Heading off into a new year!

Heading off into a new year!, a photo by rosy outlook on Flickr.

Another year. 2012 to be exact and we're all here.
I had an epiphany a few days ago that maybe the Mayans weren't marking the end of the world for 2012 but the end of the sad state the world would be in.
Perhaps 2012 will mark a new era of hope and peace and positive change.
Wouldn't that be something?
And maybe, just maybe if we all hold that thought and do our part with acts of kindness, a more positive outlook and not being so hard on our ourselves it could happen.
I know I haven't been around much and I purposely have not shot much in the last little while.
I needed time to recharge and reboot.
Last night I mentioned that I loved New Year's Eve. Not for the parties and craziness (so not me) but because it holds all the promise of a brand-new year with its challenges and changes and opportunities.
The Mr. and I had a quiet evening last night. We watched "Bill Cunningham New York" on DVD.
zeitgeistfilms.com/billcunninghamnewyork/
It was wonderful to see someone so joyful in their work as a photographer, a man who lived by the simple credo that "He who seeks beauty will find it."
I highly recommend it to everyone, whether you're interested in street photography, fashion, New York city, seeing the world through the eyes of an artist, learning from someone who never sold out and yet by all accounts, never took a "mean photo of anyone, when God knows he could have".

This year, I think I will concentrate less on the cameras, the gear and just make the photos that make me happy.
And, I promise to share more here on flickr.
Other things have gotten in the way or, I must confess, held my attention for awhile, but it's here that I am allowed to grow, thanks to the contacts and friends I've made and the common passion we share.
So, I'm raising my New Year's mug of morning coffee to you all...
Thanks for helping me through 2011 and accompanying me into a brand new year!

Photo details: early morning porch view jammie cam.
It may appears similar to other shots, just like this morning may seem similar to other winter mornings.
But nothing stays the same. The borough has cut my "framing branch" (see note). I don't know why (it worked perfectly for my photographic purposes ;D). They also replaced my old school green plank bench with this fancy curved wooden slat one. I'm still trying to get used to it.
My river however, has stayed the same in its constant changing beauty from one season to the next.

TGI ~~fence friday~~ Spooky edition

TGI ~~fence friday~~ Spooky edition ;D, a photo by rosy outlook on Flickr.

By a thread

By a thread, a photo by rosy outlook on Flickr.

Notes from the asylum

Notes from the asylum, a photo by rosy outlook on Flickr.

Processing summer

Processing summer, a photo by rosy outlook on Flickr.

So many flowers in bloom, so many textures and processing. I am having so much fun exploring all the options...

An Iris growing in a city sidewalk box...



Bleeding hearts, the last from my garden...

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal."

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.", a photo by rosy outlook on Flickr.

Happy Memorial Day to my American friends and family.
Remembering everyone that has passed today and each and every day cherishing the memories of the love we shared.

Sunday, SUNday!

Sunday, SUNday!, a photo by rosy outlook on Flickr.

It wasn't much of SUN day here. Another dreary weekend. Caught up with things around the house, worked on a few translations (to have more time for a larger writing project next week) and basically amused myself playing around with effects and textures in Lightroom and Photoshop.

I always thought that I would take up painting and I find with textures, it fulfills that desire in me and yet, no brushes to wash, no paint to store! =D

I guess my next step will be to create textures of my own. I've done a few and liked the process of the final product being totally mine.

But for now, there are some great sources out there.

Florabella, Shadowhouse Creations and Kim Klassen to name a few.

Be sure to check them out and give textures a whirl, but be forewarned, they are highly addictive!

This shot was taken in my kitchen, last year around the same time of the year. If I am not mistaken those flowers are from a large bouquet the Mr. bought me for our anniversary. The florist loves to mix everything together into this one huge bouquet... I like to deconstruct it and place flowers by color or type or composition in smaller vases and pots around the house.
These small lily-type flowers last forever.
I placed them in a copper jug that was my mom's. She had a great copper collection... mostly things for display. Great molds and pans and jugs and such. I only took this one after she passed. I am not much for displays, but I think she would be happy to see that I use it often, filling it with flowers and placing it on my white kitchen table.

The texture used here is one of my favorites from Kim Klassen. I've used it many times before, including here: