Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Fireworks


Since I have blog friends around the world,
thought I'd share our
American Independence Day tradition...

FIREWORKS!

For years, we packed up coolers,
and the kiddies
pulling it all in wagons to
plunk down on blankets awaiting
the dazzling show.

This year, on July 3rd, we simply walked out on the deck
of our friends' beautiful cottage overlooking
Long Lake.

No real organized show here...but lots of
individuals shooting off the smaller fireworks.

Here we are awaiting the spectacle
against a glistening summer sunset
with '70s music blaring
from a TURNTABLE...
yep, the old vinyl albums.

Doesn't get much better than that!


I had never photographed fireworks,
so working from an Internet tutorial print-out,
I set my camera and screeched
with excitement at EVERY colorful poof!







I was hyped at the results!






Now I was ready to capture
the larger show on the 

 Fourth of July.

Oh, my GOSH
they were pretty!!







And, the rockets red glare...






The bombs bursting in air...






Gave proof through the night...






That our flag was still there!


I'm proud to be an

AMERICAN...

Where at least I know I'm
FREE!



I LOVE fireworks!

Friday, April 29, 2011

Artist of Miniature Paintings

 
I am in a photo club where we love to meet for photo outings
and at our monthly gatherings, we share photography ideas and techniques.
 
One of the photo clubbers is not only an awesome photographer,
she's an amazing painter and brought along her artwork.


Jan Knoll first photographs interesting places
and people.

Then she paints the scenes.


The stunning thing is...

She paints them in miniature!

They're no bigger than 3 by 4 inches.



Jan's been painting for twenty years and loved to paint
"small".
She never painted anything bigger than a 16 X 20.

Then she read a magazine article about miniature paintings
and was fascinated.


She flew to Florida where she learned the craft from a
miniature artist.  Well, the artist was normal size, but
the art was teeny.

She uses a magnifying glass and strong light
plus teensy brushes.


The fine details are exquisite on such a tiny canvas.
Each painting takes 30 to 40 hours to complete.

 
I am fascinated with people's talents!


Jan attends miniature art shows and
even competes in miniature contests.

I just HAD to share her vast talent
with you.


Thanks, Jan!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Happy Rain


I told you I joined a local photo club.
Our assignment this month was to shoot
APRIL RAIN.

THAT was an easy subject...it seems like
it has rained all dang month!

The problem was...
I don't like to get wet.

But the month was winding down and
photo club is tomorrow night.

Yesterday, I FORCED myself out into the rain.


I didn't venture too far.
Just out the back door where I found rain pounding
on our red grill.

I thought the red would brighten up
the dark, dreary day.

So with raindrops splashing all over my camera
that I thought was secured in a plastic bag...


I fired off more than 200 shots...


Trying to capture 

SPLASHING RAINDROPS.










After filling my card with photos,
and soaking my jeans to the skin.




I rushed to my computer to see what
I had captured.








Even though the weather was
drab and depressing...

I thought these pictures were

HAPPY!

They made me smile.


I placed a pretty yellow plate out
and it soon filled with rain.

SPLASH!

Looking this close...
it appears

RAIN IS HAPPY!


Now for the not-so-happy news:

All this rain made our roof leak.
Tom, our terrific carpenter
scared me to death climbing onto the roof in
the pouring rain to check it out.

Look at that gray sky! 
UGH!


Rain, rain....
GO AWAY!