Black and White Inspiration…

My daughter tagged me on Facebook to do a Black and White Photo Challenge a little while ago.  The challenge was to post a black and white photo every day for five days.  When she first tagged me, I simply didn’t have enough time to get it done.  I wasn’t spending much time with my camera or my computer except for mostly “work” related things, but I put it in the back of my mind and determined to get to it.  And I did and will post the five photos today.

When I first saw the tag, I kind of cringed internally because I really didn’t have time for it, but ultimately I was glad for the tag.  It got me out with my camera and thinking about what to do during this kind of difficult time between fall and real winter when things outside are rather dull.  I have found over the years that if you look hard enough, there is always something interesting to be seen.  But the simple practice of inspiration is often not that easy to come by and a little push is appreciated.

So starting in January (or maybe before), I think I might embark on a Fifty-two Week photo project.  Problem is I am not sure what theme I want to go with.  I did one a few years back when I took a Purple Monkey with me everywhere and got him into all sorts of situations.  He’s here on my Flickr site.  But what to do next…  If you have a suggestion, I’m more than willing to consider it.  Meanwhile, I am going to do my best to not let the hype of the Season get me down.

Yes, I'm bad at math, but I do know there are more than five photos here.  There are a couple of rejects amongst them.

Honoring "Snowflake" Bentley...

Last night at the Massasoit Art Guild meeting (Photography branch), our chair Dayle brought a cool DVD for us to watch.  (Thanks, Dayle!)  I say “cool” for a couple of reason.  The DVD was about Wilson Bentley or “Snowflake”Bentley as he became to be known.  He is the reason we know that no two snowflakes are alike.  Around the turn of the 20^th Century, he began photographing individual snowflakes, a difficult and painstaking task that he stuck to like a tongue on a frozen pole.  His photography alone is amazing but his tenacity is even more amazing.  He loved snow and he wanted to share his love of snow.

 

I have mixed feelings toward snow myself.  I mostly love it.  I love the way it muffles the sound and brightens up a dull winter landscape.  I think it is beautiful on bright winter days.  But as I get older, I do fear the treachery of ice, which, of course, can be a byproduct of snow.  I don’t want to slip and fall.  I don’t want to skid my car into a tree.  Still, I think ice has its place in nature’s warehouse of beauty.  And I like looking at it.  It's like the art glass of nature.  I’m no Snowflake Bentley when it comes to photography.  The kind of work he did is beyond my wildest abilities.  But I am going to share a few photos I’ve taken of ice in the last few years. 

While today our weather is in the deep freeze, it really is the first winter snap we’ve had (not counting our freak Halloween snowstorm) so I don’t have too many current ice pictures.  I’m sure they’ll come though.  We do live in New England after all.