An eye for detail...

"Life is not significant details,

illuminated by a flash, fixed forever.

Photographs are."

--Susan Sontag

"Focused on Details"
(Self Portrait #13)

True, but I am fixated on details whether it is in photography OR real life.  "Control Freak" is thine name, with a middle moniker of "Perfectionist".  Type A personality is a kinder, gentler way of putting it.  Details create the big picture, success is in the details could easily be my mantra...ooooohhhhmmmmmm, exhale.  I have a hard time trusting anyone who can't be bothered by details or tells me not to sweat the small stuff.  Fifty-two years is a lot of sweating, I SHOULD easily be a size 2 as a result.  An important detail...I'M NOT!!!

Today I am combining both my self portrait project with my "Project 52", which just happens to have the topic of "detail" this week.  So I thought I would ramble a bit about my natural tendencies, while trying to not go into TOO much detail.  I can feel the sweat coming on.

It's hard not to examine all the details when you are trying to attempt a self-portrait.  The crooked nose, a result of me taking on a window and the window winning.  The wrinkles around the eyes, Clarins anti-aging super hydrating cream, you're not so super. Worry lines between my eyes, soooo much to worry about when you are hijacked by details and your mind races in so many different directions.  Did I mention I have a 35th high school reunion coming up next month?  How did THAT little detail creep up on me?  Which means in preparation I did 770 crunches, logged 20 miles on the treadmill and elliptical, rotated thru my ipod play list 5 times, silently muttered 10 curse words (4 were REALLY good curse words), and gulped 13 bottles of water all at the gym this week....and then I cursed again, just because it was a very detailed and explicit curse word that felt good to repeat.

Then there is the question of what to wear to the reunion.  There are 34 dresses hanging in my closet and 64 pair of shoes (because the Better Half is known to check in here occasionally, I am under estimating the shoe count using the same method I use to under estimate my weight).  The devil isn't in the details, it apparently is in my closet as I have NOTHING TO WEAR!  Do you know the statistical probability of that occurring?  Apparently it's pretty high!  I tried on 6 different possibilities last evening, and got stuck in 1 due to the zipper.  The Better Half received the 1 phone call from me he's been waiting 30 years to get  "Can you come home and help get me out of my dress?" He was home in 10 minutes.  I then had to inform him in detail FOUR times "that is NOT what I meant!".  What is the statistical probability of him misunderstanding me?  99.9%.

"Clothes for my Toes - Detail" 

436 classmates, 2% of which I still hang out with on occasion.  But my best times are with my 1 BFF from high school, 2 bottles of wine, and sharing the details of our lives.  I don't need a reunion for that OR the perfect dress.  The shoes?  I should be able to find at least 3 pairs in my closet for detail sharing outings that would be perfect.

Thirty-five years have passed since high school. Thirty-five years of details.  I don't think I had as many "details" clogging my brain back then.  I also didn't have as many dresses or shoes clogging my closet.  How that many years can pass by so quickly is ONE detail I'd rather not think about too much.  I can feel the stress lines between my eyes tensing up already.

Happy Friday!

--Kathy

"The Germans are coming"...

Philly's historic colonial Elfreth's Alley, invaded by a BMW.  What would Paul Revere have to say about THAT?  Well FIRST he'd have to get himself out of Boston because...this is Philly.

Elfreth's Alley, the longest continually inhabited residential street in America is a cobble stoned colonial piece of American history which just happens to have a city sprung up around it.  Dating back to the early 18th Century, it is named for blacksmith and property owner Jeremy Elfreth and was the home to artisans and trades people who were the backbone of colonial Philly.  You know, those butchers, bakers, and candlestick makers.

(yes, I layed on the cobble stone.  It HURT)

Now?  It's home to anyone who can fork up the beau coup bucks the homes command AND who don't mind living their lives behind permanently drawn blinds due to the curious poking their noses (and cameras) around their homes.  You know, those doctors, lawyers, and corporate executives who are the back bone of urban life.  Not that I feel TOO sorry for them, the inconveniences come hand-in-hand with mailing address bragging rights.  And seriously, you know what you are getting in to, when you decide to live here.  The likes of MOI snooping around your front yard for a good photo.

So just what does it cost to own 1400 square feet of American history?  This property is listed for $630,000. A real steal because you actually get 1480 feet for that price.  So Ms. Frederico, you can thank me at closing, all I ask is a small piece of your commission to buy a macro lens in return for this free piece of advertising.  By the way, I did peek in the windows and let me tell ya...this place is cuuuuute!  Kudos to the owners for their choice of traditional colonial stainless steel appliances and gorgeous black granite counter tops in the kitchen.  I'm sure ANY candlestick maker would enjoy melting their wax in surroundings like that!

What do you get if you live in one of the hot properties on Elfreth's Alley in addition to a multitude of gawkers?   A step back into time, and preservation of three centuries worth of cobble stoned streets, old-fashioned flower boxes, shutters, Flemish brickwork and a multitude of colors and architectural details.

What DON'T ya get?  Privacy, and....definitely no where to park that BMW.  Which I'm sure would have made Paul Revere smile because he had enough on his plate with the dang British coming.  Not to mention severe yearly emotional angst with those Boston Red Sox.


--Kathy

In the pink...

More accurately, in the FOG and seeing a bit of pink.  Not sure I ever truly appreciated fog before I had a camera.  Usually I just cursed it for making driving difficult.  But not any more, altho I do  need to learn a bit more about camera settings when shooting in these conditions.  Sure wish I could tell you that this is a photo from my yard...yep just a a little nook on my south 40.  Alas it isn't.  Probably a good thing because I have better things to spend my money on than a landscaping crew to upkeep this.  Like...a new Kelly Moore camera bag in PINK.  Then there is always that macro lens I'm drooling over.

"Morning Fog"

And in case you were wondering what those fog-blurred pink flowers are in the background, wonder no more...

Sometimes it's kinda fun having your head in a fog, dontcha' think?

--Kathy

It REALLY perterbs me...

...when people think that Philly is not a safe city.

Truth be told...that barbed wire is to keep New Jersey OUT :).

Had a WONDERFUL Sunday, spending the day with three  photo bloggers extrodinaire schlepping around the city.  Of course it was grey skies the entire time, well at least until two of us had a glass of wine.  Coincidence that the heavens dispersed the clouds and rays of sunshine broke thru?  I'm pretty sure there was a message there.  TONS of photos to weed thru and edit...many TONS actually.  But I did want to post just a couple tonight.

I applaud the City of Philadelphia police and their efforts to cut down on the crime rate.  No measure is too strong to thwart those Jersey bike thieves.

Disclaimer:  just pulling your leg Jersey.  Love ya.  Feel free to take some jabs at Philly, Lord only knows "I" do.

Of course, as soon as I get my act together I'll have more photos of our day in Philly to post.  But for now...I gotta go watch Dancing With the Stars because....well....just because.

--Kathy

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (3/25/2012)...

What a wonderful week it has been.  I do find it a bit ironic that with all the gorgeous weather we've been having here...I've actually taken less photos.  I would have thunk differently.  I've been outside soaking in the rays, but doing other "stuff". Go figure.  At least the dogs are happy that someone wants to play with them :).   Of course today I have "James Dean" and am ready to head into Philly with some Blog Buds and you guessed it...it is RAINING.  Warped sense of humor Mother Nature...WARPED I say.

And on to the hunt.  This week's Scavenger Hunt Sunday prompts are:  Whimsy, Create. Dust, Seed or Sprout, Swing or Drop...


1.   Whimsy

This is probably one of those "you had to be there" situations to appreciate the humor in this photo.  But let me tell ya, these two peahens were quite the sight yacking at each other.  I found it quite funny (altho, I will now call it "whimsical") that they reminded me of two old ladies with nothing better to do than to gossip about whoever and whatever.  Yack, yack, yack.

2.  Create

"Spring Canopy"

Only God can create an umbrella to sit under as beautiful as this one.

3.  Dust

I must confess, my FIRST "dust" shot was taken in Thing #1's bedroom where the dust has accumulated so thickly that I wrote "Dust Me" on a shelf and took a photo of it.   But then I realized I don't want perpetual proof of my un-Martha Stewart-like ways...so I deleted it.  Poof, gone!  If only dust disappeared as quickly.  Instead, I opted for a photo of Magnolia leaves dusting the ground.  Much prettier and no Lemon-fresh Pledge or sneezing was involved.

4.   Seed or Sprout

As soon as I saw "sprout" as a prompt...my mind immediately went to the Jolly Green Giant commercials "Ho, ho, ho...how are things in the Valley Little Sprout?"  Totally showing my age.  Oh well...spring is certainly sproutin' up around here...ho, ho, ho.

5.  Swing or Drop

Swing?  Of COURSE I think of baseball.  Actually..."drop" could be baseball too, have you seen Domenic Brown play the outfield? Haha.  Sorry Dom.  Tons of baseball paraphernalia laying around my garage due to Thing #1's playing days.  It's been gathering "dust", so I was happy to play with some of it.

As always, if ya have the time you won't be disappointed at what you'll find over at Ashley's Scavenger Hunt Sunday.   Off to Philly today, wish us a not TOO soggy day for photos.  Luckily, laughter won't be impacted by Mother  Nature.


--Kathy

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The Hunger Games...

Well, this week's prompt for Project 52 is "hunger".  And just in case you live under a rock, at 12:01 a.m. the highly anticipated movie "The Hunger Games" was released in theatres.  How do I know?  Let's just say I had a few movie tickets in my possession for the 12:01 showing due to some fanatics in my family (yes, you guilty family members know exactly who I'm talking about).  Preparations began at 9:30 p.m. when Thing #3 and the girls started to gather in my bathroom upstairs and morph from teen-aged girls into various movie characters...which apparently involves the requisite loud giggling, shrieking and yacking.  Advil was popped immediately upon their departure at 10:30 p.m. for the theatre.  Have I mentioned what a great dad the Better Half is?  It is now 12:13 a.m. and I just received a text from him informing me the movie was about to begin...yep, he is there with the gals, albeit banned from sitting anywhere NEAR them.  Who is that strange man sitting by himself at a movie theatre in the wee hours of the morning? Haha.  Just kidding, his latest text told me he sneaked into the 12:05 a.m. showing to sit with my sister and our two nieces who didn't balk at his presence. I am apparently the only sane one...if you call typing a blog post on the computer at 12:15 a.m. sane!

Frankly, "The Hunger Games" have been talked about ad nauseum in my home so the last thing I wanted to do was post a photo having to do ANYTHING with the movie.  So here is my "hunger" submission...

"The Hunger Games"

He looks hungry to ME!  And alot more pleasant than a bunch of teenagers killing off each other via some sort of post-apocolyptic nationally televised battle where only one can survive.  I kind of felt guilty that I apparently was the only person in America who hadn't read the book, until I realized I've heard so much about it I don't NEED to read the dang thing.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  Fun things in store for me.  I'm meeting up with three other bloggers in Philly for a photo outing on Sunday.  Shay from Eye on the Sparrow, Wendy from In Focus on Him, and Kathy from Click, Play, Love.  Isn't it great the wonderful people you meet with common interests here in blogland (gosh I hope "The Hunger Games" isn't one of them). Not sure where I am going to take them yet, but I'm sure we will have fun and a few laughs will be involved.  MAYBE we will even gripe about how crazy our kids are.

--Kathy

134...

Yep, that is how many photos I took yesterday of this ONE freakin' tree...

Granted, I did it in record breaking time AND it was one gorgeous tree.  BUT...if I can take 134 photos of a single magnolia tree, it makes me a bit nervous about what kind of damage "James Dean" and I are going to inflict upon memory cards and batteries when we hit Europe this summer.  Actually...makes me wonder if my family is going to kick me overboard!  I hope "James Dean" can float.

How can I feel blue about anything when I have all this beautiful pink to edit today.  Remember  how I said the other day that SOME photos are meant to be in color....well...I present to you exhibit "A".

--Kathy

Spring time in Paris...

Well, it's springtime in Philly at least...but this was actually taken in the fall,  re-edited and tweaked.  ARGH, as much as I love how textures can enhance a photograph I have a REAL problem when applying textures to black and white photography.  As "luck" would have it, that is the prompt on this week's Texture Tuesday link up.  Just shoot me now.  I spent waaaaaay too much time this morning trying to come up with a submission (at least I got to the gym, but that's about ALL I've done).   Where I run into a problem is that one of the reasons I love black and white photography is that it allows me to capture exactly what I want to focus on...without distraction of color or extraneous focal diversions.  I run into a roadblock because when I apply textures to b/w it always seems to negate the whole focus of the photo to moi, with distractions. But that is just me, like I said yesterday...I'm often off kilter.

So after spending all morning working on some lovely black and whites of beautiful florals, and getting a headache from banging my head on the computer screen out of frustration...I decided to scrap the whole thing and head to the archives.  And just to prove that I CAN multi-task (when I WANT to), I opted for a photo to re-visit and re-edit that I could also use for a new link-up I'm joining over at The Art of Capturing the Moment which is focusing on the sky in landscape photography.  And YES this was an incredible moment when I captured this cityscape and sky...so winner, winner, "poulet" dinner (DANGIT, I forgot to thaw that chicken I wanted to cook for dinner tonight).

"We'll Always Have Paris"

This was actually quite a gorgeous photo in color.  The trees lining the street were a brilliant coppery orange.  But what "I" saw as my focal point was the Eiffel Tower and the ominous cloud cover....both of which were naturally black/white/grey.  By converting the photo to black and white, it allowed me to put the focus where I wanted it to be, without the distraction of the trees.  Yes, it seems to always be rainy in Paris.  But isn't it just beautifully perfect that way?

Au voir,

--Kathy  

At home in Black and White...

"Off-Kilter"

(self portrait #13)

Home sweet home.  Yep, that was my first thought when I opened up the latest lesson in Kim Klassen's  "Beyond Layers" course.  It's just that "Black and White" to me.  Literally and figuratively.  I'm back in my wheel house, my comfort zone when it comes to Black and White photography.  Zippity Do Dah!  I have found that I tend to do things a bit "back a$$-ward" in my approach to many aspects of my life. Photography is no different.  My natural affinity is towards mono-tones.  Color is what gives me fits.  I often find it distracting and unnecessary.  Monotone allows me to shoot what I'm actually seeing...pattern, texture, shapes, nuances...without distraction.  I very rarely take notice of color.  I realize I'm a bit off-kilter in my natural tendencies.  My closet looks pretty much like my photos...lots of black and whites with a few different shades of neutral thrown in for good measure.   Who needs the distraction?  I'd much rather live in a world of pattern, texture, shapes and nuances (with an occassional pair of red shoes thrown in).

Even tho Kim is preaching to the choir with this current lesson, I did learn a few new editing techniques. My usual method of conversion is thru actions.  Coffeeshop's "Toasted Coconut" is my fav go-to method. Thanks Kim for sharing a new route to meander down on my road to a color-less world.  The Enhance tool on PSE to convert to b/w, and a tweak in contrast levels.  That is what I used for all these photos today.  Some are new, some are older but re-visited thru editing:

Reflections pop just a bit more in black and white...

Everyone knows how beautiful the colors are on a peacock.  But eliminate the color and you can truly notice what a peacock's vibrant colors often hide...the intricate lines and swirls of his feathers...

The original photo of this cobble stoned street is quite lovely with it's green moss growing up between the stones.  But take away the diversion of the moss and you are left with a kaleidoscope of pattern...

Architectural photography is at it's best, in my opinion, in monotone.  Graphics, angles, geometry are allowed to shine...as well as reflections...

And lest you think softness can only be achieved thru color, think again...

I wrapped these roses in newsprint and placed them on my deck for textural interest.  By eliminating the color of these pink roses, the textures were allowed to take center stage...

When you eliminate color, other features step forward in addition to pattern, like perspective...

The umbrellas in this photo are a multitude of vibrant colors which produced a beautiful visual with the sunlight streaming in from the glass roof.  However,  once converted to monotone the patterns and shadows of the sunlit roof shining thru the umbrellas took center stage instead of the colors...

Its ironic, but growing up the thing that bothered me the MOST about my dad was the fact that he always seemed to view the world in "black and white".  Not good when you are a teen-ager and intent on living life in full blown techni-color.  Had I only realized that a black and white viewpoint doesn't limit you as I believed...in fact, it pushes your creative boundaries even further and expands your possibilities.  I think I might owe him an apology....AGAIN.

--Kathy

Scavenger Hunt Sunday (3/18/2012)...

Well it is another beautiful day in the neighborhood.  I'm getting spoiled, spoiled, SPOILED.  It's been one crazy warm winter and a very early spring,  but I'm not complaining.  Well actually, I am going to complain a bit.  Was totally planning to hop on a train in a couple of weeks to take Things #2 and #3 to D.C. to see the Cherry Blossoms (and of course...to take some photos).  But quite honestly, I don't think those blossoms are going to wait for us to get there.  How rude! With these warm temps they are blooming ALREADY!   Going to have to play that one by ear I guess.  In the meantime, TONS to take photos of around here with everything a bloomin'.  As always, if you get the chance hop on over to Ashley's Scavenger Hunt Sunday at Ramblings and Photos to see what everyone else was taking photos of this past week.  


This week's prompts are:  Vintage, Word or Quote, Nature's Own, People, and Photographer's Choice.


1.  Vintage

I am always mesmerized by old fire escapes...especially old fire escapes on city apartments.  Quite honestly, they scare me to death and I think only a fire could make me step foot on one.  Which maybe is the only reason you should?

2.  Word or Quote

One thought..two languages.

3.  Nature's Own

Natures potpourri.  Simmer one lemon sliced, and a few sprigs of rosemary.  Your home will smell DE-lightful. 

4.  People

"Father and Son"

I think perhaps one of the reasons I love photography is that it gives me validation to "people watch", which I would do anyway without a camera...but feel guilty doing so.  If they catch me with a camera while I'm watching them, well...at least they might think I believe they are an interesting subject.  If they catch me watching them withOUT a camera?  They probably think I'm a stalker.

5.  Photographer's Choice

Yes, I do love giraffes.  For so many reasons.  But chiefly, because we share the same legs...

Well "Giraffe Legs" has some exciting news to share with you.  I have nudged my sister into participating in Scavenger Hunt Sunday, and helped her set up a blog this past week in order to do so.  Blah, blah, blah..you know how it is when you have younger siblings and they idolize you...they are always following you around and wanting to do what you are doing :).  That might be the case in most families, but my sister has been a role model for me in so many ways, and I am the one who looks up to her.  So, if ya get a chance, please hop on over to Happiness Is... and say hello to my sister Karen.

--Giraffe Legs

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The "Eyes" of March...

Mixed emotions while shooting this shot.  Loved how this guy was staring right at me so intently.  DIDN'T love how he licked his chops while staring right at me so intently.  Either way, he certainly has a gaze that is captivating, he just needs to learn to keep him mouth shut.  And while I didn't like the idea that this beauty lives behind a fence, I have to admit the fence added great texture and pattern to the composition...as well as framed those eyes perfectly. Lucky for me this week's Project 52 prompt was "The 'Eyes' of March"...because this guy sure has a gorgeous set.

--Kathy

Chinatown, and I was hungry again in an hour (part #2)...

Houston Philly, we have a problem.  Wow, did I have trouble culling my trip to  Chinatown photos and deciding what to post.  My goal isn't to promote Philly's tourism...altho I'm sure it appears that way at times.  No, my goal is just to explore with "James Dean" where ever it may take us.  It just so happens it takes us to Philly quite often.  But yes, after much angst, I've narrowed it down.  After all...

Fortune Cookie says:  A conclusion is simply the place where you got tired of thinking

Fortune Cookie says:  You will eat Chinese tonight.

Fortune Cookie says:  That wasn't chicken you just ate

Fortune Cookie says:  Much more grows in the garden than is planted there

Fortune  Cookie says:  You never know what you'll find around the next corner

Fortune Cookie says:  Some days you are the pigeon, and some days you are the statue

Fortune Cookie says:  A woman who seeks to be equal with men...lacks ambition (translation is pretty fuzzy BUT, yeah...I'm pretty sure that is what it says)

Fortune Cookie says:  Happy news is on it's way to you, hope you read Chinese

and finally...Fortune Cookie says:  There are heroes all around us

And to my Better Half who is my trusty photography assistant:

Fortune Cookie says:  Your patience will be rewarded..........sooner or later.

--Kathy