typos.daylight.fate

2009-12-19T08:13:00.015-05:00

Thursday and Friday's commute - Penn and subways and LIRR. Self portrait even - one has my accidental thumb on it but it still works and gives it a claustrophobic feeling.

Today we have blizzard warning. Let it snow, I guess.

2009-12-17T23:06:00.012-05:00

Variations, drafts - summer (not) in the city. A northern girl, not a Northern Song.

Well East coast girls are hip
I really dig those styles they wear
And the Southern girls with the way they talk
They knock me out when I'm down there

The Mid-West farmer's daughters really make you feel alright
And the Northern girls with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night

I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls

The West coast has the sunshine
And the girls all get so tanned
I dig a french bikini on Hawaii island
Dolls by a palm tree in the sand

I been all around this great big world
And I seen all kinds of girls
Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back in the states
Back to the cutest girls in the world

I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California
I wish they all could be California girls

I took out the last refrain. This song is magical.

Ask Santa to buy ya The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" in Mono if you do not have it. It is truly amazing.

My best.

2009-12-17T07:33:00.003-05:00

"au.gust"

Simple Simon sampled - renegade quilt maker that I am. Recently I have asked for permission to use images from two blogs and I have gotten no response.

I am working on a sampling "partnership" with an exceptional photographer and I hope it will work out. I do not have time to take good photos nor do I own a good camera. Let's see. I need inspiration. I enjoy collaboration.

The new work would involve weeds or plants or fields or old walls and nature, possibly some birds. Many of my favorite samples have include nature.

I want to work with large image files and be able to blow up large.

I am tiring of the BB shots in part since I have done them a lot, almost every work day commute, since maybe June. Need to take a break.

I had thought of using the BB shots for samples but the quality is not there not sharp enough. We shall see.

Create. As they sang in the play Rent, "The opposite of war is not peace, it is creation."

2009-12-16T06:31:00.001-05:00

Tuesday morning in Penn and E train platform.

Regarding quilts it is clear I need to sample, but what is less certain, and I am exploring options.

Thanks for your kind words and support.

2009-12-15T06:59:00.002-05:00

"once.dreamnt.water.falls"

Another fashion blog sampling - I have written and asked the blog owner for permission to use some of her images. The photographs are taken in northern Europe and are quite sophisticated and striking.

Like some art blogs some fashion blogs are mundane. A few transcend the subject matter and celebrate life through joy and creation and beauty.

There is a difference between something, or someone, being pretty and being beautiful. Beauty has a depth and a passion. It is less ephemeral. There is integrity.

Earlier draft. If I get permission, I will link the blog.

2009-12-14T06:45:00.006-05:00

Penn Station last Thursday. "I saw her standing there."

2009-12-13T07:04:00.004-05:00

"in.september"

Sampled here, a remarkable picture of an ovenbird warbler lost in migration in New York. The blogger was wearing a remarkable blouse and yes the post does capture the spirit of snow white. This must be a first year bird being so tame and because you cannot see the head stripe.

Ovenbirds are relatively common ground dwelling warblers, small insect eating songbirds - many admired for their stunning colors. Warblers are my favorite birds - I have seen more than twenty species on a good Spring migration day in Central Park.

Ovenbirds have a most remarkable loud song that is cheery - "tea-cher, tea-cher, tea-cher." They are called ovenbirds because they build a nest on the ground that kind of looks alike an outdoor domed oven. Sexes are similar. Most migrate to Central America - I have seen a few in South Florida in winter.

The blogger, Audrey, who found this bird likes to bake - so an ovenbird seems like an appropriate find. I will ask Audrey permission to use her images - if it not granted, the post will be removed.

Man, it is cold here. Should I brave the outdoors and put up Christmas lights?

2009-12-12T07:40:00.005-05:00

"in.fall.sans"

Sampled from another "fashion" blog, this one is from Estonia (I have lost the link, temporarily). I will ask permission to sample - this image has little reference to the subject, mostly the landscape, the mood and inspiration.

It is truly cold here - yesterday morning it was nine degrees Fahrenheit (with the wind chill) and the lovely and efficient Long Island Railroad ran forty five minutes late so we all stood there on a platform forever since the flashing sign said it was only nine minutes delayed. Not many BBs were taken in the mad rush to get to work, cold.

Over the past few years I have noticed more than a few businessmen who wear few layers in winter. They must expect public transportation to work efficiently since they go to work in New York in December without a coat. Yesterday was a sweet spank to those so haughty. For me, the problem was my legs - they were cold all day.

Well enough complaining - let's complain about those who complain in July about the heat and the humidity. There is nothing as beautiful as a summer day.

2009-12-10T17:12:00.005-05:00

"in.silence.the.first.snow"

A world created by a long steady heavy snowfall - at a moment when the winds have died, cars are parked, and people are huddled. It is nightfall.

Maybe one star peeks out from a sky laden with billowy clouds.

2009-12-10T06:59:00.014-05:00

Wednesday's commute - morning and night - all Penn except one photo form the walk from a midtown pub to Penn Station. Macy's is in the background, but you have eyes.

The photo with the Christams tree is of a homeless man on the Amtrak level.

2009-12-08T23:15:00.003-05:00

'tsu.nami"

"with.glee"

Two studies - one from a BB photo of the Bellmore station train platform, the other with whisps of Japan and Nashville.

2009-12-07T22:54:00.003-05:00

"of.violets"

detail

Caroline of COSMICaroline has a very well received blog that focuses on fashion, music, lifestyle and art. Most of the images are taken by close friend and band mate. The blog has a gentle and open and reminds me of my youth in San Francisco; she lives near Nashville. Please check out her blog.

Caroline has been gracious to allow me to sample selected images from her blog - a small version of one and a full size detail is posted here. She maintains rights to her images, all were borrowed with approval.

I am moving back towards making quilts again. I am exploring work similar to what I began this blog with - now with a better skill set and tools.

2009-12-07T06:44:00.004-05:00

Friday's commute, starting at Penn Station, subway platform on Fifth Avenue, then nighttime at Fifth Avenue, Penn and finally the Long Island Railroad train, almost home.

Good images sometimes come in streaks - part of it is being in a "receptive mental zone," but also the quality of light in some locations impacts the quality of the images. More and more I find it hard to get a good picture on Penn Station south bound subway platform. Neon glare. Been there, done that.

I keep photographing in Penn. Sometimes there is exploration and newer areas and sometimes it feels it is repetitive being already explored areas, such as the staircases leading up to Amtrak. Other areas in Penn have horrid light levels, either too low or very flat such as on the Amtrak level.

I am leaning to going back to doing more quilts. We will see, permissions to use images and all.

Thank you for your visits and your comments. All my best.

2009-12-06T08:07:00.003-05:00

"once.colder"

Further manipulation of prior post. This is a study for something else I an working on.

Finally much colder here - freezing and you can feel the season.

2009-12-05T17:59:00.006-05:00

"october.morning"

I used two BB images to make a quilt here. We are trying to get into the holiday spirit - putting up garlands, we baked some sugar cookies and both Alex and Greg played Christmas songs on their string basses. We also played very loud Springsteen's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" from the 1978 Winterland bootleg.

Rained today so we could not put up the Christmas lights outside.

2009-12-04T07:18:00.009-05:00

Thursday Penn, morn and night. I am taking fewer photos on the train an don the subways. Seems for now I have fewer new visions. In art is it easy to get better at making decent pictures out of the bad - more technique than magic.

I miss the magic.

I miss the flag at Penn. Hanging wreaths have minimal symbolism and there was something glorious about that flag in the back. I enjoy the holidays - just miss my flag and sun dresses.

Seems like a take a pic of every red coat that goes by. Should have had my BB during the revolutionary war....

The subject that I used in a recent quilt liked my art and featured it on her blog. I will sample her images on occasion. Thanks, Caroline.

Well, it is Friday. Hope you are all well and creative. All my best.

2009-12-03T06:38:00.011-05:00

Mostly morning Penn, subway and and closing with an image of a passenger near the train door as we approach Bellmore on the LIRR.

2009-12-02T06:33:00.002-05:00

Tuesday commute - I am exploring working with harsher light and in less well lit areas at Penn.

Yesterday when leaving the house for the train we had a yellow bellied sapsucker in a tree near the car low. It was a beautiful male and a great start to the commute.

Hump day - I think they light the Rockefeller tree tonight, a few blocks form my office. Zoo setting.

2009-12-01T07:29:00.008-05:00

Penn, subway - Monday morning. So it is December. No more sun dresses to photograph - too many dark coats and dark pants and hats. I did see a guy in just a business suit this morning on the train platform braving thirty eight degrees with a subtle north breeze.

Wind.chill. Down.hill. Be good.

2009-11-30T11:10:00.000-05:00

"curt.ains"

Sampled sheet on a clothesline.

2009-11-29T07:18:00.010-05:00

"for.a.day"

I have been working on quilts again - for those who have followed my blog, or looked at the older posts, you will see that this blog originated with my exploring the use of MS Paint and that I sampled then the images of a struggling Broadway actress/dancer who I had met three or more years ago. It was an artistic relationship. We met a few times to discuss posing and for plans to do a show, and to show her the sampled her photographs and painted on C prints. Less than a year later we parted ways since she moved to California.

The original plan was to do a show that combined sampling and painting on her her and then creating another set where we worked together creating the images which I would then quilt and paint. In the end I am thankful for the experience since the plan and process pushed me to start creating art after a long absence.

Recently I got permission to use the images of another blogger, but I have just determined she is under aged. I had previously believed she was in college based on content of her blog and appearance. I will not use her images again and have removed others, such as the prior post.

The candids BB photos in this blog have confronted for me issues of privacy. I seldom have photographed children. The few underage candids that I have taken, I will not post. I do think children deserve a heightened degree of privacy.

Nothing here is meant to be improper or seedy.

The image today is sampled without permission from a fashion blog and features a Halloween costume. The subject is in college and sings in a rock band and also models vintage clothes in Tennessee. Her blog is artistic, her fashion is creative and it definitively has a Sixties sensibility. I will link sometime if I get approval.

I think I will ask for permission to use her images.

Last day of a four day weekend. My best.

2009-11-27T06:42:00.004-05:00

Wednesday's commute - all taken in the morning, but for the last one which was taken as I went down into the subway.

2009-11-26T06:29:00.003-05:00

"cupid.left.feathers.flew.turkey.love"

Sampled from Mick's October 20, 2009 image - "Cupid's Reliable Map."

In a day of reflection and gratitude, I want to let you know how much I appreciate your comments, your art, your inspiration. I am glad we have met and that we share our passion. A warm embrace all around the world, as we prepare for the holidays and for another year to end. My best.

Happy Thanksgiving. Breathe peace,

2009-11-25T06:25:00.003-05:00

I was able to take very few pictures yesterday, but I am happy with the painterly quality of this set. Pictures up top and the last are on LIRR train, going west then east. Otherwise one at Penn, one on Penn platform, and one climbing 5th Av. stairs.

It's the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Wishing you all my best.

2009-11-23T06:52:00.003-05:00

Last Thursday - Penn, West 53rd, MoMA, Penn again, LIRR Station platforms at Merrick and Bellmore.

The Monday before Thanksgiving with many people will be taking the week off, I suspect.

We did not get HBO or extra cable channels until the last year when we bought a high definition TV last Christmas. An odd thing is the cable companies show Christmas movies all year. I avoided watching any Christmas movie in the summer. And the fall.

Soon I might succumb.

Another irony is that I got a HD TV about the same time I became intrigued by a low definition camera.