365 Project - Day 107

I believe everyone is uniquely gifted to make a difference. I want youth to understand and embrace the talents they have been gifted and use those gifts to change the world.

I've just watched an SNL Vintage Episode of Janice Ian singing At Seventeen. I had forgotten that I know all the words to that song. Perhaps, this is why I am so convicted about the impact of youth. The song reminds me of the importance of knowing that no matter what is happening, you matter and you have within you the tools to make the world a better place.

Today's Photo: "Come dance with me"

"At Seventeen", Janice Ian
I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear-skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired

The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth

And those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces
Desperately remained at home
Inventing lovers on the phone

Who called to say, "Come dance with me"
And murmured vague obscenities
It isn't all it seems at seventeen

A brown-eyed girl in hand-me-downs
Whose name I never could pronounce
Said, "Pity, please, the ones who serve
'Cause they only get what they deserve"

And the rich relationed hometown queen
Marries into what she needs
With a guarantee of company
And haven for the elderly

So remember those who win the game
Lose the love they sought to gain
In debentures of quality and dubious integrity

Their small town eyes will gape at you
In dull surprise when payment due
Exceeds accounts received at seventeen

To those of us who knew the pain
Of valentines that never came
And those whose names were never called
When choosing sides for basketball

It was long ago and far away
The world was younger than today
When dreams were all they gave for free
To ugly duckling girls like me

We all play the game and when we dare
To cheat ourselves at solitaire
Inventing lovers on the phone
Repenting other lives unknown

They call and say, "Come dance with me"
And murmur vague obscenities
At ugly girls like me at seventeen





EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 200
50mm
f13
1.5s

365 Project - Day 106

What a night! Can't wait to write about it ... Until then ...

With Lent fast approaching, I needed a quick fix of my favorite chocolate chip cookies. Several weeks ago I mentioned these. Alton Brown's The Chewy is simply the most delicious chocolate chip cookie ever. It has just the right amount of crunch on the outside and softness in the middle and they stay that way for days. Uh, well, at least until they are all eaten!

Why did I need these now? During Lent, I traditionally give up chips, sweets and candy. I have been doing some version of this since high school. The hardest part has historically been that we nearly always held business conferences during lent. Conference afternoons I desperately needed a snack in the afternoon to stay awake and alert and PM breaks were filled with chips or cookies or ice cream or some combination and all meals came with big sweet treats. I learned to steel myself in preparation of these meetings, but it was challenging.

Ash Wednesday is this week, beginning the season of Lent and I shall be without cookies for 40+ days. So in preparation, I made these incredibly delicious treats. Though, I'm not telling how many I've eaten already!

Enjoy

Today's Photo: The Chewy

"Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you." Jeremiah 29:11




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 400
50mm
f2.4
1/90

365 Project - Day 105

"Why do you do the crazy things you do?" she asks. "I hope to add some measure of grace to the world!" Don Quixote responds.

I saw the musical, Man of La Mancha, at one of the local theaters this evening and absolutely loved it. I hung on every word and tried hard to memorize lines as they came. As I was relishing one, however, another came along to savor. It is a lovely, whimsical, meaningful and sad musical. My parents took us to see many musical when I was young and I vaguely recall this being one of those. I so enjoyed seeing it this evening. Most are familiar with "The Impossible Dream," but I suspect few recall the context. I find the opening quote and this to be central to this musical, "And maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be."

"And the world will be better for this,
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage,
To reach the unreachable stars!”

Today's Photo: As it should be

“Call nothing thine except thy soul. Love not what thou art, only what thou may become.” Don Quixote





EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 160
98mm (70-200 f/2.8)
f11
1.5s

365 Project - Day 104

Admittedly, the sunshine just wasn't enough to brighten my day today. I needed a new toy and fresh cookies. More about the cookies in a couple of days. My new toy is Nik's Silver Efex Pro2. I knew my B&W photos were okay, but not as interesting as I wanted and did not have the kind of depth I recalled from way back when I was working with film. Though I have been playing with different plug-ins, I still wasn't fully satisfied. So, today I watched videos and downloaded the demo software. I ran a couple of old faves through the software and was enamored by one of the photos I "tricked up" with Selenium and will add it here later. My son thought one of his photographs using the film noir preset was a little too harsh and grainy. I made a few changes and got, "that's cool, mom."

I really like the Selenium tone which is a cool blue silvery look, causing the object to appear as though it's platinum (under the proper circumstances). So, for today's photo, my intent was to combine Selenium with a soft selective color on the pink lily. I like the combination of pink and platinum. I don't believe I created magic here, but I am happy with this as a first step. The good news is it brightened my day. I hope it works as a "pick me up" for you.

Best wishes!


Today's photo: "Brighten my day"

“Flowers and fruits are always fit presents; flowers, because they are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world.” Ralph Waldo Emerson





EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 160
50mm
f8
7/10

365 Project - Day 103

"Next to God, thy parents." William Penn

I received a phone call this afternoon that my 82 year old father is in the hospital. So, it was a delightful treat to speak with him this evening and hear his laughter. That smile and laughter are among my favorite things in all the world. My father is a very funny man, a prankster. He kept us laughing, often to the point of tears while we were growing up. I can vividly remember snorting beverages at the dinner table from laughing so hard.

I pray for my father's supernatural return to perfect health.

Best wishes.

Today's Photo: His smile!

"A father’s goodness is higher than the mountain, a mother’s goodness deeper than the sea." Japanese Proverb





EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 200
50mm
f5.6
1/10

365 Project - Day 102

I saw a Facebook posting today that read, "New England Closed Mondays Please Call Again!" So appropriate for yet another snow day! I meant to bake cookies today, but got distracted with another Creative Live broadcast (though this time a free recording). I continue to dream of Spring and since that is the case, I am compelled to deliver another flower photograph. I think, much like a rain dance, I am going to keep posting flowers to make drive Spring weather. I can't remember the last day we did not have snow on the ground. The good news is shots like this, using window light, are easier to take because of the reflection off of the snow, but I would rather have sunshine any day!

"Winter is on my head, but eternal Spring is in my heart" Victor Hugo

This lily is delicate, beautiful and pink. Pink. In my opinion, the primary color of Spring. I shoot these flowers in my dining room. It is a large room, but it is full of stuff. I use the room, however, because it has fantastic navy blue walls that serve as a wonderful back drop. As I was shooting today, I was unnerved by the painting on the wall that crowds my space. I finally stood back to look at the painting I had purchased more than 17 years ago and had been ignoring. It is a beautiful floral painting with many colors and a dark background. The reason why I was having spacial challenges at the moment I stepped back to look at the painting was because I was photographing a larger eclectic arrangement of flowers. I used that moment as an inspiration for a later floral - when Spring truly arrives. It was a reminder, though, of how much I love florals.

Best wishes.

Today's Photo: Until Spring!

"Despite the forecast, live like it's Spring." Lilly Pulitzer




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 160
50mm
f/11
1/3

365 Project - Day 101

I am excited about the remaining 200+ days of this project, knowing that I have lots to explore, learn and develop. One of things I have discovered in the last 100 days is that I have a preference for portraiture/headshots of youth, event photography and flower photography. Sort of an odd mix. I am trying to determine how that melds into a single objective, or not. The unfortunate thing is that they are all costly, naturally! All requiring very different kits, naturally!

I am committed to stretching, growing and achieving excellence. This is no longer about taking 10,000 photographs or spending 10,000 hours on this passion. It is about doing exceptionally well, which will require time, sacrifice and faith. I am reminded of my former CEO's quote, "growth and comfort do not coexist." Ginni Rometty Along the way, I will remain focused and "Cast all [my] anxieties on Him because He cares for [me]." 1 Peter 5:7

So, it won't happen everyday, but as often as possible, I will select photos that illustrate new skill development. Today, I selected the combination of my favorite format, old fashioned B&W and grainy in still life. While I have been working on stills for several weeks. Shifting to B&W and incorporating the apple's shadow in the photograph is an important distinction in this photograph. I also believe the tones and details are improved in this over others. While the subject doesn't meet one of the 3 preferred categories above, developing talent in B&W, natural light and still photography will strengthen my abilities in all 3, regardless of subject.

Best wishes!

Today's Photo: Nourished by faith

"If I had 4 hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend 2 hours sharpening my axe." Abraham Lincoln




EXIF: Nikon D7100
ISO 100
50mm
f6.7
1/8