Back road gem

 

Little Joshua Creek

I've been running the roads again and there is no better time than October to do that in my neck of the woods.  At this time of year we've gotten some rain.  The humidity has dropped.  I like nothing better than driving slow with my windows down listening to bird song and looking for what's around the next bend in the road.  This bend showed me a low water crossing at Little Joshua Creek in the Texas Hill Country.  I pulled off the road and just stood there with my camera.  Several farm and ranch trucks passed as I stood and each driver waved with a smile.  They knew they had it good out here.

Guardians

Rear Guard

Donkeys as a herd or flock guards are fairly common in my area.  Along with being incredibly picturesque they are diligent in keeping an eye on who is driving up and what they might be selling.  I was all set to catch some sheep doing, you know, sheep things when the three amigos here decided it was time to visit another field.

 

Here is a link to a little guy I know personally showing off- Buddy, my folks miniature donkey, doing his thang. -Cheryl captured this just the other day.  Go Buddy GO! Guarding the home place.

2013 World Wide Photo Walk

The World Wide Photo Walk happened Saturday and San Antonio was full of stories waiting to be captured. Here are a few.
On the town

 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite things to do is to go on a shooting "go and see" with my photo buds.  This world wide event was a perfect excuse for us to hit down town San Antonio and see what we could see.  It is a great way to share our work, keep each other out of trouble and talk shop.  

 

Look what I can do! (insert Stuart jump kick)

Three Kings

 

 

 

Ok-maybe it is more aptly said. Look what I can use!  I've been searching for a while for something that would enable me to show the scale of a photography in a room.  I used all kinds of search terms in online searches and finally came across the term Wall Guide and found this wonderful site by Ariana Falerni where you can place your photos in groupings or individually within a room to give a client an idea of how the art the purchase might look in their home.  I've known since I started that I'm not an instinctive photoshop user and that is what made finding someone that does speak the language such treat.  The program was easy to use and adapt and I'll be exploring further in the future. 

 

What else did I learn?  I live in a teensy cottage but some folks have large blank walls needing art.  I need to expand my scope.  This photograph Three Kings was from my last trip to Scotland and taken from the top of Duart Castle.  This was also my first really large print sale.  The customer that ordered this got it in a 36x48.  While I had trouble finding a space big enough to view the whole thing in my little place, this really is a piece worthy of a grand scale and is most striking when shown large.  So I need to think outside my cottage dimensions and make a point of letting folks know that the photographs can "go big".  With this handy new program I'll be able to help you decide what size image would work best in your space.  I want you to love the art you receive from me, big or small.

 

Now, let's go make some pictures!



 

 

That's it!  I'm diving in head first folks.

I've quit my day job and am going to explore my photography to my heart's content.  What exactly that means will be determined along the way.  I will continue to have my work available in a variety of venues online.  I hope to have a presence in select local galleries and shops as well.  Now that I have weekends free for the first time in almost 30 years I'll be taking part in local art shows and sales as well so I hope to meet you person one day.  Stay tuned and follow my photo adventures big and small. I've got a trip to Italy and Scotland (of course) in the works for the coming year and who knows where else I'll find myself.  I've made a start on the dance hall project I've been dreaming about and my "to do and to see" list has grown gleefully.  Thank you for your continued support and encouragement.  Vacilando baby!! 

Vacilando

 

I'm in the process of reading Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck.  I can't tell you what a chord this has struck with me.  Perhaps it reminds me of my young life living in Alaska and camping out most weekends during the summer.  Maybe he is capturing they same feelings I'm having now when I MUST "go and see".  For whatever reason I am thoroughly enjoying it.  About 22% in (thank you Kindle for the lack of page numbers) he describes the word vacilando.  Its a Spanish word that doesn't really have an English equivalent.  He says, "if one is vacilando, he is going somewhere but doesn't greatly care whether or not he gets there, although he has direction.  This so closely describes my "go and see" trips that I actually said "exactly!" out loud when I read it.

I'm on an Easter egg hunt, a visual troll using my imagination as bait. I hit the high planes west of San Antonio last weekend and came across cows in the winter scrub brush, empty houses with stories still to tell and a new word that just might make a great tattoo.



Wellspring

Wellspring: a noun.
An orginal and bountiful source

Did the tree grow out of a well or was the young tree walled up to keep it from wandering off?