Blue Bottle

Another enhanced photo from Rose's Folie.

"Blue Bottle" - enhanced digital photo

2015 Wall Calendar

I really enjoy coming up with a new wall calendar each year; don't ask me why. Here we are only in August and I've created my 2015 calendar all ready. I hope you like it.

Here's the link to purchase: 2015 Wall Calendar

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

Millefiori

The following image arose from a dire need to be creative this evening. I like the results. The original photo was of a piece of rust on an iron wheel (see below). I love what one can create through Photoshop.

"Millefiori" - Enhanced Digital Photo

Unnamed Digital Photo

Still Life With Pie

"Still Life With Pie" - Enhanced Digital Photo

This certainly falls under the heading of "simple pleasures." Pie for breakfast with a good cup of coffee. In this case a lemon/coconut custard impossible pie. Impossibly delicious!

Health Insurance & Easter Candy

"Malted Milk Easter Eggs" - enhanced digital photo

Now I suppose you're wondering what one has to do with the other. Well, they both make me very happy.

Seriously, I've been battling the system trying my hardest to obtain a health insurance policy which I can afford since the beginning of the year. I would think that I had the system beat only to have it turn around and beat me. Finally, yesterday, the struggle was over and I received confirmation of the coverage that I wanted and some proof of insurance with which to file a claim.

This morning, I made my twice monthly trip to Walgreens to get one of my prescriptions filled. I love Walgreens because they have been working with me every step of the way. While I didn't have any health insurance, they enrolled me in their prescription plan so that I was only paying about 60% of what my scrips cost.

Both the pharmacist and I held our breath while she entered the numbers from my plan into the system and voila! I had a successful claim! I saved enough on my prescription to purchase a half gallon of milk, my favorite Easter candy and a very reasonably priced big bottle of cabernet sauvignon and still have $25 left over out of my scrip budget. 

Woohoo! Life is good! At least, for today. :D

Morning Cup

"Morning Cup" - enhanced digital photo

I love ceramic coffee mugs. I bought this one at a consignment shop about a year ago and it's my favorite because of its shape, size and color. I also enjoy coffee this half and half and that explains the paleness of the contents. 

I have a feeling I just may be doing a series of morning coffee enhanced photos as I have quite the collection of photos of beautifully served lattes in my NYC album.

New Red Shoes

"Red Sandals" - enhanced digital photo

I'm not sure when my obsession began with red shoes. Like most of my obsessions (right, like I have so many) the idea crept upon me slowly and was just a suggestion in the back of my mind, incubating in my subconscious. And then, one day, it just sprung on me! Although I talk about red shoes a lot, this pair of sandals is only the third pair of crimson footwear to make it to my collection. But... you can be sure there will be others! ;-)

Full Moon Rising

Last week on the full moon, I caught it rising over the marshy lowlands of South Carolina. What a beautiful sight!

"Full Moon Over The Marsh" - enhanced digital photo

Garden Spot

I love unexpected and semi-secret gardens. St. Augustine seems to have as many of them as Savannah!

"Garden Spot" - enhanced digital photo

Church Candles

Part of the day trip to St. Augustine included a visit to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine - well worth the visit. 

"Church Candles" - enhanced digital photo

Daytripping

A couple of weeks ago I made a day trip to St. Augustine. The day was drizzly and overcast but still I found some interesting things to shoot during my journey. One site which I had not seen since I was eight years old was the old fort there. It was just as I remembered, only maybe a little smaller. Or, maybe I am just a little bigger!

"Fort At St. Augustine" - enhanced digital photograph

Tulips At The Farmers Market

"Tulips At The Market" - enhanced digital photo

I absolutely love visiting the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings in Forsyth Park and seeing, touching, smelling and tasting the best of the best of what this area has to offer in the way of produce. This time of year, tulips blaze like jewels and I couldn't resist snapping a couple of photos as I made my way through the crowd.

"Tulips & Shadows" - enhanced digital photo

Roses in the Alley

"Roses In The Alley" - Enhanced Digital Collage

The photo from yesterday's blog post inspired this enhanced photo. I love the colors and textures which comprise this image. 

Rainy Day Deck

Even a rainy day can be a source of inspiration.

"Rainy Day Deck" - Enhanced Digital Photo

Source Photo for "Rainy Day Deck"

Ablaze

A  sunset can be very prosaic, but occasionally you'll see one that isn't!

"Ablaze" - Enhanced Digital Photo

Source photo for "Ablaze"

Camellias & Azaleas

"Camellias & Azaleas" - Enhanced Digital Photo

Believe it or not, I haven't always been a fan of digital photography and digital photo manipulation. You couldn't tell it from the way I love to play with photos. 

Recently, my mother brought in some cut camellia and azalea blossoms from the yard and floated them in a floaty thingy (technical term). Of course I found them to be extremely photo worthy. Below is the "before"  photo and the one above is the "after." ;-)

From Green To Orange

"Orange Lizard" - digital collage

Remember that cute little lizard from yesterday? Well, I couldn't keep myself from playing with his photo. I love creating digital collages and producing unusual effects. This is the finished product, but below are all the layers and elements I used to create it.

Top Layer

Middle Layer - "Tangy Zoodle #35"

Bottom Layer - "Bomomo #018"

Procrastination

The good thing about an artist is that they see the world in such an interesting way. The bad thing about an artist is that they see the world in such an interesting way. This ability to see "more" often leads to time lost. The shoe rack which I so proudly installed in my closet 10 months ago has come undone under the weight of my footgear. In disgust, I tossed the resulting mess into the middle of the floor and then couldn't help but photograph it. 

Then, I just had to turn the photograph into interesting artistic images. And, of course, I had to tell the rest of the world about it.

As a result, time has passed, but the shoes are still in a big pile in the middle of the floor of my bedroom. But don't you just love the way the reflective materials in some of my walking shoes captured and returned the flash? I guess this is just another way to stop and smell the roses. (No, I didn't actually "smell" the shoes.)

Maybe tomorrow I'll have the problem fixed. 

Savannah Series Continues

Last week I posted the first three collages of my new Savannah series and this week I'm happy to be able to post three more! 

"Pirate House Window" - 5x7 - mixed media collage
The Pirate House is one of the oldest standing buildings in Savannah and contains much history as well as many ghosts.

"Red Lion" - 6x6 - mixed  media collage
Once again, I've featured the proud beast who silently sits in front of the Cotton Exchange and watches everything that happens on Bay Street.

"Factor's Walk" - 6x6 - mixed media collage
This area was the center of commerce back in the day when cotton was king.

The Savannah Series - Brave Mascot

Another collage from the Savannah Series. This one features the winged lion statue in front of the Cotton Exchange. Both the exchange and the winged lion, also known as the Red Lion, have an interesting history. 

"Brave Mascot" - 6x6 - Mixed Media Collage