“Mirror Image Symmetry?” These glasses are a great analogy for life's perspective about "what you see is what you get" & how that's not always the truth. Glasses are symmetrical, right? But are your eyes really the same in all the measurements? Mine aren't. These lenses are different although not discernible to someone looking at them. So "what you see is what you get" doesn't apply here. The next time someone says that phrase - know there's always something you don't see. Sy

Imagining the Tree Gone Two factors went into my photo - 1. My love of Magritte. 2. My new raised flower bed. This is combining 2 photos I took of the front of my house - 1. Closer to the road so the tree hides the path & the front door. 2. Just on the other side of the tree so the path & door was visible. I merged the two in Photoshop to imagine the view from the street if the tree wasn't there, but in a very Magritte inspired fashion. Here's the backstory: I have wanted a

"Blue Jay Bobbing" This was a rare week for me because I only took 18 photos all week - that's including work photos. This is my single shot of the blue jay on one of my afternoon walks. I tried to line up several shots of him in the grass, but every time I was almost ready, he would jump or fly a couple feet away. He also flew up and down the block a few times and I had to stand in one place waiting for him to land where I could see him. Working with a live object is always

“Freedom of Religion” A lot of talk this week about freedom of religion with the shut downs and stay at home orders currently happening. Felt this was an appropriate photo to share. The cross is from Italy and made with ash from Mt. Edna which I feel is significant to today. It seems we are burning our country to the ground and will need to rise from the ashes once again. Whether it is people not listening to one another or the government suppressing small business owners and

“High Key, High Blossoms!” As soon as I read this week's challenge, I knew what I wanted to capture - the height of the spring tree blossoms! What's prettier than the blossoms on a tree? Not much in the spring. Between my apple, pear, and dogwood trees this week, there's plenty of blossoms to choose, so I chose the dogwood. Let's face it, I want every pear or apple that might grow in my orchard this year, so there was no real choice since I wanted the high key photography as

Surprise Takeoff So this week's photo was a complete surprise for me. I was out for my daily walk with my husband and the dog, and I was taking photos along the way. At the end of the walk there was a single duck paddling by itself in the shallow end of the creek. As I was snapping photos, he turned towards me and took off. I amazingly caught him and the water trail he left in one of my quick photos. So that's how I got this week's challenge photo. Not my usual planning, nor

"The End" is near! What does the paper see as the typebar comes speeding towards it? Is it death by a thousand punches or a beatification of its plain existence? I suppose that depends on the typist... are they writing a letter, a great novel, or will the sheet of paper be crumpled & thrown away? There's a lot we could compare between plain paper being used in a typewriter & our own existence. We all start out plain & our daily lives stamp out a story - good or bad. Sometime

“ I spy... an eye, an S, a dragon, or... ” Walking across my yard I happened upon this tree root which I've never noted before. The beauty of the curves, the colors, the holes, and the other organic material grabbed my attention this time. I spy an eye at the top of the S curve, is it a dragon or a tadpole "stuck" in the wood. Looking at this root reminded me of watching the clouds go by as a child and describing what each cloud would look like and how they would change. So w

“ Travel Goals ” I have a love hate relationship with travel; I love my experiences, I hate to fly. The last few years have brought many opportunities to see cultures different from my own. I'm so appreciative of the chances I've had. To try & capture these experiences & share them, I've started a map with pins for every trip & stop, but I've also started my travel journal book. The book has the flag of every country, dates of travel, & every city or town visited. I'm trying

“Oh the stories...” I love my 2nd home. It's a very historical town dating back to colonial times. Both Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass have history and are celebrated here. It played a role in the civil rights movement in the 60s. What's sad, even though eerily beautiful, are the currently abandoned buildings along the main drag. This old theater for example, the marquis dented and warped. What headlines were once placed upon it in its golden age? Who attended what and

“ Tulips ” Tulips are my favorite spring flower. Unfortunately, we don't have any tulips blooming yet so I had to make due. I immediately knew that I wanted to do white tulips against a black background in my photo box for this week's challenge. I think this works - the white to black is quite extreme, but the green is a nice contrast as well to both colors. * This photo qualifies for the "Extra Credit" challenge: Studio Lighting #extremecontrast #highcontrast #tulips #nicole