tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90337571576574285632024-02-22T12:14:59.862-08:00Knitting Blue PicturesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-88042445202810515732010-01-03T23:44:00.000-08:002010-01-04T00:40:52.428-08:00Day 2 & 3 of 2010's Project 365:Yesterday, the Project snuck up on me, and so I was left scrambling at, literally, the 11th hour.<br /><br />Not my best work, but it's a subject I love:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr23D35LBV2kj-Vs_UB_YsEQX4FU7bQmDkvZZYOmzryGNZEzanL2JP7AL2j_kLENEONTfdx0pXWZNqOYjcnoPslES4kvXf9heMsJMoE8QsmfNt2PJoUAGPOW-_9hRWgAsyNjv5Q0vDWWk/s1600-h/100_0626.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 391px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr23D35LBV2kj-Vs_UB_YsEQX4FU7bQmDkvZZYOmzryGNZEzanL2JP7AL2j_kLENEONTfdx0pXWZNqOYjcnoPslES4kvXf9heMsJMoE8QsmfNt2PJoUAGPOW-_9hRWgAsyNjv5Q0vDWWk/s400/100_0626.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422796447239892786" /></a><br /><br />This clay/metal sculpture has been showcased at several of our residences over the years.<br /><br />Today, <a href="http://www.alexmcgeagh.com/about.html">Alex</a> and I went photog-ing, like we do, and part of our conversation was about the role of a photographer. We live in a beautiful spot of the world, but just like everyone else around the globe, inspiration isn't always at our fingertips and maybe part of a photographer's role is to see things in a different way, from a different perspective, that others may not notice.<br /><br />That's my today shot:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATAmXxoaiGhjpxbxSASKtS7-Mfg2G4KoxMdoJlcgCjY3Ttx1H1hVQQ-vJ5DbEwfnYCjbCfVRS49TBqAIdzYshMmuP8JMSG_ZIl4ktbVx36bMJBMqHnKyScfgk9ps8AuJdibwJwjcDDW0/s1600-h/100_0691.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 352px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATAmXxoaiGhjpxbxSASKtS7-Mfg2G4KoxMdoJlcgCjY3Ttx1H1hVQQ-vJ5DbEwfnYCjbCfVRS49TBqAIdzYshMmuP8JMSG_ZIl4ktbVx36bMJBMqHnKyScfgk9ps8AuJdibwJwjcDDW0/s400/100_0691.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422798940164824754" /></a><br /><br />Growing up here, these have been a part of my landscape for a good long time and now I realize that they were subconsciously relegated to the back scenery. Today was perfect for seeing something "usual" in a new and different way.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-12109702492937393122010-01-02T09:20:00.001-08:002010-01-02T09:20:23.881-08:00Hello 2010:I'm back!<br /><br />Today is the first day for 2010's Project 365* and after a year off, I'm excited to get back into the Picture a Day, every day swing of things.<br /><br />First one:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwC9z30P44ZJs5NO4znx97f4hZvbi-rV5pZY9O4qbSBxI9lNEmWBorva9EeT3qSDJn5ymq68F4SRp4WUA06Sf3lcWijkipe4Rawq0pErfSDRlZMV637wh98d26l8JhpN9cZb0F8Pbazk/s1600-h/100_0590.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwC9z30P44ZJs5NO4znx97f4hZvbi-rV5pZY9O4qbSBxI9lNEmWBorva9EeT3qSDJn5ymq68F4SRp4WUA06Sf3lcWijkipe4Rawq0pErfSDRlZMV637wh98d26l8JhpN9cZb0F8Pbazk/s400/100_0590.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422192729823436898" border="0" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-73441709670159767382009-03-20T18:18:00.000-07:002009-03-20T18:39:40.240-07:00The Mystery, It May Be Solved:A few days ago, I was telling <a href="http://hotelyankeefoxtrot.wordpress.com/">Alex</a> that I'd noticed a HUGE uptick on my flickr stats (where you can see which of your pictures are being viewed or learn what search words/phrases brought people to your photos). Unfortunately, I hadn't noticed it the day it happened (March 6th) but about 6 days later and so I can't see the particulars of WHY I got such a massive amount of views - 591! In one day! I get, on average, two to three hundred views a <span style="font-weight:bold;">week</span> and only when I'm consistently adding content. The periods I sit dormant, my daily viewership drops to 50 or less.<br /><br />The lightbulb has gone off though, and I think I may have solved the mystery . . . <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/3003806208_b300052d0a.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 375px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/3003806208_b300052d0a.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />That rather crappy picture may be what caused the rush of traffic over to my flickr pages. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/3003806208/">As you can read,</a> I made mention of <a href="http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/">The Yarn Harlot,</a> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001427/">Greg Kinnear</a> and <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=kinnear">a little verb</a> to describe the "style" of photography I was aiming for.<br /><br />None of that was worth noticing though, until the other day when Greg Kinnear was on the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/grahamnortonshow/">Graham Norton Show</a> talking with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, The Yarn Harlot, about Kinnear kinnearing himself.<br /><br />It's pretty damn funny!<br /><br /><object width="660" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1sh0eopLgDc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1sh0eopLgDc&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="660" height="525"></embed></object><br /><br />I think a whole bunch of Brits in the studio audience went home and photo-googled "Yarn Harlot Kinnear" and found themselves looking at my husband handing in an American voting ballot, lol.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-75857533583510878942009-02-10T00:03:00.000-08:002009-02-10T00:42:22.232-08:00I'm Exhausted From The Explaining - In A Good Way:The other day, my friend Alex <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hotelyankeefoxtrot/3264916341/">took a picture</a> of one of my cats. Blue is universally loved because of her crossed eyes and her goofy real-life cartoon-y features.<br /><br />Enter flickr, and the world of outside perception. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/32795473@N02/">marakaramazov</a> took a gander at Alex's picture and thought that Blue was <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxidermy">taxidermied.</a> No, really.<br /><br />After Mara expressed her concerns, I did everything to assuage her worry, even linking <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/sets/72157606911126022/">to my real life pictures</a> of Blue recently.<br /><br />She loved <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/2699068589/">a few</a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/2795648288/">of them,</a> but others had her questioning my motives.<br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/3093603738_b0fc140653.jpg?v=0">This one,</a> she wrote "Sorry, but the cat look strange".<br /><br />Yes, the cat looks funny, but so does my husband too! That's the point of the shot!<br /><br />It has been really fascinating to communicate in two different languages (my English and her Spanish, but really my limited Spanish and her not-so-bad English).<br /><br />That she cares so much about animals and their welfare means we share a universal language and I hope we can always communicate together.<br /><br />I'd like to explain to her that Blue is not only very much alive, but shares a home with five other cats and a dog because we love animals, just like she does!<br /><br />Is a cross-eyed cat a rarity in Latin-American countries? Heck, is a cross-eyed (bizco) cat a rarity in America?<br /><br />While I'm exhausted from the research, I absolutely love the exchange!<br /><br />If you were in my shoes, what else would you convey?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-87635945455411036292008-10-30T14:31:00.000-07:002008-10-30T15:12:24.356-07:00The Tree Whisperer:Remember back when I wrote that one of my pictures on flickr seemed to be pretty popular, but I didn't think it was such a great shot?<br /><br />You 'member, right? This one:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2376458340_24e4b89693.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 375px; height: 500px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2376458340_24e4b89693.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Last night/today, another one of my pictures got real popular, but this time I had a clue why.<br /><br />Said picture:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/2974836939_9f6101610d.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 354px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3028/2974836939_9f6101610d.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />In the comments for this one, a few people congratulated me for being on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/">flickr's Explore page.</a> Flickr keeps track of the daily top 500 pictures that have the most comments/favorites/combination of both attached to them.<br /><br />Bear in mind that during an average MINUTE at flickr, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/">there are approximately 5,000 pictures uploaded.</a> Every sixty seconds! Being in the top 500 is pretty outstanding on its own, but there *is* a catch to it. Some photographers are very popular and consistently hit the Explore page. The more exposure your picture has (adding it to groups, having a lot of contacts that can view it, etc.) the greater your chance for getting noticed. Of course, it helps if your picture is good, lol.<br /><br />In my case, I'm part of some local groups (Central Coast, Central Valley, etc.), of course the ravelry-related groups, a few groups pertaining to my camera brand, and lastly a smattering of groups with focuses that interest me (landscape, nature, etc.) If one of my pictures fits the description of that group I'll add it (not always, but usually). <br /><br />When that first picture got popular, I didn't know why. Once the second picture garnered so much interest, I went looking . . . <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/2008/03/30/page12/">Third picture down.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/2008/10/26/page17/">The first picture.</a><br /><br />Over at <a href="http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/">Big Huge Labs,</a> you <a href="http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/scout.php">can search to see</a> if any of your pictures are listed on the Explore page. (Those links may not work if you don't have an account there. It's free and has many fun picture toys to play with so go check it out!)<br /><br />That's how I just found out my March picture had hit the big time.<br /><br />You can also look up other people! Sneaky-Pete, I know, but it <span style="font-weight:bold;">is</span> all in the public domain. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/72825507@N00/2736741949/">Here's a shot by Mike Baird - </a>a local photographer who is a wealth of information about picture-taking and local nature stuff.<br /><br />Frecklegirl (Jess if you know ravelry) <a href="http://flickr.com/explore/interesting/2007/6/11/page1">even hit the #2 spot one day last year!</a><br /><br />It seems my forte is taking pictures of trees. I'da never guessed!<br /><br />P.S. <a href="http://www.dopiaza.org/flickr/setmgr/">Over at dopiaza.org,</a> you can create a Set Manager - based on the criteria you give it, it will generate a group of your pictures together. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/sets/72157607316696269/">In my case,</a> I have it look at my pictures' flickr stats to daily generate a set of my most viewed pictures.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-66277693661939019502008-10-29T16:57:00.001-07:002008-10-29T16:57:46.349-07:00"No on 8" Rally/Picnic in San Luis ObispoIf you have interest, there will be a rally/picnic to get out the "NO ON PROP 8" word.<br /><br />Details:<br /><br />When: This Sunday, November 2, 2008 at 2pm<br />Where: Mitchell Park in San Luis Obispo (Santa Rosa and Pismo streets)<br /><br />More information can be found <a href="http://www.marriageequality.org/index.php?page=ca-san-luis-obispo-county">by clicking here.</a><br /><br />It's the least I can do to help my fellow Californians in their fight for legal equality.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-6933683830790990212008-10-09T23:57:00.000-07:002008-10-10T00:28:22.749-07:00Local Yokel Activity:Lately, I've taken a few outings around the area.<br /><br />The weather went all kinds of kooky crazy hot the other day, so Alex and I hit up Pismo the other evening. I love me Weather because it makes a difference in pictures. Overcast, gloomy, windy, whatever. Hot at the beach is rare, so I was looking forward to the opportunity and it didn't disappoint.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/sets/72157607837669470/">Pismo Beach on October 7, 2008.</a><br /><br />Another thing going on this week is that The Mike has barely worked so far. Monday he worked a short day and then was off Tuesday and Wednesday. I hate it when that happens, but at least he was willing to go out and about yesterday, so I could take pictures. Although it didn't pan out, he took me on a mystery ride for (what he was hoping would be) creek shots. Unfortunately, the creek was completely dried up. Also unfortunate was that he, not being into picture taking, didn't think stopping the car every so often was necessary. Almost all my pictures were taken from the passenger side while driving a less-than-stellar back road. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/sets/72157607894450451/">Upper Lopez Canyon Road</a>.<br /><br />Tonight was the monthly meeting of <a href="http://www.slocameraclub.org/home.shtml">the SLO Camera Club.</a> I'm glad I went, and I'm glad <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hotelyankeefoxtrot/">Alex</a> went too. We both think that this club is not going to satisfy our "thirst for photography knowledge", but we do want to check it out a few more times to get a better feel for it. Alex, at 20, was definitely the youngest member. Me, days away from 40, was the second youngest member, lol. <br /><br />Some pretty neat events are coming up, here locally, and I'm going to be checking them out. First up is <a href="http://www.sloartscouncil.org/open_stu.html">an open studio tour</a> (and while I had read about it online, a knitter came to the Sunday knit group and whipped out some postcards <a href="http://www.sandralakeman.com/photographs.html">about her work.</a>) Another cool thing happening here is <a href="http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/breaking_news/story/492325.html">gale force winds</a> that should make for some awesome shots at the beach. Also, <a href="http://www.classiccalifornia.com/tides.htm">high tide hits around 8:40</a> tomorrow morning and I want to be there for that.<br /><br />Like I said - there is plenty to occupy me, here locally, at the moment. Too soon, my time will be sucked back into work and tax deadlines and 'nose to the grindstone' activity. Right now I just want to breath in all that I love and enjoy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-79418080987416265562008-10-08T00:10:00.001-07:002008-10-08T00:27:36.726-07:00The Tween Part:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2923129353_100312b24e_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2923129353_100312b24e_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />You tell me:<br /><br />1) Gross no matter what?<br /><br />2) Gross, kinda, but it's nature.<br /><br />3) Gross, but killer shot!<br /><br />4) Killer shot - too bad it's about nature.<br /><br />5) Oh HELL NO you didn't just make me look at that thing! Nature SUCKS!<br /><br />I'll tell you from my standpoint - if I happened upon a knitting/generic blog that showed this shot? I would hit the "unsubscribe" button so fast, their mousepad would still be quivering.<br /><br />I only took the picture because it's a really great nature shot and looking through a lens is so much easier (to me) than seeing it in Real Life. Yeah. I know looking at this spider through my lens - getting close enough, framing the shot, blocking the lighting, yadayadayada, it's also real life and just on the other side of my camera. Believeyoume. I know.<br /><br />It's something I cannot explain. There is a distance - a wall - a "something" that comes between me and my subject that works for me. It's how I can take picture after picture after picture of bass fish, live and in the flesh and within arm's distance, trying for stupendous shots. If that same said fish touches me? Or jumps out of the bag after the tournament? Freaks me the hell out.<br /><br />Between me and my camera is a world apart from me and my day-to-day.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/2923129353/sizes/l/in/pool-599433@N20/">Click here if you dare . . . </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-25867198483787391982008-10-04T16:47:00.000-07:002008-10-04T17:19:49.152-07:00Busy and Learning:Yesterday, The Mike got off a little early so we headed over to <a href="http://www.beachcalifornia.com/lososos.html">Los Osos/Baywood Park</a> - him to get his paycheck and me to . . . what else? Snap photos!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/sets/72157607713146762/">Baywood Park set</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/sets/72157607718978741/">Montana De Oro set</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/sets/72157607736693214/">Los Osos Valley Road set</a><br /><br />The weather was really nice and Mike knows the area pretty well because he lived there years ago. We ended up having to get his check right by one of the entrances into the <a href="http://www.sanluisobispocounty.com/citypages/LosOsosCA.cfm?contentid=282">Elfin Forest.</a>Honestly, I wasn't impressed with the "forest" part, but the view from the boardwalk was wonderful! The back bay, from Los Osos to Morro Rock, is in clear sight.<br /><br />My favorite three shots:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2911459330_8328a5a879.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2911459330_8328a5a879.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/2911539462_2e7e7bb7c5.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/2911539462_2e7e7bb7c5.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2910716649_d1b57f476f_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2910716649_d1b57f476f_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Oh, last Tuesday evening I met up with my photog friend Alex and we took a bunch of pictures in and around <a href="http://www.arroyograndevillage.org/">the village of Arroyo Grande.</a> I forgot to blog about it - sorry! <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/sets/72157607619543392/">You can see the set here.</a> I'm not enamored with any of them overall so I'm not picking a top three on those.<br /><br />On the learning front, this is something I just read and I can't wait to implement the idea!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Here's a central and obvious principle about photography that is sometimes overlooked even by some veteran photographers — that it's about light. Light makes the image. All cameras, whether film-based or digital are wonders of technology but they don't have a clue about subject; they're designed to transmit and register light and a range of its qualities.<br /><br />It's true that the history of photography is filled with examples in which the subject and not the light is what the viewer's attention is drawn to and many of those images are powerful and memorable. In photojournalism, for example, when the urgency of an event takes precedence over art, the photographer may not have the time or the interest in waiting for the right light. But amongst the most memorable of those images, the ones that put a lump in your throat are those in which the light was a significant and descriptive player. So think about the subject but shoot the light."<br /><br /> - Malcolm Lubliner, Photographer</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.cityvisions.com/imagebank/places/places.html">Some of his photographs.</a><br /><br />Fascinating idea!<br /><br />On October 9th, the <a href="http://www.slocameraclub.org/about.shtml">SLO Camera Club</a> has their monthly meeting and this time I'm going. Truth be told, I'm intimidated by "real" photographers but I'm willing to go to at least one meeting just to give it a chance. The worst that can happen is that everyone hates me, lol, but it's not like I KNOW these people so I won't have to ever see them again. That's what I keep telling myself when my little voice gets all Negative Nancy on me :grin:Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-56505973429332078102008-09-30T22:12:00.000-07:002008-09-30T22:33:31.500-07:00YAY! My Camera is Home:Last week The Mike took *my* camera on his fishing tournament trip to Clearlake and I missed it greatly.<br /><br />Oh, Lawdy did I miss it so! It's become a part of me. Like my knitting.<br /><br />I made him promise that he would actually take pictures of his environs while out and about and I have to give him credit. He not only "took pictures", he took a few good ones!<br /><br />My top three favorites:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2901958939_c4566a7abb.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3211/2901958939_c4566a7abb.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>The land line is even and the clouds look great. He's pretty close to the 1/3rd rule too.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2902799368_394ded7f6f.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2902799368_394ded7f6f.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>Again, the lines are even and his subject matter is attractive<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/2902798928_5eb9a5b65b.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3129/2902798928_5eb9a5b65b.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>My personal favorite. Look at that composition! I would have taken that picture myself, LOL.<br /><br />He had some also-rans. The top three almosts:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2901959181_9f8f6609a8.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/2901959181_9f8f6609a8.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>A really good shot but I find the lopsidedness distracting<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/2901959467_3be1c9f0f0.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3242/2901959467_3be1c9f0f0.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>Another really good one overall, but the subject matter is too far away for me to identify<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/2901959781_e56e05e073.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/2901959781_e56e05e073.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Mike's partner took this one. The subject matter is eye-catching . . . and the fish is a beaut too, LOL. Tray doesn't know from out-of-focus or framing or anything picture taking related so I'm not really unhappy with it outside of the generic "it could have been better" if taken by someone more into photography.<br /><br />Thank me that I've spared you the other 32 horribly crappy pictures he came home with. Bless his pointy little head though because the effort was worthy of an A+. <br /><br />He doesn't listen to me about how to fold the laundry properly, but maybe . . . just maybe . . . he's been keeping his ears open when I discuss photography.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-63062891516014136692008-09-25T01:39:00.000-07:002008-09-25T01:56:51.230-07:00Stunned:My virtual friend <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/StudioD">Diane</a> is going through <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/18909246@N08/2827005193/">a tragic loss</a> right now.<br /><br />Diane has been a very important part of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/rav365/">ravelry's Project 365 group</a> and is such an inspiration to me personally in my photog passion and path. Whenever I talk about my love of taking pictures, I start with ravelry, project 365 and Diane.<br /><br />The things she's taught me about my camera and the way I look through it are priceless. She usually adds something to any comment she puts towards our shots.<br /><br />Her son's picture reminds me of The Mike so much. She captured via a camera the way I see Mike every day. The gentle giant-ness of them. The potential and the gleam and the essence.<br /><br />She can get it on film whereas I can only capture it with my naked eye.<br /><br />My soul is sad for her. Such a kind and nice person does not deserve this pain.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-28144672079434326722008-09-23T23:33:00.000-07:002008-09-23T23:58:13.360-07:00The Same Difference:I've met up with another local photographer and we've been hitting the same places - together and apart.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hotelyankeefoxtrot/">Her set of shots</a> versus <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/sets/72157607304241398/">my set</a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/sets/72157607238907915/">of shots.</a><br /><br />She's damn good, I think. Those comparisons aren't exactly the same but they are as close as close gets for the most part.<br /><br />My Favorite Three (of hers):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2883356317_cc17db1eef.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2883356317_cc17db1eef.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2884189024_e657c7a71b.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2884189024_e657c7a71b.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2884185134_f65af98748.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2884185134_f65af98748.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />How is it that we were at the same event and saw things so damn differently? That's what I want to learn. <br /><br />Tomorrow I'm taking <a href="http://www.thecamerasite.net/01_SLR_Cameras/Images/Minolta-X-700.jpg">one of my cameras</a> gifted from <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/KnittingSuzanne">Knitting Suzanne</a> out and about on the town - fresh manual film and everything, LOL! I need to learn how to wield a "real" camera by now. No more Scare-dy Cat hiding.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-53887968337759487152008-09-18T20:42:00.000-07:002008-09-18T20:48:18.020-07:00Clang Clang Goes the Trolley:I ran out for an errand today, and luckily remembered that I've been wanting to visit the Amtrak station just down the road.<br /><br />There's a picturesque foot bridge that goes over the tracks. Without having a clue about the the train schedule, I lucked into a passenger train arriving while I was on that bridge. My initial emotion was fear of being up there, but it didn't move or anything so I'm definitely going to go back up there.<br /><br />My favorite three:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2081/2869202838_fa2c5858b2.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2081/2869202838_fa2c5858b2.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/2868369211_41203a6589.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/2868369211_41203a6589.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2869207454_456755b6a1.jpg?v=0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/2869207454_456755b6a1.jpg?v=0" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />You can see <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/sets/72157607362993498/">the entire set here.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-6221637170925531662008-09-15T13:36:00.000-07:002008-09-15T13:55:49.809-07:0009/15/08I got my weekend photos up and organized finally.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/sets/72157607304241398/">Here's the set</a> from i Madonnari in Downtown SLO, and <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajdury/sets/72157607304241422/">here is the set</a> from yesterday's monthly Beer & Knitting meetup.<br /><br />My favorite three:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2859314377_9fcb578f58.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/2859314377_9fcb578f58.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3231/2859311541_1112d48576.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3231/2859311541_1112d48576.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a>(I didn't notice the reflection until I had put the pictures in my computer)<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2859307989_f9cd50767f.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2859307989_f9cd50767f.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Over on <a href="http://blog.flickr.net/en/2008/09/11/5-questions-lomokev/">September 11th's flickr blog entry</a>, there is an interesting interview with some photographer. One of his tips/suggestions is (paraphrased) to not always look at the display monitor after taking a picture. Just 'go shoot' a bunch of shots without critiquing them in the moment. That stuck with me and will be something I do the next time I've got camera in hand.<br /><br />I cannot believe it myself, but I left the house today without my camera. It was completely by accident and I'm annoyed I did it. After knitting group this morning, I'd intended to wander <a href="http://www.slotrails.com/showtrail.php?id=bobjones">the Bob Jones Trail</a> since it's right there. Oh well, next Monday for sure. Probably for the best, as I had <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/2791007472_7275c7ec34.jpg?v=0">one of my six</a> stuck up in a tree all night. She's finally home and safe and *shocker* doesn't want out, lol.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033757157657428563.post-38336782564696160922008-09-14T21:40:00.000-07:002008-09-14T21:57:03.478-07:00The Photography Blog:So, another thing I've been thinking needs to be separate from my knitting and my "blue content" is my love of photography.<br /><br />I'm seriously in love with the taking of pictures. The elusive "one" that stands alone.<br /><br />The more I learn about the craft, the more I learn what more there is to learn. Does that make sense?<br /><br />I'll have to figure out the balance of all three blogs but I know what I'm envisioning. Ain't no way I'll be updating all three every single day, but every day I'll be updating at least one.<br /><br />Today I took several shots while at this year's <a href="http://www.virtualslo.com/attractions/Attraction.php?id=64"></a> i Madonnari event at the Mission in SLO. I'd met a fellow <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/slocounty/discuss/72157607078316287/">flickr friend</a> for the first time last week and she invited me to come hang with her in SLO today.<br /><br />We walked around, her with her digital SLR and me with my Kodak digital and snapped away - from one end of downtown to the other. We ended our afternoon at <a href="http://www.belfrites.com/">Bel Frites on Garden St.</a> Who knew fries could be that good?<br /><br />I then skeedaddled over to Moonstone's Cafe for the monthly "Beer & Knitting" meetup. Oh, yeah. You know I took pictures.<br /><br />I'll be getting them up (hopefully) tomorrow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0