Spring Green Fields

I swung by my friend Lesa’s farm the other day; trying to capture the fresh spring green of the wheat fields.  She had so eloquently described the green wheat blowing in the breeze; the fresh spring green color; and the way the shadow of the clouds would change the color.  The day I drove around her farm, the sky was exceptionally blue with beautiful fluffy clouds.

I’m headed off to my photography workshop that I have anxiously been anticipating.  Hopefully I will have some interesting images to share with you as a result of the workshop.

Uncurling

Dickey’s Lodge; Part Two

Moving inside the lodge…

(continued from the previous post.)

Dickey’s Lodge

The Paducah Photography Club held a photo “outing” yesterday at Dickey’s Lodge in Golconda, IL. We were supposed to meet and “socialize” at the lodge; then we were supposed to photograph the finish line of the River to River Relay race.    A couple of things happened — 1) not too many people showed up for the gathering; and 2) it started raining.

Those of us who did gather at Dickey’s Lodge were VERY content to enjoy socializing at the lodge.  We then turned the lodge itself as our photography opportunity of the day.

Here is just a sampling of the quaint photo opportunites the lodge offered.  More will follow.

In Memory of Polly

Many of you don’t know that I also have a private blog for family and immediate friends.  That blog was started, gosh, way back in 2007.  I’m not very faithful about updating that bog now, but when I have something of importance to share with family and immediate friends that is one tool of communication.

In today’s Paducah Sun newspaper:  Pauline “Polly” Bingenheimer Harris, formerly of Paducah, KY, departed this earth on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in Lexington, S.C.

Just over a year ago I posted some thoughts on my private blog about Polly and the role she played in my “artistic” endeavors.  In honor of her recent passing I am going to share those thoughts here.  They remain true.

Have I told you before how very much I have to learn about all of this photography stuff? If not, let me say it now. I have sooooooooo much to learn about this photography stuff!

I have to try to put in writing my appreciation for former Paducah Middle School art teacher, Polly Harris.

Ten or twelve years ago a group of Paducah Middle teachers would gather informally once a week to paint; more specifically, watercolor. Polly would loosely “guide” us each week frequently offering advice, insight, suggestions, instruction, etc.

I was by far the least talented of the group but it didn’t ever seem to matter. The group was very welcoming and encouraging. The weekly sessions were fun, relaxing, and stimulating.

Any “artistic eye” that I might be fortunate enough to possess primarily stems from the Paducah Middle teacher art group. Any other art background is strictly limited to college Art Appreciation!

However, I will note that many art principles parallel with music principles. Form. Balance. Color. Repetition. Texture. Pattern. Accent. Well, you get the idea.

And, again I repeat……I think my “eye” is better than my technique. Therefore, I am trying very hard to improve my technique; with the camera itself and in the “digital darkroom.”

This is a photograph of one of Polly’s watercolor paintings. One sunny afternoon the group met at my house to paint flowers in my garden.  I can still see the graceful and dignified manner that Polly skillfully used with her sable brushes.  She would get quiet and the strokes would begin to flow.  Before one’s eyes the minimal brush stokes would evolve into a beautiful piece of art.

I was thrilled at the time she gave this painting to me.  And now, at this time, this painting takes on even more importance.  It hangs over my kitchen sink; a place where I can enjoy it, and think of Polly, on a regular basis.

Perhaps the message of today’s post is two fold.  One, enjoy and cherish those who are important to you while you can.  And two, thank someone who played an important role in the shaping of your life.

Sadly, I didn’t  have the chance to show Polly my photographs or tell her how much she influenced me.

Pink Dogwood

Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world. ~Virgil A. Kraft

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Worry

Being perfectly honest, I was a little at a loss as to what to post today.  I was so looking forward to heading out on a photo shoot yesterday and the weather simply didn’t cooperate.

I had been “playing” with this rocking chair that sits on my neighbor’s porch but just wasn’t sure. I worried that my processing choice was too over the top.  Then, alas!  The Shutter Sisters topic for today was “Feeling Nostalgic.” That was my “sign” that this indeed was the image I was supposed to post; the time was right.

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“Worry is like a rocking chair–it gives you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere.” ~unknown

Keats

“If poetry comes not as naturally as the leaves to a tree it had better not come at all.” ~John Keats

(click image to view larger)

Naomi’s Rainbow

Buttons.  That’s how this all started.

I had a special Great Aunt – Aunt Naomi.  When she passed away, the immediate family distributed most of her valuable possesions among the immediate family; as they should have.  An auction was held to dispose of the “things” of lesser value.  I was probably in my mid-thirties at the time of the auction and in a stage of wanting “keepsakes and momentos” of special family members.  I’m still like that, even now.

The keepsakes and momentos don’t have to be valuable money wise.  That’s not the most important aspect.

So, back to my Great Aunt Naomi.  At the auction I bought several mayonnaise jars filled with buttons.  At the time, my mother and a couple of other family members chuckled and asked “What in the world do you want with those buttons?”

Some thirty years later, those buttons are STILL special to me; many proudly displayed in my foyer in an antique glass container.

However, some buttons were used in a commissioned weaving the artist titled “Naomi’s Rainbow.”  It is a piece the artist hand selected several buttons from Aunt Naomi’s button collection and used in the original weaving.

So, buttons.  That’s how this all started.

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However, as with any work of art, the more one looks, the more one sees.  Yesterday I began exploring the weaving with my camera; thus revealing the subtle colors and textures of the thread used in the weaving.

Do you see “Aunt Naomi’s Rainbow?”  And, do you see why I value my little small treasures?

Awake, thou wintry earth…

Awake, thou wintry earth – Fling off thy sadness!

Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth Your ancient gladness!

~Thomas Blackburn, “An Easter Hymn”

(You may click image to view large.)

Another “Hit or Miss” image; blooming azaleas in the landscape.

Happy Easter.