed by Harry Truman, during the time of his own renovations of the White House. Trump's taste is pretty much best described as Nouveau Tacky. So, how does all of this apply to a damaged shopping cart? Well, I see design. I see faces. My mind and my eyes tend to see in emotions. Personally, I thank God for it, because it keeps me in touch with my empathic side, otherwise, I think I might have given up altogether by now. Some days I just walk around numb!
Poor little cart. Do they really not see the art of you?
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
while loving someone deeply gives you courage."
~Lao Tzu
He has been by my side through the happiness, and the tragedies. He is my strength, he is my hope, he is now and forever, my everything. He and I and our kitty-cat children are a family. Strong in love. Forever in love.
“The world is beautiful and dangerous, and joyful and sad, and
ungrateful and giving, and full of so, so many things. The world is new
and it is old. It is big and it is small. The world is fierce and it is
kind, and we, every one of us, are in it.”
~Mark Twain & Philip Stead
Don't wanna. Nothing is really wrong, in fact I am doing worlds better than I was last Autumn, and it's not that I am uninspired, not at all, but I am feeling quiet, so this is the post. Just a photograph of a beautiful Black-necked stilt. My quiet mood will pass, but until it does expect a picture, and fewer words in my post. That's a good thing I think. It leaves more time to enjoy the birds. Don't you just love their long pink legs? They make me want to buy tights in the same color!
I know, I know, I have used that quote, perhaps more than once, during the last autumn season, but what can I say, it applies! And it should come as no surprise that if there is autumn to be found, I will be there, camera in hand. And I am happy! But, oh my, the beauty of winter when you live on the delta! I love all the shadows and reflections, the boats also. It's so great when there is something of both seasons to focus on and appreciate at the same time. I wish I had seen the beauty of Smith Canal sooner. I posted photos from the canal a while back, and I hope to combine some birding with canal photos this spring. Spring isn't my favorite time of year, but I like blossoms and flowers, so perhaps I will be a bit more open minded about turning them into subjects for my photography. Hey, letting my imagination lead the way is how I found the amazing spider, Boris, and also the fun of the Mexican Free-tailed bat of summer.
Winter On The Delta
Smith Canal
Louis Park/Pixie Woods
Stockton, Ca
Jan 18th 2024
“I love to watch the fine mist of the night come on, The windows and the stars illumined, one by one, The rivers of dark smoke pour upward lazily, And the moon rise and turn them silver. I shall see The springs, the summers, and the autumns slowly pass; And when old Winter puts his blank face to the glass, I shall close all my shutters, pull the curtains tight, And build me stately palaces by candlelight.”
• Read a good book • Get a Library Card • Walk 30 minutes a day • Send a Birthday card to a friend • Invest in a Fitness Tracker • Buy a Coin jar and save those quarters and nickels • Donate to a Charity • Volunteer 45 minutes of your time to an Organization • Take a Yoga Class • Volunteer at Bingo night a Nursing Home”
~Charmaine J. Forde
That's a pretty good list, but it's not the list for me. Do I have a list? Not really, but I have decided to try some new things, so I guess trying them during the month of January is as good as any time. Case in point, I have decided to check out a local Democratic club. I have always wanted to see what it would be like, so when I found myself in a fit of depression a couple weeks ago, I decided to look into it. The Central Valley is predominately republican, so it can be a challenge at times. I have felt like a fish out of water since we moved here in 2015. If it all works out, and they don't hate me too much, I will be able to help out and share my political hopes and fears with like minds as we move through 2024 and the lead up to the national election. I am hoping for the best. The first meeting is January 27th, and I am really looking forward to it. I would also like to join a book club later this year, but baby steps. I feel like 2023 drop kicked me into this year, so baby steps is my current state, but I can't wait to see what happen next!
"Our power lies in our small daily choices, one after another,
to create eternal ripples of a life well lived."
~Mollie Marti
I revisited my favorite Snowy Egret family. I love these birds so much. When they fly they look like angels just floating along, and when they finally settle down to do a little fishing, they seem to walk along almost like they walk on water!
This will have to be another brief blog post, as I am tired and I still have a ton of things to do. This post is another view of the amazing sunset of last Thursday. Honestly, the colors in the sky that early evening just mesmerized me! I simply couldn't look away! This is a slightly earlier version of the sunset, as apparent by the muted tones. I decided this would be a nice one to do a little editing magic with. I am pretty happy with the end result!
Muted Twilight Reflection...
Both versions bring about very different feelings for me. Very different memories. I like when I pull some distant memory from a newly taken photo. I am constantly learning from my photography. It is what keeps my mind free of cobwebs, and useless chatter. Photography allows me to really experience my life, and the world I would have missed otherwise. A Little Night Music...
"Above all, life for a photographer cannot be a matter of indifference."
~Robert Frank
I like the quote I chose for today's post. I think it fits my life as a progressive, and my life as a photographer. It fits a lot of decisions I make when it comes to actually clicking the shutter. Most of the time I prefer pure instinct, but in order to get better at what I try to accomplish with the camera, I have to schedule myself to practice with settings and light. Light! Oy... light can be your best friend, and just when you think you understand each other, the odd natural filter like a cloud or a flock of geese soaring over can change how you think about everything. Photographing fireworks is a lot like constantly trying to make a good impression. You have to get it right the first time, because there is NO forgiveness available.
Photographing anything in San Francisco, especially outdoors, comes with a unique challenge. In a word... angles. San Francisco is a love story, built on a million or so earthquakes. I swear, there are NO even angles remaining in the city. Nothing seems to really line up. My meter can read that I, and my camera, are perched equally straight on a hill, STRAIGHT, or even on a perfectly mostly flat surface and yet nope, some off angle is hiding somewhere, waiting for me to come along. Invariably there will be something out of whack! To the right. To the left. Something. I want and need to do more work with hills this year. Hills facing up and hills facing looking down. Stairs to. There are so many stairs in San Francisco... all of them present some challenges for the amateur photographer.
But challenges are good! I am thankful that I continue to be challenged by something I love so much!
I have not, and will not cease growing as a person, as long as I have photography to challenge me. And what's great about that is that as I adjust how I feel about lighting, I think I remain a little more open minded about the other challenges that haunt my brain. The ones that don't have much to do with photography. It all works out at the end of the day, and if for some reason I can't find the correct angle or lighting moment, or manage to screw in the right light bulb, there is always new opportunities the next day to get it all right!
My two great loves. Photography and Progressive Politics.
"When witches go riding, and black cats are seen, the moon laughs and whispers, 'tis near Halloween."
-Unknown NOW CLOSED!
Halloween is only a mere 4 days away! Are you as excited as I am? Lets see...
EMPS #9: Happy Halloween! Halloween is my favorite holiday, I think it is the best holiday of the year! I like the decorations in particular. This Halloween, however, I haven't seen nearly as many Halloween related decorations as in previous years. Let's fix that. Show me all things Halloween! Costumes. Decorations. A photograph of spooky movie posters hanging on a wall. Bowls of candy. Pumpkins. Foggy deserted roads. Plastic spiders. A bubbling cauldron. October 31st circled on a calendar. A fake ghost. A REAL GHOST! A witch and her broomstick. A black cat crossing your path. Anything that says Halloween to you!
Extra Credit: Show us a picture of yourself in a Halloween costume!
Extra Extra Credit: Make A Halloween Greeting From One Of Your Original Photos!
You have until next Sunday evening, November 2nd, to do your EMPS entry and comeback here with the direct link back to it. Please folks, do not leave a general link to your blog, I need the direct link to the entry specific to the Monday Photo Shoot! And don't forget to link back here, so others can play along as well!
Good job everyone! I really enjoyed what you came up with for last week's photo assignment. Now, be sure to visit everyone on the Linking List and show your support. We have a number of new photographers this week, so let's make each other feel welcome! There are some really excellent photographs to be seen. You are an impressive group of photographers!
Ok, that's it for this week. So, GO BE PHOTOGRAPHERS! GO GET THE PHOTO! Have a safe and HAPPY HALLOWEEN! I can't wait to see what you come up with for this week's assignment! By the way, I am playing along with the assignment this week, so look for my entry next Friday!
"There are always flowers for those want to see them"
-Henri Matisse
THIS PHOTO SHOOT IS NOW CLOSED!
EMPS #8: Reflections. We have a simple subject this week folks... Reflections. Grab your cameras, and show me a reflection of some sort. It could be in water, or in glass, or in any reflective surface. You might come up with something spooky, or something beautiful, even or someone deep in thought! Get it?Think about it! Be creative. Be daring. BeReflective!
Extra Credit: Show me a REFLECTION of, well, you! :)
** You have until next Sunday, at 9:00 PM to post your entry to your blog or journal, and then come back here with the direct link to the entry specific to your EMPS entry. DO NOT LEAVE A GENERAL LINK TO YOUR BLOG OR JOURNAL.
Jama shows us a gorgeous dining set. :) Very, very nice indeed!
Judi's favorite piece of comfy furniture is a honey pine 4 - poster bed.
Laura allowed my favorite Internet sensation, the Watchful Scuba Duck, to relax in her favorite comfy, cozy chair. I am loving that duck! GO SCUBA DUCK!
Martha has a gorgeous, comfy dining room all set all ready for dinner guests! I'll be right there Martha!
Karen, and her hubby, have two favorite places to sit. A "chartreuse whatchamacallit", and a "pink chair like thing." Both look like good places to catch a quick nap! :)
Julia has a lovely antique rocker, with a pretty tapestry covered seat. Aren't family heirlooms just the best!
Steven has a really nifty entertainment center, which pretty much takes up an entire wall!
Wammy photographed some outdoor furniture, including some that she bought at a sale. An excellent bargain to be sure!
Tammy's favorite place to cuddle with her kitty and dog, is a on a recliner in her living room. Everyone looks mighty comfy in her photo, and now I need a nap! LOL. Yawn. :)
Connie shows us an outdoor swing, with an attached awning, in a blue and white stripped pattern. Outdoor swings
Wonderful photos as always everyone! See you in one week with the Linking List for this week's challenge, and an all new photography assignment!
