Tag: Photography

Warming up to take the stage

~ oneletterup ~ 15 Comments

I happened upon a gathering of daffodils a few days ago…basking in the spotlight of the afternoon sun. One was gazing into the distance as if surveying the crowd. Which, at that point, was just me and the tall arborvitaes off to the side. The trio to its right? Ready and waiting.

It was a glorious warm afternoon and the entertainment was enjoyed by all…well, just me and the arborvitaes. But well worth it as the finale ensued…

…and the spotlight moved on as the afternoon came to a close.

Six Word Saturday
BeckyB’s BrightSquare
Cee’s Flower of the Day

Fandango’s Flashback Friday: April 9

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Fandango’s Flashback Friday: April 9

Wouldn’t you like to expose your newer readers to some of your earlier posts that they might never have seen? Or remind your long term followers of posts that they might not remember? Each Friday I will publish a post I wrote on this exact date in a previous year. How about you? Why don’t you reach back into your own archives and highlight a post that you wrote on this very date in a previous year?

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This post was published April 9, 2019 as an entry to a Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge. A year later – at the beginning of the pandemic – I was back to watching the nightly news. It was my only connection in real time to what was going on. And that what was literally a matter of life and death around the world. The horror of what unfolded – and I won’t summarize here as I (and probably many of you) don’t need to revisit those images. Now, in 2021, I still watch the news and maintain the hope that I will begin to see less negative and more positive. That has not happened although vaccination sites and listings of how many people got “shots in arms” is often the lead story. I’ll take that as a positive, although there is a still a long way to go. One thing hasn’t changed…I am still looking for kindness to get more than 2 minutes at the end of a broadcast.

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Path

If you stop to be kind you must swerve often from your path.

Mary Webb

I have stopped watching the nightly news. Which is totally unlike me. Usually wanting to know…What Is Going On. The importance of being informed and up-to-date was always at the top of my list. Part of being a responsible citizen.

It seems to me there used to be more balance. The good and the evil. The positive and the negative. Now all I do is wince. Our leaders fighting. Shouting. Accusing. Deaf to the voices of reason…or fairness…or empathy. Especially empathy. Unwilling to even pause and consider a different path.

Nightly Breaking News punches story after story. Announcements line up in 10 second sound bites. Assault…Abuse…Cheating…Lying…. Young child missing…young child found in a shallow grave. Inconsolable parent. Another shooting. Blurry security camera video. One more senseless loss of a sister, a brother.

The news anchor drones on, his face barely changing expression. Night after night.

Rarely would I see kindness…until the final 2 minutes of the broadcast. Showcasing an act of generosity. Compassion. Selflessness.

Good to know there are people still out there…
On a different path.

They deserve more than two minutes of air time.

walking trail

CFFC – Walks, Trails, Sidewalks

Goodnight Sun

~ oneletterup ~ 7 Comments

Weekend Sky
BeckyB’s BrightSquare

During one of my treasured walks in the woods last November, the darkness of night began early…as it does that time of year. It crept up on me as I searched for bits of leaves, vines and milkweed pods and whatever else was hanging on despite the cold. Many deserved a close up as the light provided center stage opportunity. Click. Click. Click.

Hold still. The light is perfect. Thank you!

Then the sun began its predictable disappearing act…leaving a bit of brightness in the sky long enough to be captured. I appreciated the opportunity…as a few minutes later it was gone. And I was on my way back home.

Bright Spot

~ oneletterup ~ 11 Comments

BeckyB’s Squares Challenge is back!

The theme for April is “Bright” in all its manifestations.

I enjoyed a beautiful walk in the woods a few weeks ago and noticed a bright spot in the sky. The sun was shining and reflecting off trees still waiting for leaves to bud. Even though it was only 4:20 pm, the moon showed up too…showcased in a perfect frame for capture.

Fandango’s Flashback Friday: March 19

~ oneletterup ~ 6 Comments

Fandango’s Flashback Friday: March 19

Wouldn’t you like to expose your newer readers to some of your earlier posts that they might never have seen? Or remind your long term followers of posts that they might not remember? Each Friday I will publish a post I wrote on this exact date in a previous year. How about you? Why don’t you reach back into your own archives and highlight a post that you wrote on this very date in a previous year?

~~~

This post was published March 19, 2020 as an entry to Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge. The pandemic had just taken hold in my state and harsh new realities were revealing themselves. Little did we know what was to come. Looking back a year later, there are less NO signs. Schools are reopening in some form. Businesses that survived are cautiously re-opening. The town library has fully opened…and finally sent a notice of our overdue Parks & Recreation DVDs which kept us distracted with humor during lockdown & beyond. Restaurants and coffee shops are displaying Open signs, although I am still hesitant to enjoy a meal out. The toilet paper situation…well, now the local grocery store has stacks and stacks of TP. It may take a while for the hoarded stockpiles to run out.

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Cee’s Black & White Photo Challenge: Fences & Gates

Inspired by Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: Fences & Gates

Everywhere you go these days, there is a NO sign.

No school. No work. No library. No restaurant. No coffee shop. No toilet paper…..

No. No. No.

We all back away.

When I attended the Newport Folk Festival in 2009, the site was surrounded by a fence designated to keep attendees from swimming in the harbor. Probably for their own good. Isn’t that what all good fences are for? Protection. Safety. Whether we like it or not.

It appeared to be somewhat flimsy, but a barrier nonetheless. I never saw a swimmer, so I assume it worked.

A visible barrier against a visible risk.

Newport, Rhode Island