…. the many moods of light and dark contrasts.

Not having my archives with me while visiting in Michigan is really a God send.  I am forced to think about what is right here in Adrian that fits into the FSO topic.  I can’t be lazy (NOT say’n that those who use their archives are lazy – just that I have been….)  I spent a few hours yesterday looking at photography websites, reading up on what makes good contrast photos, and how to accomplish it.  There was information on both use of color and of using Black and White, and using small subjects in a large area to gain contrast in size.  All of it was interesting but what really interest me was using black and white or deep shadow – so off I went this morning with my camera set on Black and White under the ‘scene’ settings and the auto set on color so I could go back and forth between the two, and after nearly two hours of walking around lake Adrian and through trestle park I had plenty of shots taken with purpose that I can be proud of.  Here are a few examples, comments and suggestions are welcome. 




  
 

through the fence…..

This topic congers up romantic visions doesn’t it?  For the FSO we have had this topic twice before; January 2010 and May of 2012.  I am going to quote myself from the first post on fences, this is not an ego trip, I promise, but I said something apropos to today’s thought and will use the same words again to jump start this week, “… thinking back, thinking about all the places, the towns large and small, that I have visited, I began to see that FENCES are one of the details about towns that give it its distinctive flavor. Fences reflect base cultures. The designs reflect the personalities of its inhabitants. They show how the town’s people relate to others, its neighbors and its visitors. Even no fences tells us something about the towns and its people. …”  

This week I am once again writing from Adrian Michigan.  Visiting with my sister and her family, and spending extended time with my mother.  Walking this small town and carrying my camera about, I began looking for examples of the 4 topics that will pass while I am here.  My knowledge of this town is pretty extensive.  I lived here as a teen and a young mother, have been back routinely to visit and have seen the town now, this month, through new eyes – the FSO eyes. Unlike Houston with its high cedar, often rickety looking fences and Nova Friburgo’s high concrete block, vine covered walls, Adrian does not have fencing.  Oh, there are some breaks between properties, but they are open wire giving a clear view through the neighbors yard and often on to the next street.  Here there seems to be wide expanses of green and everyone’s trees and flowers to enjoy. The fences are not connected at the corners or have gates that say ‘stay out’; they are just pieces of fence to hold a rose bush, sweet peas or what seems to be a town favorite – a trumpet vine.  

Not having been to ALL cities (towns or villages) of the world and not having made a scientific, psychological study of towns I can’t say for sure why we have these differences but I will go out on a limb and say that in large cities with their teeming masses, there seems to be a deep need to close out all the unknown people, mark your space, keep it private, and in small towns like Adrian there is not a need, nor a possibility to keep your neighbors out, at arms length.  They know all your business regardless of fencing.  You know their names and the names of their children.  You know when they bought their last new sofa!  At least in this small northern city fences are not part of the landscape and it is fun to give some thought as to why.

  

Just Odd

I drive myself crazy; not all the time but often.  When packing to come to Adrian, I packed my external drive, the one that contains all my photo archives to be prepared for FSO and other blog entries; hauled the MY Book all the way across the country and LEFT the power supply in Houston.  You all have to be patient, the only photos I have are the ones I took while crossing the country from south to north and photos of Adrian I have been snapping since arriving.  I knew ODD was coming up on the schedule and have been on the lookout for possibilities but where is my hometown exactly, and what I could feature in order to participate have been big questions.   I am in an ODD place.

I spent some time looking through photos from New Orleans, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan – ignoring that none of these places are where I might call my hometown for the Friday Shoot Out and looked for possible odd number subjects that might meet our topic this week:  here are my contributions

Botanical Gardens Birmingham Alabama

I counted the lily pads 10 plus the bud in the lower left corner – 11 – ODD.

One (odd) triple blossom Purple Datura Metel  (you have my word on it)

And finally – Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky – Just ODD

have a great week – Ginger V

Finding Warmth -

I had several phone conversations with my sister in Michigan before I packed my bags, got in the car and drove all the way north.  I can clearly remember her saying, “Be sure to bring shorts and light tops because June is HOT.”  I brought one light sweater and one long sleeve ‘warmer’ shirt and everything else is light / airy / cool.  So far I’ve been wrapped in the sweater most days.  If the sun is shining and you are standing in the sun the feeling of warmth is perfect, but stand in shadow, sit in the house, stand in the wind and it is – guess what – COLD.  Having lived 40 years in the south and even farther south, South America, I think that her definition of Hot and mine are very far apart.  Is just a matter of blood thickness and mental preparedness. 

This week I walked in the Hidden Lake Gardens in the Irish Hills of southern Michigan and found colors that warm us.  Hope you enjoy.

 

Vintage New Orleans

I didn’t have anything to do with planning the topic for this week, I promise.  This week I am traveling from Houston to Michigan to spend the month of June with my mother.  This July Mom will be 91, so I don’t think I should miss any opportunity to spend quality time with her.  I also am having the pleasure of traveling with Rosemary (RioRose) who left Brasil in September of 2009 but has remained a friend and, by another coincidence, is now living in Michigan.  Funny how the world moves in certain directions.  This last week she flew to Houston in order to ride shotgun on my drive to Michigan.  Her one request….. to see New Orleans.  Without much enthusiasm I agreed to go that direction.  First thing I see, a sign for a store called ‘Vintage’.  Okay so I went a little crazy.  What an opportunity.  Meet Vintage New Orleans: where French Provincial meets the Wild West.

For those outside the USA, those not familiar with our most historic Southern city, a bit of data is needed.  Officially founded in 1718, the city sits on the Mississippi delta.  The area has proven archeological sites that date back to 400 AD., with the French hunting and trading the length of the Mississippi River from around the 1690s.  There are blocks and blocks of vintage New Orleans. 

Sprinkled among buildings built in the 20th and 21st centuries are classically French buildings from the 18th and 19th century.  What a pleasure for me.  Many of the older buildings are in need of repair, of love and attention, but many have been lovingly restored.  The upper floors apartments and the lower, ground floors full of museums and crafts stores.  We saw hand painted masks, 5 artist rotating minding the store to show the merely curious and those enthusiastically shopping, how the motifs of the masks are designed and executed.  There was a shop full of looms with intricate rag rugs hanging on the walls and cats needing adoption lounging on every surface.  Vintage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vintage style from a time of wealth and influence. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found that in the 20 years or since I last visited this city, it has been upgraded and improved.  There is a new walkway along the river, a casino, and a huge aquarium, and I am sure much more.  Except for Bourbon street which I find a pretty disgusting thing to see, the city left me enthused, ready to return to further explore and enjoy.

To enjoy a few more photos click the link below.

New Orleans VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL