Tag Archives: photography

Just Some Snapshots #10


There is such a thing as luck… but it never relates to winning the lottery, it seems.

But I did hit a jackpot – a photographic one.  Its been busy trying to supplement my photographic artwork these past few weeks; being an amateur, it’s not easy.

As there’s been some dew on the flowers outside, I took to shooting them at first light.  Fortunately, Lady Luck flashed a big smile as a number of them were selected for flickr.com’s “Explore” which showcases 500 photographs each day for “interestingness”:

Aster Shimmer - EXPLORED 10/24/2014

Aster in B&W - EXPLORED 10/22/2014

Lavender Aster - EXPLORED 10/25/2014

Razzle Dazzle - EXPLORED 10/23/2014

Dew at Sunrise - EXPLORED 10/22/2014

Blooming Aster - EXPLORED 10/19/2014

Sparkly - EXPLORED 10/23/2014

Here are a few others:

Naughty and Nice

Pitter Patter

Unbelievably, there’s been over 100,000 views in the past three days, now nearing 1,000,000 views in total.

It would be nice to have that many visitors to this blog!

Will Lady Luck flash her smile here too? 🙂

Ewww….


As my little 11 year old Cake Boss would say when I would light up a cigar, “Ewwww, Papa!  That’s gross!”

Well, you have no idea of “ewww” or “gross” until now.

Unfortunately, I used the last of the soap yesterday…  It was too late when I stepped into the shower that I had forgotten to buy soap.

I was confronted with not washing at all…or…

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…use my little Cake Boss’ soap…  Excuuuuse me.  Shower gel.

I now smell of Cranberry Twinkle.

No, I reek.

It stinks.

Ewww.

Gross.

And the smell won’t go away.

Gotta light up a stogie to mask this wretched girlie odor.

Wait a minute.

I can’t.  It’s 1:30 AM.

Damn.

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Not that anyone should notice but my attention had been diverted away from WordPress the past month or so.  I decided to try and build a small (potential) income stream by (possibly) selling my photographs on websites.  You know.  Like for prints, greeting cards, cell phone cases and the like.  Frankly, I don’t know why anyone would want to buy a photograph versus a painting but what the heck.

So my days outside of dealing with the ex-wife – who thrives on interfering during my supposed time with my kids – has been focused on setting up a (cheap) studio and shooting macros of flowers and the like.  Plus having been an amateur FILM photographer in my youth, all this “photo editing” stuff has been a huge challenge.  I’m up against young(er) pros who all they know is digital photography.  You know.  Fred Flintstone meets Captain Kirk.  Oh well.

I also don’t know why I focused on macro photography for a niche market since I never had attempted it before… and the only thing I know about flowers is how to kill them.  Certainly, other niche markets like patriotism, sports and pets would be broader but macros would be doable and without much expense.  Besides, nothing would have to die.

Anyways, here’s a few of my recent snapshots:

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And for a finale…  Isn’t this a face only a mother could love?  It is an actual flower called a Cuphea, or a “purpurea Firecracker”.  Aren’t you impressed with this old former mechanic?

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One of my websites is here: Fine Art America.

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Time to light up a stogie.

I know.  Ewww.

But it’s better than smelling reeking like Cranberry Twinkle.

Just Some Snapshots 6


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Just Some Snapshots 5


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Wardrobe Malfunction. It was selected for “In Explore” today, May 5th.

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Just thought this was different.
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There’s a bazillion buds on this plant…whatever it is!

Explored on FLICKR


Although not an indicator of quality, my macro shot of a lily got selected for “Explore” on FLICKR.  It was one of 500 “interesting” photos of May 2nd and FLICKR states over 1.4 million photos are uploaded daily worldwide.

There have been over 11,500 views of the picture so far in 24 hours.  That’s a REAL high volume for me.

Sure wish that many would read my blog. I’ll even settle for a paltry 10,000 views a month. 😜

Surrounded - EXPLORED May 2, 2014

Please click on image for larger view on FLICKR.

OK. I’ve finished bragging.

One Word Photo Challenge: Turquoise


EDIT: MAY 2, 2014 – HERE’S THE PHOTO CHALLENGE HOST BLOG!  JENNIFER NICOLE WELLS

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At my age, confusion reigns supreme.  I cannot figure out who is conducting the “One Word Photo Challenge” series.

Oh, well.  But it said to tag it “One Word Photo Challenge” so I did…

And here’s my turquoise photo; it’s of the Pontiac hood ornament on a turquoise car.

Who loves classic cars?!

pontiac head

Now what and where do I link this to? Old age sucks.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Flowers


First of all, a thank you to Cee from Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge for selecting my shadow pictures as some of her faves last week!

And she selected flowers as the subject for her Fun Foto Challenge of this week:

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A Fushcia in the morning.
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An overgrown basil plant flowering. I keep a supply of basil growing for cooking.

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Cee’s Black & White Challenge: Small Subjects


Some submissions in response to “Cee’s Black & White Challenge: Small Subjects”.

While not as artistic or as interpretive as Cee’s, they ARE small…  LOL

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Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Shadows


For “Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Shadows” of this week…

Loyal readers know of my love for WWII combat veteran “Old Man Jack”.

After suffering through seven decades of nightmares of war, he is now finally at peace.  Hopefully, he is resting comfortably beneath these shadows cast by my two youngest kids and I:

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And a shadow cast by Old Glory:

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For new visitors, please feel free to click and read one story of this great American who is now all but being forgotten in our new “Common Core” history textbooks.  He earned the honor to be remembered:

“Old Man Jack-ism #4”

Just Some Snapshots 4


Well, it was Bloggus Interruptus once again as my kids were with me this past week.  Now that they are again with their mom, it is eerily quiet.  I don’t know if that is good or bad.

Here’s some more snapshots from around the house; I hope one will brighten your day!

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Just practicing.
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Marvin the Martian’s improved, all natural Illudium PU-36 Explosive Space Modulator. Bugs Bunny would have been proud.
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Ticklish?
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Caressed
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Two little buggers have moved in.