All Stories
Challenge: All Things Asian
I spent half of 1999 working in South Korea. I still have a few souvenirs so I thought they would be good subjects for the challenge.
South of the mainland is a small island called Jeju-Do (formerly Cheju-Do). The dol hareunbang ("stone grandfather") was the islands most recognized icon. It's supposed to ward off evil spirits. I later learned it was a symbol of fertility and that if a pregnant woman rubs the nose of the statue, she will have a boy. Rubbing the nose is still a tradition on the island. Sorry for the history lesson. Anyway here's a replica, that I've nicknamed Cheju-man.
Also picked up some clay pots in in Seoul. I don't know the history of these but if anyone does, I'd be interested to know.
If won were dollars,I'd be a very happy man! [The "won" is the form of currency in Korea, btw.]
Here's a snapshot I took while I was there. It was taken with a half-megapixel camera that wrote to floppy disks. Anyone remember those? But it gives a good idea of the island.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go find some kimchee!
Korea-33.jpg |
To Whom it Concerns:
Osprey On A Stick
Blue Bike

Blue Bike Star n' Stripes
Sailboat Sunset
For the challenge

I have to start by saying that I really had difficulty photographing these, I couldn't seem to get the light right and found it hard to get each one in focus. SO, any help would be appreciated.
That being said: I have a collection of Japanese sculptures (replicas) called Netsukes (net-skees). They were created in Japan in the 17th century. Since Kimonos had no pockets men would carry small pouches around their waists to store tobacco and other things. To keep the cord from slipping through the holes, small toggles, called Netsukes were attched to the ends. Over the years they became prized art forms and not just something practical. Mine are replicas because the originals were mainly carved out of ivory and very expensive (plus, I love elephants : )
Netsuke 1 Details of some of my favorites Netsuke2 Netsuke3 Netsuke 4
Thanks in advance for any advice!
Butterfly garden's butterflies! (part 1)
While walking around with the butterflies, I was lucky enough to capture these:
Blue on blue
I couldn't control the background, but the butterfly keeper/security/guide could
Blue on flesh
Sad note, the reason this one was so docile was, according to the handler, because it is old.
Challenge: All Things Asian
This century in North America will bring more Asian people, fashions, electronics, food etc, than we have ever witnessed, in history. Seems somewhat exciting, and I think it has made more of an impact than we realize.....
I thought we might like to portray, "All Things Asian."
Objects, people, whatever we see in our daily lives, homes, work.... .
I have a small collection of early 20th century, Cloisonne.. Pretty Maids in a Row
This is a process of twisting and forming wire on metal, into various shapes, creating patterns. Then it's filled with a special enamel, and fired.
Everyone seems to have a favourite Pho these days, and I get into the city to pick up fresh Thai basil, and mint and make my own...along with rice paper roll-ups Asian Food
I only own a few dolls, and this is one... the Professor Fights?
So get out your swords, or gorgeous black haired models, fabric, ceramics...whatever...anything Goes? I'm sure it will be very eventful. As I have come to realize how creative you Are !
Pretty Maids in a Row |
Asian Food |
the Professor Fights? |
Hawk Flight

As soon as I arrived at Brazos Bend on Friday afternoon I spotted a hawk sitting way up high . As I'm clicking away it decides to take off . It was coming right in my direction . Then I lost sight of it due to some trees-darn that auto focus! I pulled the camera away to see where it went and there it was on the ground closer to me than I've ever been to a hawk. My camera set on AF-C just wasn't fast enough- Oops ! Took off faster than I could keep up! DRATS! Had a nice afternoon. Not as many alligators out this late in the day like there are in the mornings! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!
OIL PLATFORM OFF CALIFORNIA COAST

I shot this off shore oil platform with a 200mm lens, about 2 miles out. It seemed a bit strange to me that I can make out birds sitting on the platform frame at lower left, but I don't see a single human. They must be in the cabin like structures.
Capitol Idea

I had the wild idea to go to Phoenix Friday and shoot the botanical garden and the area down around the capitol - hence, my "capitol idea." ;-)
The botanical garden is huge and the Chihuly sculpture out front is nice. This is on loan and they're trying to raise the money to buy it for a nice round $1,000,000. That surprised me - three glass yucca things for that much? Hell, I'd sell them ten REAL ones for only half that. And they wouldn't have to worry about some degenerate reprobate with a pocketful of river rocks using them for target practice.
The #%#$ cacti were not yet blooming, so I shot other stuff. I went to the butterfly garden, but it was pretty lame in comparison to the one in Tucson. I saw about 20 bugs and nothing of much interest. I did manage to find a couple of flowers I liked, one blue (it's a guess-it could be purple) and one yellow.
They had a lot of these things (arroyo lupine according to a nearby sign). They remind me of something I saw in Maine a couple of years ago.
They also had lots and lots of cacti, which is to be expected in a desert botanical garden. It's going to be an amazing place when all of the cacti start blooming in a few weeks.
I did find the capitol building. I didn't like what the angle did to the flagpoles here, though, so I used the perspective correction tool on it. From right to left, these are the Arizona flag, the US flag and the POW/MIA flag. I'm guessing that John McCain may have had something to do with that one on the left being there.
On the way out of town I came across this red spiral thing across from Diamondback Stadium and liked it. I figured someone would object if I tied it to the back of the car and hauled it back to Tucson, so instead, I just took its picture.
Egg Rock Lighthouse

Established 1875 Winter Harbor, Maine Egg Rock Lighthouse
Just For Fun - Big Guns Are Always In Style
Whiskers Framed
Just a quick story today...a while back, my beloved Panda Mouse passed away. Recently I started yearning for a tiny creature again, (Keila mouse has taken to hubby, and is kind of his now) all my own, to love. The other day my friend and I went mouse~hunting. We found this one mouse at a store, that sells the meeces for...<gasp!> snake food! He is young and has unique black and white markings...and after handling him a bit~he is very curious and friendly~I shelled out his $1.50 asking price, saved his lil mouse tushie from a fate of snake, and brought him home. I have some new photo software (thanks, Pat) that I played with earlier today...and Whiskers Framed is the outcome. C&c welcome, and thanks.
Critiquing my own pictures

I went out to the butterfly garden, and while waiting for the next entry time, I killed some time in the flower area. These were taken for the sole purpose to test how far I could push a subject.
This looks pretty, nice color, stands apart from the background, but the flower needs a stem.
All white, wanted to see if I could take this without blowing the whites away.
Yellow and white and very bright, I wanted a better balance between the colors, but just couldn't get it.
Posted
The end of one day is the beginning of another..... as I see it.....





