bossbob50's photostream  

On clear days in winter - when you can also see "forever" - when there is no mist in the air, the sky is clear and cloudless, even a low-slanting sun can wash across the land and bring out the rich, brown and seared colors the earth wears in repose.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZn7TFzOC1Y - "On A Clear Day", Frank

These are not the monochromatic browns and grays served up to our eyes by the highly diffused, diffident light of low-slung clouded on mist-laden days.

These are the rich and varied hues to be found secreted in stasis. Whereas our eyes are normally drawn to the bright colors of spring-through-autumn life, we can now see, and appreciate, dozens of subtle hues in the families brown, tan, ocher, rust and gray that lay low, sliding serpentine across the land.

If your eyes are open to see and your artistic spirit willing to savor morsels of muted color, contrast, shape and form, soft light and softer shadows, you will find it.

Just as it it.

This image: Pretty much sooc. No joy in that. No shame either. Just an example of when I teach photography, when I tell the students,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHhm9rXUxIQ - George Benson, "Beyond the Sea"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fztkUuunI7g&feature=related - Charles Trenet, "La Mer."

..... "no matter what you intend to do to an image, get the best initial image you can for composition, exposure, dof, focus, color fidelity, contrast, mood. You can go anywhere you wish after that, including SOOC."

The birds were there. The camera couldn't catch them, so I put them back.

We had a mild winter in 2009 when this was taken, and we've had a very, very mild winter this year. 61 degrees today, Jan. 30 2012. I am truly getting, seriously spoiled.

Charles Trenet's "La Mer." I heard this in 5th grade (1960 or so), in Mrs. Redmond's class as she taught us French. For a minute, it made me forget I wanted to learn German. I would stand in front of the mirror and mimic the words and how I thought the French sang (as I saw in movies like Casablanca.)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf5CqSDgiLU "Give it Up, Turnit Loose"

Ah-hem. The message in this bottle can be a rather noisy, somewhat loud and unrestrained affair: somewhat like the music.

Now.....THAT'S....what I'm Talkin' ` bout!

Wha'? What? What'd I do?

Moni: www.flickr.com/photos/monicaecebolinha/6801804323/in/cont...
Debbe: www.flickr.com/photos/oldmanofthemountains/6792235427/
Karen: www.flickr.com/photos/47537995@N03/6790016687/
Nick: www.flickr.com/photos/zedzap/6792539033/

OK boys and girls, bring.......it.......on. C'mon now.....don't be no half-steppin'! Once again, naughty, but not nasty.

Personal note: I really do appreciate these challenges and the creative play they bring. I've had to quickly come up with creative concepts, or playful ones, and then push myself at photoshop to come up with solutions for the concept as my thoughts are running ahead of my psd skills. Marvelous fun, with rewards that will pay dividends with my other images.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzMw2LkPy2E&feature=related Greek music

Texture Buff & Blue by Distressed Jewel: www.flickr.com/photos/jewellofdistressed/ used three times (Thrice?).

So, it appears that on the previous image to this, I talked myself into my food choices for today. Got up, ran to the store, drove actually, and got some stuff. Olives and Feta cheese with spices was one of the items I got. Got home, opened the lid, sun was coming in the window, had to grab the camera.

Usually the music affects my artistic choices during processing. Today it was nibble and process, nibble and process; nibble, nibble and process, sip some tea. At this moment it is the differing tastes of olives, cheese, spices, salt, crackers and tea making creative decisions for me.

This is a meal that is thousands of year's old. Can't you feel it and taste that in our common ancestral tastebuds?

Damn, this tasted gooooood!!!!!

Suitable for mounting. Hell, I'd put this in the kitchen.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YgNbLax7iw&feature=youtu.be Jessica Williams, “Miles to Go.” Her piano is Gorgeous, not pretty, but damn gorgeous.

If I owned a restaurant, I serve colorful food. Good food to be sure; but colorful too. Everything that is supposed to have a "crunch" would have a "crunch."

We’d celebrate fresh food, its flavors, its colors, textures and shapes. I’d hope to be able to keep the menu flexible so it could change as differing foods left or entered fresh seasons. I’d want people to “ooh and aah” out loud, at the sights, the smells, the sounds, the vibes. You'd come to my place for the colors and the flavors, but not for the low-cal, low-fat, or low-sweet or stuff like that.

Healthy? Yes. Low-sumpthin' or other? No! They are not mutally exclusive.

And I'd want customers to take pictures too. I always have a point & shoot, or another camera near at hand: I have a lot of food shots from my kitchen. I'm not sure why. But, if I can take these, I'd like my customers to do the same. Put the images on their desktops; make `em wanna' come back, real soon like.

It would be a friendly open place, like me. The drinks would have booze in them. I’d have big pictures on the wall. Pictures from Flickr people like you.

I’d also have music; all kinds. I’d probably DJ on Saturday nights. We would be able to change the light schemes to catch or change the mood of the crowds.

I forgot to mention the bread that comes with my meals. Good bread, strong breads, crunchy breads; real bread with real bread personality - bread that frowns upon knives, but welcomes hands. Oh, and there were two types of cheese (and, at least one of the cheeses are always the type that demands your attention) and two types of tomatoes to go with the Kale up there.

I’d probably only last a year; can’t make money offering good stuff and extras every night.

But, what I a year it would be.

oooooh. Did I forget to talk about desserts???? Next time. :-)))))

Two textures by Les Brumes: www.flickr.com/photos/lesbrumes/sets/?&page=2

"The paths we take in this life, will not always be on the ground, nor grounded in reality." ~ Me

So, I guess that free's things up a bit on this life's journey, eh?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCjxZHGHL4Y&feature=related - Loreena McKennitt, "Night Ride Across the Caucasus"

First time I have attempted an image with no photo pieces of it being from me. Felt a bit like painting when I was a kid. I finally felt I've gained enough basic psd skills to attempt this without making a terrible mess of things. I'm sure I'll look back on this as somewhat amatuerish, but that is how one grows.

These challenges are marvelous. I love the pressure, the push, the excitement, the drive, the sharpening edge to the creative nerves. It is like being in art school again.

I didn't anticipate doing something like this, but I've been drifting away from photo-realism for three or so years. I guess it was inevitable.

The guy with the umbrella on the Dragon's back....would be me. It is a comfortable, soothing yet exhilerating ride; scary at first, but then you settle in for the exquisite and expansive ride ahead.

I feel a bit like one of the "big kids" on the flickr block now. :-)

Challenge #23 - Dragon - Nick's Pick.

Nick: www.flickr.com/photos/zedzap/6769271759/
Karen: www.flickr.com/photos/47537995@N03/6769915435/
Debbe: www.flickr.com/photos/oldmanofthemountains/6771275459/
Moni: www.flickr.com/photos/monicaecebolinha/6768645829/