In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.
I cheated. This baby was born last year:-)
I pulled this out of my archives. Cute baby hummingbird isn’t it. Well I’ve not made shooting a priority because the days seem to get filled up with other priorities.
I’m spending some time during the days making sure I have all my photo gear, software and computer related goods ready for the DLWS photography workshop in Moab, UT I’m headed off to Thursday. I’m really looking forward to meeting the teachers, Laurie Excell, Moose Peterson, Joe McNally.
Driving in to LA for the Baby Meeting tomorrow. There will be 6 of us from the desert in Stacy’s car.
Wednesday is a full day, which leaves Thursday morning before 10:00am to pack up the car before I grab a quick manicure and pedicure on my way out of town.
I’ll stop in Vegas and visit Connie, who just heard she is now the #1 DJ in Vegas after only 4 months of being on the Oasis radio station. Connie is on from 3pm – 7pm. Once on the website I linked, click on live stream to hear her.
Stacy arrives for our 7:30am walk around MHCC, before the rain.
While waiting for Connie, Stacy and I chatted with a neighbor. At first I thought, What great spikey hair this man has.
Stacy, Take a photo of me wearing the spikey hair.
Making the most of the Westin fairway hills to get some burn.
A brief glimpse of snow covered San Jacinto on our rain free walk.
I wasn’t in the mood to hike this morning. It was 44 degrees at 6:20am this morning. That’s cold for Palm Springs. It was a long pants and two fleece layer hike to start and on the 2 mile downhill return. Having a commitment to meet Connie sure makes a difference. I would have passed this morning based on the lies my head was telling me. Ray looked real cozy still sleeping all snuggled deep down under the covers.
Once I’m in the car driving to hike, I enjoy being one of very few up and about. The color in the sky always excites me. The color also always looks better at the time, than in a photo. The 10 minute drive to Connie’s took about 20 minutes because I slowed or stopped to shoot off about 10 shots with the little Canon Powershot A650.
Driving to the Bump & Grind for a hike this morning.
Connie tolerating me taking her photo on the hike.
Hiker and the most adorable dog both taking in the view.
Connie and I wanted to take this precious dog home with us.
I’m getting my 2010 Ideals down on paper. Exercise is a biggy. My clothes are beginning to feel tight again. And I’ve been eating great so I know that lessened exercise is the culprit. Since I don’t have any backpacking plans for next spring/summer I’m not religiously training like I used to. Walking around MHCC with Ray while he is recuperating may be exercise but not calorie burning exercise!
Two of the 2010 Ideals are definitely: 1. Exercise at least 5 days a week, 2. Twenty minutes of brain drain morning pages. (Artist Way by Julia Cameron)
Connie came over for a 7am hour long walk with me on the back nine before the golfers arrived.
Then Connie and I joined Ray on his morning walk.
I’m happy I’m finally scheduling myself into the day and getting some regular exercise. Exercise and photographing daily is time consuming, but absolutely necessary so I feel good about myself.
Ray and Connie on Ray's exercise walk.
Water providing this a.m. reflection.
Ray uses his cane on the return part of the morning walk.
An interesting reflection after focusing on the brightest part of the water.
Shooting at the sun in the reflection created this shot.
In my photo below, I wish I’d changed the angle of capture so that the cactus (see blog amendment below to correct succulent name to agave, not cactus) point on the right didn’t blend in with the dark background. Another thing I noticed when I zoomed in is that the front left cactus point isn’t in focus and that is where I intended the focus to be rather than where it is on the right rear point.
Hey, I’m happy I notice such things lately.
Another student of Carol Leigh’s, Lori, has a wonderful portfolio of cactus photos on her site. I thought of Lori this morning and wished I could have picked her brain on how to shoot this shot.
And I just have to post this way too funny photo of Connie’s mode of transportation these days.
Blog entry amended 8/16/09. I received an email from a friend who helped me see that what I had photographed was not a cactus. I was told..”you called your agaves “cactus”… grrrrrr…… they’re both succulents, but agaves aren’t cactus, and vice versa! Grrrrr…… you know how protective I am of my agaves, so be careful not to besmirch their reputation! >;-}”
I apologize and stand corrected!
Tuesday morning: Linda, Mary Kay and Connie
Wednesday morning shots of Connie.
Connie almost at the top of the Bump and Grind hike.
Later today, Gina and Linda getting manicures and pedicures and feeling mighty feminine.
Connie and Paula are getting ready for bed. We leave for the San Fernando Valley tomorrow at 5:30am. My sponse, Debbie, is speaking at an all day Three Legacy Workshop.
Connie got me up and back out there exercising on the bump & grind hill.
I exercized!
We did it.
We committed to doing the bump & grind Tuesday mornings.
Tried taking a handheld photo here but the light was too low.
Used the fill in flash here as evidenced by the reflection of the flash on Connie’s perspiration.
Connie in the back of Ray’s car, making a call and leaving me a message on my home phone, while I’m in the front seat. Connie made a commitment to call in every day for 30 days and she wanted credit for the call yesterday. If you can’t tell, we laughed a lot on the 3 hour drive back home from our meeting in Sherman Oaks.
On the drive home last night we had to slow to a crawl two different times for roadwork on the I-10 freeway. It was getting late – 11pm – and I got antsy. Out came the camera.