February favorites

post # 372
        I haven't finished my photo favorites from 2017 yet, so that's where I'm going today. I'm skipping spring, for now, and instead going right to February last year. But since there wasn't much snow then, compared to this year, I plan to end today's post with a few photos from this morning....
         First off, four from the pond. I made these particular photos in conjunction with the semester photo class I began a year ago. In the first photo, I was trying to show wind. (This summer I had all that broom sage cut back. It indicates that the ground is not totally healthy, but in addition it got to be pretty depressing to see it all around me all winter instead of some vegetation variations, and the colors of snow.

The house and pond area:

cattails, winter mode, beloved by red-wing blackbirds in the early spring

the waterfall area:

winter green I

winter green II, and 2 family members

winter green III

 a different kind of winter morning, seen from inside the house:

     This winter, in December, a never-seen-before-by-me sunset scene,
 

    and a few views from this morning:

my trusty, empty barn

A complete change of subject:

        This afternoon I have also watched an excellent documentary on KET about John Lewis, Civil Rights Icon from Alabama, who has kept a lifetime focus on how to Keep Our Eyes on the Prize.  His mantra, from his mother, has been FIND A WAY TO GET IN THE WAY.  His life story reveals the extreme dedication required of our citizens to provide desperately needed social change, and I am awed by the loyalty to principle that continues to be so necessary.  I wish I had known earlier in my life that I could be a photographer to honor history being made -- to remind us how now we are the ones who must continue to make history.

barns in the neighborhood

post #334
           My semester's photo class is almost finished! I have enjoyed this community of student photographers, each with his or her own vision. Plus I have even learned some things I have put off learning for years. In these last photos for the class, I was just trying to go with what's around, which is what I usually do. I had even invited students out to use my barn in photos, if they wanted, but then I realized I should first do it myself!  I guess we could consider this an audition for my barn....

   This first photo may be better for art than for the farm. This broom sage grass is only a sign that the soil is poor. And I have a whole small field of it. This needs my attention over the next few years, and I will try to do what I can. In the meantime, art.

       I haven't cropped these photos, and there are a couple of places that some photoshopping would perhaps be welcome, but I am focusing on the design of things and the feel of the place. That's just my preferred way to do my photos most of the time.

       I've passed this red barn almost every day of the 40+ years I've lived here, but last week the clear evening light, the clouds, and the grasses growing in the field, all made it speak to me in new ways. Sounds corny, but really that's how it works for me.

If anyone wants to come by for some barn photo time, just email me at annphoto@mrtc.com.  Or for now, just enjoy these few photos.       Ann