Framers Friday: Five

52Frames: Five

Morning Glory’s Subtle 5-Pointed Star

This was taken right after a downpour (rain). This particular Glory bloom was standing straight up; so, it had perfect raindrops scattered all over the petals. The rains have been plentiful the last week and blessed considering the drought hereabouts is now broken. The wild Glories here do not last long and general fade after it blooms.

Runner-up:

Untitled

I was not happy with this picture. After discussing this with someone, I realized why. He pointed out the dragon’s snout in the middle looks flat. He’s right. I thought it looked like it disappeared into his face and is slightly overexposed.  I also did not like how the wizard’s left side looked brighter than the rest of him.  And, I would have loved the baby to show up just a tad more. If I ever do this again, I will shoot from a bit higher angle to get the dragon’s snout and baby.

Note: This challenge is week 37 of the year. To see all the submissions, including mine, go here.  Warning! There are 719 pictures in this album.  A person can only submit one picture for the week. This means 719 people participated this week.  By the way, there are some awesome pictures in that album!

 

 

 

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Wasp III

7.30.2018

It is hard to differentiate between paper wasps and yellow jackets.  I’m fairly confident this is a Paper Wasp simply because it did not try to attack me when I got up close to take pictures.  Wasps are extremely beneficial critters, especially for gardeners. So, I tend to leave them alone including their nests.

Crowd {FMF Word Prompt}

2.17.2018
Confucius Wishing Lanterns on the Water, San Antonio, Texas

I’m a little later than usual in writing as I was outside taking pictures this morning getting soaked just from the humidity and dew.  I wanted to take some pictures before the heavy dew disappeared.

I am learning so much these days that I often feel overwhelmed.  Snapping a few pictures, especially macros, can be very relaxing for me.  It can make me forget everything except what I’m focusing on — be it a flower or an insect.  While I was out there, I suddenly realized that I know so much more than I did before I joined 52Frames. I had snapped a few pictures and then adjusted the aperture with barely a thought.  My camera is more than just a tool for me now.

I’m also teaching myself, via a book, Photoshop Elements. I am determined to learn as much as I can instead of just getting by.   There is so much I’d like to do; but, with my lack of knowledge, I am unable to execute them.   I am hoping to learn what I want to learn and so much more before the end of 2018.

I am also going to return to sewing soon.  Possibly today.  Or maybe not, since it’s getting late. Ha! I am thinking about doing 20 minutes a day where I focus on each project whether it be laundry, sewing, photography, etc., and etc.  I have a list of 20-minutes possibilities. I think I will choose three each day and see how it goes. This concept may utterly flop. But, I will eventually find something that works for me.

Well, enough babbling. Here goes my fifteen-minute effort.

I am not a huge fan of crowds, especially at closed events.  I can get extremely annoyed with people that stand in an aisle or in front of merchandise visiting, creating bottlenecks or long lines due to their refusal to acknowledge people around them.

There is also an innate fear of being hurt physically by some impatient people who may not realize I am deaf.  I have been pushed hard by people who get frustrated simply because I did not hear them from behind or beside me.   It can be downright scary for me whenever this happens.

The older I got, the more fearful I became and the more reluctant I was to attend events.   Photography is helping me overcome some of the anxiety.  The desire to shoot overrides my fears some of the time.  Photography gives me the push to go to such an event that interests me (e.g. VW car or Quilt show).  Two passions combined in one.  I am finding the more I get out, the easier it becomes.  However, I still am hesitant to go alone and often drag my sometimes reluctant husband along for the ride.

With all this said, I still do not desire to attend social events as it creates an anxiety inside me so great I will get sick.  I once threw up from all the stress and expectations of me to participate in board games among strangers.   At the time, the person I was with didn’t understand (or believe) I am truly deaf.

Family events and parties are a different matter especially among those who understand my deafness.   The family is important to even though much has changed since my Dad passed away.  I would do almost anything for each and every one of them.

Nothing is better than going home to family and eating good food and relaxing.
~ Irina Shayk ~

 

Framers Friday: Beautiful Chaos

52Frames: Beautiful Chaos

Producing Order out of Chaos

We adore chaos because we love to produce order. ~ M. C. Escher

I had no idea what to do for the challenge this week. So, I grabbed my Bujo (Bullet Journal), placed some stuff I use for both in the creation of the calendar along with my daily tasks, and snapped a few pictures. This is the one I chose for my submission.

There were no runner-ups this week.  I did take other pictures; but, they did not fit with the theme of “Beautiful Chaos”.

Note: This challenge is week 36 of the year. To see all the submissions, including mine, go here.  Warning! There are 699 pictures in this album.  A person can only submit one picture for the week. This means 699 people participated this week.  By the way, there are some awesome pictures in that album!

Guess What it is!

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This was the third thing I shot during the week of 52Frames: Guess What it is!  Scroll down below my signature tag to see the answer.

It’s the handle and base of a huge rusty dirty wrench that was found buried in the ground while the local internet services were being installed.  We believe it was there since the house was built in 2006.

Rain {FMF Word Prompt}

9.6.2018
{Shot during our first major rainstorm in eons}

We’ve been under a drought for a long time.  It reached the point where watering restrictions were placed and a burn ban went into effect. It rained for the past several days replenishing the earth breaking the drought in some areas.  This is blessed rain and sorely needed.  It’s still spitting rain this morning,  It is predicted to rain through Saturday (September 15).

Heavy rains caused the water to run off the earth bringing flash flooding and road closures for some areas.  Our county is still under a river flood warning until Wednesday night (September 12). Fortunately,  we do not have to worry about flooding where we live.

Life can be like this too.  There may periods of time where we diminish our reserves of strength, patience, etc., and etc. and we get to feeling like we’re parched — stuck in a rut doing the same old things day in and day out.  We can all use a revival from time to time.  It takes something (e.g. a vacation) to replenish those reserves.  However, for some of us, a quick heavy restoration may not enough.  Instead, we need a long gentle rain to bring about restoration.

By the way, I’m one of those strange souls that you might see walking alone in the rain getting soaked to the skin.  I rarely encounter anyone and this is exactly what I like and need at times. I’m sure anyone who sees me thinks I’m crazy.  But, I can think without the worry of encountering another soul.

I have recently gained an interest in rain photography.   In fact, I was out there the other day using a big baggie as rain gear for my camera.   I need to invest in rain gear for both my camera and myself as I know I will not be able to tolerate the winter rains. Who knows. I may be that lone dedicated soul you see shooting pictures in the rain someday.

♫ It’s beginning to rain, hear the voice of the father
Saying whosoever will come and drink from the water
I will pour out my spirit on my sons and my daughters
If you’re thirsty and dry lift your hands to the sky
It’s beginning to rain ♫

Framers Friday: Texture

52Frames: Texture

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?

I did not have anything to say about this picture of mine.  These are grape vines growing wild along the fence out back of our property.  Something is eating the top grape.  I suspect a bird. But, I can never be sure.

My Runner-ups:

Note: This challenge is week 35 of the year. To see all the submissions, including mine, go here.  Warning! There are 793 pictures in this album.  A person can only submit one picture for the week. This means 793 people participated this week.  By the way, there are some awesome pictures in that album!