A Moment Out Of Yesterday

 

"Nobody has ever taken a photograph of something they want to forget. We can build a wall of happy Kodak moments around ourselves, a wall of our Christmases, birthdays, baby showers and weddings, but we can never forget that celluloid film is see through, that behind it, all the misery of life waits for our wall to collapse someday."

 

~Rebecca McNutt

 

On Thornton road, between the Woodbridge ecological Reserve, and the Cosumnes River Reserve, sits this picturesque old barn. I absolutely love it. I can think of about a hundred stories I could make up about it. Some spooky, some sweet and enduring, some that just make you scratch your head! The real history about this barn probably isn't all that profound. It's a barn, pure and simple. Most often barns are things of practicality... right? But every once in a while a truly wonderful story comes along that requires a barn as a co-star to it's main protagonist. Unfortunately, I am not a writer. I can barely write this blog. I am not sure what is wrong with my wiring, because I can write stuff in my head, but I have no talent for making it make sense of paper, or the pages of Ellipsis. As frustrating as that is, I am pleased to simply enjoy photographing cool structures like this barn, and let the bits of a 100 or so different stories bounce around my brain. Creatively, I am a visual person, but sometimes I wish I could write a story about a haunted barn, or a witch spending the night in an old barn because her broom was out of gas. Or maybe even something homespun, like The Waltons. You get the idea.

Mumpfh.

I wonder what the real story is about this gorgeous old barn?

 It's a really cool moment out of yesterday,

 and I'd like to know more about it!

Winter Orchard

~Carly

 

Frames

"If life were a camera I would be feeling a little out of frame."

~Jaeda DeWalt

My fuji. I have a love/hate relationship with this camera. When it behaves itself it can produce some stunning photos, but when it decides to be a pain in my ass, the photographs I take look like HELL. I am determined to work with this camera until I figure out if the problem is me... or the camera or if its just that the world can be damned unattractive. There is a part of me who thinks it's me, but then again, maybe it's just a shitty camera. That's the bad part about being stuck in a creative muck. You don't know if it's you, the world, or the camera that is defeating you. 

Shrug. 

Mood: Curious

~Me :)

Color, Sepia And Black And White

"In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality."

~Alfred Stieglitz

Last Saturday I took a cruise on San Francisco bay, and to my delight, not only did I have the natural scenes and amazing architecture to inspire my photography, but also a wealth of different lighting opportunities to work with. It's been stormy here in the Bay Area this past week, and with the rain and the wind, comes the brilliant clouds and shadows. Stunning! I was able to accomplish a good deal that day, mostly in there area of using natural filters around me. Sometimes I blocked the small amounts of sun that did show through the clouds, by using the curve of the boat, but one time I found the sun so amazing and stunning that I decided to use the water tower on Alcatraz to create an aura of sorts.

Water towers have always been a favorite of mine to photograph. There is so much that can be done with them. From angles to depth of field, to the curvature, to standing back and letting the sides of the tower filter unwanted light. But attempting to create an aura isn't easy from the boat. There is constant movement, and you can't always stand just anywhere, but Saturday was, as experiences go, was a positive one. As we circled around the back of the island, I waited until the sun was completely behind the water tower to take the photo. I knew I only had one chance, and so I worked to make the focus, and the distance just right. Well, it came out a little fuzzy, and the bounce of light wasn't quite what I was going for but fortunately, a little editing magic made all the difference.

My approach to photography, comes from my love of Impressionist art. The Monet in my screen-name, OndineMonet, is a nod to my favorite painter, Claude Monet. I try to present my photos with a slightly surreal touch to them. In order to show you what I see in my mind's eye, a small amount of editing is necessary. Sometimes it's just a matter of converting a photo from color to either black and white or maybe sepia. I have learned that it makes a tremendous difference, depending on what mood I want to set. Here... take a look at the black and white and compare. 


First Sepia


Now Black And White


See what I mean?

To me the first version, the one in color, seems much more relaxing to the mind and eye, but the sepia gives me a slightly uneasy feeling, while the black and white makes me feel like I could have been circling the island, on a day, many years ago. It's dark and not very comfortable as feelings go. I can almost imagine the ghost of Al Capone starring at me from some tiny window along the wall. Spooky.

So tell me, what do you think? Do you feel different emotions based on editing. Do the three pictures set a different mood, or are you affected the same way with all three?

If you like, feel free to share. I would love to know what you think, and how you prefer to do your photography. Does anything in particular inspire you to certain subjects?


Tell me everything.

~Mood: Inquisitive

Me :)

California Poppy In Sepia... Just Because

Instructions For Living A Life.

Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.

~Mary Oliver

Good advice. I think I have transitioned from black and white to sepia. It's natural I think. Not ever day can be black and white... right? Come what may, some days will be sepia, with or without consent. That's neither good or bad, just... sigh... sepia. Do my words go into a void? Sometimes I hope so, because it feels good to just be honest, without regret. Does that make sense?

I like strange, absurd moments.
I like the surreal. 
I love the ordinary. 
I identify with the common. 
I don't sing in the shower, because it scares the cats.
If you passed me on the street, you wouldn't notice me.

                           That's A Good Thing.

I like that I am a "nothing special woman with a camera in my hand."

                            Also A Good Thing.

Sometimes I find my car keys under my cat.
I think Albert Einstein is super sexy.
Someday, I would like to see a ghost. As long as it's not my own. 
          
          Although if I did, that would mean I lived my life.

I like to make people laugh.
I love to point out how special someone's smile is. 

Just because.


Mood: Reflective

~Me :)

A Photo A Day For 6 Months: Day 107~ RRC: Inside Out

"Success is failure inside out."

~Unknown

RRC: Inside Out

It's that time again... time for another Round Robin Challenge. This time around it's all about Inside Out. You know, showcasing what you might expect to find on the Inside, but for whatever reason it is being seen on the Outside.

This challenge was particularly challenging for me this time around, because my computer died a couple week's ago, and I simply haven't had time, or energy to do much file transferring. Also, I have been busy with some time consuming photo jaunts to San Francisco.

I don't have any new photos for this challenge, but I do have several that I posted quite a while back that will fit with the theme nicely. I promise to make it a point to post in all new photos next time around.

:) Okay, here we go...

#1 My Favorite Easy Chair
I spotted this gem on a street corner here in Berkeley. You can tell it was well loved... or absolutely hated. I am not sure which. :)



#2 The White Butterfly
Several years back, the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park put a special butterfly exhibit, featuring as many as 25 different butterflies and moths. Most were happy to flutter about from plant to flowers, but this gorgeous white butterfly was determined to make a break for it. LOL. It was amazing to watch it hitting the window so determined to fly away.



#3 Bad Kitty
Dylan was just 4 months old when Christmas rolled around in 2008. Hendrix was a much more curious kitty than Dylan was, which is what makes this picture so interesting, well, at least to me. Dylan wasn't particularly interested in the Christmas tree, the only interest he showed in it was to sit on a small pillow on a chair that faced the tree. He would sit there for hours after he had dinner, just watching the pretty blinking lights. Well, on Christmas Eve, I was up late wrapping last minute gifts, when I got the eerie feeling that I was being watched. I turned to see two small kitten eyeballs starring out at my from under the Christmas tree! He was being a good kitty, so I didn't get mad at him, he just sat there until I went to bed, and then followed me. The next day his brother knocked the whole tree down... LOL... I still think Dylan may have put him up to it!



#4 Sepia Chairs (New Photo)
I have been crazy busy the last couple weeks, mostly with photo jaunts to San Francisco. There is a lot of fun and energy over there right now, as local photographers, and bloggers, have been chasing Woody Allen all about the town. It has been an amazing pleasure to seek him out, and try for those candid shots of a lifetime. It's more fun than I can even say, and a time Alan and I will never forget. He is such a gracious man, and so respectful of local businesses, and fans. He is a really nice man. I will be looking forward to seeing this new film, and my favorite city setting the mood. I spotted these chairs one evening while in San Francisco, and I kinda liked the surreal way it caught the light and shadows. Kinda cool I think. I added in a Sepia tone for effect. It just had an old fashioned feel.

 

#5 Outside Veggies (New Photo)
Another cool thing about following Woody Allen all about the town, is the wonderful inner neighborhoods that he has been filming in. Outdoor produce is a common sight in those smaller neighborhoods, but a rare occurrence in the East Bay. I love the quaint touch it gives the area. Everything looks so fresh and inviting. YUM. And now I know of some wonderful little places to stop and grab some reasonably priced produce in San Francisco!



Okay, that's my contribution for this round. If you would like to join in the fun of the Round Robin Photo Challenges, I know Karen would love to have you participate. Just stop by the official Round Robin Photo Challenges blog for all the details, and the complete Linking List of those joining us this time around! Just clink the RRC link at the beginning of this post.

~Me :)