Saturday 17 November 2012

technical difficulties *sigh*

My computer has taken an 
iDIVE
It is quite iLL
and has another iAPPOINTMENT
at the Apple Store next Tuesday
where they will try to save my "stuff".
Please cross your fingers for me 
as all my photos are on it!!!

Wahhhhhhhh!

Hope to be back soon!

Janet xo

Friday 2 November 2012

{Celebration} 52 photos project yr2 wk28 and photo art friday

"Dinner & drinks, 
coffee & cake,
ceremonies, gatherings,
candles, dancing or twinkling lights -
all beautiful ways to 
uplift & recognize the people
or occasions in our life."
~ Bella Cirovic

This month I am celebrating one year as a blogger!

A year ago today I asked my best friend Mr. Google 
for websites that might provide some inspiration
for my rekindled interest in photography.

I discovered Bella's 52 Photos Project
and, as they say,
the rest is history!

It took me a few weeks to figure out the blog thing... 

My first blog post was for Bella's 'something borrowed' challenge 
- a drawer full of pens I had 'borrowed' on my travels through the office -


I was trying to get caught up on past challenges and had watched a video tutorial
 Bella had made about how to fake a "Lensbaby" look..

So I combined that with the next challenge, which was to go for a photowalk...
and this was my submission


Nothing could have inspired or motivated me more 
than receiving an e-mail from Bella asking if she could feature my photo
and seeing MY picture posted here on 52 Photos Project the following week!

Bella had also featured Vivienne McMaster around that time
which led to my taking Vivienne's 'Rule Free Photography' e-course

I had two wonderful regular 'followers' (Nancy & Angie) who encouraged me 
with comments each time I posted...
and as I began visiting the blogs of other posters 
to 52 Photos Project and Nancy's Rural Thursday
I discovered more blogs, more tutorials and more friends!

I learned how to use PSE from Kim Klassen 
and I discovered textures

I had it in my mind to celebrate my year of "blogography" 
by taking my 'featured' photo from 52 Photos
and apply Bonnie's pdpa Cobblestone background/texture.

I thought I could create an image that would mimic the way leaves leave their outline
on the a sidewalk or Cobblestone after several days of dampness...
which we have certainly had!  


It didn't exactly turn out as I had planned but I sorta like it!
It reminds me of fireworks or colourful party streamers...

Perfect for a celebration... 
of 
discovery & learning,
encouragement & inspiration 
and worldwide friendships.

Seems like the perfect time to recognize you, the people in my blog life with a huge

Thank You

to everyone who has ever left an encouraging comment
and to the wonderful folks who
take the time to come up with challenges and provide space,
 who design textures and provide tutorials
and to new found friends.

Everything I have learned,
I have learned from them
so don't forget to visit the amazing people
who unselfishly share their knowledge and work!!

Awesome weekend, all!

Janet xo


52 Photos Project       Photo Art Friday


:  :  :  :  :
That first blog "The View from Here"
was laid to rest when my father passed away in February, 
as I had borrowed the name from his newspaper column.
:  :  :  :  :

Friday 26 October 2012

photo art friday - derelict

One person's derelict is another person's beauty

When I read the Photo Art Friday challenge for this week
over at Bonnie's Pixel Dust Photo Art,
I was thrilled that it came at a time
when I would be heading up north!

As I headed up on Wednesday morning,
I was all ready to photograph my favourite
derelict garage in Minden, Ontario...

: : :

Side note: 
Favourite because it was the subject of the 'outside my comfort zone' challenge 
You can see the explanation of that challenge
and why these photos 'qualified' here.

: : :

As I drove along the highway coming into Minden 
I first noticed the absence of the familiar sign...



and then I realized...
Walker's Garage is gone!!

I asked a few questions of the locals, who revealed that the garage
that I had photographed late last November
has actually been a HUGE bone of contention in the area.

Rumour has it,
that the battle over the future of Walker's Garage
has been raging for years!

So I visited my friend Google for a little recon...
Apparently, some felt it was an historic building...
and others...not so much
... as the Minden Times reported last December:

"The reeve was urging the instant demolition
of an old auto-repair shop that is to be replaced
by a new county building.
The old Walker's garage, she announced, is 'unsightly'."

Unsightly in a charming way, I thought.




Neil Campbell, the reporter for the Minden Times article put it well...

"Unsightly? It might need a shave and a haircut after sitting empty for a while, 
but it looks pretty much as it always has, 
the way service stations have always looked. 
Neat but not gaudy."



I find myself wondering what happened to the really cool stuff that was still inside the garage...


I tried at the time to take photos of that cool stuff through the windows...
(take note of the paint on the walls and wood window frames)

In fact,
trying to take those photos resulted in the accidental 'selfie' 
that is now my profile picture!! 


A little more research led to the discovery of an Engineering firm's report
to the Director of the County Roads Department, on September 17, 2012
where it was reported that:

"The demolition of the Walker building was complicated 
by the presence of lead paint on the exterior of the building. 
Samples were sent to SGS Laboratory and it was determined 
that the levels of lead were higher in the darker green paint 
than the lighter green or blue paint"


Apparently I even captured a photo of leaded paint...who knew?


I am so glad that I got these photos before Walker's was levelled.

When I think of all the barns, sunrises/sunsets, trees and other photos
that I haven't taken while driving back and forth over the past month,
always telling myself that I will have another chance to capture them...
well...
 let this be a lesson to me! 

Be sure to pop over to Photo Art Friday
and see the wonderful art folks have created this week



Janet xo



Photo Art Friday

Monday 22 October 2012

the best part about Monday...

...is Macro Monday
over at Lisa's Chaos!!
If you have never been there
it is well worth the trip over today!
You'll see a lot of diverse and amazing work!

My shot today
is just an ordinary leaf
that I discovered on the lawn while 
putting the garden 'to bed' last week.
What makes it special, to me,
is the patterned way in which the colours have changed!

Click on the photo to really see the detail!
I hope everyone's week is off to a good start
and wishing you all a great week ahead!

Janet xo



MM3


Also posting to leaves for Leontien


Saturday 20 October 2012

52 photos project yr2 wk26


There is a harmony in autumn, and a lustre in its sky…
                                                   ~ Percy Bysshe Shelley


...and the lustre is golden
and as it happens...

Golden
is this week's prompt over at Bella's

It is such a perfect prompt for this time of year!
Though the sun often looks silvery and flat
it somehow seems to swathe everything in its path
in a golden glow!


Especially towards the end of autumn's ever shortening days


Janet xo


52 Photos Project