180/365-2 Clean Up

"Sunset"

As I have said repeatedly, I am terrible with phone photography and am fairly ignorant with regard to phone photo processing and editing apps.  Today's prompt had both a technical and compositional component.  The subject was intended to be something related to "clean up" and the photo was supposed to be taken and edited on your phone.  As is often the case when I am faced with something with which I am woefully incompetent, I waited until nearly sunset to attempt my photo of the day.

Weber and I were sitting out on the patio surrounded by citronella candles and incense and I was smothered in insect repellent.  I sat comfortably in my chair looking for something interesting to photograph.  Though the surroundings were perfect for the part of me that wanted to relax, my creative self was becoming a little frantic.  I was running out of light; I had to come up with a subject for today's photo.

I looked down at one of the citronella candles burring in a metal can.  The colors were kind of pretty.  But really...who wants to look at a photo of a candle burning in a rusted metal pail sitting on a concrete slab?  I'm all about photographing my everyday, but I don't want to look back and be depressed by my uninteresting existence.  Surely there must be something around that is more beautiful than a citronella candle.  I was desperate.

With my phone, I snapped the photo of the burning candle.  I discovered that the concrete created kind of an fascinating texture to the background of overall image.   I hunted around on my phone for a photo processing app.  I have a couple, but I don't use them very often.  When I do, I tend to go for the seriously over processed look just to make it absolutely clear that the picture is an iPhonography image.

I am a huge fan of abstract art.  I like that abstract images make me imagine and think.  They force me to look beyond what I can easily see to what I need to see.  I like that they are always new and fresh because each day, when I look at a work of art with fresh eyes,  I am bringing something new and different to the work of art and it, in turn,  gives me something new and different in return.  As I looked at my photo of the burning bucket of citronella infused wax, the same process that I engage when looking at masterpieces of abstract art kicked in.  Suddenly this tin container of wax looked like so much more.  

I uploaded the photo into a processing app.

As I began what really ended up being minimal processing, the image emerged clearly as a sunset.  Perhaps this is because the sun was indeed setting overhead.  Perhaps it was because the many sunsets that I saw while we were in Delaware are still so vivid in my mind.  Whatever the case, I saw a sunset.  

Or is it a sunrise?  Tomorrow it may be. Today it is a sunset.

179/365-2 Traditional Attire; June Portrait

"A Natural Bond"

Today's prompt was supposed to be all about portraiture, more specifically, portraiture  focusing on the "tradition; attire" of the subject.   I knew that the structure of today did not allow itself to a dedicated portrait session with anyone and I had no hopes of any interesting traditional attire.

I am still committed to taking at least one shot of each of the girls every month.  It is nearly the end of June and I had not taken photos of either of them yet.  Because we were out of town, I have not seen Erin much during June and Brooke's work schedule makes it a little difficult to get "nice" photos of her.

This morning, we all went out for breakfast followed by a trip to one of the local farmers' markets.  Being amidst all of the fresh fruits and vegetables may not constitute "traditional attire", but it is natural surroundings since we all love our fruits and veggies.  Though I did not take portraits of the girls, I did a few good "street" shots of both of them.

However, rather than play favorites with regard to today's "official" picture of the day, I decided to go with option #3 and use the photo of the sweet little boy, and his goat.  In his jeans and t-shirt and with his long curly hair glistening in the sunlight, I figure this is probably his traditional attire.  I love the bond between him and the little goat.

Erin used to wear hats all the time.  At one point, she had quite the collection.  I'm glad to see them making a comeback.  She can pull off just about any hat you put on her head!

178/365-2 In the Shade

"Shades"

Happy National Sunglasses Day!

I have said it here before - I am not a fan of hats and sunglasses because they make me claustrophobic.  The only sunglasses I will where at all are the amber tinted ones and they seem to be the most difficult to find.  And hats are even more elusive, at least hats that don't look ridiculously dorky.  I will wear baseball caps, but they don't do much to keep the sun off of my neck.

Having had several pre-cancerous spots frozen off of my arms yesterday I am trying to be more willing to wear the hats and sunglasses to prevent such spots on my head and neck.  Now I am good about wearing sunscreen and long sleeves when I know that I will be outside.  Unfortunately, the damage to arms was done when I was much younger.

There is always something to worry about...

177/365-2 Have A Ball

 "A Ball to Remember"

These balls (marbles) were given to us at church at the end of book study on The Four Agreements by Miguel Ruiz.  This can be a life changing book if its ideals are taken to heart and made an integral part of our everyday.  The marble serves as a tangible reminder of what we hope to do.

Thank you Todd for facilitating this fantastic class and to all those in the class who faithfully shared so much of themselves during our time together.  God was working in our midst!

176/365-2 Fifteen

"A Lucky Fifteen"

Sometimes you just have to go with the photo that is right in front of your face, literally.  

Creativity and inspiration were low to nonexistent today.  I was relieved when this blog popped up on my computer tonight.  The article has some interesting observations.  If you are interested, here is the link.

175/365-2 Explore

"Baggage??"

After almost two weeks of being away, we are finally home.

I spotted this little girl in the airport this afternoon.  I can't decide whether it is super cute or kind of sad.  She seemed perfectly happy to be set aside with the pile of luggage.

I wish that I took better pictures with my phone.  This image had potential, but I don't get good quality images with my phone camera. I think it is user error, but I don't know what I do wrong or don't do right.  Oh well...it is what it is.

174/365-2 Under the Sun

""Reunion"

 I got my undergraduate degree in North Catolina but moved to Texas as soon as I had graduated.  When we travel to and from Delaware, we have a connection through Chatlotte, North Catolina.   On today's trip we decided to take a twenty-four hour layover in Charlotte so that I could reunite with my college roommate and my other very best friend from college.  None of us has seen one another in 25 years.

In those years since we were last together there have been marriages, divorce, eight children, graduate degrees, family moves, and many jobs.  In the midst of all of that, we lost regular contact with one another.  Enter Facebook.  We reunited with each other via Facebook and committed to getting together in person.  The stars aligned for that to happen today.

Despite all the time that has passed, we picked up right where we left off, as if yesterday we were those college students standing in the practice room halls at ECU.  It was kind of a surreal experience, a time warp of sorts, in a truly awesome way.

It will not be 25 years between visits again.  I love you guys!