Thoughts in Images

Feet #1: Brandon, Ethan, Reece

2012-01-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

I'm going to begin a series on feet, or rather feet in shoes. I think people's choice of shoes can say quite a bit about their character. And then there's something gratifying about seeing a part of a person where you create first impressions and then seeing the entire person where you may change these impressions (face photos to come later). I'm still in the developing stage of this, and not to sound whiny, but I can't take anymore deadlines so this will be a series that develops as I go. In other words, it will evolve as time goes on and there will be my regular photos intermixed.

In this photo, these boys were playing miniture golf, and this moment of stillness (not an easy feat - ha ha!) was the calmest there was!

Askew

2012-01-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

Don't ask, I don't know why such things catch my eye.

Reflecting on the Lensbaby

2012-01-17T16:48:00.002-07:00

So I've been practicing with the Lensbaby and I'm thinking it has the capability to do more artistic looking photos rather than just strange photos...so I'm still practicing.
Just to let you know, I've been trying to comment on many blogs, but for some reason Blogger is upset and won't allow me to leave comments on some.

The Sonoran Desert

2012-01-11T16:43:00.002-07:00

The Sonoran Desert inhabits parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Mexico. It's one of the largest and hottest deserts in North America. Heaven in the winter, and...well...really bad in the summer.

Around The Tree

2012-01-07T09:15:00.001-07:00

Another Lensbaby shot.

Sentries

2012-01-03T09:21:00.000-07:00

This is how I spent my Monday, hiking in Sabino Canyon. It was a good day.
I dedicate this photo to Bob of St. Louis Daily Photo who likes to remind me that I live in Tucson, not Europe, and JM of Oeiras Daily Photo who has an affinity for succulents.

Theme Day: Photo of the Year

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

First, happy 2012 to everyone! It's been another fantastic year spent with you, your incredible photos, and kind words. I look forward to more of the same in the coming year!

This is my submission to City Daily Photo's Photo of the Year where one chooses their best photo from the outgoing year. I chose this photo with your help as it is one of the photos that received the most comments from you. It was taken in Paris in 2011. There's some great tension between the child and the man!

Click'>http://www.citydailyphoto.com/portal/themes_archive.php?tid=65">Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

In the Fog #2

2011-12-28T07:03:00.001-07:00

We've been having morning fog lately and pretty cool temps for Tucson. Although today it's supposed to be back in the 70's (don't get too envious, it's our payoff for 110 in the summer!).

Heavenward

2011-12-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas everyone! I wish you peace in the coming year. My best to you, and I'll be back with some new material soon (now that I've got a bit of a break from work)!

In the Fog

2011-12-15T08:55:00.001-07:00

I'm practicing with the Lensbaby. I found this great truck in the desert on the outskirts of a ranch. The gray hazy background is not only the effect of the Lensbaby, but we also had fog the other day which is very unusual for Tucson...actually anything other than sun is unusual for Tucson!

Keyhole

2011-12-06T16:38:00.000-07:00

An old keyhole in Lucca. These are actually still in use; I was given one of those old fashioned type keys to get into my hotel while staying in Lucca.

And yes, still pulling from my archives. Believe it or not, I came down with my illness all over again. Seems the antibiotics didn't work the first time.

Back in Italy

2011-11-24T07:52:00.001-07:00

So sorry for the disappearing act, I got rather sick and was out of commission for some time. Because of that I'm pulling from the archives as I haven't been able to get out and shoot too.

Trapped

2011-11-15T20:58:00.001-07:00

There

2011-11-12T14:46:00.001-07:00

My first attempt at my new Lensbaby! If you're not familiar with Lensbaby lenses, the blur is intentional (just so you don't think I forgot how to focus my camera!), and you can pivot the lens to where you would like the sweet spot of focus to be.

Bitten

2011-11-08T18:06:00.001-07:00

Along Benson Highway

2011-11-01T10:04:00.000-07:00

Tucson, AZ

Another shot from the Holga. Someone does live in this trailer, and quite often people will take up residence in the motels along this street, one of which is the Apache Tears Motel (previous post).

Apache Tears Motel

2011-10-29T15:29:00.001-07:00

Old motel along Benson Highway in Tucson, Arizona.

Due

2011-10-25T06:45:00.001-07:00

Vernazza, Italy

So I took over 700 photos while I was in Europe, this could go on for a while, but I think I'll put an end to this long series. I can't promise that I won't show anymore though especially if I get in a bind and need a photo. As for the frequency of my posting (or infrequency!), it is where things are for me right now and will just have to be. Thanks for sticking with me!

Amici

2011-10-19T17:31:00.001-07:00

There may be something cliche about photos of older people in Italy anymore (meaning it's a pretty common subject), but there's something to be said about the beauty of of an everyday routine performed in friendship. These two girls were doing their evening people watching.

Calm

2011-10-15T12:40:00.000-07:00

I don't know why, there's something about this that makes me feel calm.

Ripples

2011-10-11T19:41:00.002-07:00

Reflections of a Venetian building in a canal.

The View Without Color

2011-10-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

Arno River in Florence, Italy

An Italian Wedding

2011-10-05T06:37:00.001-07:00

Vernazza, Italy

Mareska

2011-10-02T09:21:00.001-07:00

Vernazza, Italy

The Way to Listen

2011-09-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

Teatro La Fenice - Venice, Italy

Underneath

2011-09-25T08:51:00.001-07:00

Venice, Italy

For more reflections visit James at Weekend Reflections.

A Window in Venice #2

2011-09-21T17:01:00.000-07:00

The Battle

2011-09-17T09:06:00.002-07:00

Paris, France

Again, I apologize for the infrequency of my postings and visiting you. I still haven't found that balance between work and the rest of my life yet.

Making A Run For It

2011-09-08T17:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, we did the oh so touristy activity and rode in a gondola. I was actually enjoying it as it was providing another viewpoint from which to get photographs, but then, what was a mildly cloudy day turned and the skies above us opened. Rain pelted us, thunder rumbled, and worst of all lightning burst all around us. Fantastic, as we were sitting in water. My son was soon crying in fear and in my lap (he's seven, so not really the lap age anymore) and I was trying to protect him and of course my camera at the same time. The gondolier was trying to get us back by hiding out under bridges, luckily Venice has plenty of them, and then rowing fast to the next bridge when he saw a slight break in the weather. Alas, we did make it back safely...wet but safe. The complete upside to all of this was that Venice had empited out and it was virtually deserted. My son had had enough so I took my loved ones back to the hotel, and I went out and spent the afternoon alone in Venice, exploring and photographing!

Did I just step into...

2011-09-03T08:59:00.002-07:00

...a Harlequin romance novel...or maybe a Hallmark card? I was running laps around the Champ de Mars when I came across this scene. It literally stopped me in my tracks . Who would think that in the middle of Paris there would be a nice looking man dressed in white, brushing a white horse on a grassy plain with colorful flowers surrounding them? I didn't, that's why I took the picture. But, who knows, maybe this is common in Paris!

P.S. I can't resist black and white, but I had to show the color version of this too.

A Window in Venice

2011-08-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

Venice, Italy

The Opposite of Black & White

2011-08-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

Vernazza, Italy

Time for Rest

2011-08-23T17:43:00.001-07:00

Tuileries Garden, Paris

In the Courtyard of the Louvre

2011-08-19T22:30:00.000-07:00

The Louvre Pyramid, Paris

Over the Seine

2011-08-16T21:37:00.000-07:00

Paris, France

The Office

2011-08-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

Procuratie in St. Mark's Square, Venice

A Moment Together

2011-08-10T18:41:00.001-07:00

Newly married in Venice, Italy

An Odd Destination

2011-08-05T06:53:00.000-07:00

Lucca, Italy

I apologize for my lack of consistency in posting lately. It's been pretty busy. I think rather than taking time off though, I'll just be posting sporadically until I get into a rhythm here.

Masked

2011-08-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

Venice, Italy

The Standoff

2011-07-30T07:28:00.000-07:00

Paris, France

Rest

2011-07-27T05:08:00.005-07:00

Lucca, Italy

Strangers

2011-07-25T05:00:00.012-07:00

This street performer was playing "Strangers in the Night" on the walkway of the Via dell'Amore between Riomaggiore and Manarola, Italy. The lady seen in the photo grabbed the moment and enjoyed herself immensely.

Thank you to James at Something Sighted for helping me with the larger image size!

Going In

2011-07-23T05:02:00.002-07:00

Local men put their boat to sea in Vernazza, Italy.

Waiting Out the Rain

2011-07-21T05:08:00.000-07:00

An artist's companion waiting out the rain in Venice, Italy.

Reflecting

2011-07-19T05:08:00.005-07:00

Reflections, looking down through the pyramid at the Louvre - Paris.

A Bike

2011-07-17T05:03:00.032-07:00

Lucca, Italy

Not mine unfortunately, but I did alot of this in Europe. I love how so many ride and walk to where they are going rather than drive. Although I know it's a matter of how cities are designed as doing either of these in Tucson is not really an option (for me anyway) since the city is sooooo spread out and it's a freakin 110 outside!

The Sun King

2011-07-15T05:09:00.001-07:00

Louis XIV in front of the Palace of Versailles

Submitted in The Weekend in Black and White.

Peace

2011-07-13T05:05:00.001-07:00

Venice, Italy

Along the Seine

2011-07-11T07:21:00.001-07:00

Paris, France

In Love with the View

2011-07-09T07:58:00.000-07:00

The view from a window inside a tunnel on the Via dell'Amore in the Cinque Terre.

Waiting

2011-07-07T05:00:00.011-07:00

Florence, in front of the Duomo

Tourists have to be somewhat of a paradox for the people who live in the places that tourists visit. On the one hand tourists bring money and jobs into the economy, on the other hand, tourists overrun a place and bring a feeling of inauthenticity. I really don't like being a tourist, but there's really no way around that if you want to see a place. I always feel like I need to apologize to the people for invading their space. Another thing that also gets to me is being so not unique, standing there taking a picture of the Duomo like thousands do everyday, just being part of a faceless mass. I really try to experience places in other ways such as hiking, biking, etc. where I become a part of it rather than a spectator of it. But sometimes you just have to stand there, take your photos, and smile meekly at the local trying to squeeze by.

No Parking

2011-07-05T05:02:00.009-07:00

Versailles, France

I'm assuming: no parking, or you'll be towed unless you have the proper handicap identification?

Porta a Firenze

2011-07-03T05:12:00.004-07:00

Florence, Italy

The Violinist Within Lucca

2011-07-01T05:03:00.006-07:00

I loved all the street performers that I witnessed throughout France and Italy. It was a great opportunity for those of who are somewhat shy to take a picture of someone without having to go through the awkward "May I take your picture?" routine. All were open to it with merely a gesture to my camera and of course I donated money to their cause. Not to mention that many were quite talented and a pleasure to listen to.

La Tour Eiffel

2011-06-29T05:04:00.001-07:00

Right off the plane we climbed the Eiffel Tower which is a good way to stay awake!

Under Cover

2011-06-27T05:07:00.013-07:00

Our last stop on the trip was Venice where it rained the entire time we were there. I will say that a bonus of this was that the place emptied out pretty quick and I was able to wander around on my own and photograph (although that proved to be a tricky balance with my camera and umbrella!).

After seeing all of these beautiful sights, I'm not very inspired to photograph Tucson in the 108 degree heat right now, so I hope you won't mind more photos from Europe for the time being.

Florence

2011-06-25T08:06:00.001-07:00

I didn't get to know Florence well enough. I was only there two days, really as a stop over on the way to Venice. I did however get to see David and I was thrilled to be "inside" a museum!

Submitted for The Weekend in Black and White.

Absorbed

2011-06-23T05:00:00.017-07:00

After Lucca we went to the Cinque Terre which I've been wanting to see for several years. There is so much to love about this area. We actually stayed in Vernazza for three nights, but I saw all the towns either by hiking, train, or boat. My favorite time was in the evenings when the tourists (yes, I know I was one of them!) left and the town was quiet and beautiful with the ocean and gelato.

More Friends

2011-06-21T05:01:00.023-07:00

After France we went on to Italy...once the air traffic controllers in Paris were finished with their sudden strike. I loved Lucca and had the best pizza ever there! What I was struck with the most was the comraderie of the people in Italy. They have such a solid social network which I thought must be so comforting and fun. I absolutely loved how the men and women walked each evening together like this.

Friends

2011-06-19T05:07:00.014-07:00

I had the pleasure of spending the day in Versailles with Cieldequimper of Versailles Daily Photo. She was so kind to show us around town, the palace grounds and introduce us to a lunch of crepes and cider (a new and wonderful experience for me!). This was definitely one of my favorite days of the trip as I got to connect with a fellow photographer/blogger, and made a friend in the process.

Portions

2011-06-17T05:00:00.004-07:00

I was having fun with this image. We began our trip in Paris. I'm ashamed to say that I didn't go into the Louvre, but just around the grounds of it. Let me set the record straight though, I would have LOVED to go inside this museum, but I really had to calculate my activities traveling with a six-year old. I knew that I wouldn't be able to give the exhibits the time and attention that they deserved. I would have been doing a "drive-by" on the Louvre, and that sounded worse than not seeing it all! Although, as I write this I'm in pain thinking about what I missed.

Amore

2011-06-15T00:15:00.003-07:00

Hello everyone! I think I'm now back on my own time and not randomly falling asleep during the day and waking up at night anymore (jet lag)! I'll be posting photographs from my European trip for a while, so I hope you won't mind the break from Tucson (I didn't!:).

Turquoise

2011-05-22T15:26:00.001-07:00

I apologize for the lateness of this post (not that you were waiting breathlessly for it!:). I had this photo scheduled to post yesterday, but for some reason Blogger flipped my "scheduled" post to a "draft" and then of course it never went up. I've been so busy I hadn't checked my blog until now to see the mistake. This will be my last post for a few weeks as I'm leaving for France and Italy in a few days. See you soon!

White

2011-05-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

Brown

2011-05-17T05:00:00.001-07:00

Red

2011-05-15T05:04:00.001-07:00

Yellow

2011-05-13T16:24:00.000-07:00

It seems Blogger has been sick so I haven't been able to post any photos until now.

Orange

2011-05-10T06:58:00.002-07:00

A Mother's Day

2011-05-08T08:43:00.004-07:00

Sorry for the length of this post!

I had just spent the most sublime time in my son's classroom where, in celebration of Mother's Day, he sweetly presented me with a flower in front of his classmates, then read me a letter he had written explaining why he thinks I'm the best mom in the world, and on top of that proclaims me to be pretty AND beautiful! As time progressed and activities ensued, my son somehow managed to staple his index finger. Sadly, I was standing right next to him and wasn't aware of him doing this until I heard his howls - strike one on that whole best mom in the world thing. I quickly examine him and see that the staple is embedded within his tiny six-year old finger tip, flush to the skin and I think I better not pull that out myself. I hurridly usher him past the horrified stares of children, down to the nurses room, who takes one look and gravely shakes her head no. "I think you'll need to take him to the ER," she states. "Really, the ER?" I repeat, thinking surely a staple doesn't warrant such a severe action all the while trying to comfort my son who is pitifully crying "Save me mom".

We jump into the car and I'm driving towards the ER, which is quite a distance away, when my son cries "I don't want to die!", that's when I realize I haven't let him know in six-year old terms that a staple isn't a life and death thing - strike two on the best mom in the wolrd. As I'm driving I'm trying to think of other avenues aside from the ER. In case one is not familiar with the American medical system, the ER is REALLY expensive while going to the doctor's office or Urgent Care are much more feasible options - monetarily speaking. So remembering a conversation I've had with my health insurance company who advised me that unless it's life threatening, go to the doctor or Urgent Care, not ER, I call my son's pediatrician to ask his opinion. After much delibriation, they tell me no, they won't remove the staple either. I call Urgent Care, who, keep in mind, advertises to take your family there for anything from the flu to broken arms, and they say yes, they can take out the staple! I change my driving course.

After registering and waiting, the Urgent Care doctor takes a look and says no, he can't take it out. "Really?" I think, "but you guys fix broken arms, this is a staple!". He then goes on to tell me all kinds of horrific things like the staple being stuck in a tendon, having to surgically remove it... I'm backing out of the office as he keeps talking. Back in the car, driving to the ER which apparently I should have just done in the first place - strike three on being the best mom.

ER is always a joyous place to be, among the sick and broken with vacant eyes who have given up on that nurse calling their name after five hours of waiting to finally see a doctor. I settle in among them after giving our information at the registration desk. Thank God my son is no longer crying, I don't think he can feel his finger anymore...and now of course he knows he isn't going to die.

An hour later, we sit at a computer with a nurse who takes my son's vital signs and types in our information. We're shown to a room. I think hey, a hour, that's not too bad! There's a tv in the room showing a children's movie and my son zones out. Two hours later a woman walks into the room with a computer on a cart. She takes our insurance information, then says "Okay, you're all registered now!" "Really?!" I think, "What were the last two computer stations about where I gave all our known personal information if not to register us!"

Flash forward to an hour and half later. The doctor walks into the room and says he's a nurse practitioner. I think he saw my face fall, but I was actually thinking we were just going to have to wait even longer to see the doctor and that he was just here to triage the situation. After ignoring my faux pas, he then takes one look at the offending staple and says, "Oh yeah, I can just pop that out." "But..." I stutter. "What about tendons, and surgically removing it..." "Oh no," he responds. "I've done hundreds of these." A few minutes later, he's freezing my son's finger and popping the staple out with some plier like things. In two minutes he's done.

Six hours from the first howl of pain, we are finally done. My son is excited about getting to choose anywhere he wants to go for a late dinner. We walk to where the complementary valet parking station is to retrieve our car, except the man who took my keys and his sign are no longer there and everything is all closed up. I look at my valet ticket and see that it says they close at 6 p.m. which of course I didn't notice when I was gathering my wimpering son and our belongings out of the car six hours before. We have to wait, again, for transportation to figure that situation out. Strike four on the best mom deal.

So, yes, the important thing is that my son is okay. And even though I know that, and am beyond thankful for it, I keep having the disturbing thought that that's going to be one hell of an expensive staple.

P.S. Amazingly, my son thinks I saved him and that I'm still the best mom in the world. Happy mother's day to all the moms, and dads, out there!

Hires

2011-05-06T04:03:00.002-07:00

Old root beer sign

The Face of Magic

2011-05-04T04:05:00.000-07:00

Here's the faces of the boys from the previous days photo/post.

When You Still Believe in Magic

2011-05-02T03:04:00.002-07:00

Freaks?

2011-04-30T01:03:00.005-07:00

Potential Soapbox Matter

2011-04-28T01:00:00.000-07:00

The less said the better, my heart aches for animals that work the fairs.

Trying to Close the Deal

2011-04-26T00:05:00.002-07:00

I'll be running a short series from the Pima County Fair.

These vendors try hard to attract people to their stalls by calling out as you walk by, and if you slow down, then they go at it even harder. I love how the boys still look unconvinced though.

Zip It

2011-04-15T06:24:00.001-07:00

A small section of a painted wall in downtown Tucson.

Sorry for the late notice, I'll be gone for a few days, see you next week!

Good Enough

2011-04-13T04:18:00.001-07:00

"Good enough" is what that little, blue sign says on the wall. I guess it's referring to the box next to it which in my opinion does not look good enough.

Two Within Space

2011-04-11T06:34:00.000-07:00

Still playing around with double exposures.

Natural Patterns

2011-04-09T04:17:00.001-07:00

If Horses Could Talk...

2011-04-07T04:16:00.002-07:00

370 & 364 Convent Ave.

2011-04-05T04:11:00.001-07:00

Within a Cave

2011-04-03T04:19:00.001-07:00

I took a tour in Colossal Cave which has served as a shelter for the Hohokam Indians 1000 years ago, later a hide-out for cowboy outlaws, and now relief from the heat (we hit 95 today!) for tour groups.

Pieces

2011-04-01T06:35:00.000-07:00

Crooked

2011-03-30T04:10:00.002-07:00

My excuse on why this is crooked: a couple of guys were approaching me, I assume to ask for money (it's that kind of area - sorry to typecast), so I took the shot quickly and scrambled into my car.

A b&w DSLR version can be seen here.

The End of It

2011-03-28T04:12:00.001-07:00

Strange Spot

2011-03-26T04:15:00.002-07:00

Remnants of the Night

2011-03-24T04:15:00.004-07:00

Maynards Market at the Historic Depot

2011-03-22T04:19:00.005-07:00

Tucson's historic train depot since 1907.

The Pipe

2011-03-20T04:12:00.003-07:00

I was playing around with advancing the film partially and then taking another exposure.

345 S. Convent

2011-03-18T04:15:00.004-07:00

For more reflections visit James at Weekend Reflections.

One

2011-03-16T05:00:00.005-07:00

Fugi 400

One Year!

2011-03-14T05:00:00.007-07:00

My attempt at making a heart by light painting with the moon.

So Thoughts in Images turns one year old today! Actually, the one year "time" anniversary was in February, but since I took a couple of vacations, today marks my 365th post. I wanted to say a couple of things, first I am so appreciative of all those that I've "met" though photography and blogging. It's been a true pleasure to see your photos each day and even more of a pleasure in getting acquainted with you. I've really enjoyed the personalities that can come through in a comment box! Your talent, insight, and kindness are a blessing.
Second, I'm going to take my posts down to one every two days and see how that works for me. I am humbled by those who having been doing a photo a day for several years, you are true warriors! I'm finding that I'm often frustrated that I can't shoot more often or put more time into the creative process of photography. My hope is to take a little extra time, explore the creative process more, and concentrate on the quality of my photographs.

I promise to continue and I hope you'll stay with me through this transition! It's really been a great year because of you!

Three More Windows

2011-03-13T05:07:00.002-07:00

Some Strange Type of Evolution

2011-03-12T07:46:00.001-07:00

I apologize for the irregularity of my commenting lately. My son has had some health issues for the past month and it's been rather hectic.

More Doors...and Windows

2011-03-11T05:09:00.003-07:00

Yes, more doors and windows...I really need to get out and shoot!

Lines, Lines, Lines

2011-03-10T05:09:00.001-07:00

Stepping Up

2011-03-09T05:09:00.002-07:00

These murals randomly pop up around downtown Tucson. I don't know if they're commissioned or secretly done.

One

2011-03-08T05:00:00.002-07:00

A Slow Death

2011-03-07T05:09:00.002-07:00

A Slight State of Decay

2011-03-06T05:00:00.005-07:00

I know nothing about this building except that it's old, in a bad neighborhood, and in a slight state of decay.

For more bw photos visit The Weekend in Black and White.