The Past Revisited

1941 Plymouth
Photograph by Elisabeth Bacon 2009
All Rights Reserved

Friday afternnoon, this 1941 Plymouth glided into the parking lot of our local general store. Memories rolled in too--granddad, coarse tan seat covers, musty car smells, trips to the Piggly Wiggly and the drug store's soda bar, sun-streamed mornings, burned toast, fresh coffee, heavy cream, playground swings, moss-covered bricks, ivy-covered walls, ice cream on scalding summer afternoons, the porcelain doll in doll trunk (with dresses, petticoats, hats and shoes), night-time shadows flickering and dancing on bedroom walls.......

Images are powerful. They can transport us through space and time.

Meditation...Inspiration

Replaced image with clean copy...small screen of mini-laptop fooled me. Think I have a handle on it now. Also want to change title of this entry to Inspiration. Evening skies here are awesome. This one took my breath away. Words do not suffice...sometimes I am speechless.

Focusing on Poppies (Various Treatments)

Fog again...the perfect backdrop for poppies in the garden. The filters used with each image can convey different, or enhanced, moods. Often the differences are subtle.

HORIZONTAL CROP

VERTICAL CROP

ENHANCED GREENERY

POLAROID TRANSFER

Zoom Out

Decided to share full view of the barn we discovered the other day.

Morning Drive

Stay alert and you will be surprised what you see along the way.

Detail from Old Barn

©Elisabeth Bacon 2009

All Rights Reserved

Rollators Rock

Visiting Dad made me want a Rollator (a four-wheel rolling walker with seat). I ordered a lightweight red one, took it out yesterday for a trial run and had a wonderful time. Three times around the mall's interior left me with runner's "burn." "Feel the burn," they say and boy did I ever feel it. Next, off to the bookstore. "Red" made it through the aisles flawlessly. Browsing was a breeze because I could sit while flipping through pages. No more hunting for a shelf, or table, to lean on...no more searching for a seat miles away. So, despite the stigma of walkers and old folks, Red and I are becoming best friends. I have a brand new toy that makes my life a breeze. Perhaps today Red and I will skip around the mall. Ain't freedom grand?

SUGGESTION: What a great way to transport cameras and lenses! No need to carry--roll instead. Load them in the basket, or pouch, and go! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!

DOWN WITH STIGMAS. DOWN WITH WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK. Perhaps Bob will take a pic of me flying through store aisles; one knee on seat, other leg stretched out, pointed toes, in a ballet pose.

REMEMBER: Attitude is everything!

* * * * * * * *

How do you awaken your creativity? Reading always jump starts my brain. Whenever I find myself lacking creative energy, a bookstore will get me going. Almost any subject will do. Reading Eastern philosophies takes me outside my Western thinking. It puts me outside the box. Yesterday I read one plus one = one plus one instead of 1 + 1 = 2. Something to think about. True creativity involves seeing and thinking differently.

TODAY: Work on box setup.

The Tao In Nature

Nature is not perfect however there is beauty in its imperfectness.

Suggestion: When shooting, look for movement and curved lines in nature. A curved line will bring the viewer's eye into the image.

Pennsylvania Trip -- Illuminating

Our trip to Pennsylvania was somewhat sad. Dad is failing. His short-term memory is disappearing.

Shooting with Bob was challenging. I am used to working alone. Then, I had an epiphany.

1. I don't like shooting landscapes and nature as much as I did years ago and

2. any similar landscapes can be enhanced (just like the good old days in the darkroom).

Once I realized these things, shooting with another person got easier. I began to look for different things to shoot--the unusual. An important lesson--a wakeup call--a refresher course making me identify favorite subject matter. Along the photographic journey, it helps to know what you enjoy shooting so you can continue to grow and improve your techniques.

Suggestion: Define what you like to shoot. Make a list, i.e. I like shooting singular, isolated objects.

Ruts

Recently I heard a photography hobbyist say, "I have to find something different to shoot. I am in a rut."

Interesting. Perhaps it isn't the subject chosen at all. Instead, it may be time to experiment. Wheb you find yourself in a creative rut, try changing your settings. Write down your choices, then compare the results. Not only will you learn what your camera can do, but you will discover unique results. Using Automatic or Program mode is not challenging. Playing with Manual, Aperture and altered Program settings is. Try it...you may surprise yourself.

Yesterday I was surprised with my morning's landscape in fog. It looks like a painting (which always is my objective). My images to look like my paintings.

Photography can be flexible and it is the shooter's responsibility to discover what their equipment will do.

For those who think photography is easy, think again. Clicking the shutter is not enough. Anyone can do that. Good photography takes knowledge, thought, planning, patience and tons of courage. No two photographs are alike and no two photographers are alike either. Experimentation, diligence and discipline are keys to originality.

So, if you are in a rut...try experimenting with your style. Play. Have fun. Be surprised.

Early Morning

Home

WAVING GRASSES

Finally found time this morning to edit some images taken in Pennsylvania. Also, was greeted by "happy" blooms. This poppy is blooming in the circle garden. I love poppies and have waited eagerly for pods and fleurs.

POPPY

Research, Research and More Research

Am researching pieces again. This is one of my favoriite things to do.

BUDDHA

This Buddha is made from red clay. In doing research, I learned that these pieces were first made in the 8th century. The age of this piece is unknown.

CANTON BOWL

ISIS -- Bronze Reproduction Piece

Signed Metropolitan Museum of Art (MMA)

Another View of Dogwoods

Ooooops, entered a duplicate image taken the other day...Here is the view I wanted to share:




Am behind with my shooting. I need to do a setup using Canton (Chinese Export China) and also a variety of musical instruments. Went to a fabulous estate sale on Thursday and saw some of the most wonderful things, i.e. ten exceptional, high-quality Wyeth prints (one signed), Picasso and more. Lots of Oriental pieces. Found a super Metropolitan Museum of Art reproduction bronze most likely from the 1970s (Isis). It was an exciting day filled with wonder and amazement. Oh, how I love going on "the hunt" for interesting and unusual pieces.