Valentines Day with Buzz, Woody & Friends

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 "To Divinity & back!"

 "Come to the dark (chocolate) side."

 "Who will be my Valentine?

 

 "Underestimate never the power of the Force."

Morgan Hill Sunsets

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More often than not, the skies over Morgan Hill are clear.  So when clouds scatter across the sky, I try to be out with camera in hand (actually, mounted on a tripod) to photograph the sunset.  I like the effect of the clouds streaming out of El Toro.

 

While setting up for an Artist's Reception at the Community Center, I could see the sunset sky was going to be special, so I took my Panosonic Lumix to the front of the CCC and shot across Monterey Road. 

I took this one from the corner of my yard.

Sometimes you just have to take whatever shot you can get.

Creative Efforts + Lexie

 

I have long admired the painterly effect that results when a photograph of a flower is combined with a layer of texture.  I researched how to do it myself, and found a few available textures online, but I never liked the idea of using a texture created by someone else.  Is it still my photograph if half the end product was created by another?  Technically, probably yes, but it still didn't sit well with me.  Then serendipity stepped in.

Quite by accident, I saw my favorite glove through the lens of my iPhone and immediately realized  I could use it as a texture overlay.  I saved the intentionally blurred photo, and in the iPhone app, Blender,  combined it with an amaryllis blooming in my room.

 

Cool, huh?

That was so much fun, I looked around my house for more textures, specifically something red that would go well with another amaryllis bloom.

 

Can you guess what I used to create this final photo?

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I am happy to claim the entire photo as my own creative endeavor.  I even grew the amaryllis! Interesting textures are everywhere and my iPhone is always with me, so now I have a whole album of potential overlays.  I am inspired to try this with photos taken with my Nikon.  Stay tuned.

P.S.

Lexie and I have been together 31 days already.  She is still shy and easily spooked, but also funny and affectionate when she comes out hiding.  Here she is relaxed on my couch.

Lexie

Happy 2013.  For me this will be the Year of the Cat.  I adopted Lexie from Town Cats (a rescue group) in Morgan Hill.  I love her marbled color and the splash of black on her face.  I think we will get along very well.  What's new in your world?

Christmas

When Buzz & Woody accepted an invitation to an "Old-Fashioned" Tree Decorating Party, they didn't realize that they would end up on the tree,

 

I haven't put up a tree or decorated my house in 6 years; not because I'm a scrooge.  I'm just usually gone.  This year I decided to stay home.  I pulled down all my storage bins, unpacked my Christmas Critters, bought a live tree (re-planted into a big red pot), and prepared my house for Christmas. 

The arrival of my sister, her husband Larry, and their 2 dogs 

added to the festive atmosphere.

 Christmas Eve morning was cold and crisp and beautiful.

 

How could just 3 people make such a mess?  

 Easily, when they are feeling a little silly.

 Next stop: 2013

San Francisco Holiday Lights

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A contingent of photography club members ventured up to San Francisco to photograph the holiday lights.  We started the evening on Treasure Island to catch the sunset over the city skyline.

Then we explored the island looking for a vantage point to view/photograph the eastern span of the Bay Bridge.  I zoomed the lens during a 3 second exposure to get this exploding lights effect.

From the same spot, I turned around and saw the bright lights of the city beyond the yacht harbor.  A star filter added to the effect.  (Click on this one to see how the city is lit up.)

 Our next stop was inside the lobby of Hyatt Regency Hotel.  I took this with my iPhone photo.

 

After dinner at Gott's in the Ferry Building, we wandered back across The Embarcadero and found a balcony that provided a view of the tower and the ice rink below.  Can you see the Bay Bridge in the background?

The downtown buildings that are outlined in lights during December give the City its holiday glow.

And then the ran stated falling.  I just had time to get this last shot down the street before we had to pack up and head for the car.

 Next stop: Christmas.

Morgan Hill Community Foundation

I am a member of the Morgan Hill Library, Culture & Arts Commission and when an event needs a  photographer, I often get the gig.  These are volunteer assignments, but I gain experience and exposure.  I only ask that if my photos are published, I get credit.  The Community Foundation, which provides support to non-profit organizations and programs, sponsored a dinner to recognize local volunteers and to award a $10,000 grant to one organization.  Over 250 people, including many community leaders, attended the catered dinner.  I spent the evening wandering through the crowd photographing individual volunteers, couples, and small groups.  People like having their pictures taken when they are dressed up.  For me this was way more fun than sitting at a table and eating dinner.  My only "assignment" for the night was to photograph the winner of the grant holding the $10,000 check for the Morgan Hill Times.  I got the photo and it was published.

I posted the photos on Flickr and sent a link to key people in the organization and also emailed  photographs to select individuals and organizations, like the one below, for use in their newsletters.  

 

AAUW (American Association of University Women) had quite a contingent of members in attendance to support the three who were honored for their volunteer efforts.  I particularly like this photo because within this group are so many friends; some from the Friday Writers Group, Golf, the Wildflower Run Committee,  and the Garden Club. 

 

I took this last photo because Jessica, who works at the CCC, looked so relaxed and pretty.  Where'd she get those shoes?

You can see more photos from this event on my 

Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbrzltn/