Framer’s Friday: Warm

Dying

Here is what I wrote:

After a pathetic week, I got up on Sunday before sunrise and decided to work with candles. I’ve always wanted to capture smoke and the “embers” of the wick after it’s blown out. I’ve tried in the past but it never worked out like I wanted. I grabbed an old cookie sheet for the base and a black foam board for the background. I used candles in the background as backlighting. I didn’t realize that the forefront candle would be black/dark (silhouette). It’s the same color as the candles in the back. However, I thought it was a nice touch considering I wanted the focus to be on the wick.

 

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Old Baldy

Old Baldy
Taken at Garner State Park, Concan, Texas

I stood in the road to take this picture. There was a haze in the distance; but, not much I can do about that.  It’s still a favorite shot and an alternate to 52Frames’ Beauty in the Mundane theme week.  Since it was a contender, I went ahead and processed this one along with the one I actually submitted.  I removed two road signs that were a big distraction to the main subject.  But, other than that, no much was done to the picture itself other than cropping.

 

Again [Five Minute Fridays]

Garner State Park; A hiking trail near the Pavilion

Please remember this is just current ramblings of what I’m feeling or thinking at the moment I’m writing.  My thoughts and feeling may be different a week or even a month from now.  I am also currently sick with sinus troubles. So, this may be one strange piece of writing full of flaws.

The phrase, “here I go again”, kept popping up in my head whenever I thought about Friday’s word prompt.  There is a song I don’t know well; but, certain lyrics stuck with me.

For example, “like a drifter, I was born to walk alone.”  I have always felt I never belonged in either the hearing or the deaf world.  So, I was born to walk alone.

I’ve digressed.

I think I snapped a few years back.

I got tired of doing and planning everything we do.  He would never indicate what he would like to do or where he’d like to go.  He is “fine” with whatever I plan or do.   But, I felt like it was all me and he just tagged along. For the lack of better words, I’ve lost sight of him.

I feel like we are strangers in the night.

I don’t know who he is (now). I don’t know the man I married.

This is only a small picture of our lives.  There is that matter of the differences in spiritual beliefs. And, so much more…

I think within the last year or so, I’ve reached a fork in the road in life.  I don’t know what lies ahead.  I don’t know what to do.  I’m extremely scared of the idea of going alone.  I’m feeling paralyzed.   And yet, I get the feeling I must take the first step.

“And here I go again on my own”…

I’m seeing him do things that are making him seem enthusiastic once again.  He had quit photography years ago.  I’ve always felt like it’s my fault he quit because, around that same time,  I had picked up the camera again and found a love for macro.  I have never been able to shake that feeling that I am responsible for his decision to quit even though we were doing two distinct types of photography.

He recently rediscovered his love of astronomy and picked up his camera once again to do some astrophotography.   Instead of him joining me in everything I plan or do, I can join him in the things he’s wanting to do.  He’s even taken initiative to make reservations to go camping recently.  This pleasantly surprised me.

And, I’ve seen him research parks along with the timing of the new moon so that he could potentially do some astrophotography.  I say “potentially” because astronomy is a fair-weather friend.  It all depends upon having clear skies.  But, I don’t think it matters because we both enjoy camping and all will not be lost if cannot view the stars.

Is that enough?  In spite of my current feelings, there may be hope for us again.

Oh Lord, I pray you give me strength to carry on
‘Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams

And here I go again on my own
Goin’ down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time

Whitesnake “Here I Go Again”
– as written by David Coverdale and Bernie Marsden… 

 

Framers Friday: Product Photography

Stencil Art

Product photography is something I am NOT interested in doing.   However, by participating in these weekly themes (challenges), I could potentially learn something photography-wise.  Note: I did learn a little about layer masks and worked a little to improve horrid shadowing in the bottom row of letters within the alphabet stencil.

I thought I’d pick something I love working with and go with that.  In this case, I chose stencils. Without them, I could not be the artist I’d love to be. Ha!

Here is what I wrote:

Without stencils, I don’t think I could be a crafty “artist”. I decided to see if I could do a product photography with some of my favorite stencils that are created for journaling. I first arranged stencils in a flat lay and it did not really convey “stencils”. I said to my self, “do a September layout”. From that point on, the process flowed easier. I’ve learned more this week which is the purpose of the weekly challenges (themes), correct? 

Thanks to a stencil group and the mini group for helping me out.

Watching the Sunrise

A terrible picture taken with an Android phone. 

Gracie, our special needs tripod, was super awesome and brave the entire week we camped.  She went out with me every morning to watch the sunrise. She loved listening to and watching birds.  A Wren came super close to her.  A Jackrabbit ran through and her body language was “what the heck was that?”  Her only weakness is squirrels.  She would immediately go after them. SMH (Shaking my head.)

Five {Five Minute Fridays}

An old picture shot by Dan, my husband.

I’ve been doing these Five Minute Friday writings for some time now.  I was doing this sporadically when it was held and hosted by the founder, Lisa-Jo Baker.  It was taken over five years ago by the current host, Kate Motaung.

I wrote sporadically in the beginning.  It wasn’t until recently that this effort became a regular public thing for me to do.  It’s been therapeutic.  I like to think I’ve come a long way since I’ve bravely put my writings and thoughts out in a public forum.  I know I still have a long ways to go.

Five things:

1. 1. 1. First and foremost, I’m a Christian.  God saved me and used my grandmother in the process.  Without her, I would not be alive today. With that said, if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you also know that I’m also not in your face with my beliefs.
      2. I’m not a perfect (Christian).  I’m deaf.  I also suffer from social anxiety and depression.  There is a fault with within churches and certain Christian communities that indicates all things must be perfect. If it isn’t perfect, then you don’t have enough faith.

         I had a Great Uncle that once wished out loud that I was healed of my deafness.  By this time, I discovered John 9¹ and it became my testimony.  My Uncle’s mindset was changed from that day forth.  It’s not just about having enough faith.  It’s about what God wants and what He’ll do to accomplish His work.

      3. Photography recently became a means out of the darkness of depression and a way for me to overcome social anxiety.  About two years ago, I knew instinctively I was heading deep into the rabbit hole of no return. So, I picked up my camera one day and used a weekly photography challenge as an excuse to get out and about. It was a resolution (goal) of mine.  With time, getting out and about became easier.²
      4. I am an animal lover.  Cats will always be a part of my life.  Missy was the family dog.  Sadie is a dog we rescued a few years ago and was briefly in our life.  I have compassion for all animals and deeply dislike seeing one suffer.   I still to this day will save an insect from certain death. Silly of me, I know.  I just can’t help myself.
      5.   I will be fifty-five years old come October.  55.   Fifty plus five.  Eleven times five. That’s too many fives in my humble opinion.  I want to do something special this year; but, I don’t know what exactly yet.

    

1. John 9  As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

   ³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

   New International Version (NIV)

2. I’ve recently come across the concept of Therapeutic Photography.   The concept resonated within me.  A few of my recent weekly submissions, Stairs and Rule of Odds, was a means of attempting to express myself.  I plan to continue to try to show the world what I see and feel.

A Rare Saturday Share (Link)

Milky Way Over Old Baldy

This is my husband. You will need to click on his picture at the link to get the full effect. I’m quite impressed and thrilled with his first efforts. I absolutely love that Old Baldy shows up well.

FYI: I’m not into Astrophotography; but, I do love light painting. So, maybe we’ll combine the two someday. In other words, he’d do his Astrophotography thing and I’d light him up with his telescope and take a picture or two or three with a few stars showing. 😀 I’m not sure how to go about doing this yet. 🙂