Tony and me, sitting on a bench…
reflecting on life, reflected in a car bumper.
January 24, 2015
After all the cold rain we’ve had, it was a beautiful, sunny day today.
My friend Amy and I went for a walk at Reynolda with my dog Jack. The glory of the day did wonders for my mood…
January 23, 2105
It was cold and rainy today and I didn’t feel like photographing at all.
But I did.
Here’s the rain as I sat in my car waiting for Tony to get off of work.
January 22, 2015
I was given an assignment today and I’m quite proud of the results…
I had taken a photo of my workplace using Hipstamatic, one of my favorite iPhone apps. It does a great job recreating photographs in an old style. I sent the photo to my boss and she loved it, but wanted a high resolution version for advertising. Problem is, Hipstamatic produces a relatively low-res photo so I couldn’t fix it.
Challenge! Recreate the photo using my actual camera and not my iPhone. I was daunted, I admit, because Hipstamatic compresses the photo in a certain way and also colors it a certain way. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to create something without filters and other gimmicks that was comparable.
But I did it and here you go! The one on the left is the original Hipstamatic version. The one on the right I took with my Fuji X-T1. I didn’t use any filters on the photo, just dodged and burned it as I would have done in the darkroom.
I was pleased with the results. I always like creating a photo based on my knowledge of photography rather than those created by filters or special apps.
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- Hipstamatic
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- Fuji X-T1
January 21, 2015
Well, I’ve been taking photos every day, but I’m behind in posting them!
Today I played. I had about 45 minutes to kill after work and not much to do, so I got out my Spirograph and started drawing. If you’ve never drawn with Spirograph before, I highly recommend it, especially the vintage sets. You can find them on eBay for very reasonable prices and they are much better quality than the new sets.
For the first time all day I relaxed and just doodled and it was wonderful. We all need to play every now and again, but we usually don’t make it a priority.
I took photos after I finished.
January 20, 2015
I’ve been preparing less and less and practicing more “mindfulness” in photography.
What this means to me is not planning a shot, but rather photographing when the moment hits me. I find that when I do this, I allow photos to find me instead of actively seeking them out. The result is a more natural kind of photography that is an extension of what I am feeling at the moment.
Today I took my camera with me on a walk to get lunch. I snapped as I walked along with no preconceptions as to what I wanted to photograph. It was nice…
January 19, 2015
As a mother, I’ve learned to be stoic.
When I am hurting inside, there are times I have to hide it and be strong so that my children will feel confident and less anxious. Today was one of those days.
Emma has been home from college for Winter break for a month. Today I had to take her back, and it was almost harder than it was when I first dropped her off in August. It’s been nice having her home. It felt peaceful. She and her brother actually got along. We played board games and got pizza on Wednesdays and smoothies on Fridays.
But today I had to leave her again and though my heart was breaking, I tucked it all in so that her own sadness would be eased.
I cried in the car when I was out of sight, once again having to let go.
January 18, 2015
I’m trying to get things done today.
As usual, though, one thing or another gets in the way and now I look to see that the day is almost over and I’ve accomplished nothing of what I set out to do.
So I’ll appreciate the beautiful sky and sunshine and try not to be so hard on myself.
January 17, 2015
Is there a room in your life–now or in your past–where everything seems to happen?
This is the room that was like that for me when I was young. It was my grandparents’ kitchen.
We would sit around the table and discuss the world’s problems, offering what we knew would be the perfect solutions. After that, we’d play cards or board games. And of course, we would eat, talk, and visit with friends. It was the epicenter of my grandparents’ world…and mine.
My grandparents are long gone, I have grown up, and the room needs great repair, but it still feels like comfort and love to me.
January 16, 2015
I had to go to the doctor today for pains I have yet to identify. It might be serious, it might not be. Oddly, I’m quite calm about it. I just want to find out what is going on in my gut. The first photo is the rays of the morning sun coming through the waiting room window. The next two are of the field next door, covered in frost as the sun shone across it. I felt like I was in another country. It was very calming, quite peaceful.
Mid-Century Me 