Category Archives: Calendar

May



This is the only monthly picture in the calendar that is manipulated in Photoshop in a meaningful way. I could see how somebody could think that June is a Photoshop manipulation, but in the spirit of the way that I see things, it isn’t. But we will open up that can of worms on the morrow.

April



Where Love Waits

This picture was taken on one of my two trips to the Iowa State Fair. Interested in other State Fair pictures? Click on the link below:

The title comes from a line in William Carlos Williams’ Poem “The Rose is Obsolete”. I suppose in retrospect that title would have been better served for a picture of a rose.

The rose is obsolete
but each petal ends in
an edge, the double facet
cementing the grooved
columns of air–The edge
cuts without cutting
meets–nothing–renews
itself in metal or porcelain–

whither? It ends–

But if it ends
the start is begun
so that to engage roses
becomes a geometry–

Sharper, neater, more cutting
figured in majolica–
the broken plate
glazed with a rose

Somewhere the sense
makes copper roses
steel roses–

The rose carried weight of love
but love is at an end–of roses

It is at the edge of the
petal that love waits

Crisp, worked to defeat
laboredness–fragile
plucked, moist, half-raised
cold, precise, touching

What

The place between the petal’s
edge and the

From the petal’s edge a line starts
that being of steel
infinitely fine, infinitely
rigid penetrates
the Milky Way
without contact–lifting
from it–neither hanging
nor pushing–

The fragility of the flower
unbruised
penetrates space

February



This picture was taken on the Lost Lake Trail. A place that is well documented to be one of my favorite photography retreats. I particularly enjoy taking frog photos in this locale.

This picture was selected by Jill for the Pufferbilly Days Photo Contest:

Although Jill liked the photo, its intent was completely lost on the judges. For the first time ever, the judges left their commentary on the back of the photos. I purposely amped up the digital noise in this image. The judges didn’t think that was on purpose or didn’t like it. Their commentary included suggestions for lowering the noise in the picture. That included using a lower ISO (which the picture was taken with a low ISO) and using a tripod (which the picture was taken with a tripod).

Oh well, it wasn’t the first time that a picture of mine was not understood/loved by photo contest judges. I do have a 3 year (going for 4 in 2010!) streak of the State Fair giving me the bird going.

November

November’s image.



I also added about 20 pictures to the Flora Album:


Flora

INFORMATION BELOW IS NO LONGER VALID

I should point out that because my galleries were victimized by spam, if you decide to register as a user because:

A. You want to comment on an image.
B. You want to rate an image.
C. You want to favorite an image.
D. You like me as a human being.

I do have to approve all new registrations to keep the spammers at bay. Don’t be disheartened, I’m pretty quick at approving real people for registration.

You might also notice that you are familiar with most of the images added to the Flora Album. I have finally gotten some of the classics up for your perusal. Including My Giverny and Happiness Shared #01.

Philosopher’s Wax

I thought about waxing philosophical on how indifferent I am to New Year’s Eve and all of it trappings, but as it turns out I’m to apathetic to even write about it.

However, I am now intrigued by the concept of waxing philosophical. I know this is an old timey phrase that dates back to when the word wax mostly meant to grow. Such as a waxing moon. As opposed to a waning moon.

But, I still want to invent a product called Philosopher’s Wax. I’m quite certain that it could be used on both a convertible and a finely groomed mustache. A mustache like that kid at Subway has that Willy admires from a distance.

I’m told that New Year’s is a time for new beginnings, but it seems to me that to arbitrarily wait for one certain point in Earth’s orbit around the sun to make drastic or necessary changes in one’s life is silly, but not in a good way like the putty. Make those changes when you realize they need to be made and one certainly shouldn’t wait an entire year to reflect on their life.

So to New Year’s and all of its trappings, I say “Bah! It is a humbug!” Besides the time with family and friends. The day off from work. All the good food and football.

I thought I would throw out the picture for September while I was at it.



This is a picture of a moonflower.