Photography

Textures of Snow and A Question

/ still a dreamer

If you’re anywhere in the mid-Atlantic region you’ve been getting hit with snow. Here in New Jersey we got hit with a 1-2 punch yesterday and again last night. Thankfully, I shoveled after the first round because now there’s another 12″ or so in most places, and maybe 3′ out there where the plow went through. I decide to do a first pass at 8 a.m. to make an access lane from my side porch to the street and also clear off the back/side porch and wherever Little Fee, the feral I feed, might be coming from.

BUT … before I did … I had to take some photos of the unmarred beauty of the snow. And the question? Whatever happened to the teenage boys that used to come around on snow days looking to make some money shoveling some of us out? Yeah, yeah, I know … they’re home texting and playing on the internet. Kinda sad, as I guess it’s a time gone by.

That’s it – I’m hearing my shovel call …

Winter Sky at Dusk

/ still a dreamer / 2 Comments

As I was just about finished what I was working on – it was 5 to 5 – I happened to look out at the sky. An amazing bright pink streak of a cloud was winding down to earth in the darkening dusk. A smaller pink streak appeared to the left. Grabbed the camera and rushed out to the porch, and this is what I could catch from the ground floor.

And then as I turned to come inside, I looked up towards the southern sky, and there to the left of the pink cloudshow, was an eighth moon, gently rocked back, and glowing brightly. How grateful I am just to catch moments such as these.

Let Them Eat Cake II

/ still a dreamer / 2 Comments

Every now and then, people ask me what my blog is about. Well, let’s see … it’s about writing, illustrating, art, children’s books, reading, animals, nature, home, music, the wonder and mysteries of life itself, and oh, yes … food.

So I guess, in sum, my blog is about many of the things that inspire me!

I occasionally think I should really have more of a focus on my blog, specifically on the children’s book field.  But so many people already do that SO well, I figured I might do best to share slices of life, and serve them up in an as attractive manner as I can … such as this lovely cake I made recently.

This is a Nectarine Upside-Down Cake, made from scratch, all butter, as is my wont to bake. I wish I had more time to bake … and even cook … but life being what it is, I will just continue to bake when I can and memorialize the results in a photograph. And share it with you. This was quite delicious, my last tribute to the fruits of summer, and was served with fresh whipped cream. Yum!

Photographing the Light

/ still a dreamer

How many times have you seen something and said “Darn! I wish I had a camera!”

It’s pretty common, I think, and I really do try and remember to bring my camera along at least some of the time. But I notice there are often magical moments to capture right around my own home or neighborhood … when I’m paying attention, that is. I don’t think it matters what kind of artist we are for us to be aware of the magic of light.

As I walked down my upstairs hallway the other morning, I noticed that the spider plant atop one of my bookcases looked outright sparkly. The morning sunlight was filtering through the mini-blinds and creating this wonderful pattern on only the plant. This time it was easy to run and get the camera.

Because this play of light was so striking, I became aware as I walked about the house of the other spots where that same sunlight/mini-blind phenomena was occurring. There were several spots, but the other one that was noteworthy to me was this image at left, along the stairs, where the silhouette of the rusted tin horse seemed a special little vignette all its own.

I always feel that all of these small captured moments are grist for the mill in my creative endeavors – maybe an inspiration for an illustration or even a writing passage. Have you been aware lately of any small magical moments of the interplay of light around you?

No One Does It Like A Cat

/ still a dreamer / 4 Comments

If you have a prescribed spot of sun and a cat, chances are the latter will find the former and fit right in it. It is the cat’s artistry to seek Ra and pour oneself into his shape.

Witness Mewsette below – the perfect cat in a light box.