Category Archives: Macro

Talking to You

January 25, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett 1 Comment

If I said purple
You’d say red
With your brown hair tumbling
Like an unmade bed
Then we’d both die laughing
At something I said
Talking to you

I find my point
And you lose your sh*t
There’s just so much broken
That the words can’t fix
And the dawn is breaking
But I just can’t quit
Talking to you

I’ve seen a Jesus
Roller skating down Sunset
Watched a ballet of sprinklers
In the rain
But I know I’d go crazy
If I couldn’t get
To talk to you again
So if God takes me
And leaves you here
I want no black limousines
And no sad tears
‘Cause I’ll still be hanging around
The atmosphere
Talking to you

And no words or music
Can come even near
To talking to you

-Written by Gary Clark
-Performed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt

This is the final song I’m going to use as a journal title from FLORA AND SON. I haven’t discussed the story much yet. But here is the basic synopsis you would get from a rudimentary Google search:

Single mom Flora is at a loss about what to do with her rebellious teenage son, Max. Her efforts to keep him out of trouble lead to a beat-up acoustic guitar, a washed-up LA musician, and harmony for this frayed Dublin family.

FLORA AND SON has the basic theme of all John Carney films. A couple of down on their luck people find one another and put their lives back together by making music.

The movie stars Eve Hewson (Bono’s daughter) as Flora, who quite frankly is a terrible mom, who finally finds common ground wither her son Max (Oren Kinlan) when they bond over making music. Flora pulls a beat up old guitar out of a dumpster and tries to give it to Max. When he shuns her gift, she decides to learn how to play guitar in an attempt to win her ex back. She starts taking internet guitar lessons from Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) a somewhat washed up musician.

Through this meeting and through music, they start to put their lives back together. I don’t want to go more into the details of the movie cause I think you should watch it yourself. The movie currently streams on AppleTV+.

The song “Talking to You” isn’t the most important song in the movie. That is probably “Meet in the Middle” the song that Flora and Jeff write together or the song “High Life” that Flora, Max, Jeff, and her ex-Ian perform together at the end of the movie. In fact you could very easily miss “Talking to You”. Jeff references writing a song for Flora, but we never get to hear it… until the closing credits. That song… “Talking to You”.

But Thursday’s are for flowers. This flowertography session consists of flowers in my yard:

The beautiful pink flowers belonged to my Mom and Grandma. They sit in two metal kettles. During the fall I take them down and store them in a dark place in my basement. This year I’m hoping to split the flowers in two of the kettles into 3 kettles so that Carla and Teresa can also have one. Will need to find a metal kettle for that though.

The next Thursday flowertography session will involve a song that actually does appear in FLORA AND SON, but it isn’t an original song. In fact it is a song that is over 50 years old. But I affiliate it with a movie that is only a few years old.

Macro, Nature, Still Life, Street Photography, WPC - Alternate

But That’s Not Me, It’s You

January 24, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

I took a few pictures for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE theme UGLY that I felt were worthy of sharing. Mostly around town in the awful weather. But a few of things in my kitchen, which anybody that has been in it can tell you, it can definitely trend to the UGLY.

At the aggregate level, my kitchen is much cleaner right now. If you are wondering.

Flowers, Macro, Mom, Naima

I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)

January 18, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

I get along without you very well
Of course, I do
Except when soft rains fall
And drip from leaves, then I recall
The thrill of being sheltered in your arms
Of course, I do
But I get along without you very well

I’ve forgotten you
Just like I should
Of course, I have
Except to hear your name
Or someone’s laugh that is the same
But I’ve forgotten you just like I should

What a guy
What a fool am I
To think my breaking heart
Could kid the moon

What’s in store?
Should I phone once more?
No, it’s best that I stick to my tune

I get along without you very well
Of course, I do
Except perhaps in spring
But I should never think of spring
For that would surely break my heart in two
-Written by Hoagy Carmichael
-Inspired by poem by Jane Brown Thompson
-Recorded many times but perhaps most famously by Chet Baker and most successfully by Red Norvo

This is another song that is featured in FLORA AND SON. It clearly isn’t an original song as Hoagy Carmichael was born in 1899. “I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” isn’t his most famous song. That is probably “Stardust” famously recorded by Willie Nelson and many, many, many others or “Georgia on My Mind” made famous by Ray Charles.

If that wasn’t enough to make Hoagy Carmichael a legend, Ian Fleming described James Bond as looking like Hoagy Carmichael.

“I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” also has a fascinating history. Check this from The Wiki:

“I Get Along Without You Very Well” is a popular song composed by Hoagy Carmichael in 1939, with lyrics based on a poem written by Jane Brown Thompson

Thompson’s identity as the author of the poem was for many years unknown, even to Carmichael; he had been handed the poem anonymously at an event at Indiana University, and the poem only noted the author as “J.B.”. Carmichael noted J.B.’s name in the song’s sheet music as the author of the poem that inspired the lyrics, and asked for help to identify “J.B.”. However, it wasn’t until the mid-1950s that a positive identification was made. Jane Brown Thompson died the night before the song was introduced on radio by Dick Powell.

What an amazing story! And an amazing song!

But how does it fit into the movie?

I’m not going to get into the full story of the movie, but to understand the scene blow it should be sufficient for you to know that the movie is about Flora, who takes up guitar to win her ex-husband back. She starts taking online guitar lessons from Jeff. This scene is the interaction from their second lesson.

From the screenplay and no apologies to any James Blunt songs:

INT. FLORA’S TINY KITCHEN – LATER 31
Flora has changed into clothes that don’t leave much to the imagination, and put on a lot of lipstick and eye shadow on. She pours, lights up, and waits by the computer. Checks watch. Then she suddenly remembers about the No Wine Rule, and moves the bottle and glass behind the well out of frame to the side of the screen. She picks up her guitar and readies herself. Takes a swig. She clicks on her email and opens a Zoom session. Jeff is waiting there.

FLORA
Hiya. I can’t believe you got back to me.
JEFF
You’re a challenge. I like challenges. Shall we begin?
FLORA
Let’s rock!
She picks up her guitar.
JEFF
Let’s find out who you are, Flora. What’s your all time favorite song?
She thinks hard.
FLORA
I’m more into dance music. Oh, “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt.
Jeff’s face falls.
JEFF
Okay, we may have a problem here.
FLORA
Why?
JEFF
That’s not an acceptable song.
FLORA
It’s catchy.

JEFF
So was Cholera.
FLORA
I don’t know that one.
JEFF
If you’re going to learn how to play songs we’ll have to raise the bar a little bit.
FLORA
So what have you written then?
JEFF
I’m a teacher.
FLORA
Exactly. So shut up, criticizing Blunt. YOU do it.
JEFF
Do what?
FLORA
Write a song that reaches millions of people’s hearts. And makes them weep.
JEFF
Making people cry isn’t an achievement. Bullies do it every day.
FLORA
Let’s hear one of your songs then.
JEFF
We’re here about you. Not me.
FLORA
Jesus, it’s a guitar lesson, not a therapy session.
JEFF
Wrong. Lyrics have to be more than “You’re beautiful”. Or a series of platitudes to lonely women telling them how great they are. That’s not a love song. It’s a self help group.

FLORA
You don’t know the first thing about women if you think that.
JEFF
I know that grown up women don’t just want to hear how stunning they are, like some creep in a bar trying to pick them up.
FLORA
Jesus Christ, It’s just a bloody.. Song.
JEFF
No! It’s never just “a song”. It’s a three and half minute pause in time, in which to do something wonderful. Something touched by God.
FLORA
Oh no. Are you some sort of Christian evangelist dude?
Suddenly, and frustrated, Jeff begins plucking a familiar song. “I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” by Hoagy Carmichael.
He sings the first verse and chorus. He is a fantastic singer.
JEFF
I get along without you very well
Of course I do
Except when soft rains fall
And drip from leaves, then I recall
The thrill of being sheltered in your arms
Of course I do
But I get along without you very well

The chord rings out. In song terms, this is a slam dunk. No question. Flora is blown away. Also, we have travelled round him, and now, all screens are gone, and they are sitting fact to face across her kitchen table.
FLORA
Jesus Christ.
JEFF
Right?

FLORA
That’s unbelievable.
JEFF
So simple. So direct. Nothing about beauty.
FLORA
You are a genius. What are you doing hanging around the internet teaching muppets like me with a song like that?
He starts to realize she thinks he wrote that. He lets it go for a minute.
JEFF
Do you really like it?
FLORA
It’s stunning.
JEFF
It’s never just “A song”. It’s three and half minutes in which time shuts down. It’s all we’ve got.
She feels his passion for this.
FLORA
You’ve got to get that out there into the world.
JEFF
Do you think it would sell like “You’re Beautiful”?
FLORA
Maybe not as much as that. I still like the other song too. Is that allowed?
JEFF
No! That’s Stockholm syndrome. Don’t worry- we’ll de-brainwash you. By the time you’ve finished here you just won’t have time for childish jingles and cliches.

The line:

“No! It’s never just “a song”. It’s a three and half minute pause in time, in which to do something wonderful. Something touched by God.”

Maybe my favorite line from any movie I saw in 2023.

Next week we will share one last song that appears in FLORA AND SON.

But Thursdays are for flowers! This flowertography session consists of flowers from my yard and includes a bonus picture of Naima.

The pink lily is sort of a miracle flower for me. I transplanted it from my Mom’s yard. It didn’t come up in 2022. But then there it was in 2023!

Next flowertography session will involve more flowers from my yard.

Animals, Art, Baseball/Softball, Black & White, Calendar, Christianity, Drone, Flowers, Iowa State, Macro, Nature, Night, Slice of Life, Street Photography

2024 Photography 139 Calendar Rejects: The Ending

January 9, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Time to share the rest of the images that were rejected for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. Some of these are similar to ones included in the calendar. They come from a wide range of projects. From auxiliary images from THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT to alternates for THE WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE to some just good old flowertography

There is still one more post about the 2024 calendar left. Then we can put it to bed or up on some walls.

Animals, Art, Black & White, Calendar, Christianity, Flowers, Kim, Lensbaby, Macro, Nature, Night, Ruins, Street Photography, Travel

2024 Photography 139 Calendar Rejects: The Beginning

January 7, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Time to share the final image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. The December image. It is an image of an abandoned (methinks) church I found in northeast Iowa on a THE TOWN SIGN PROJECT road trip:

DECEMBER

I chose this image for December because I usually like to either use a cold picture or some religious imagery for the December image. This picture might not scream “Christ is born!” but it is of a church. Not a lines are straight.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: August 20, 2022 – 12:34 PM
LENS: 28-75 f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm
EXPOSURE TIME: 1/5000
ISO: 100

It was converted to black & white in Photoshop.

That is it, that is the final image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. But while those 13 images were selected for the calendar, they weren’t the only ones considered. Not by a long shot. There were 73 other images considered and not included. But I would like to give them some love.

Here is the first collection of reject images:

There still another 36 images that didn’t make the cut. That doesn’t mean that won’t make the cut next year. The cover image for the 2024 Calendar was rejected for the 2023 calendar. Share the rest on Tuesday. Maybe Wednesday.

Calendar, Flowers, Lensbaby, Macro, Nature

To Find You

January 4, 2024 Christopher D. Bennett

Time to share the September image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It is a picture of grass taken at Ledges.

SEPTEMBER

I selected this picture for September because it suggests fall.

CAMERA DETALS
CAMERA: SONY ILCE-7M4
DATE: OCTOBER 15, 2023 – 5:08 PM
LENS: 17-28mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 20mm
APERTURE: f/8
EXPOSURE: 1/1000
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will share the October image!

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You were staring at your bedroom wall
With only ghosts beside you
Somewhere out where the wind was calling
I was on my way to find you
I was on my way to find you

And you were racing like a cannonball
And roller skates and sky blue
Or in the backseat watchin’ the slow rain falling
I was on my way to find you

Gotta find out who I’m meant to be
I don’t believe in destiny
But with every word you swear to me
All my beliefs start caving in
Then I feel something’s
About to change

So bring the lightning
Bring the fire, bring the fall
I know I’ll get my heart through
Got miles to go but from the day I started crawlin’

I was on my way to find you
I was on my way to find you
I was on my way every day
I was on my way to find you

-Written by Gary Clark
Performed by Sing Street

This is the 3rd song from a John Carney movie to be used as a journal entry title. It comes from the movie SING STREET. I think this is the weakest of the John Carney movies, but it is still pretty great.

The plot of the movie follows Conor who starts a band to impress Raphina, a girl he barely knows. A common theme. Dudes getting into art to impress chicks.

I won’t cover the rest of the movie. But I highly recommend it to anybody that loves music from the 80s.

But Thursdays are for flowers. This flowertography session is dedicated to irises:

Next Thursday will involve more irises!

Art, Calendar, Flowers, Kim, Macro, Movies, Street Photography, Travel

Lost Stars

December 28, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Time to share the March image for the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It was taken in Chicago while I was there for a work trip for the Computer Mine:

March

I took this image of Chicago’s The Bean after having a meal of Chicago Style Pizza with Kim and Lowell and Tony. The Bean was one of those rare touristy things that doesn’t disappoint in person.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M2
DATE: April 19, 2023 – 6:48 PM
LENS: Tamron 17-28 f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm
APERTURE: f/2.8
EXPOSURE: 1/60
ISO: 8000

Tomorrow I will share the April image.

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Please, don’t see
Just a boy caught up in dreams and fantasies
Please, see me
Reaching out for someone I can’t see

Take my hand
Let’s see where we wake up tomorrow
Best laid plans
Sometimes are just a one night stand
I’ll be damned

Cupid’s demanding back his arrow
So let’s get drunk on our tears
And, God, tell us the reason
Youth is wasted on the young
It’s hunting season and the lambs are on the run

Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?
Who are we?
Just a speck of dust within the galaxy
Woe is me

If we’re not careful turns into reality
Don’t you dare let our best memories bring you sorrow
Yesterday I saw a lion kiss a deer
Turn the page
Maybe we’ll find a brand new ending

Where we’re dancing in our tears
And, God, tell us the reason
Youth is wasted on the young
It’s hunting season
And the lambs are on the run

Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?

And I thought I saw you out there crying
And I thought I heard you call my name
And I thought I heard you out there crying

Just the same
Oh yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah
God, give us the reason
Youth is wasted on the young
It’s hunting season and this lamb is on the run

Searching for meaning
But are we all lost stars
Trying to light up the dark?

-Written by Gregg Alexander, Danielle Brisebois, Nick Southwood, Nick Lashley
-Performed by Keira Knightley or Adam Levine (depending on the scene)

The song “Lost Stars” comes from the John Carney movie BEGIN AGAIN. The song is in some ways the center of the movie, even though the character that performs it at the end of the movie is not one of the main characters.

BEGIN AGAIN is the only John Carney movie that has famous actors in it. And it is loaded with famous actors… Mark Ruffalo, Keira Knightley, Hailee Steinfeld, Catherine Keener… But also plenty of famous musicians like Mos Def, CeeLo, Adam Levine… Even James Corden who is kind of both.

BEGIN AGAIN is the story of Dan (Mark Ruffalo), a music producer that is an alcoholic that has lost his job and his family. He has decided to kill himself when he hears Gretta (Keira Knightley) playing her song “A Step You Can’t Take Back” at an open mic night she was drug to by her friend Steve (James Corden).

This is Gretta’s last night in New York City. She is planning to return to England after she has broken up with her newly minted rock star boyfriend Dave (Adam Levine) who was cheating on her.

When Dan hears the song he decides he wants to sign Gretta to a record deal. He convinces her to go audition for Dan’s old partner Saul (Mos Def) at his former record label. When Saul decides to pass on Gretta, they decide to just record the album themselves in the elements of New York City. Partially because they have no money to rent a studio. Partially because they want the city to be part of the music. They record on a roof top, in Central Park, in a subway station and some other interesting places.

The song “Lost Stars” is central to the movie. When Gretta was still with Dave and she was too poor to buy him a Christmas present, she writes the song “Lost Stars” and gives it to him. He in turns the ball into stadium pop. Dave comes back into Gretta’s life after she has recorded her album and plays for her his version of “Lost Stars”. She is mortified because he has “lost the song in the production”.

Dave tries to win Gretta back and begs her to come hear him play the song at the Gramercy. She tells him not to play it like that.

For the rest of the movie, well… you’ll have to watch that yourself.

I won’t pretend I love BEGIN AGAIN like I love ONCE, but it still is a great movie that I highly recommend.

But Thursdays are for flowers. These flowertography images were taken in my yard:

Next Thursday’s flowertography session will probably feature a flower I don’t particularly like.

Art, Bethany, Billy, Calendar, Candid Portrait, Dory, Flowers, J.T., Laura, Macro, Nate, Nora, Street Photography

Minnesota Independence Day Road Trip – Day 2

December 27, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Time to share the February image from the 2024 Photography 139 Calendar. It is a picture of a strawflower bulb that was taken in my yard:

FEBRUARY

This image was placed in February as February houses Valentines Day and I like to think that flowertography is considered romantic.

TECHNICAL DETAILS:

CAMERA: Sony ILCE-7M4
DATE: June 7, 2023 – 7:43 PM
LENS: 105mm f/2.8
FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm
APERTURE: f/2.8
EXPOSURE: 1/125
ISO: 100

Tomorrow I will share the March image!

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My second and final day on my Independence Day Road Trip to Minnesota involved going to the Mall of America amusement park. But it started with breakfast:

It was a great trip! I should have stayed longer. Next time!

Flowers, Macro

Falling Slowly

December 21, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

I don’t know you, but I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me and always fool me
And I can’t react

And games that never amount
To more than they’re meant
Will play themselves out

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can’t go back
And moods that take me and erase me
And I’m painted black

Well, you have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It’s time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice
You’ve made it now

Falling slowly, sing your melody
I’ll sing it loud
Oh

Take it all

I played the cards too late
Now you’re gone
-Written and performed by Marketa Irglova & Glen Hansard

The song “Falling Slowly” is from one of my absolute all-time favorite movies, ONCE. Those of you that have had the courage to watch it, know of its greatness. It is a movie made by the Irish filmmaker John Carney. The songs for the next 3 Thursdays will also come from John Carney films.

All of his films have the same basic themes. People that have been broken by life meet in a chance encounter and begin making music together. Through the act of making music they begin to heal themselves and each other.

ONCE is the story of two struggling musicians that meet in Dublin. Guy a busker at night and Girl a Czech immigrant that is fleeing an unhappy marriage. Together, they start writing songs and record an album and maybe fall in love.

When Guy asks Girl is she still loves her husband.

She responds: “Miluji tebe”.

What does that mean? You’ll have to find out that for yourself. Cause I won’t give any more of the movie up.

The music in ONCE is phenomenal. The stars of the movie are actually musicians and not really actors. They toured for awhile as the band The Swell Season. I saw them one time at First Avenue in Minneapolis. One of the best concerts I ever saw in my life! Nobody in the world has a voice like Glen Hansard.

“Falling Slowly” is not my favorite song from ONCE. That would either be “Leave” or “Say It to Me Now”. But “Falling Slowly” is definitely the most romantic song in ONCE and the song that most people know from the movie. It would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Maybe the best song to ever win the award.

But Thursdays are for flowers! This flowertography collection is from my hard:

Next Thursday’s flower collection will also be flowers from my yard.

Animals, Art, Flowers, History, Macro

Bring My Flowers Now

December 14, 2023 Christopher D. Bennett

Bring my flowers now, while I’m livin’
I won’t need your love when I’m gone
Don’t spend time, tears, or money on my old breathless body
If your heart is in them flowers, bring ’em on

All the miles cast a long shadow
I’d take a couple back if I could
I’d’ve learned to play guitar
Told my daddy more I loved him
But I believe, for the most part, I done good

There’s always sunrise and rainbows and babies
And the little things I cherish on my way
Even though one day
They’ll bury me and Jessie Mae
I just know we’re gonna ride again someday

The days are long but the years are lightning
They’re bright and they will never strike again
I wish I’d been a better friend, a better daughter to my mother
There’s no goin’ back when your back’s against the wind

So if you got love, then you’re sittin’ on a gold mine
And you can’t take it with you when you go
So don’t wait to help your sister
Forgive your brother and your neighbor
We all think we got the time until we don’t

Bring my flowers now, while I’m livin’
I won’t need your love when I’m gone
Don’t spend time, tears, or money on my old breathless body
If your heart is in them flowers, bring ’em on
If your heart is in them flowers, bring ’em on
-Tanya Tucker

I said last week that this song would not be a Brandi Carlile song, but it would still be related to Brandi Carlile. This song was written by Tanya Tucker, Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, and Tim Hanseroth. The song was produced by Brandi Carlile for the Tanya’s comeback album that Brandi produced. The production of the album was documented in the movie THE RETURN OF TANYA TUCKER.

The song features Tanya Tucker singing and Brandi Carlile playing piano.

Some background on the song from The Wiki:

The songwriting process for “Bring My Flowers Now” began when Carlile suggested that Tucker finally finish the song she had been trying to write for 30 years. While Tucker was initially apprehensive about it, the track actually came about pretty easily. Tucker explained, “So I went into the restroom to think—I do my best thinking there—went back out, and [Brandi] was in the panel room. And we wrote this song in about 30 minutes. And then we walked in there to the vocal booth, and the band came in, and we recorded it.” Tucker would later admit in interviews that she “would have liked to change a few things.” She said that Carlile didn’t want her to, saying that this album was about Tanya the singer, not Tanya the performer. Carlile told her, “This song sticks. This is what came out of your mouth, and that’s the way we’re gonna put it on there.”

The song would win the Grammy for Best Country Song and the album “While I’m Livin'” would win the Grammy for Best Country Album. The first 2 Grammys of Tanya Tucker’s career.

But Thursday’s are for flowers. This flowertography collection was taken at the Gray Rose Garden. Unfortunately, I definitely missed the prime flowertography season for it, but it was still worth the trip:

Next Thursday’s flowertography will involve flowers from my yard. The song will actually have nothing to do with Brandi Carlile, but will have everything to do with one of my favorite movies of all-time.