• Art,  Art/Design,  quotes

    Colors and Patterns

    Coffee Cups
    Coffee Cups

    “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

    Maya Angelou
  • architecture,  Art/Design

    Patterns

    Pergola on my parents patio
    Pergola on my parents patio

    “You don’t become enormously successful without encountering and overcoming a number of extremely challenging problems.” Mark Victor Hanson

    I’ve had a few of challenging problems in my life and I assume you have also. Reflecting back I see where some of those challenges were not really challenges at all, some were created by me and some were both. I learned from some of those challenges while some I repeated (more than twice). While working as an engineer, I found it exciting to encounter challenges. Those challenges helped keep my interested in that career, at least for a few years.

    As we age many will face the challenge of health problems. Knees will pop and crack, backs will hurt more, arthritis will be more persistent, naps will play a more important role, our metabolism slows down and more. And, I imagine, keeping up with technology will require calling the (great) grandkids. As you know I just made a trip to visit my parents and I see the challenges my parents are facing and notice them occurring in my own life.

    Photography, also offers us challenges. Learning the capabilities of our gear, dealing with weather and lighting conditions. If making money with our passion is required then we may have challenges with learning how to work as a business, marketing, finances.

    Anyway, while relaxing on my parents back patio I noticed the patterns and colors of their pergola and the blue sky. And, since I had my camera I took one shot. To me this is an example where images do come to us. This image was given to me rather my efforts  to capture or take an image. We just have to be there.

  • coffee shops,  Documentary/Street

    Chole’s Shoes

    Chloe’s Shoes

    I couldn’t help but notice a mother and her daughter enjoying a refreshing drink on a warm afternoon outside a local coffee shop. My photographers eye spotted the contrast in color of the daughters pink shoes and her blue pants. It’s been a while since I approached someone and asked for the opportunity to shoot an image. I was surprised at how nervous I was. I explained what I wanted to do with the image of her shoes and received permission from Chloe to take a couple of images. Thank you, Chloe!

  • architecture,  Canon Powershot G12

    Blue Skies

    Blue Skies

    This is another image where it pays to look up. My dad and I had walked to a coffee shop located in a small shopping mall and were on our way back to the house when I looked up and saw this gorgeous blue sky framed by the buildings. Dad waited as I took a few frames. It reminds me of younger years hiking with my dad. I wonder how much I missed because I was so focused on the trail in my attempt to keep up with him and not stumble. Photography has taught me to slow down, look around and see all that is present to me. Dont’ want to miss those blue skies.

  • Cityscapes/Urban

    Blue Bus Stop

     

    Blue Bus Stop
    Blue Bus Stop

    A few years ago I began to notice benches. I had one month were I posted an image of a bench I took on that day. Benches are everywhere and are in every imaginable shape, color, size and location. And, comfort will vary just about every one of them. Just as interesting as the benches are the people who sit on them or stand beside them. This image was taken in Daytona Beach.