Images of May, 2009

Vegetables on the Strip

During May of 2009, I took some fun photo trips; following the example of the AAP plein aire group. One was to the Strip, which is always a great place to capture some truly Pittsburgh shots. Another was in Bloomfield. Again, where else can you find alleys and storefronts with such individuality. Check out the photostream for more images.

Images of April, 2009

Muses

During April, my photography travels included the Carnegie Museum of Art and our cabin in Potter County, Pennsylvania.

I had a fun reunion with a college sorority sister of mine at the museum. It was interesting trying to catch up after about 25 years while walking and commenting on our favorite pieces. Amazing how bridges built so long ago still stand strong!

Potter County was incredible! It always surprises me to be there when the fields are bare and walkable. The previous year's wildflower stalks are flattened and you can see everything on the ground. Winter's and nature's harshness is evident - skulls and branches intertwine. More evidence of such in the photostream.

Images of March, 2009

Colorful Shopping

I spent two days in Annapolis, MD in March with my manager, Lynne. Our primary reason for the trip was a show at The Cade Gallery at Anne Arundel Community College in which I had four photographs. Not only was it a great exhibit, but we found everyone we encountered in the Annapolis area wonderful! The weather was very nice, too. Another photographic opportunity I enjoyed in March was a foggy morning at a nearby park and the Allegheny River.

Image of February, 2009

Now that I have your attention .....

Continuing my review of 2009 pictures, here is an example from February. I often find interesting comments on dumpsters, this one from Joga's Foreign Cars on Baum Boulevard. Other February shots on my flickr photostream.

Wishing you all the best this season!

Image of the Week

Inauguration Day

I realized recently that it might be a good idea this month to catch up on some of the photographs that I have taken during this year before the formal launching of my blog. Therefore, the Image of the Week this week is from January 20, 2009. On that day, I was in Naples, FL and thought writing in the sand would be a good way to express my feelings.

The photo stream to the right holds some more of the images I took during that trip. I hope the sunlight warms you during this cold snap!

Image of the Week

Weeds with a Dusting

As I write this, the temperature outside in Pittsburgh is 60 degrees with a full moon highlighting the tree silhouettes. This afternoon, we and our neighbors were busy hanging outside decorations for the coming holiday and enjoying the spring-like temperatures. The picture above, however, was taken 5 years ago during the first week of December, reminding us that winter weather is coming. This week's average temperature is supposed to be 45 degrees, a big dip!

If you haven't made your holiday card selection yet, I would be glad to photograph your home decorated for the holidays, your family or your pet for your holiday greeting card. My shoot fee is $50. Note cards come in various styles and prices. Please check out the flickr photostream for some holiday card examples.

I also offer a wide range of photographic gifts including prints, note cards, note pads, clocks and 2010 calendars. My contact information is:

Phone (412)963-1864

E-mail fcimagesllc@gmail.com

I wish you all a peaceful and joyous holiday season!

Image of the Week

Aspinwall Alley

I promise, the last leaf picture of the season! I love the color of the vines that grow on the old buildings in Aspinwall, PA, especially in the alleys that support walking and driving around the borough. The one above connects Commercial Avenue with First Street. I walk it at least once a month on my way to Chich at Lu Chic. It is always a great visit - lots of laughs, old friends and a reasonable head of hair for a few hours! More alley shots in flickr.

Image of the Day!

Happy, Haunted Halloween!

Image(s) of the Week

Elephant

Sea Lion

October is a wonderful time to visit one of the many gems of the Pittsburgh area - the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Cooler temps and bright sun make the residents giddy (my word!) and glad be outside in their wonderful surroundings to either lounge or wrestle for their audience. I have wonderful memories of taking my sons to the annual Boo Zoo and Zoo Lights. Not to rush things guys, but I can't wait to take my grandchildren there!

Fall Leaves

Fall Colors

Creek

A Dancer's Grace

I love the transition seasons of fall and spring, but especially fall. My manager, Lynne, would say that my love for the season is because I love taking pictures of leaves. She's right, I do. But, I also love the brisk temperatures, the Steelers, fires in the fireplace, pumpkin soup and the start of the holiday season. See more of my favorite fall pictures in my flickr photostream.

Image of the Week

Polka Dots are In - but maybe not on pumpkins!

Exhibition News

If you are out and about, I have two images in the .....

Pittsburgh Society of Artists

2009 Annual Member Exhibition

Borelli Edwards Galleries

3583 Butler Street

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15201

412.687.2606

www.begalleries.com

Gallery Hours: Tuesday to Friday, 11 - 6 and Saturday, 11 - 5

October 3rd to October 17th

Opening Reception

Saturday, October 3rd

6 to 8:30 pm

Hope you can stop in and see the great show!

Arsenal Park

Historic Plaque

Oak

Love Bench

Most recently in the local news as the staging site for anarchists protesting the G20 Summit, Arsenal Park is actually a lovely, historic oasis. I spent a sunny Sunday afternoon shooting there four days before the Summit. I found it to be a park full of history, nature and love.

Judging a Photography Exhibit

I have been lucky to photograph a number of beautiful gardens in the Fox Chapel area. Three pictures from those shoots are shown above. Today, I had the honor to be a judge for a photography exhibit as part of The Garden Club of Allegheny County's In-Club Flower Show at the Phipps Garden Center. I accompanied two GCA judges and was encouraged to offer my views and comments on the 24 submissions. The exhibit was wonderful! I had a lot of fun as well as learning a lot about judging, horticulture and photography. What a great group of women doing what they love!

In Memory, September 11

Sky, September 14, 2001

Shadows Remind Us, March 11, 2002

Image of the Week

August Night, Potter County, PA

Attention BMW Aficionados!

I had the honor to photograph this retired BMW Isetta at Bill Ballon Automotive in Lawrenceville last week. (www.billballonauto.com) Bill has a model on the floor which he's refurbishing as this 1950's model has become quite the collector's item. Only about 13,000 of these tiny, front-doored two-seaters were sold.

Image of the Week

Self-Portrait July, 2009

Tomorrow night, I will be one of the Silver Eye members who speaks about his or her image in the current exhibit celebrating Silver Eye's 30th anniversary. I have quite a few pictures in my self-portrait folder, none of which show my face. The 'self' I see, is basically diverse parts I approve of at the time of shooting or items which provide me happiness in life such as shoes, flowers, wine or family members; not necessarily in that order. What would you photograph as your self-portrait? Let me know!

Photography and Faith Part II

Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken, a hymn from the Episcopal hymnal, immediately had me reflecting on photography and faith. Written by John Newton (1725-1807) with music by Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), this old standard is quite visual in its teaching. For example, "...on the Rock of Ages founded, what can shake thy sure repose?" - I could not help but think of the rocky coast of Maine.

"See! the streams of

living waters, springing

from eternal love....."

"Who can faint when

such a river, ever will

their thirst assuage?....."

"See the cloud and fire appear for a glory and a covering....."

Silver Eye Appearance Announcement

Exhibiting Photographers Speak Thursday, September 3, 7:00 p.m. Join contributing photographers from Self Portrait: Silver Eye at 30 for a discussion of their experiences and inspirations for these photographs. The photographers featured are: Karen Antonelli, Sandra M. Moore, John A. Fobes, Shirleah Kelly, Michael Rosella, Ruthanne F. Bauerle, Malgorzata Mosied, Lori Hepner, Bernie Peace, and Tim Doyle. Admission is free.

Image of the Week

Iowa Corn Field and Silos

I just spent five great days on the road with my friend, Lynne, and her dog, Walker. We headed west to pick up another dog and saw the most wonderful countryside en route and back. It is amazing how much corn and soybeans are planted across Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. The weather was perfect and the people were wonderful!

Image of the Week

Wildflowers in Potter County

Wildflowers are great. They just sprout 'wildly' with abandon and when you try to arrange them, they do it themselves. The Queen Anne's Lace stands nobly, the yarrow bows and the daisies stand at attention.

With background softened by the porch screen and mountain fog, the flowers stand out in a jar unearthed from the ancestral garbage dump near the old outhouse. So many gems combined!

Happy Anniversary, Woodstock!

Merriconeag Yachting Association Boat House and Dock, 2008

What a celebration over last weekend - the WSJ and NYT reminisced, VH1 Classic ran a documentary and XM Radio devoted a station, number 40, to Woodstock. I don't know about you, but for me, last weekend had many 'Where were you during Woodstock?' moments. In case you were wondering, I was in Harpswell, ME visiting my mother's family. Cousins were bountiful among the three sisters and the three 15 year-olds, of which I was one in 1969, were very anxious to be older that summer. Army jackets, bare feet, cigarette and beer sneaking were the norm as we hung out at the local yacht club. On Sunday morning, we discovered an older cousin asleep on the club couch after hitchhiking home from Woodstock. Although trying to be older that summer, I had no real understanding about the event and its historic and cultural significance. I was more interested in the box of Dunkin Doughnuts he picked up on the way than any of my cousin's tales!

Image of the (Last) Week

A Boy and His Kayak

Family vacation - 2009. Short and sweet, but rainy. Trying to take advantage of the moist situation, I shot the fog, rushing creek and puddle reflections. Occasional clear nights allowed bonfires and moonlit excursions. Fresh air, spring water and unique bird sightings rounded out a splendid time.

Seminar Reunion

Last evening, Peter, Ruth and I had a double reunion of sorts at the opening reception for Along These Rivers at Carnegie Library. Having taken the blogging seminar together, it was fun to reunite at an exhibit in which we were all included. In the picture above, we are standing in front of Peter's images.

Image(s) of the Week

Several weeks ago, I enjoyed a tour of an old, historic Fox Chapel home with a high school class mate of mine. We hadn't seen each other in ages, so it was fun to catch up and shoot around the area he grew up. We photographed bamboo, different, but now natural to the area, the pond, the barn and things stowed away over the years. The bottles certainly caught our attention as they caught the light through the barn window.

Collections seem to be the trend for the images these first two weeks. Perhaps next week it will be a different topic.

Photography and Faith

On July 28th, John Craig posted on his facebook page, "let's talk about photography & faith...anybody interested?" Two others and I are interested in such a discussion with John.

I thought that posting several photographs motivated by my faith would be a good beginning. I often see physical representations of my belief in nature, such as heaven and angels. I also think that forests were the first blueprints of cathedrals.

Perhaps these views came to me genetically - my mother rarely felt comfortable with organized religion. She always said that nature was her church.

Heaven Breaks Through

Cathedral

Angels Linger Above

Image of the Week

Does anyone really know what time it is?

I love photographing the collections found in antique stores. This one is from Right Stuff in Coudersport, Potter County. Other collections I have spotted are keys, buttons and sassy little salt and pepper sets. Remember those? I am always looking for more collections to photograph, so contact me with any suggestions.

Exhibition Schedule

Sweetwater Center for the Arts

200 Broad Street, Sewickley, PA 15143

Continuing until August 14, I have one photograph in Magic, Alchemy & Shamanism,juried by Steve Mendelson and Terry Shutko. Gallery hours are M - Th 9 to 9; F - S 9 to 5; and closed Sunday. Gallery link at sweetwaterartcenter.org and phone at 412.741.4405.

Silver Eye Center for Photography

1015 East Carson Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Continuing until September 12, I have one photograph in Self Portrait: Silver Eye at 30, a non-juried exhibit honoring Silver Eye's 30th Anniversary. A comment about my image was posted at http://craig-photography.blogspot.com/2009/07/wine-shadow.html. Gallery hours are W - F 12 to 6; Sat 11 to 5; and closed S - T. Gallery link at silvereye.org and phone at 412.431.1810.

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Beginning August 6, I will have three photographs in Along These Rivers: Poetry and Photography from Pittsburgh. This exhibit continues the celebration of the well-received book, Along These Rivers, published in 2008 to honor Pittsburgh's 250th Anniversary. An opening reception will take place on August 6 from 6 to 7:30. The exhibit will run through the month of August.

Mendelson Gallery

5874 Ellsworth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Beginning September 4, I will have one photograph in Salon Des Refusee for the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh. Steve Mendelson has chosen pieces for this exhibit not accepted for the 99th Annual Exhibit of the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh. An opening reception will take place on September 4 from 6 to 9. Gallery hours are W - S 12 to 5 or by appointment. Gallery link at mendelsongallery.net and phone at 412.361.8664.

Something New and Different

I have moved into the next phase of social media. I know, I know; I kicked and fussed about moving from film in the darkroom to digital at the computer, but here we are and here it is - my first real blog posting! Many thanks to John Craig and his inspiring, two-part Purposeful Blogging Workshop held at Silver Eye Center for Photography. (John's blog http://craig-photography.blogspot.com/)

Please bookmark my blog address or become a follower and check back regularly. Blogging for me will be a process, but I will be likely to include journal entries and information about current exhibits, future photography endeavors and life topics which interest me and, I hope, will interest you. I will have a section with links to flickr.com where I will post recent photos and links to other blogs and destinations. As always, I welcome comments, questions and debate.