In Just One Word

Winter Supper Still Life

A friend invited me for a winter supper after school today. A nice invitation as the week was winding down. It was refreshing and delicious.

Doesn’t it always taste better when someone prepares food, sets a table and serves it to you?

Vegetable Soup with Pesto. Bread and Olive Oil. Spring Mix, Tomatoes and Olives with Oil & Vinegar.

Pumpkin Bread and Fruit

I Drove Home in a Snow Globe

and of course, returned to the park. It’s just blocks from my house. And the light was low, the visibility poor. A stark and magnificent beauty in the midst of the storm.

What were the trees doing today? One day winter, one day Spring, one day freezing and dark, one day a warm sun but a chill in the wind. I wanted to see the branches outlined in snow. The dark branches highlighted with the new fallen snow. Actually, falling snow.

I was rewarded with a stunning winter scene, just before dusk.

It had started to snow while I was at school. The sky heavy and gray. Big big flakes. Melting on the street as it was 38 degrees. I drove home in a snow globe.

Oh yes, today I got out of the car, scared off a squirrel and photographed the snowy park bench and my favorite tree. The sounds muffled by the new snow, barely sticking to the road but highlighting the curved lines.

these are unretouched color photographs

Two roads diverged….

Home to tea. Homemade spaghetti and cheese, steamed broccoli. Leftover fortune cookie and a mandarin orange. Winter.

Winter Sun on a Chain Link Fence

The neighborhood of Bloomfield.

You Can Submit a Photo of a Photo to Dear Photograph

Today I received an email from my son’s FIL, Donald, about a photo concept and website- take a picture of an old photograph in the same location where it was taken. He must have seen it and knew it would be something I would enjoy looking at. Boy, I’ll say……………..

The website is Dear Photograph and now that I’ve gone and read about it all, I must be the last to hear about it.

Dear Photograph is all over the news. It was even on the TODAY show. There’s a book of photographs using this concept that the young author/photographer Taylor Jones has authored. Simple and satisfying. Touching and fun.

So I looked at what was done and thought I would dig out a few photographs and give it a try. I just skimmed the tip of the iceberg as I limited my search to one box and a single framed photo – the one of the family in front of the house is Fall 1991, the year we moved into the house. Laura was in the third grade, Matthew fifth and Mark a Sophomore in HS.

And then I tried it. I found it tricky to hold up the photo and shoot with one hand. These are shot with the iPhone camera. I’m sure with a bit of balancing and practice the outcome could be improved but it was fun and I enjoyed trying to capture the photo of the photo.

Here are the results. Thank you Taylor Jones for the cool inspiration. I know the blogging community probably knows all about you and your website already but I’m glad Donald sent me the link to your website this morning. See what you can come up with using your old photographs. Having moved9 times in 16 years, there are a lot of photos of places I can’t return to and take the shot.

My pans have changed a bit from the Farberware to the All-Clad. Not totally but the rack is the same. Different stove. I still have the vase, too.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Home

Neighbor's Home in a Lawn Ball — Neighbor’s Home in a Lawn Ball

I can’t believe it took me so long to start responding to the Weekly Photo Challenges. All those challenges unanswered.

This week is home. The WordPress Weekly Challenge allows me to go through some archived files and think about the theme.

What I’m drawn to. What caught my eye.

No shortage of photos to post for home this week.

When I drive into my driveway after work I feel I am truly home. What makes you feel at home?

The gallery option isn’t really cooperating for me today. (Ooops. I read in the article Are You Boring? Seven Tips for Knowing if You ‘re Boring Someone on the Happiness Project blog by Gretchen Rubin to never mention computer problems)

Taillight and a Tall Pine in the Snow

Back to the park after school. I was later today. The sun was sinking in the west and this was facing east. When I wrote taillight it didn’t look correct but I checked it out with Merriam- Webster online and it is spelled right! I thought about cropping out the car end but changed my mind. I think it adds perspective and information, allowing one to judge how tall the pine tree is. It looks dead to me, but I am not an arborist.

Looks like the snow glows from the reflected setting sun.

It is a pine tree, isn’t it?

detail

Old Trees New Trees on a Winter Path

After school I drove into Highland Park, right near my home. I’d taken a series of black and white photos for a film class years ago in this same spot and still have a print on my wall.

With the new snow today, I thought it might look interesting but the light was low and the sky thick and gray.

Found some new trees planted along the path, though.

I plan to return in the Spring.

There weren’t many dog walkers or walkers or runners or any activity in the park. The Super Playground deserted and covered with snow and ice. No bicycles. The fountain turned off. The reservoir a layer of ice. The sounds muffled with the snow, but barely a car driving around the circle today.

It’s in color but almost looks black and white.

Vampire’s Assistant at Midway Theatre, Forest Hills, Queens

A theatre lit up at night attracts my eye. (Is it theater or theatre? This sign ends in tre) I see theaters transformed and repurposed all the time so want to preserve the genre before they all disappear.

I shot the Midway Theatre when I visited my sister in NYC and we went out to Queens on the subway to meet friend Matt and eat at Just Like Mother’s Restaurant. You can read a blog about the mostly Eastern European fare, see some Borscht- if you click on the name.

I took this about three years ago (11/2009) but came across it when I was looking for a response to a weekly challenge and since theaters are a vanishing breed, I like to photograph them, read what’s playing. Thought this was an interesting selection. Always like to work on my night photography and think about how I would change the settings next time.

What People Do in Their Car on the Way to Work

I’ve seen women brush on mascara at a red light, adjust the rearview mirror, apply lipstick.

Lots of coffee drinking. Dancing. Singing.

Cereal eating. Bagel noshing. People talk on the phone.

Guess who found this shot last summer? That’s right. On the way to swim practice.

Granddaughter Anna (9). Remember her photograph of the pickup truck full of mannequin legs?

“Look! That guy’s brushing his teeth!”

(An electric/battery toothbrush!) You just wonder where he would spit!

I had the camera in my bag and got it out as quick as I could. My daughter-in-law was driving so that was good.

This is the shot I was able to get as we passed. He was getting ready to exit.