Day 153 Old Man Walking

While on one of my peregrinations I passed by this old man. He saw my camera and put up his hand. I was already in the picture taking process so I took his picture. It's not a great picture by any means, or even a good one, it is one of those pictures that grows on you.

I can't explain myself how I feel about this picture, but I have a quote by Diane Arbus, one of my favorite photographers, that can hopefully convey an idea about it.

"Recently I did a picture—I’ve had this experience before—and I made rough prints of a number of them. There was something wrong in all of them. I felt I’d sort of missed it and I figured I’d go back. But there was one that was just totally peculiar. It was a terrible dodo of a picture. It looks to me a little as if the lady’s husband took it. It’s terribly head-on and sort of ugly and there’s something terrific about it. I’ve gotten to like it better and better and now I’m secretly sort of nutty about it."

I am back home and will get back into shooting a picture a day. I have decided that I have to make allowances for shooting black and white film and given my schedule it will be to difficult to try and shoot for this blog as well as shoot black and white. So I have decided that If I shoot black and white in any given day I can take one of the black and white images I already have scanned in and use it for that days post.

Day 152 Boy by Tree Stump

While taking the pictures for yesterday's post the little boy kept asking me to take a picture of just him. I said o.k. and asked him to stand on the other side of the stump that way I could get just him in the picture. He kept looking away or down during those rare moments when the smaller girl wasn't doing the rabbit ears behind his back, so this is the best I got of him.

Day 151 Group of Kids with Electronics

While walking on my first Sunday I came across this group of kids. I noticed how their surroundings seemed sparse but that one of the girls was playing around with some kind of electronic device. It's almost funny the times we live in, how prevalent such devices have become. Almost everyone has a cell phone and most people an I-Pod.

Day 150 Little Girl by a Bus Stop

While on one of my journeys I noticed a woman and her daughter standing by a bus stop and thought it would make a nice picture. I realized that if I just took one they'd get mad and move in such a way that I wouldn't get what I wanted so I asked them if I could take a picture. The mom responded o.k. but she didn't want to be in it. I was disapointed as I wanted the mom in my picture. But I proceeded to take a picture of just the little girl because I said I wanted to take a picture, but I really thought it wasn't what I going for and it wouldn't be any good. I have to say I love this picture of just the little girl.

Day 149 Girl behind a window

I was photographing a boy and his dogs when I noticed a tiny face peering out from behind the curtain. So I took her picture. I really thought the pictures of the boy and his dogs were great when I took them, but now looking at the processed film I think I like this picture better. I'm not sure though, maybe at some point I'll post the other picture.

Day 148 A Couple of Guys

While on one of my walks I came across these guys. They were hanging out and relaxing on an easy Sunday morning. I asked them if I could take their picture and they consented. They were easy to photograph as they stayed right where they were and didn't seem to mind.

Day 147 hanging out

About six weeks ago I started walking about on Sunday mornings looking for pictures. This is a scene I came across on my first day out. After taking this picture I walked over and took several pictures of the guys standing around. When the girl heard the camera shutter click she left.

Day 146 Dan Winters

About twenty years ago or so, I was a student just learning about photography at a junior college. During my first year there I met a fancy New York photographer, Dan Winters, who was visiting his junior college teacher. He gave a lecture and showed some of his work, afterwards he went outside with a few of us beginners and allowed us to photograph him. I took several pictures of him smoking as I love the way cigarette smoke looks in photographs. I was just beginning to learn and my prints left little to be desired but I found them for todays post. What was old is new again. Yes a photograph of a photograph counts! As I am leaving for Southern California today to process black and white film, scan images and listen to Dan Winter speak Friday night. Such a nice man.

I asked him for a print of his work and he sent me an image post card style. It's currently framed and sitting on my grandmothers roll top desk.

http://www.aperture.org/periodical-photographs.html

I am making allowances on this blog to do black and white work. It is not a guarantee that I will have access to a scanner etc... I will post every day as I can. If not, I'll catch up later.

Day 145 Wine Glasses with Filters

I was a little disappointed that I picked a picture without the four star filter yesterday so I thought I would try it again today. I did and then proceeded to use both the blue and red filters as well and am happier with those. I never really liked the four star filter and don't know why I bought one all those many years ago. I do love the dramatic color of the blue and red filter though, kinda takes me back. I wonder if they even sell filters any more with the advent of digital cameras and photoshop. I will have to at some point take a picture with the four star filter that I like. Two pictures for today, very similar images but one in blue and one in red.

Day 144 Wine Glass in Water

I found a four star filter in my hall closet, so decided to play with water and then some glass to put the four star filter to use. This must be one of the frames I took without the filter as it doesn't radiate four stars. But It is still my favorite for today.

Day 143 Rainbow Fred

While I was photographing lady bugs out back with a macro lens I noticed Freddy run to the water. He loves to stand above the sprinkler. As a young pup he destroyed many of them. I took a few pictures of him for myself but think I'll post one for todays picture. I love the rainbow he's trying to destroy.

Day 142 Lisa

It's been awhile since I photographed a working woman using multiple flash so I went out tonight in hopes to do so. The last time I was left feeling ambivalent about the picture and therefore haven't done another one. It was pretty easy to find a model as Lisa was walking down the street in the same direction. She was very patient, and I have several pictures to choose from.

Day 141 Steven Swimming #5

Time for September's picture of Steven swimming. It was so hot today and the sun bounced off the water so beautifully that it was an easy day for pool pictures. We finished in less than half the time and I have so many images I could literally go eenie meenie minie mo and pick a picture. Steven asked me to post two pictures of him swimming, so two it is.

Day 140 Corn

I enjoyed my drive to work this morning, as the the sun rose it seemingly kissed the countryside. I held my camera towards the passenger side window which was open and snapped two frames of the passing corn fields. This is the second of those two shots.

Day 139 Crumbled Hostess Cup Cake

I've been wanting to photograph Hostess CupCakes for quite a while now, but every time I buy a pack I have other things to post and end up eating them. I did have another picture to post for today but thought oh go ahead play with the cupcakes. I took about eighty frames of cupcakes in various cupcake compositions. It was a lot of fun but not as simple as I thought it would be. Enjoying my images but feeling they weren't what they ought to be, I finally crumbled one up. And then it came... happiness. Happiness form a crumbled up Hostess Cup Cake.

Day 138 Heavenly Hamburger Stand

During my visit to SFMOMA last month to view Robert Frank's photographic works, I saw for the first time a photo of his in which there was a bright light glowing in on a diner. It was described as heavenly and I thought it would be fun to take a picture with that kind of light. I didn't think I would get the chance though. Thankfully I was proven wrong today and have my picture of bright glowing light. And as luck would have it, it's on a bench in a hamburger joint. How awesome is that? This would easily be my picture for today, but I also loved the facial and body expressions of Daniel, who was working hard and wanted to include him in my post. There is plenty of symbolism in all three pictures and the connections between them should be clear.

So I'll leave it at that.

Day 137 Tyler Looking In

Yesterday I decided that today I would photograph my dogs. I tried and tried, yet all my pictures look like family snap shots. I did take a few of my dog Tyler wanting to visit with Wayne near the end of the shoot and actually like those better.

Day 136 Nectarine

We've been buying quite a bit of fruit lately and I keep thinking it should be photographed. Especially the nectarines, because when you open them up the is color sumptuously rich, almost like they are on fire with juicy goodness.

Day 135 H Street Modesto

It's about time I post a cityscape type picture. I'm usually not very good at these kinds of pictures and I'm pretty sure I could have done a better job with one today had I put any effort into it at all. But as it happened I was driving out of town and just took a few pictures while driving. I'm sure I have better pictures with tail light reflections and a stunning sky, but this picture reminds me of a painting that used to hang on my grandmothers wall.

It was a quaint scene in what appeared to be an english town. A little boy running a hoop on the left side of a brick road gave the painting a whimsical and carefree feel while the overgrown trees which dominated the scene created an ominous mood. I used to stare at that painting and would like someday to take a picture of that same quality. Until then and for today, I have H Street.

Day 134 Bus Stop

I drive by the bus stop often and always see people congregating there. I've thought it would be a fun place to take pictures, but I don't know the laws concerning such an area and thus have never gone. Today I decided to go, I parked my car across the street and walked over with camera in hand. I began walking up and down the alley way photographing people as they waited for their bus. About three trips back and forth before I sat down to see what I had. At that time a police officer came over to inform me people were irritated I was taking pictures. He actually said it in a nice enough voice, but I get so angry when police tell me I can't take pictures when I darn well know I can, so I told him I was in a public place, he said "Yes you are but this is a bus stop and the transit laws don't allow for people to hang around, "Do you have a ticket?" O.K. no I didn't have a ticket, and I wasn't sure about the laws in this place so after discussing the issue with him a while longer I left. I didn't feel like going to jail today, it's hot outside, plus I was pretty sure I already had a picture. Although considering the food I have in my refrigerator right now a free meal provided by the county, no matter how bad, might not be such a bad deal.

I can't believe I only have one picture I like. The lighting was great, the people were interesting, all the elements were there, and yet I have just one picture. Oh wait! It's a one picture a day blog. No big deal. Next Time I decide to photograph at the bus stop, I'll have to buy a ticket.

Day 133 Linda

I was driving in Merced and noticed a couple of pit bulls with white faces. I thought they'd make a great picture so I stopped to see if I could get one. The owners said no with somewhat of an attitude and wanting the picture, I discussed it with them for a while. They continued to say no so I left. Not wanting to be put off I decided I was going to photograph a dog in Merced. Just then while heading towards the freeway, I spotted Freckles. I did a u-turn and parked my jeep. People were in the back so I asked them for a picture of her. They obliged and were very friendly. I took quite a few pictures of Freckles all the while noticing the light on Linda's face. I took only a few pictures of Linda.

Day 132 Kathy Tina

I decided it was time to go back to Ninth Street for a picture. As soon as I crossed the street I met a Ed. He owns a few of the buildings and was watering down some plants. Ed and I talked and he filled me in on all the Ninth Street happenings. During that time quite a few people passed by, a man selling ice cream, Brandy going somewhere, Darren who had just gotten back from fishing under the Ninth Street bridge, Some guy on a bike who was threatened I took his picture so he turned around to confront me on the issue, and Kathy Tina. Kathy Tina seemed pretty upset. She was looking for a guy with long blonde hair in a pony tail. She was worried there was a woman in his motel room that was going to beat him up. She talked to us for a quick minute while looking around for the guy. I took a few pictures of her and we tried to settle her down. She turned around seemingly stressed and said no more pictures. I was going to oblige but couldn't help myself, I knew she'd make a great picture. I shouted in a fun and loud manner "Kathy Tina! One more picture!" She turned around as fast as could be, with a smile so big, and I pressed my shutter just as fast.

Day 131 Bus Stop on D Street

I enjoyed setting my camera up and waiting for a shot to happen so much that I did it again today. I picked a location I knew would be difficult as it is not heavily trafficked. It's also sweltering hot with no shade nearby. I sat on the sidewalk with my camera on a tripod and photographed who ever came by. A few stopped to talk and find out what I was doing, this girl just asked if the bus had already come by.

Day 130 Silverware on White

I've photographed quite a few things on black and feeling a bit moody today I decided it was time for a change. I've never liked photographing anything on white. Can't say why, even in high school I always chose a black background. Maybe it's because it seems easier to photograph things on black. So I had this idea of photographing silverware on white and I wanted the white to be a bit overblown. Turned out to be easy, a plain white cardboard I found around the house, the silverware of course and my one light with a flash on the camera.

Day 129 Woman Walking by a Wood Wall

There is an awesome photographer, Walker Evans, whose work I love and admire. He has this wonderful series of people walking by a wall, some of them are looking at the camera, some are not. It's pretty interesting. I've long thought I'd love to set myself up somewhere and photograph people as they pass by. So today I finally gave it a try. I set the camera up on the tripod with the lens focused on the wall. The tripod was directly outside my passenger side door, so I sat in my car drinking coffee with hand poised on the shutter. This is an area close to the freeway and not many people pass by so I waited in sheer boredom, and yet with an underlying excitement in the prospect of getting a good picture. It took about twenty minutes before this woman walked by. I clicked the shutter twice, this being the first frame, and was pretty satisfied with my capture.

Day 128 Baubles

I've been wanting to set up a still life, today I tried. My thought was that it should look something like what Daffy Duck finds when he enters a secret cave and treasures beyond his wildest dreams are spread out before him like glittering stars in a black sky. Well I don't have that much stuff, so I brought out what I could find. Five elephants, three butterflies, and one frog accompany this scene of amber hued baubles.

Day 127 Anika and Alexis

Several times I have seen Anika and have tried to take her picture. I have always been disappointed as the background just never seemed to work for me. Today I noticed a wonderful background with some of that evening light I love so much, so I asked Anika's mom if we could walk over there and try for a few pictures. Alexis, a young girl I remember seeing often a few years ago, but not much since, walked over with us and posed with Anika. I took several pictures of the two girls, who seemed to be fast friends, and have many images I like. After all children are the best to photograph. They are still natural and still honest.

Editing... I would choose the top picture if I were to edit, but am posting several.

Day 126 Rose Splashed with Water

I've been playing with things all day, splashing cream with food color, red wine in wine glasses, roses and wine glasses, back to cream with food color and finally a rose splashed with water.

I don't think I will ever tire of splashing anything with water. I love the crystal look it gets when flashed with lights.

Day 125 Wayne with Wine

My husband and I were enjoying a nice dinner out when he mentioned he wanted to pick up a bottle of wine before we arrived home. That's when I thought, I wonder what he looks like with wine pouring down his face? The cashier noticed the two bottles of wine and I said "the cheap bottle 's for me". Then Wayne said "yeah.. one bottle's for me to drink and she wants to pour the other one on me". The cashier said "something like that's either going to make, or break the relationship". Wayne said "I think it's making it".

Day 124 Grapes in Red

I spray painted grapes with both silver and gold. They looked neat but I thought it would be fun to photograph them with different color filters. Only the filters I have are to small to fit my lens, so I held the filter in front of the camera with one hand and worked the shutter with the other. I love that you can see the black plexi glass on the left and the filters edge on the upper right. The red over the sprayed grapes is pretty cool too.