273/365 The End

"The End, The Beginning, The Present"

It is hard to believe that this is already the last day of September.  Time is just flying by.  I don't like it!  However, I do love this time of year.  Fall is my favorite season - watching nature slow down and get ready to rest, seeing the beautiful bare forms of the trees,  basking in all the orange of the falling leaves  and the flowers and, of course, the pumpkins, breathing in the spirit of all of the holidays and celebrations that are packed into the next few months - I find such joy in all that is autumn.

Yes, it brings with it the end of summer and shortly, the end of another year, but soon also the dawning of a new year will be right before us.  I try not to think too much about beginnings and endings, what was and what may be.  The present is much easier to comprehend.  I am where I am right now.  I make a conscious choice to live fully here and now because there will never be another now exactly like this one.  

For now, seize this day.  And tomorrow, do it again.

272/365 Puppy Dog Eyes

"Mama's Boy"

My boy is getting really gray; he will be nine in another month.  He still has quite a bit of energy for dancing for his dinner (or any other food he thinks that he might get), playing frisbee and chasing the cat every now and then.  Interestingly, he will not work too hard at keeping Harley from stealing his rawhide bone.  He is definitely a gentle giant.

Today, Adidas worked hard at keeping me from taking his picture.  He would not be still long enough to focus the camera.  I don't know why he was so adamant about not being the photo subject of the day.  I think this look is the, "Fine. Just get it done already." look.  It is funny to me that several people said he looks like he is smiling.  

I love this picture because reflected in his eye is me with my camera and Weber asleep in the chair.  This is really how Adidas likes things - an eye on everyone.  Below is a close-up of the reflection in his eye.

271/365 In Disguise

"Whatever…"

There is no disguise here, but the prompt also suggested the use of props and being goofy.  I think we got that:-)  The jury is still out on whether the "whatever" is intended for the person on the other end of the phone or me for pointing the camera at her yet again.  I'm fairly sure I know what the verdict is.  Whatever…

270/365 Bubbles

"Bokeh Bubbles"

I love to take bubble pictures; therefore, throughout this year I have already taken many of them.  I was trying to think of a different, somewhat creative approach to today's prompt.  I finally came up with an idea, but never quite got to it during the day.  

When Weber got home, just in case that idea didn't materialize, we went outside to try some of the "normal" bubble shots.  I quickly discovered that it was more windy than I thought.  I was having a terrible time focusing on the fast moving bubbles.   I finally set my camera on rapid shutter in the hope of getting something decent.

What I got was many terribly out of focus bubbles with some amazing bokeh.  I don't think I could have done this intentionally.  Admittedly, the composition here leaves a lot to be desired, but I like all the colors.  It just makes me smile.  I'm sure that I can make my original plan for today's photo fit somewhere else down the road.

One of the reasons that I did not work on the bubbles prompt earlier  in the day was because I was trying to catch up on the assignments for the online photography class that I am taking.  This month we are focusing on simplicity, minimalism and abstract - ideals that I can get behind in all aspects of my life.  I have been looking forward to seeing how I can represent these things in my photographs.  

Here is what my day yielded.

"My Girl's Boots"

This image may be a little too complicated for the prompt, but, nonetheless, I like it for what it is.

"Simply Noted"

Simply noted, I have an addiction to Post-It notes.  There.  I admitted it.

"Life's About Looking Up"

Keep your chin up.  Way up.  There is cool stuff over your head sometimes.

"Bristles and Bands"

This is the broom that I did not use to clean the house today.  The dirt will wait. 

 In addition to taking lots of pictures, I also did some composing and some writing.  All in all, this was a awesomely fun day!  

And tomorrow is Saturday!

269/365 Good-bye Summer

"Good-bye Summer, Hello Fall"

268/365 Notes

"Notes, Notes and More Notes"

I like writing this kind of notes…not nearly as depressing as all of the notes that I have to write to myself so that I don't forget what I'm supposed to do, where I'm supposed to do it and who I'm supposed to do it with or for.

267/365 Get Wet

"Fall Fountain"

I'm in a creative slump they week.  Nothing seems terribly inspired or inspiring.  I know that all artists have these times, but I don't particularly like the feel of it.  That being said, I'm soldiering on hoping that the creative fire is rekindled soon!

I had a composition student who was sick and missed a lesson this morning.  That gave me a free hour that I did not expect to have.  There were many productive things that I could have chosen to do, but I decided to go sit outside with my book and enjoy the fresh air and the sound of the fountain in the courtyard.

I was taken by the colorful leaves floating in the fountain.  I'm not sure where these leaves came from; all of the trees are still covered with bright green leaves.  Whatever their source, I love the colors and liked seeing them resting on the water.