...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.

...A Hint of Spring?

The Lizard and I took our first walk today. I was optimistically looking for Spring. Silly me! The sun was deceitfully warming up winter, leaving only a hint of chill in shaded areas..........but.......

........ we walked for blocks finding only the ravages of winter. Dead leaves, bare broken twigs, no buds, no color, nothing that interested me.

I desperately photographed a crow drinking from a basin of melted snow...... Well, melting snow is an attempt to prepare for Spring....isn't it?

Half-heartedly we continued walking toward town. Perhaps a cup of tea would assuage my disappointment

...A Walk with the Purple Lizard

Ubiquitous.....most everyone in State College has one..... or two or more!! The Purple Lizard lives in glove compartments, desk drawers, brief cases, visitor centers, kitchen cubbies, and in my old blue nylon backpack

And this year......... "me and the Lizard are a goin' walkin'!"