...Farewell Winter...Goodbye Snow

Before I leave for Mexico.....a land of light, warmth, color....I want to say good bye to this Pennsylvania winter, hoping that when I return in mid-April the daffodils, tulips, hiacynths will be in full bloom and thoughts of wearing my down coat won't even enter my mind!!!
... My pictorial "adios" to winter...

Goodbye to Cross country skiing in my backyard!!

Goodbye Country Store and icy Rt. 550

Goodbye snow covered Mt. Nittany

Goodbye winter mouse house.

.....and...Goodbye cold cold days and cold cold nights!!

..."She Finally Finished Something"

"She Finally Finished Something"

While visiting with friends awhile back I came upon this perfect epitaph for my departing. It produced a few chuckles, but my friends knew what I was talking about. Today's entry is a good example of the twists, turns, and big dreams, but unfinished projects my life takes on. I am entering this blog while thinking about unpacking from a weekend in NYC, preparing to pack for several weeks in Northern Mexico, trying to master the new Logan 450 mat cutter in order to frame photos for hanging in a show before leaving and studying for lesson #7 in the History of Photography course I am taking. The following entries have no theme ..........just projects I have been working on in a semi-focused manner.


This photograph is an allegorical image which I think parallels what "art photographer", Julia Margaret Cameron, might have produced in the 1860's.




Heidelberg Castle was shot in color but manipulated in PSP (Paint Shop Pro) to resemble an early rough textured Calotype.

After working on the still life for my self portrait I was mesmerized by the task of "arranging". This one I titled Daughter of Fortune. The following is entitled Birthday of the Infanta.



I like this detail of the Infanta image.......Pierrot has always intrigued me. I love the street mimes in SF and Europe.


I can visualize doing an entire collection of still lifes......will I? Can I stay focused long enough on one thing to complete such a project? Will I continue working to completion on the History of Photography? ........ What about the "One Hundred Ladies and a Leopard Hat" and The Country Stores of Central PA? ............ I can only say, "I'll try."

...A Crunchy Walk

The Lizard and I went walking with some friends today. It was a frigid morning so we picked some sunny roads north west of the University.

It felt terrific to be walking into the Sun. . The mud roads and stubbled cornfields were crunchy with ice. The uphill exertion warmed us up.

It was a great way of celebrating......... "done with the difficult, indoor selfportrait assignment".

...The Still Life Me

This is a still life view of my destiny, my family and friends, my interests, and travels. It represents a life that has been full of activities, adventures, hard work and a little sadness..
And there I am......... celebrating my 60th birthday!

...The Basement Me

Of all the rooms in my house my office and my basement are the closest to my heart. My basement is the keeper of all my future projects. I don't claim to be a collector. But.......I was gifted (or cursed) with magnetism! The kind of magnetism that attracts stuff......lots of stuff!! I love garage and estate sales and flea markets. I am a passionate "hunter"! My big game trophy can be an orphaned chair, or another painting, or a funny looking hat, or anything oriental. I keep thinking that someday it will be a real Matisse, or a Picasso, or a small Rembrandt. Even a 1948 Nikon I camera would be a nice find!

The most treasured "stuff" goes upstairs and fills my walls and tables, and cabinets, and floors. It is changed with the seasons and my mood. Winter months need lots of color.

.......After photographing my basement for this assignment it is hard even for me to believe that six years ago, when I moved from California to a 900 sq. foot apartment in Central Pennsylvania, I was practically "stuffless"........

...Self-Portrait Assignment

The next few photo entries will be about me. It is another one of those challenging assignments from Steve’s class.

Today’s entry was shot a couple of weeks ago for an on line History of Photography class I am taking through the Photographic Society of America. . After reading about the working problems of 19th C photographers we had to do a "meaningful" black and white portrait. The camera had to be set at no less than a 30 second exposure. We had to explain the problems we encountered . This is what I wrote:

Exercise: I am not sure this is a meaningful B&W portrait. I certainly would not pay money for it. However, I appreciate it so much! The problems encountered were insurmountable. I could NOT sit without moving during the 30 second exposure. . My eyes burned and watered. After 20 seconds I was gasping for breath. To get the attached image I had to brace my head and back against the wall. I added eyes drops to my eyes hoping that would help to keep me from blinking. No luck. At 30 sec. I had to set the aperture at 22f and shoot in a fairly dark room. I think I made 25-30 attempts. I was exhausted and gave up trying for that perfect shot. This image was shot in color and converted to black and white in Paint Shop Pro.

Try this sometime. You will appreciate those old tin types, cabinet cards, and Daguerrotypes that you found in your grandma's velvet album.

...Allen and Beaver Streets

Town provided a little more hope of a Spring to come. I could rejoice that winter football season was over when I saw the Steeler's poster discarded in the mud.

The Saints Cafe had colorfully painted bistro tables and chairs out ........ in preparation.

Panera employees were soaping down the outdoor cafe.....in preparation.

Rapid Transit was "transitioning" from gray and navy to spring brights in a sidewalk sale jesture........in preparation!

....and although the Real Spring remained tucked away I could tell there was hope. So I basked in Woodring Florist's perpetual "Spring Garden", bought some Gerbera Daisies........and went home............ to prepare.