• Candid Portraits,  Family,  Portraits

    Thursday’s Lunch

    November 1, 2024
    Christine

    Yesterday morning began with overcast skies, a heavy fog and a light mist. I was able to take a few images of some of the weather conditions but my favorite image of the day was yet to come. My oldest daughter and I had scheduled to meet for lunch a couple weeks ago. By the time we met for lunch the clouds had begun to break up and sunlight would peak in and out. We were able to have a table near a window and talk about our enjoyment of the fall season. After lunch we enjoyed a latte, rather than a dessert, and continued our conversation. I could not help but notice the diffused light from the window as it accentuated how beautiful a woman she is. So, I asked if I could take her photo and now proudly share it with you.

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  • Portraits

    Outdoor Portrait

    October 1, 2023

    So yesterday I was able to shoot a few portraits of one of my baristas. Yes, they’re all are mine! She has done some modeling so what a gift to photograph her. Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday.

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  • clouds,  horizons,  landscape,  musings,  storm clouds,  writing/reading

    A Portrait of Nature

    August 6, 2023

    Nature is a mirror in which I am reflected, because by rescuing this land from sad devastation [through recreating it in photographs], I am in fact trying to save myself from my own inner sadness.

    Mario Giacomelli

    This quote hits a sensitive spot because I am a witness to the sad devastation of nature. While out photographing the cloud formations during the afternoon thunderstorms this past week, I began reflecting on all the places I have photographed over the years which were free of signs of man’s intrusion. Sadly, I have been a witness to many of those scenes which no longer exist. Later, while studying this image I felt a feeling of inner sadness that someday this scene may be a housing development or warehouse or whatever. So, there is a stirring within me as the photographer Mario Giacomelli suggests, to seek out more portraits of Nature. She is so beautiful and as an artist she continues to create more beauty, while we destroy what she creates! And, I believe she is willing to have her portrait taken.

    I had never heard of Mario Giacomelli before. One reason is because the raw expressiveness of his images are not appealing to my style of photography. However, I will suggest this link for you read a bit about him and his photography. Have a wonderful Sunday!!!

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  • People/Portraits,  Portraits,  quotes

    I was wondering

    July 14, 2023
    Jamie

    I’ve read where every photograph is intended to express everything about the subject whether that’s nature, street or portraits. Not sure I am able to do that with portraits, yet. This is an image of a flight attendant I worked with back in 2009. Today I was wondering where she is in life, who she is today. I wonder what sort of portrait I’d see of her today.

    The most difficult thing for me is a portrait. It’s a question mark you put on somebody. Trying to say, “Who is it? What does it amount to? What is the significance of that face?” The difference between a portrait and a snapshot is that in the portrait, the person has agreed to be photographed.

    Henri Cartier-Bresson
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  • Art,  Cityscapes/Urban,  flowers,  People/Portraits,  quotes

    Entertaining a Thought

    April 17, 2023
    Crystal City, October of 2007

    “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

    Aristotle

    My ability to dream and fantasize goes way back. I could create a whole world in my head and stay there for hours simply by saying, “let’s pretend,” even when that was subconscious. I believe it’s an essential part of our young lives but there is a point where we cease pretending and begin living in the reality of life. Some of us do that sooner than others. I put myself in the later category. I’ve become aware of when to entertain thoughts without accepting them and let them go. Progress, as they say. Having said that I still find myself entertaining a thought just as this young lady seems to be doing but not accepting it as reality. Hope you had a good Monday!

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  • coffee life,  coffee shops

    The Baristas

    April 14, 2023
    The Baristas: Isaac, Justin and Stephen

    Met with the surgeon this morning and everyone is pleased with what they saw in my latest echocardiogram. A couple of numbers are higher than we want but for now we are pleased with them. Now it is my responsibility to eat healthier and exercise rather than just think physical activity will do. We’ve had snow/rain most of the afternoon with temperatures in the high 30s. Tonight’s low expected to drop below freezing. I stopped in at Starry Night this afternoon to write and read and enjoyed a cortado1 a cortado is a beverage consisting of espresso mixed with a roughly equal amount of warm milk to reduce the acidity. Just after I arrived it got very busy and these three Baristas2 a person whose job involves preparing and serving different types of coffee. handled it very well. Happy Friday and enjoy your weekend!

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