suffering for my art

While working in my garden the other night, I noticed being bathed in a velvety pink light. The sunset/cloud combination was a stunner and as a budding photojournalist, I ran for the trusty Nikon.

I've been working on perspective....trying to see things and take pictures from unexpected angles.  I'm looking for the unconventional, interesting 'arty' shot.

I was trying to capture the gorgeousness of the sky while having the lovely blooming yuccas in the foreground.  To accomplish this, I kept lowering the camera and lowering my perspective until my side laid on the bare ground.

That's when I sensed the rapidly-spreading, searing pain.  I looked for a fire ant bed.  I looked for cactus thorns.  All I knew was my arm, hip and lower leg felt flaming and I was an uncomfortable distance (being injured and all)  from my house.

Jogging back to the house with the precious camera swinging around my neck, I hoped my throat wouldn't close up in a bout of anaphylactic shock.  Would the Texan come looking for me?  Did he know I was out here in mortal allergic danger?  Would I collapse in a heap 'o hives onto the surrounding cholla?

  

Sorry for the disgustingly graphic image.  I'm a blogger and I over-share.
Blessedly, I made it inside and dove for the shower and the Benadryl. I recounted to the Texan of my brush with death and he ASSURED me he did not know where I was, nor would he have looked for me until much later. He did seem impressed with the rash, though.

This was the type of shot I was going for. Yucca in foreground, breath-taking clouds in background. Me on ground in inappropriate clothing for rugged country breaking out in welts.  Glorious pinkness all around.

It's the classic artist tale. The more we suffer, the crazier we are...

...the more creative and highly lauded our art. Think Van Gogh, Mozart and Sylvia Plath. Think of the tortured blogger who parodied Thornton Wilder's classic play, Our Town,  with prairie dog photos!

Can you think of other talented, crazy artists? Tell me...I'm all ears. For now, anyway.

take a closer look

Think I vastly overestimated my brain's learning capacity by purchasing a Nikon d3000 SLR camera.  Some days I'm getting it, other days.....well, not so much.  There are mulititudes of details involved in operating this camera and then throw in processing the shots in Photoshop Elements!  It's lots of new stuff to learn and I'm the type to beat myself up for not understanding how to operate these things.  Oh, the struggles and travails of attempting to be a life-long learner.......

Instead of flogging myself with a wet tube sock or sorrowfully eating boatloads of mini-marshmallows, I'll share some of my recent photos with you.  I've been concentrating on macro shots.  Pioneer Woman is having a macro photo contest.  My pics never make it among her favorites.  However, this photographic endeavor has forced me to slow down and look at things more closely.  The joy is the journey....remember?  Truly observe.

Here is a macro shot of a hibiscus. See what beauty lies within?

The youngest sprout played with these small, magnetic beads on a recent trip.

My horse's ears. We're off the road for now. He has an injury and needs time to heal. Bummer....I love riding this horse. Lord willing, we shall return!!

This shot is full of loveliness and grace. It makes me happy.

Doesn't get any more beautiful than this.....my nephew's baby!

This next subject has a considerably different profile. Wiener dogs have the funniest shapes and angles.  What was the Creator thinking?!

I'm not so proficient with my photoshop skills, but this is one of my favorites. This is my grand-dog, Rose. The color and the processing remind me of photos from my childhood.  Wish I could remember how I achieved it.  Sort of a 1950's or 1960's dog shot. My daughter-in-law says the angle makes Rose look like Wile E. Coyote.  What do you think??

OK, so sue me. You KNEW there'd be more dachshund shots, didn't you?? This photo captures Roxy-Doxy perfectly. It just reeks of EARNESTNESS, don't you think?  Wiener dogs are supremely earnest creatures.

Thanks for looking at the photos. They may not be award-winning, but they inspire and remind me to keep taking a closer look and appreciate the loveliness of the small things. Exceedingly wonderful things surround us. I'm enjoying my journey.  Hope you are enjoying yours as well.