Framers Friday: Wabi-Sabi

Psychidae

Here is what I wrote:

Otherwise known as the Bagworm, Bagmoth or Bagworm Moth. It’s native to North America and often a pest. I have not seen one of these in a very long time and much to my surprise, I spied this on our Crepe Myrtle tree. I immediately knew I might have a wabi-sabi subject. I realized I needed a light source as it was a misty rainy morning. The weather wasn’t going to be great all week; so, I had come up with something. I grabbed a large led torch (flashlight) I had purchased some time ago for light painting and my tripod. I carefully lit up this subject with the torch and fired my camera with a remote trigger. This seemed to do the trick.

Meditative?

Gracie, our Special Needs Tripod
Shot during the 52Frames’ Blessing week

Sacrifice {Five Minute Friday}

Shot on January 15th in a light misty rain during 52Frames’ Wabi-Sabi week. I didn’t consider this for an actual submission — too dark, some parts out of focus, and not quite Wabi-Sabi.  But still, I thought it lovely.

 This stuff is growing on the Crepe Myrtle tree.  I thought they were killing the trees.  But, in my research, they’re coexisting.   It still makes me nervous as I really don’t want my nice big crepe myrtle trees dying as they’re the only trees we have on our land.  I’m going to do more research when I find the time.

I had a very hard time with this particular word prompt.  I’m feeling extremely tired after a busy weekend of traveling and socializing. So, I think I’m just writing for the sake of writing to get my fingers flowing once again.

The few things that come to my mind concerning sacrifice are time and money.  It has to be a personal thing to feel like a sacrifice.

For example, to take the time to write does not feel like a sacrifice to me.  It’s actually a beneficial thing for me to do.  But, to travel to visit with family and attend a wedding of a well-loved family member is a sacrifice of not only time but also finances.  There are things we need and should do; but, family comes first.

For me, doing these things could also be a sacrifice of personal health.  Eating out could be a double edge sword for one such as me.  It’s not easy trying to be both healthy and gluten-free away from home.   I worry about getting headaches and/or crashing while at events.  It’s not fun.

However, It’s ALWAYS worth it for me to do these very things for the family and a few friends.  It’s the strangest thing for me in that I have a bottomless love for them.    Even if we’re estranged from one another, I’d do what I can for them.  Not many people are like that when it comes to their family and friends.

Framers Friday: Leading Lines

Bridge to Nowhere

Here is what I wrote:

I’m kidding with the title. We do a lot of our “touristy” stuff in the middle of the day; so, I decided to go hiking at a nearby nature park to practice with an ND filter in harsh midday sunlight in hopes of obtaining a leading line image. This is my first time using the ND filter and I’m rather pleased with the results. It’s an amazing difference between an ND filter and no filter. I highly recommend them if you have no choice to shoot in the daytime. I have a long way to go in terms of understanding filters; but, I will not hesitate to use them again in the future to get better snapshots.

Cactus Fruit

Prickly Pear Fruit
{shot on 9/11/2019}

I was shocked to see this growing in the brush pile.  Gorgeous fading fruit.  Again, I hadn’t been out back in awhile due to the heat and the land is growing wild.  I had to see if I could get a picture.

Direction {Five Minute Friday}

Jackson Nature Park, Stockdale, Texas, January 11, 2020
Practicing with an ND Filter in the midday harsh sun
A distant alternate to 2020 52Frames’ Leading Lines theme

Five Minute Fridays is back after a two-week hiatus. I’m glad of that because trying to come up with something on my own is hard!  Having a word prompt allows me to ponder on it for a time if I can.

When I sit down to write, I just let the words flow through my fingers.  And, oftentimes, what’s written seemingly has nothing to do with the prompt itself.  But, in my heart and mind, the word prompt guided me and my words. What’s written is what it is.

For the longest time, I felt like I was stuck in mud going nowhere.  But, for the first time in what seems like eons, I feel like I’m moving.  Where? I have no idea.

I know there is only one way to go and that’s forward.  I have no desire to return to where I was. I’m glad I’m not at a fork on a path needing to decide which way I should go. And honestly, at this moment, I don’t care to make critical decisions.

I’m trusting in and leaning on my God and doing what I’ve been doing all along — writing and photography. I’ve also gone into my sewing room along with planning out meals (with Dan’s¹ help) and trying out a new recipe once a week.

I walked out of my room one day after messing around with my leaning tower of fabrics and for the first time in a long time, I realized I was happy/content.

I will do what I can when I can.  I am forcing myself to calm my anxiety brain when things do not go as planned. I’d tell myself “it’s not the end of the world — Bullet it² for tomorrow”.

1. Dan is my husband
2. Bullet Journal — been doing this for what seems like ages along with personal stuff. One source for everything.

No matter what the world is doing [going insane?] or what my mental state is, in spite of the “sand” eroding around me, Jesus keeps me afloat and on solid ground.
~ Moi, Janunary 9, 2020 ~

~ A thought of mine that I wrote down in my journal on January 9, 2020, after reading a devotional.   “Sand” == family ties, marriage, life, etc., and etc.

 

Framers Friday: Self Portrait

Note: I posted Alternates(three total) at the bottom of this post. I decided to post them here along with narratives instead of later in the year.

Lady on Fire

Here is what I wrote:

I’m deeply interested in light painting which is a fickle art. I really like the creative aspect of this genre. My mini-group seemed to like the traditional self-portrait I created for this theme. However, when my husband saw this image, it immediately got his vote hands down. It confirmed what I felt all along. As a result, I decided to go with his vote even though it’s extremely artistic.

This reflects me and who I am or want to be. I’ve always wanted to be “out of the box” and it wasn’t until recent years that I’ve begun to be brave and rebel against what I thought society wanted me to be. Where will this year take me? I have no clue; but, I’m looking forward to continuing to grow, get to a healthier me, and be “out of the box”.

. . . . . 

Here are my alternates (three total):

The Power of Light I & II

I was working on another weekly theme dealing with light painting when I came up with the above two.  The challenge was to use a plastic cup. It could be used with a light tool or within the image.  Since my primary focus is 52Frames, I couldn’t shake “self-portrait”.  I also didn’t have a clear plastic cup and wasn’t about to go out and purchase one. So, I decided to use one within an image.  Dan (my husband) chose the first image over two other self-portraits I had created.

So, I decided to recreate the image without the plastic cup which was tougher because I wanted more light on me.  I rigged up flashes with a remote trigger and put the camera on a timer with another remote trigger.  I’d press the trigger for the camera and place the remote between my legs on the chair.  I’d wait for the trigger to go off and then press the trigger for the flashes with my big toe which I’d set on the floor and then “paint” the darkness.

The light whip effect was a total accidental discovery on my part. I thought it a cool effect.  I also the overall image was cheesy for a lack of a better word. In other words, I felt like I was selling a product. Ha!

I created “Lady on Fire” on the same day and presented both to Dan and my mini-group. The mini-group was extremely helpful but divided. Dan came back and his vote was for “Lady on Fire” hands down which was also my favorite.  So, I went with the Lady on Fire image for the self-portrait.

Dreaming

The red area is a mistake on my part when I brought up a light painting brush too close to my head.  But, I still thought it cool.