NZD 12152009

I like the trees in the foreground that give a vertical strength, but then further back, the bank is simply green.   The river also meanders to thr right and the clouds pick up the line into the sky.  I am refreshed by this one.

NZD 12142009

Trees in Auckland

The trees in color are silver green with the bark and lichen.  The trees and field behind were a much brighter green.  I liked it better in black and white to lose the background.  I liked the number of branches from the main trunk in so many directions, the texture of the bark, and the light defining each branch.

NZD 12142009

Daisy

I love the glisten of the sun on the petals and the spirals of the florets.  It certainly is not as pronounced as the sunflower, but this close in, it can be seen on the daisy.  I also like the shadow falling across the petals.

NZD 12142009

Baaaaaaaa……

This was one of the few that didn’t just run away at the sight of humans!   I like the contrast of stone gray with the green grass.  I like the diagonal of the wall against the horizontal of the shadows of the trees.  I like the one lone sheep at peace.

February Colors in South Carolina

I had decided to not include my color pictures from South Carolina for Life Looms Large, because at first it was mostly more snow and I had the San Diego pictures that I hoped would make you smile.  But then despite the snow, we had a sign of spring….A week later there was still snow in the mountains…. And ice from the water that runs off the ground….   But then 30 miles away, I found these…. While a bit confused, spring is making a showing…..  Hang in there – if we’re seeing it, you should be soon!

NZD 12142009

Auckland Cemetery

This was an old cemetery from the mid-1800s.  The headstones could be limestone or granite.  Lichen was growing on many, others had turned dark, trees had pushed their way through to dishevel their arrangement.  There was a silence in this cemetery despite being directly on a 5 lane road during rush hour.  I am drawn to the contrast of death and life in the graves and the trees.  I like the tilting of the stones that suggest movement – albeit at a very slow rate.  I like peeking through to the stone that far in the back and the group hiding in the shade of the tree. 

February Colors in San Diego

Sue from Life Looms Large asked for color combinations from nature for February.  I thought I would share a few days I had in San Diego and dedicate to all those who are still looking at snow and grey and cold!  May it cheer you up!

NZD 12142009

Parakeet in the Field

The photo is not exactly what I want, but I like the concept of the something hidden in the overall patterns.  The grass has no particular pattern of arrangement or color.  In here, the field holds the wildflowers and the parakeet.  I wish there was more to search for – like a baby bird, or the hiding prey, or hmmm – what else?

NZD 12142009

Queen Anne’s Lace

This is the bud of the flower where all the packets hopefully were able to completely open.  I like the almost regular pattern that is interrupted by the edges of the bud at the left of this crop.  I am not sure about the lack of more values or lack of more color.  There’s something here, but I am not sure that it is complete.

NZD 12142009

Looking through a daisy

It’s odd, but I gasped at seeing the second daisy through the petals of the first.  In spending more time with this one today, I also found that I like the sun’s highlights on the grass that’s gone to seed.  I also like the sky is a strong blue.

NZD 12132009

Sailing in Auckland

The more dramatic sailing picture in front of Auckland Harbour Bridge.

I like the wave crashing on the front of the boat and the harder diagonal versus the bridge angle – both of which sit nicely within the water’s horizontal line the the piling's vertical.  It’s an exciting picture to me, especially since I’ve now ridden on a sail boat and know the feeling of leaning over and the quiet of the ride.

NZD 12132009

Gentoo Penguin

A small penguin against the snow.  I like the blank and white with just a hint of red.  Like that he’s looking off the “canvas” – maybe even at me!

NZD 12132009

Sea Crates in the Auckland Harbor

This view just struck me when I saw it as a great study in geometrics.  The square sea crates all stacked and arranged in so many directions and heights.  Then there are all the colors and logos.  It’s certainly not a perfect pattern like the Golden Spiral and is very industrial.  Still, I found it interesting.  There is still a lot to look at despite all being of basically the same building block.  Can you imagine what all is in those crates?????

NZD 12132009

Pohutukawa In Volcanic Rock Debris

Rangitoto Island – Auckland

I like the contrast of the bright green and red of the tree against the grey and black of the rock.  I like the texture of the rocks and the unevenness of the terrain.

It also spoke to me how this debris is over 600 years old and just now in this place, the tree was able to take root.  It simply does what it was meant to be when given the chance.

NZD 12132009

When I first looked at this picture, I thought there was something in there.  The first I saw the sailboats between the islands.  After working with the contrast, shading, etc.  The hills and mountains in the distance started to come out. 

What I like the the number of layers in this one.  I like the line of trees on the island, I still like the sailboats and all the texture on the distance land.

NZD 12132009

There are more dramatic sailing photos, but I chose this one for being calm and relaxed.  It also has Auckland in the background to the right.  I like the cloud’s shadow to bring interest to the water, the sailboat “entering” the picture, and the Skytower pointing out where Auckland is.  I also particularly like this because it’s my first excursion with Photoshop in taking out the overhang of the boat.

NZD 12132009

Fish in Kelly Tartan’s Auckland.

This photo is taken through water in a holding tank of moving fish with a camera that does not have image stabilization.  Likely there was an accidental flash also that is reflecting off the metallic bottom of the tank.  I say all this because there has been NO manipulation besides some cropping.

Despite all that really is wrong, I like the picture for the way the light plays through that water, the shadows of the fish and the suggestions of graceful, slow movement.  I also like the color of the fish that keeps the whole from being too bland.  I relax with this picture.

NZD 12122009

Auckland from SkyTower

Auckland is a sprawling city.  Buildings are nearly as far as the eye can see.  I loved the patterns and shapes of all the buildings themselves and in this one shot, the acute angle of the streets that causes an unexpected pattern in the placement of the buildings.  Even a couple are shaped to accommodate the angles.

2010 Olympics – at home

We have heard many reports of how snow is lacking in Vancouver for the 2010 Olympics.  We can understand the dilemma because we have acquired 3” of it – wonderful powdery snow that I don’t know I’ve ever seen before.  We went out this morning in order to make a snow dog and this will not clump in the least!  So this must be Olympic snow that got lost like those sea gulls we see occasionally in the summer.

Since this is Olympic snow, we were compelled to give our all to the spirit of excellence and competition.

I chose the sport of snow angels.  While form was nearly perfect, the snow was not in the best conditions.  The Russian judge only gave me a 2.  Sticks and leaves poking out are deductions.James took on the biathlon event that extremely physically taxing event that takes great nerve and skill.  The first step is sweeping.  The consistency of this powder is new to James.  So sweeping could be a challenge.  He seems to be adapting well….. The second part of the competition involves shoveling.  Again, James is more accustomed to ice that must be broken before being shoveled.  Working with powder will require flexibility on his part along with extreme mental focus.  Will he make it??? The one athlete everyone looks to for bringing home the gold is Shadow.  Today his event is digging up sticks.  Look at his form in this training run.  He is a born natural! Once the stick in retrieved from the snow, it is Shadow’s time to shine.  The stick must be shredded within 30 seconds and there are extra marks for the number of pieces.  This initial heat run puts Shadow in the medal round. Shadow says “Grrrr!”Weather conditions did change drastically for the actual medal round.  This will test the will and mind of all the athletes, but this is what they have been training for since they were pups.  Shadow enters the arena with his recovered stick.  Snow is blowing from all directions, but he is unfazed, completely focused on his stick.  Shadow has broken the Olympic and World Records!!!We have finally come to the medal ceremonies for today.  Shadow does win the “gold” medal and receives the frozen Kong!James wins the silver receiving the pewter medallion and Jennifer consoles herself with 4th place by making a cup of hot chocolate!  

After such a big day, our hero Shadow takes a well earned rest!

NZD 12122009

Street in Auckland

I am accustomed to relatively “flat” streets.  I enjoyed being able to see the dip and bend a great deal more than I did walking it!

This street mixes old and new architecture, hard surfaces and nature, pedestrians and cars on the sidewalks and motorways.

NZD 12122009

SkyTower Auckland

I liked the view of the tower against the sky.  I decided to play with the “cutout” in Photoshop for this one.  I appreciate the simplification of the number of values, but I still feel awkward with the playing with the edges.  I think I need to reduce one to practice and see if this is what I want for a cartoon.  Something about doesn't feel right.  Any thoughts?

NZD 12122009

I love the connection of the trunk to the roots. I am struck the number and definition of the folds.  In a way, they seem to have their own life - like a number of children pushing themselves up against the trunk of the tree at recess.

Joy and Wedges

Hah – more weaving this weekend!  I was able to finish “JOY” and cut it from the loom.  I’m letting it rest and then will clean up the ends on the back.  You can see a bit here of the slits I purposely placed in the design for the suggestion of beams coming from the star.  I want to bring those out right at the end of the finishing.  I’ve also have slits on either side of the horizontal black since those were created around just one warp.  I’m wondering about how to mount this piece to accent the beams, but not show gaps with the black outline of the letters.   I had thought about mounting it on black, but will the beams be lost?  Any thoughts there?  Eventually my thoughts are the whole assembly will be placed on white and framed in gold.

Then, I’ve also begun a new project.  I had “bought” some Noro yarn from Theresa at Camp Runamuck last spring or summer in her last stash celebration specifically to use it in a wedge weave.  I’ve combined it with a Peruvian wool in chocolate brown as the background color.  I’m using the Big Sis pipe loom my DH and I made last Valentine’s Day for my wedge weave class at John C Campbell.  The loom is continuously warped for 16” wide and about a yard long.  I intend to just go until the skein of Noro yarn runs out.  But I’ve been known to change my plans before! 

Things have gone well with this one.  But as you can see I’m slowly creeping upward as I weave.  I’m pretty sure that means I’m putting too much in there.  I need to check my notes from class.  I was able to work with it some to pack it down, but it’s not going to get back to flat completely.  I don’t mind it wavering some, but this is only the first 6 inches, which means this will continue it’s upward trend to something out of control.  So I think there will be some time this week to take this out.  Still I wanted you to see the colors of the Noro yarn as it comes in.  I think it’ll be great if I can get back in the swing of the technique again!

NZD 12122009

Pohutukawa Blooms

This is real, but yet so abstract!  I am not sure I like this better vertical or horizontal.  The ends of the “petals'” do have a gold hint to them that really don’t show up except in the photo.  I like the consistency of color and how few are there.

NZD 12122009

Eyes of the Mauri Carving

I like the contrast of the paua shell and the wood – the shine of the shell versus the soft of the wood and the flat of the shell versus the 3D carving of the wood.

The carvings can be very intricate and so much so that it is difficult to take it all in.  The message can get lost in the busyness.  I liked cropping to a section that was more easily absorbed and allowing me to focus just what this portion says – the shell brings life to the carving.

NZD 12122009

As with most currencies, there were many national icons and colors to the New Zealand Dollar.  This is the 20 held up to a window to show that watermarks to the right.  It also contained a “window” – the fern to the left that could only be seen when the light shown through.

I like the layers of images and colors, but there is still a strength in the ferns and the text.

NZD 12102009

A bird’s eye view

I like this one, but then I don’t.  I like that it captures different sizes of the lampposts and the Aquarium is in the background.  There’s a lot to explore.  I’m not sure I like all the piping and the handrail being so dominant….  But then again it’s not the usual view.  Maybe if there really was a bird right there????  How does it strike you?