Good one?
I give up. Currently, I cannot cull, edit, and choose a single image from among the myriad of good ones I have in my collection. So, I cheat. I use a gallery and sneak in multiple images, sometimes, even “repeats.” How else can I share the fun? Every time I see the flower with the “tongue” I think of the Rolling Stones. Water, it’s a universal favorite. No matter, it’s all good and keeps getting better… well, at least it’s always changing.
A few
Way back in the beginning… back in 2011, I started this blog. It was free. Free is for me! I’m not selling anything. No $ either way, in either direction. Not true, I pay a fee for extra memory (on the site) nowadays. There are ads, a few, not my doing, not mine (ads). Essentially, free. Followers, a lot of commercial WordPress sites these days, fishing for business. Followers, a few, to whom I imparted the blog address. There are few enough followers who have found me from around the world. But indeed, there have been visitors from around the world. Ah, the power of the internet! I do not seek fame. I merely share thoughts and photos. I’m better than average and less than great. I am not the best in my family but better than most. My own kids have produced 5 star pics on their iPhones! It’s not common, so, the body of my work is technically better. But, then art was never about quantity. Quality can show up in a single image. Colleen’s kids – Emma has more photography experience. But, even Jess and Ian have shown that even a blind squirrel gets a nut once in a while. Even though I take great shots, it’s just not every day. But every day, I take shots.
Photographic memory
The inbox is full. I anchor memories to pictures. Or, is the converse positive? I spin the photo catalog and randomly land upon an image. What? Huh? A couple shots to the right or to the left….aha! Now I remember! It’s funny that way. Colleen has much more difficulty. We were… somewhere, and then I show her the picture and it becomes fact. It’s not a clear memory. But for me, much of what I remember is from images. Or, is it the converse? The trigger? It was the Christmas tree advent calendar in the middle top. I remember Colleen admired it. We even went and bought felt to make one ourselves… we still have pieces of felt around the house.
Nuts
I Photoshop… because, I can. Don’t you wish you could too? We have fun. It’s always about fun. And we have plenty. This the part of the collection from our Maine trip. It’s not our first time. Humor? Irreverence? Who knows? We laugh a lot. Colleen thinks I’m nuts. She’s not alone. But, she is tolerant. And, so, we laugh some more.
Art – again
We’re at it again. Art! It started with a snide comment about museums from a family member. We don’t see art. (Literally? Figuratively? It’s an oil on water kind of thing. Ooooo, there’s a pun?!) They see more. And it’s much better art (that they see). Snide? Unintentional? Our museum is quite tolerant. Don’t touch. Otherwise, do as you will. So, I jumped. Collen was beside herself. Again. And we had a wee bit of fun.
I say that I cannot draw, nor paint – well, I can paint a house. But, art? We can do art. It’s fun! …. sometimes, a bit better than just looking.
More Art
Salvador Dali: A weird guy/artist who loved publicity and attention. There was an exhibition of his work in our local museum. Nowadays I am less reverent. We view art. We do art. It’s fun. We have fun. Well, at least, I do. Colleen goes along. It’s easier on her. And, yes, I am shameless. We are usually alone in this particular museum. I get to stage my shots. Dali would be proud? Alas, I am not as weird as I would like to be, despite Colleen’s protest to the contrary. Dali was strange. I am merely a pretender.
It’s still art
You go to the museum during the pandemic. There are new rules. You may not (ever) touch the art! We need an appointment. Wear a mask. How do they really know it’s us? Ah, well, we are still having fun. It’s “still” art. Colleen’s a good sport. My sense of humor is unabated.
Art
It’s interactive. It’s easy. You go to a museum. You get inspired. You make art. Example: Fans – Guggenheim Museum, New York City circa 2014. The beach hotel shower served as inspiration ala the Gugg. We weren’t done. Portland circa 2018, ala Star Trek, open fifth. Okay open seventh, but that’s a musical term. Once more I ask you, “WTF, a set of floor fans is worthy of exhibit at the Guggenheim.” I must be outta my head. Sorry, I can’t be. I am/was a neurosurgeon. Damn!
Art
I’m messin’ with cha. In follow up to my museum musing, I saw Dave’s painting on my wall. It would not be out of keeping in a museum. …’cause I don’t know how to be an art critic. It’s my kid’s work. Kid proud! But! He’s got talent. I’m not kidding. There is that subtle, ” je ne sais quoi.” No denying it. The other, modern art. A bunch of fake flowers juxtaposed with a wall remote. Oh yeah! If you print and frame it, someone will love it.
Museum fever
Colleen adores museums. Me? I’m mixed. And with my sense of humor… Diane speaks of museums like trophies… the pictures (art), she has seen..nauseating. I consider it art snobbery… like name dropping. !!! You don’t do that to a (former) New Yorker. It’s fodder to mine a rich vein of humor.
How? Sometimes, I just make her pose. It’s a testament to Colleen’s good humor.
Sometimes we Photoshop. Yes, I do have some talent. Unfortunately, My sense of humor is cracked, somewhat.
And, Colleen has been a willing participant. Well, maybe she humors me. … maybe, unwillingly.
What do I say? We like to laugh. We have a good time. I go to museums to humor her. I am humored by the peace and quiet. Quiet? Contemplation? Nourishment for the mind and soul? It’s perfect. We are so well matched.
So much art
So little time…
It’s about fun. Eh?
‘cause sometimes it ain’t art
MOM
Cat in front of a dresser. It’s a graphic photo. Interesting. Museum of Modern Art quality. For me it was striking. Elle was kind enough to pose for me. Sure. Right?! But I got this picture. No post process. Out of the box. I think it’s worthy. Some of the no talent stuff we have seen, I’m equal to their talent on some days. Bored? Did they… or was I? Obtuse? … you wanna copy?
Inspired &… reflected
The skirt does not do this young lady justice. We awaited the lecture to start. This poor gal could not get the overhead projector to project. Oh well, been there, done that. Tech, media, it always fails when you need it – right now! Anyway, see the reflection. She was standing perfectly. I used this to get Colleen into position later.
Hero
We all have heroes. I have had mine in neurosurgery. I even got a picture with a few of them. It’s flattering (to them) and it’s neat for me. Colleen has had the same inspiration to get shots with a few people we meet. She’s shy. So, I have to sort of maneuver. Voila! And, afterward I used the tour of the gallery to inspire me as I utilized the reflections for my own shots. I have no particular interest in recreating the technical excellence of these original works. I certainly appreciate the work and the thought. But my photography is entirely in a different direction.
History
I think of history as old and ancient – time. Colleen and I have been together a few short years. Yet…. all the ornaments I had went with Lisa. Colleen brought some and we acquired a few (lot), just like we acquired a few (four) more cats. As you see, we get a lot of help. That would be Nutley (aptly named).
Santa? A friend collected them. I never paid much attention. Colleen got an interest. And off we went. When we visited Winterthur, it seems that Mr. Dupont collected Santas too. How’d we compare? Not too bad. My hat’s off to Colleen’s sharp eye. I may find them but she’s the one with final approval. Honestly, I am impressed with how quickly our collection has accumulated in such a short span. Call it, making up for lost time. Mr. Dupont’s Santas are to the left.
Willow Tea
Who knew? Cranston – Stuart and Catherine. They invented it. He thought of it; she ran with it as his biggest competitor. A famous architect of the time designed her Willow Tea shop. It’s all retold in the Kelvin Grove museum. And! We had a reservation that very afternoon. How neatly serendipitous is that! Really! The décor was as it was shown in the museum right down to the distinct high-backed chairs. My research assistant (wife) outdid herself this time, for sure! Chuckle, I was tickled pink!
Scene this?
California. Museum. Boredom. Sometimes there is enough art, too much. I need to do some. So, I got the nearest willing subject and made her walk the museum for me. And then I made a composite. More fun. There are many ways to have fun in a museum. Aren’t there?
Weary
We were in the museum and I sat to wait. I contemplated. And, I photographed. Me, you, and the mirror reflection. Fun! And, then ala Andreas Feininger, I paid homage to an image that stuck in my memory. Are there new photos or are there copies of something previously done? Either way, we had fun while I waited and rested.
After a while, it felt like we were in a photo booth. Well, no, but it was fun anyway.
Art?!
No! Well, sometimes it ain’t art. Well, no, someone loves it enough to hang it in the museum. My stuff’s not hanging. So, it’s art- there’s. But not to me. Are you following along here? ‘cause as far as I can judge, there’s no skill to slapping up random shapes of color. It just fails to “call” to me. Obviously, someone thinks this is important. And, I see “emperor’s new clothes.” So, make the “piece” your own.
Art
We’re at it again. Think Salvador Dali and the flying cats – Philippe Halsman. I don’t remotely pretend to greatness. But once in a while inspiration strikes. Art. I was already warned to never – ever – consider tossing my cats into a picture. Ever! Meanwhile we did this poorly lit moody picture. As a critic might comment, it was to enhance the moment and add mystery. None of that… it was just dark in the museum and I was too lazy to do any more.
Side by side
This is pretty easy to do, for me. Why not? It was an unexpected fun interlude in St Michael’s. We wandered in via a back street. A few hundred yards further on the road was a giant parking lot. We dropped in and spent the day. Fun! Right or left?
Cubist
I could be wrong. But she reminds me of Picasso. Compliment? Sure! I’m probably wrong. But the artist recalls cubism. It’s not my cup of tea. But, I can appreciate the talent.
Sometimes it ain’t art…
So much art, so little time. It’s about fun, right? ‘cause sometimes it ain’t art.
Do you need an explanation? Or, do you get it? Explanation? Is art fun? Serious? Did you ever have the sneakin’ feelin’ the artist is havin’ a laugh on you? On me? Someone actually bought this to hang on a wall. Some walls are better than others. I wish I could do art like this…
Soup
Iconic! We saw it! Andy Warhol, remember him? He painted a soup can and gained fame for it. He was the first to think of it. At the very least he was the first to execute the work and call it art. We were there. It’s about as iconic as standing before the Mona Lisa. Not the same, but nonetheless, it’s famous. I did not expect to see it nor to find it. But there! This was not on my bucket list. But we stumbled upon it. No one else in the museum was the least bit excited. It’s kind of like meeting the Beatles. Who?
Random
Washington is full of museums and official buildings of significance. There’s no way to know what’s what or all the names of places while wandering in a single day. Photo ops abound. There is plenty to see and to admire. The museums are free. Well, tax dollars paid for most of it. Why are they all in Washington? Or, is it like the Catholic church? All roads lead to Rome?
