Photo Heart Connection : March

This is my Photo Heart Connection for March.  It seems like a rather boring photo of a sapling.

But that's what I love about Kat's Photo Heart Challenge.  We're not picking the most interesting photo of the month or the most technically proficient...but the one that speaks to us for some reason.

There was just something about the tiny bird's nest nestled in this newborn tree that arrested my attention.  As you can tell from the background, there are so many other seemingly better choices - more mature trees that would provide better protection, a more secure station in life.  Choosing one of the others would seem so much more sensible.  Looking at this fragile little stick of a tree proudly wearing that nest had me feeling inspired by the bird who built it.  It's as if our feathered friend is telling us - THIS is the tree I love.  I'm going to follow my heart.

Poem It Out 2

  Morning Pages

Birds chirp good morning songs

nestled in newly born chartreuse leaves

I turn back inside 

noting the rhythmic hum of the refrigerator

Does it ever rest?

bare blank page waiting

faintly noticing the after taste of morning coffee

I pinch the rubber grip

silver tip gliding across the paper

splaying ink in its wake

Alone with my words.

Poem It Out

I've started an e-course called Poem It Out with Liz Lamoreux.  I've been taking some writing classes as part of my sabbatical requirements and this seemed like a fun way to stretch myself a bit.   Truthfully, I find poetry kinda intimidating.  The cool thing is that in this course, you combine the writing with photography.  I love that!

So here's a photo I took and some thoughts that go with it.

20 Minute Nap


I settle into my napping couch

and set the timer.

I'm becoming my mother.


We'd laugh at her short slumbers.

It's all I need

she'd say

She never allowed herself

a full amount of anything - 

a bite of donut

half a Coke

a smidgen of nap

Just enough to tide her over

.... until..... what?

I Feel Bad About My Neck

Have you ever read Nora Ephron's book I Feel Bad About My Neck?  It's the first thing I thought of when I took this picture for Urban Muser's selfie project.

It's a very funny book with lots of little snippets about getting older.  One of the anecdotes is about how she feels badly about her neck.  It's gotten old and wrinkly and saggy.  She warns us that we may use all the anti-aging creams in the world on our faces or get botox or face lifts, but our necks will always give us away.  Well, as my father-in-law used to say - "I don't mind getting older - it beats the alternative!"

This month's challenge was to do a selfie in black and white.  There are a lot of very creative interpretations linked up!

Happy Scavenger Hunt Sunday

Joining in Scavenger Hunt Sunday this week.  The prompts were...

Seven

I think that's seven cars in my rear view mirror.  Just passing the time at a red light.

Clouds

This was actually a sunrise - not a sunset.  I'm not exactly a morning person.  I like my sleep!  I'm sure my husband won't believe that I took this shot.  HE'S usually the early riser in our house.

High Angle

 Bejamin Franklin's grave.  People traditionally toss pennies on it.  A penny saved is a penny earned. 

 I wonder what they do with all of the pennies. 

 I'll have to remind my daughter about that saying the next time she wants to go to the mall.

Low Angle

Momma robin proud of her handiwork.

Sun Flare

General Anthony Wayne on guard at Valley Forge Park.  He has an excellent view of the sunrise each day.

Well, that's it for this week.

I always love looking at everyone's links for this challenge at Ramblings and Photos.

Have a lovely week :)

Going wild in the city

     On Sunday, I set off to meet some blog friends in Philly - Kathy (You'll Shoot Your Eye Out), Wendy (In Focus On Him) and Shay (Eye On The Sparrow).  It was a lot of fun - my first photo meet-up!  We wandered around the historic district, so I expected to capture shots of Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, yada yada,yada...

     I certainly didn't expect to take shots of wild life!!!

 Okay, maybe it isn't exactly wild life.  But this guy just seemed to beg to have his picture taken.  Or maybe he was hoping for a handout...

This, however, was a little more unexpected in downtown Philly.

It looks like this was taken in a country setting.  Until you pan out...

Lesson learned.  The beauty of nature is everywhere!

More wild life in the city?

This guy seemed to think so.  We did get a few glances from passerby.

 I wonder why?

Thanks for a great day ladies!  Check out their blogs.  These girls have skills (besides bike-jacking) :)

February Photo Heart Connection

Meet Ted.  (Original, right?)  He belongs to my daughter.  Did I mention that my daughter is 23?  He came to live with us after my baby shower, before she was even born.  He sat patiently in her crib waiting for her arrival. He still holds a special place in her heart - and under her pillow - even after all these years. He's a well educated bear, he went to college at Penn State. I'm sure he had some interesting adventures there, but he's not telling. He's also well travelled.  He lived in Spain with my daughter while she studied abroad.  I was so afraid that her luggage would get lost, with Ted inside! That would have been devastating! He is well-loved as you can see.  He is my Photo-Heart connection this month.  Whenever I look at him, I just smile- because he is a treasure to my daughter and because having a daughter who still brings her Ted with her wherever she goes is a treasure to me.

Check out all of the February Heart Connections at KatEyeStudio

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

I made it!  Scavenger Hunt Sunday, and it's still Sunday!  Here are my interpretations for this week. 

1. Facial Feature

 It was bitterly cold here this weekend.  This was a quick cowl to make, and it kept me warm today!

2. Shadow

This shot was from a while ago, but it was the first thing I thought of when I saw this category.  I'd love to cruise around town on this!

 (after the snow melts, of course!)

3. Spicy

 Still trying to figure out how to use a lightbox :)

4. Gold

I love the weather vane on the dome of this church.  

5. Fabric

This fabric just makes me feel happy.  I think I'm going to make a little banner with it, with the word "smile".

Can't wait to check out all of this week's entries over a nice hot cup of coffee.

Inspiration

Kat's Finding Your Eye Journey of Recognition course has really provided a wonderful opportunity to grow and reflect.  Our assignment this week was to venture to a gallery, notice which artworks appeal to us and think about the influence other artists have on our own creativity.  I noticed that she didn't say go to an "art museum".  I've been to the major art museums in my area, but the wording she used caused me to investigate  - to see if there are any smaller galleries close by.  Wow!  What a list I came up with!  So many treasures to be explored right in my own backyard!  Who knew?  That was a lesson in itself!

I had recently been to the Philadelphia Museum of Art with my oldest daughter, so I decided to go to the Brandywine River Museum.  The works of N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth and others are on display there.

I noticed that some of my photos reminded me of Andrew Wyeth's work.  I guess it isn't too surprising, considering he painted the same Chadds Ford area that I was photographing.

It's interesting how influences sneak in without you even knowing it!

Photo - Heart Connection : January

As each new month begins, kat offers a suggestion to look back and reflect with her photo - heart connection prompt.  The photo doesn't have to have a heart in it.  The idea is to look back and find the photo that speaks to your heart the loudest - for whatever reason.  It my not be a "perfect" shot, but there is just something about it that speaks to you.   What a wonderful idea. 

 

I like how this flower is open, facing the sun.  There is just something sweet,  innocent  and hopeful about it.  Winter was starting to get to me, so I went and bought some flowers to cheer things up.  It often takes so little to brighten a mood! 

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

I'm finally jumping into Scavenger Hunt Sunday.  YAY!  I've been wanting to for awhile.  It seems like every week I think -  I'm doing it this week!  Then all of a sudden it's Sunday and I only have photos for 2 or 3 prompts.  Where does the time go? So, it's Sunday and I have 5 PHOTOS!  Drum roll please (not because the photos are great, but because I have something for each prompt)  Quantity, not quality for now. Baby steps!

1. Strike a pose

 I love the pose on this statue in front of the Brandywine River Museum.

2. Hobby

 Dreaming of building a studio over my garage someday.  Right now I'm thankful for my teeny-tiny room.

3. Footwear

My yucky old slippers...love them.

4. Shiny

 This one was tough - the rhinestones in the middle of this charm will have to do!

 5. Color Me Green

And that's it for this week!

<center><a href="http://ashleysisk.com/search/label/Scavenger%20Hunt"><img border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4795223164_aa1eb66c07_o.jpg"/></a></center>

Rules

In our Journey of Recognition with Kat, we were asked to think about rules.  What "rules" do I follow in photography that hold me back in my creativity?  When does the little voice inside my head whisper - "You shouldn't"?  Well, sometimes the voice isn't inside my head.  Recently my daughter and I went on a photo walk around town.  We ate at a cute restaurant and when we were leaving I wanted to take a picture of the door.  It had cool ironwork.  She was like  - "Mom - you can't do that.  People are right inside, they'll wonder what you're doing and they won't like it and you can't take pictures of businesses.  She had all kinds of rules in her head about what's considered appropriate. (And she's my risk taker!) Well - I didn't take the photo.  She was just saying out loud the kinds of the things I tell myself all of the time.  I feel like there are unwritten rules about shooting in public and I don't really know what they are, so I'm uncomfortable whipping my camera out when I want to.  I also feel like an imposter - like I'm trying to pretend to be a real photographer when I don't really know what I'm doing.

I'm okay if I'm at a tourist spot - I don't feel like I stand out with my camera then, so it's okay.

 

It's something that I have to get over - otherwise I'll just have to travel all the time! 

Better Late Than Never

All day on Friday I felt like I was forgetting something.  Friday, January 27th.  Nah, doesn't ring a bell.  No one in the family has a birthday on that date, no anniversaries...I must be imaging things.  Then it hit me - it was the last Friday in January - time to link up with the selfie project!  (It didn't hit me until AFTER Friday, of course)  So here is the picture that I intended to link up on Friday.

Better late than never.  So I went and got myself a 2012 planner.  Maybe that will help me to keep on track.

One of today's tasks?  Start using the planner!  I'll be filling those lines up quickly!


Now....next question....
where will I keep it so I will actually remember to look at it?

Selfie Project

 Urban Muser is hosting a selfie challenge.  The idea is to get in front of the camera for a change!  I like the fact that you can choose your own goal.  I'm going to try for 52.  One per week.  That's reasonable, right?   I'd love to do a 365 project of some sort, but I don't feel ready for it yet.  This project will help me to get to know myself better and stretch my comfort zone a bit.

Why does it seem narcissistic when I do it, but creative when other people do it?  I'm just not very comfortable taking pix of myself. I enjoy looking at everyone else's photos - how they capture their personalities and emotions and lives.  Time to "just do it" - put myself out there - both figuratively and literally!

My wish is to be more confident - this project seems perfect for that.

It will be interesting to look back and reflect when I get to Selfie# 52/52!  Thanks UrbanMuser!

Why photography?

That's the question posed by the "Finding your Eye" course that I'm taking with Kat of KatEye Studio .  Hmmm.  It's a good one.  I guess I like how immediate photography is.  I enjoy painting, but capturing an image takes days or weeks with that medium.  With a camera, I can capture an image instantly.

 Usually it's light that attracts me to a scene - the warm glow right before sunset or the blueness afterwards or how light falls across an object.  The light is what often makes me pause.  It can take my breath away.

(this photo is a repost, sorry!  but I love how the light makes it seem to glow with warmth)

 In a photograph, I'm trying to share the fleeting feeling that I experienced.  The challenge of expressing that is invigorating.

Photography is also a way for me to be in the moment - which is a skill and a way of life that I'm trying to practice.  When I'm taking photos, I get lost - in a good way.  Everything else falls away and I'm in the flow.  It's a nice feeling.

I originally found photography because of my daughter.  She started exploring with her camera for her high school courses and it sparked my interest.  I'm hoping that it is something we can share.