Back in the 'hood

In between picking up some framed work and heading to the photo lab, I stopped off in my old nieghborhood to take a few pictures. The icy sidewalks slowed me down long enough to remember. I was transported back in time as I looked into my past to see the firemen playing volleyball across the street from our apartment block, the coved ceilings and fake fireplace in another apartment a couple of blocks over, the walks to and from work, crossing the bridge in the bitterly cold winter, the hysterical laughter with my roomies, my boyfriend's Challenger rumbling up the road, going for runs at 2 in the morning because I could (I DO NOT recommend this now) and living off of Chinese noodle packs at 3/$1.00.

I don't have pictures of any of those memories but I will share a few pics from around the 'hood.

Year's Reflections

This year is coming to an end. Sometimes we reflect back on what was before we look forward to what will be. A tough year may inform our view of the future and give us a sense of futility or dread. As a result, we may not give our best to what is and also what will be.

What if we framed our reflections in a bit of a different way, not in a false way, but a new way? What if we saw things differently, from a new perspective?

I shot this image at a shutter speed of 1/30 and aperture of f/8.0. My focal length was 24 mm and my focal point was the base of the water goblet. The ISO was 100.

I took this image looking at the water goblet on the dining table with the windows directly behind. Once on my computer, I flipped the image vertically and used the reflection as the subject. Including the grain as a means of pointing to the subject was effective. The dining chair offers balance.

Fading Memories

Peeling Layers

A little grouping of chives has found its way up from beneath a sidewalk block adjacent to our home. I was considering the chive, an onion plant, as I looked at the shots I took of them yesterday afternoon.

Here, we can see the layers at the base of the bloom peel back to reveal the flower.

Layers, like memories, time and experiences, sometimes painful ones, are peeled back and released to make way for new ways of living and experiencing the world. With any onion, there are often tears that flow as the layers are peeled. So it is with us.

This beautiful blooming chive, growing and thriving in an unlikely and unusual place, reminded me of this great hope we have...for healing and beauty, both.

I used my macro lens to focus on the bloom itself, showing the detail and colour and especially the layer the bloom emerges from. I also used a colour cast in processing and followed that up with applying a texture layer to complete the image. I have to say I really like the layers I've purchased from Life-n-Reflection.

Space Between

There is space between time. Sometimes long and wide. Sometimes short. What fills the space for you?

I took this picture of a vintage spoon. The spoon belonged to my mother. I believe it was part of a set received as a wedding gift.

Many years lie between the day this gift was received and the day I took this image. Much fills that space. Laughter and tears, hardship and happiness, disappointments and dreams.

I think sometimes we can be in a hurry to fill up the spaces with many things but I think we might just lose sight of the fact that there is already something of significance in some of the spaces...quiet. Might I suggest that leaving room for space,    for quiet,    is important every now and again? It allows us room to breathe, to consider, to reflect, to enjoy, to notice, to hear.

I deliberately left space in this shot, hopefully allowing room for you and your reflections.

Using a 60 mm macro lens, I was able to get up close and personal, capturing the textures in the worn edges of the spoon and also the grain in the wood surface it rests on. Adding a layer in processing allowed for additional focus on age and time's passage, without getting too cluttered and distracting. When adding layers, choose wisely. Just as a well chosen digital layer can be a tool to enhance your image, it can also detract if the wrong one is chosen.

What Was

The light is just right. Shining in and through this olive oil bottle, it highlights the dust that sticks to the inside of the glass. Some may have done their best to clean the bottle before the camera came out but that can wipe away the reminder of what was.

The oil in this bottle was used up. We can imagine all the different ways, including the sounds of chopping and dicing, sizzling and boiling. We can hear the laughter or maybe loneliness that may have surrounded this bottle. The dust shows time has passed and invites us to remember or imagine what was.

Spotlight - Urban

I've posted this picture before and I also use this image on my business cards. More recently I had this image matted and framed for a silent auction prize. I must say, it looks good framed and I might just have to buy an arm's length of prize tickets so I can win it back.

I love the composition of this image but am also drawn to it emotionally. As you can see, it is taken on Main Street (in Winnipeg). Thoughts of friendship mingle with the soulful voice of Holly Cole as I remember that evening with gratitude and fondness.

(after I posted this, I noticed Main Street made it into today's Etsy Finds!)

Main Street