Sunday, February 27, 2011

One of Those Days

Just one of those days.
Everyone is grouchy.
You feel like flying away.
Do you go south?
 Or West?
You seem to be running out of time.
It feels like you're under water.
Well, if it's one of those days, you just have to sit back, think things over and take it easy.

 



 

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Film Cameras

I thought that I would talk a little bit about a few of my film cameras. These are just a few of my prizes.  Some have had a lot of use and others a little. 
This is my FM, the very first Nikon I ever owned, and it has had a lot of use. There is a dent in the prism, where my Mom dropped it on the ground, but it is tough. It was my second camera, the first being a Mamiya Sekor DSX 1000. I used the Mamiya for my first year of college, then I was lucky enough to purchase this little Nikon FM. I treasure this little camera, it has been my workhorse.
I have two of these Bronicas, which I used when I photographed weddings. I worked for a couple of studios for about 12 years, so you can see they got a lot of abuse, but they are still good working cameras. I still use them and treasure them.
My Hasselblad and backs.
One of my prizes, my AS. I waited a long time for this little treasure.
A Nikon 8008 AF, I used this infrequently.
My F3 HP, another one of my workhorses. I have carried this camera with me everywhere.
Most of my film cameras are SLRs, but this is a great twin-lens reflex.
This is my Polaroid 600 SE, I used for Polaroid transfers.
And this is the Grandaddy of them all. I have 3 of these. They are for studio work and quite heavy. I have quite a few more film cameras than I have listed. I have a darkroom, but at the moment it isn't set up. I'm afraid that the digital age has imposed itself on me, but I plan on getting my darkroom operational again. Have a great day and thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you leave a comment, I really enjoy hearing what you have to say.
 

 


 


 

 

 
 


Friday, February 25, 2011

Seeing Thing From a Different Perspective

This morning as I sat having my tea (delicious) I looked around me and thought how often I take for granted the objects I see every day.I see them, but I don't really see them.
For instance, my glasses were on the table, but then I noticed how scarred the table had become from every day use, and really how beautiful the colors were on the edges of my glasses. I think there is a certain symmetry between the smoothness of the glasses and the rough surface of the table.
I noticed the cornbread in the pan.
The butternut squash was on the counter and had such an interesting texture.
The knives in the knife block grabbed my attention.
My daughter is saving onion skins in a bowl to use for dyeing, and they are really beautiful.
I noticed this little Wisteria seed on the window sill, and it's color and texture matched the wood of the sill.
The chalk we use for our message board, placed on a piece of aluminium foil.
An ornament hanging from a knob on my mirror, I pass it each day with hardly a glance.
The glass doorknob in my front room. I see these things every day without really seeing them. I find that there is a great deal of beauty in simple things if I just look and really see
 
 
 
THE SUDDEN STORM

The angry wind pelts the windows
with icy finger of rain.
Rivulets like white blood flow
across the transparent surface.
It's furious voice rips across the roof
pounding, seeking entrance.
Roaring in it's fury,
white lines of fire thread, zig-zag
to the wet earth.
The parking lot, a black river.
The dark sky rumbles
A mighty bellow and
once again the fingers of fire race to earth.
The pelting rain increases it's tempo
while white flashes like
flickering neon signs
light the silent parked cars.
Then the clattering on the roof softens.
Finally it slows to a soft patter, then ceases.


 


 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Another Day

My breakfast, fresh fruit and yoghurt.

 I start the day with a cup of coffee.
 I crocheted this capelet from Lion Brand Wool Ease that I purchased a few years ago for some forgotten project. I found the pattern in "Wrap Style" by Pam Allen & Ann Budd. I added a bottom border and picot edging around the bottom and front edges.

 I rarely ever crochet anymore, even though I learned how to even before learning to knit. Since I learned to knit so many years ago, I find I enjoy it much more than crochet. I was living in Rhode Island with two little children when I learned to crochet, and I made dozens of afghans before discovering knitting.
I knitted these fingerless mitts for my brother from Plymouth Worsted Merino Superwash. I found the pattern in "Knits Men Want" by Bruce Weinstein. The photographs in the book are by Jared Flood. I love his designs and photography.

I knitted these fingerless mitts for myself from my own pattern. Unfortunately I did not write it down, so I cannot share it. 

I knitted and felted these slippers from Lion Brand Alpine Wool. I used a pattern I found online. They were easy and fun to knit. I added knitted flowers on the tops.



The lines on my father's face
the grey in his hair
tell me time is a race
I line the drawers
place his meager belongings
on the blue flowered paper
I line the shelf and place his
worn shoes on top
I line the mattress
with water proof sheets
make the bed
place his faded quilt on top
He sits and watches me
with watery blue eyes
I can see by the sadness
that lines his face
he remembers when
he was young with dark hair
JK