Thursday's Inspiration: Architecture

OK, let's just say that I'm not all that organized...  :)

Yesterday's weather definitely precluded any outdoor photography, so here is an image from my files.  This was taken last year on a trip to Palm Beach,  Florida.  My husband's firm had a retreat at The Breakers, and I went along for the ride.  :)

So, how about some prompts for March?
March 7:  books
March 14:  green
March 21:  round
March 28:  fence

Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!  :)

Waiting for Spring

Yep, just sitting here waiting for spring, buying supermarket tulips and gathering some gardening lovelies...  :)

It's been fairly warm and rainy here today -- dreary, but much better than the serial snow storms that have hit other parts of the country.  For those of you up to your, ahem, bottoms in snow, you have my deepest sympathies.  March in New Jersey is always an interesting month, as my husband often reminds me.  It can be winter or spring, or a little bit of both.  Here's hoping for spring!  :)

Will you join me tomorrow for Thursday's Inspiration?  The word prompt is "architecture."  That means I will have to brave the rain today to get a shot...  Ah yes, I love March.  ;)

Mosaic Monday: Pink

It's been a cold and windy week here in New Jersey, and I've been spending some time photographing my supermarket flowers.  We had a lovely foggy, misty, slushy, snowy day, and I spent a few hours wandering my favorite park, Natirar.  I love taking pictures in the fog.  :)

I wanted to thank you all for your thoughts and prayers this week.  My husband's procedure went well. He is tired and in some pain, but on the mend.  So thank you again for your prayers!

I've got a mosaic celebrating pink this week.  I bought the cyclamens to photograph for a group I belong to on Facebook called Colors of 2013 with Eva Ricci Studio.  We photograph a different color each month. The group also posts on Flickr here.  You can find me here and here on Facebook.  I'd love to see you there.  :)

Here are the instructions to join today's post:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net

And a quick reminder: if you would like to join Mosaic Monday but don't know quite where to start, there is a tutorial on mosaic-making on my sidebar. Just scroll down, and click on the small blue mosaic.

Thursday's Inspiration: White

Wow, I really had a hard time with this one.  I tried to do a very light image -- all whites and soft pastels -- but it just wasn't working.  I guess my style is more shadows and saturated colors and textures...

Anyway, here is my take on "white."  You had to know that it would include a piece of milk glass.  :)

Next week's prompt is "architecture."  After that, I've got to choose more.  Any ideas?  Something you'd like to see?  Let me know in the comments.

*********

My husband will be undergoing a minor medical procedure on Saturday morning.  May I ask for your prayers?  Thanks so much!  xoxo

A Reminder

Just a reminder:  the subject for Thursday's Inspiration this week is "white."  I have a houseful of milk glass, but I'd hate to be predictable...  however, you may just be seeing some milk glass tomorrow.  ;)

I'd love to have you join me.  I will try to have my post up by 2:00 pm New York time.  See you then!

Mosaic Monday: Feathers

I think that I've already told you that I'm a bit of a magpie when it comes to my house.  Actually, I come from a long line of magpies.  My father, in particular, saved and collected lots of things, including the antique books and binoculars in these photos.  The feathers are the result of a year's worth of walks that my husband and I took last year.  Sometime last week, I decided a grey day called for some playtime with my new camera, and a house full of perfect photo props.  :)

The photos themselves have been edited with some textures from Florabella and Jessica Drossin, and some Photoshop actions from Paint the Moon.  I was going for a scratched, nostalgic sort of look, to complement the old books.  As you can see, one of the books is opened to "The Schoolboy's Story," and this was the inspiration for my collection of  feathers and old binoculars -- things that a young boy might collect on a day's rambles through nature.  The small framed photo, by the way, was found in my favorite thrift store, and the wooden box with the carved dog on top belonged to my maternal grandfather.

I find that I'm loving this sort of photo styling -- the effort to tell a story with props and editing.  I love having everything set out on a table.  Maybe I've been unconsciously channeling 18th century still life painters.  Or maybe I can't wait for winter to end.  ;)

Here are the instructions to join today's post:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net

And a quick reminder: if you would like to join Mosaic Monday but don't know quite where to start, there is a tutorial on mosaic-making on my sidebar. Just scroll down, and click on the small blue mosaic.

Thursday's Inspiration: Love

Crazy busy here today!  Wishing you all the love in the world this St. Valentine's Day!  xoxo

February Flowers

I've never been a big fan of winter.  Yes, the snow can be pretty -- for about an hour while I'm taking pictures -- but then it is just cold and wet.   February in New Jersey can be dreary, with dirty snow below and grey skies above.  And what is the shortest month ends up feeling like the longest one.

That is when I start to bring home flowers from the supermarket, and have some fun with my camera.  :)

In the past few weeks, I've shot roses, tulips, daffodils and now cyclamen.  I love these little flowers, which look like tiny pink flames.  I've been loving the large selection of flowers in the markets right now, in advance of Valentine's Day.  And even if I cannot bring them all home, they are my February lifeline -- a little bit of spring in this cold month.  Wishing you all a wonderful Valentine's Day, dear bloggers!  xoxo

*******

Please join me tomorrow for Thursday's Inspiration.  This week's prompt is LOVE, perfect for Valentine's Day.  :)

Here are the subjects for the next few weeks.  If you have a subject that you would like to add to our list, just let me know.  I will try to get my post up by 2:00pm New York time.

February 14:  love
February 21:  white
February 28:  architecture

I will probably do just one image for each prompt, but if you want to include more, go for it.  I will probably just let the image speak for itself, but if you want to include  text as well, great.  Whatever floats your boat.  And if we get enough people to play, I might do a "My Faves" post at the end of each month, with your permission, and link back to your blog.  I would appreciate a link back to my post each week, so that your friends can join in if they wish.

So thank you so much!  I am looking forward to sharing with you, and drawing inspiration from you!  xoxo

Mosaic Monday: Frantic Edition

Yes, this is the frantic edition of Mosaic Monday.  Frantic, as in everything has gone to hell in a handbasket (pardon my French) and I'm so late posting that I'm sure everyone has given up and gone on to better things.

And I'm trying to type so quickly that I'm misspelling everything.

I got a new camera for my birthday, and it's wonderful.  Except that the files are much bigger, and are filling up my hard drive like there's no tomorrow.  And it was already pretty full in there.  Also, my antiquated version of Photoshop has chosen today to act like a recalcitrant child.  "No, I don't want to flatten that file, and you can't make me!"

So here I am, really late once again, and I apologize most profusely!  The images are a few random ones from last week, which was all I could gather under the circumstances.  Thank so much for listening to my rant.  I'll be quiet now.  :)

Here are the instructions to join today's post:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net

And a quick reminder: if you would like to join Mosaic Monday but don't know quite where to start, there is a tutorial on mosaic-making on my sidebar. Just scroll down, and click on the small blue mosaic.

Thursday's Inspiration: Home

So here is my first attempt at a weekly dose of inspiration.  The prompt was "home."  Of course, I left it till the last minute, and it was dark by the time I wandered around with my camera yesterday evening.  I could have used my speedlite, but I kind of like the warmth that the incandescent lamp lends to this image.  Makes it kind of cozy, which is definitely a big part of how I feel about my home.

Some of you may know that this is my childhood home.  My father built it with his own hands when I was an infant, and it is filled with reminders of my parents.  In the photo above, there is a collection of shells and fossils that I have gathered over the years with my children.  They are displayed in a Lenox bowl that belonged to my mother.  There are books and a camera that belonged to my father, and one of my favorite plates, which I found a few years ago at a rummage sale.  I'm a bit of a magpie -- collecting bright and pretty things -- and that is definitely a part of the word "home" to me.

I can't wait to see your interpretations of home!  Thanks for playing along.  :)

Here are the prompts for the next few weeks.  Please include a link back to this post in your entry.  Thanks so much!  xoxo

February 14:  love
February 21:  white
February 28:  architecture

Will You Join Me?

I'm hoping some of you will join me tomorrow in my quest for inspiration!  I have decided to do a weekly prompt, to help me discover new subjects for my photography.  Tomorrow's subject will be "home."  You may interpret the word any way you wish -- indoors, outdoors, family at dinner, child at sleep, your favorite place to relax...

Here are the subjects for the next few weeks.  If you have a subject that you would like to add to our list, just let me know.  I will try to get my post up by 2:00pm New York time.  I'm not sure yet whether I will have a linky list up, or if I will just ask you to leave your links in the comments section.  I guess I will figure that out tomorrow. :)

February 7:  home
February 14:  love
February 21:  white
February 28:  architecture

I will probably do just one image for each prompt, but if you want to include more, go for it.  I will probably just let the image speak for itself, but if you want to include  text as well, great.  Whatever floats your boat.  And if we get enough people to play, I might do a "My Faves" post at the end of each month, with your permission, and link back to your blog.  I would appreciate a link back to my post each week, so that your friends can join in if they wish.

So thank you so much!  I am looking forward to sharing with you, and drawing inspiration from you!  xoxo

Mosaic Monday: Seeking Inspiration

Gosh, where to start today?  Some days I have absolutely nothing to say.  I feel like such a fraud, or maybe just a bore -- plopping some pictures down here and going on my merry way.  I think it's worst during the winter.  I have not been out getting all the garden visits and landscape shots that I love to do in the rest of the year.  So I buy some supermarket flowers and start to shoot.  Don't get me wrong, I love to shoot flowers.  But I feel as though I do the same shot over and over...

I need some inspiration!!!

I've thought about doing a weekly prompt, just to get the creative juices flowing.  Of course, I should have begun in January.  But what the heck, I will just start this week.  I'm going to post on Thursday afternoons, and if you would like to join me, just leave a link to your post in the comments on Thursday.  I'd love to see what you come up with!  If we get enough interest, I will consider starting a linky party.  Here are the first few prompts to get us started:

February 7:  home
February 14:  love
February 21:  white
February 28:  architecture

I will probably do just one image for each prompt, but if you want to include more, go for it.  I will probably just let the image speak for itself, but if you want to include  text as well, great.  Whatever floats your boat.  And if we get enough people to play, I might do a "My Faves" post at the end of each month, with your permission, and link back to your blog.  I would appreciate a link back to my post each week, so that your friends can join in if they wish.

So, what do you think?  Anybody in?  I hope to see at least a few of you on Thursday!  :)

Here are the instructions to join today's post:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline.net

And a quick reminder: if you would like to join Mosaic Monday but don't know quite where to start, there is a tutorial on mosaic-making on my sidebar. Just scroll down, and click on the small blue mosaic.