Friday Shoot Out-Smiles and Faces

First, I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday and did not overeat too much!! Today's assignment comes from Sarah at http://cottagegardenstudiophotos.blogspot.com/. I think it is a great assignment!

Due to the holiday and other factors beyond my control, I did not have time to really plan this one out, so I dipped into the archive. I decided to use faces that I love seeing everyday and faces that I am truly thankful for. A couple are of John. He is my most favorite person in the world. He is very patient with my picture taking, even when the flash goes off three times and he is nearly blinded!!

I also included the faces of my two cats. Magnum in the gray and white one. He gets a little anxious at times. The other one is Winston, the Himalayan. He is quite laid back as you can see. He is also quite cuddly and often keeps me warm at night.

Hope you enjoy!!

Friday Shoot Out Domestic Animals

It was either a huge mistake to give me this topic or the greatest thing ever!! I love sharing pictures of my boys, Magnum and Winston. I also love taking pictures of animals. The Himalayan is Winston and he is highly loveable and likes to cuddle. The white and gray cat is my cat Magnum and he is more nervous. Though, since Winston came to live with us, Magnum has been much more comfortable.

The orange cat is one of my parents' six-toed cats, Hemingway, and the siamese is their cat Carrington. They both like to meow a lot!!

I have also included some geese in a field on a road I travel on the way home from work. And, of course, I had to include my favorite domestic animal, John!

Since I intend for this blog to be about reviewing others creative and artistic expressions as well as sharing my own, I have decided to do a post on my favorite shots for each Friday Shoot-Out. So, each week, I will put in a link to a couple of my favorite photos and talk about what I loved about them. I am also going to post the links on twitter. Many of you take really great shots!! I always look forward to checking them out.

Friday Shoot Out Incongruous

 

 

 

 

This week's subject is fascinating and had me looking at my town in a new way. One thing that I found was what I call, "doorway to nowhere". I do not really know what it is or its purpose, maybe as sculpture. This "doorway" is down the street from where I live.

I have also included a couple shots from my "archive". Since it fit so well and because I love it so much, I have again included the tub planter, which is in someone's yard near my house. Currently, the tub is overflowing with colorful flowers and I am in the process of getting an updated shot of it.

Another "archive" shot is from the Butterfly Pavilion in Colorado. I love this shot because of the butterfly against the cactus--something so delicate and beautiful against something sharp and rough. Colorado was my home state for about six months and in the last year, I have gone there three times, so I guess I can almost call it a second home!

I have also included a picture of Winston with the remote--come on, cat with television remote, that can count as incongruous. Plus, he is just so cute, I'll share shots of him any chance I get!!

As always, I hope you enjoy!!

The Cat's Meow

In my last post, I included a picture of a "meow" which some of you liked and asked if it was my cat. Actually, the cat is my parent's siamese, Carrington. He likes to meow quite a bit. My parents also have two orange cats who each have six toes. They fight each other a lot. My cat, Magnum, lets me pet him only once in a while. Most of the time if I get too close, he will meow to warn me to not get closer. If I get closer anyway, he will run under the bed. He is the grey and white one. The black fluffy cat is Godiva. She was my cat who died in October--I miss her terribly!!

Friday Shoot Out: Painting the Town Red

Anyone that knows me would describe me as someone who thinks in the abstract which makes my approach to this shoot out out of the norm for me. I took the assignment literally and found red things that I found interesting. The orange cat with the red flowers is one of my parents' six-toed cats. The butterfly was taken a few months ago at "The Butterfly Pavilion" in Colorado. "The Butterfly Pavilion" is a really nice museum, great for kids and adults, which includes a butterfly pavilion which has many beautiful species of butterflies. I saw many people with cameras practicing their craft.

I have always loved butterflies. They are like flying art, delicate and strong. Also, they are a powerful metaphor for transformation. (so much for not being abstract!)

The Magnum Saga

I have a confession. My cat, Magnum, has not let me pet him for almost four months. Magnum was originally my sister's cat; she got him as a kitten when she lived in CO almost thirteen years ago. He was always skiddish, supposedly due to being taken from his mother too early. When I moved out of my sister's house, Magnum stayed with her. A year and a half ago, I took Magnum and Godiva. Godiva died at the end of October, a week before I moved in with John. At that time, my sister and I had to corner Magnum and throw a towel over his head in order to get him in the carrier. Then there was the forty minute ride to the new apartment. Since then, if I get within two feet of him, he hisses at me and then meows. Sometimes he will just stare at me. This state of affairs has actually been very hard for me. Losing Godiva was really hard. She would greet me at the door when I got home, meow and rub against me. Magnum would follow her lead. I am trying to convince John to get a kitten--I think I almost have him convinced! For me, part of self-nurturing is having a cat to pet. Magnum is the white and grey one, Godiva is the all black one.