Posts Tagged ‘photography’
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30 Day Photography Challenge: Day 5 & 6 – High & Low
1I’m a little behind, so I’m putting Day 5 and 6 of White Peach Photography‘s 30 Day Photo Challenge into the same post. Both photos were inspired by my children’s music practice this morning, so I guess that they kind of work together anyway.
Day 5 – High Angle
High Angle - Piano Practice
Day 6 – Low Angle
Low Angle - Saxophone Practice
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30 Day Photography Challenge: Day 4 Green
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Green Tea
Trying to think outside the square to compensate for my lack of technical know-how with the photos I am taking. For today’s 30 Day Photography Challenge, I have photographed my cup of green tea - Japanese Cherry tea from The Tea Centre with green tea, cherry pieces and rose petals to be precise.
I quite liked this photo as well, although the focus needed to be a little bit sharper for it to be a good shot.
Green Tea 2
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30 Day Photography Challenge: Day 3 Clouds
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I’m going to cheat a little for my Day 3 entry for White Peach Photography’s 30 Day Photography Challenge. These photos were actually taken a couple fo weeks ago rather than today. We had taken the kids to ride their bikes along the bike path near Lake Macquarie. Fortunately I had my camera with me to take a shot of the clouds which seemed to be focusing in on a point on the other side of the Lake.
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30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 2 Worn Today
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Green Eggs and Ham anyone?
Today I am feeling a little Seussical – that’s a lot like whimsical, but funnier and with better illustrations.
This is my Day 2 photo for the 30 Day Photo Challenge hosted by White Peach Photography.
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30 Day Photography Challenge: Day 1 Self-Portrait
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Day 1: Self-Portrait. No make-up, tired, vaguely stressed, Mad Woman of Chaillot hairstyle - yep, that's me.
I haven’t been very good at prioritising things over the past few years. Photography has been one of many interests unceremoniously put aside as I fell victim to chronic disorganisation and low energy levels.
As part of my efforts to get my life back on track (which I will be writing about at my new blog Living Upside Down), I am hoping to rekindle my love of photography. I need to dust off my SLR and start looking at the world with a photographer’s eye once again, rather than simply taking happy snaps and being pleasantly surprised when I get a really good shot.
My discovery of White Peach Photography’s 30 Day Photography Challenge this morning (via posts by Megan at Writing Out Loud, Chantelle at Fat Mum Slim, Nikki at Styling You, and Zoey at Good Googs) was serendipitous.
I’m looking forward to taking part and taking at least one photo with purpose each day. I’ll post the photo here each day with a brief description/explanation if needed. I’m much more likely to complete the challenge if I keep it as simple as possible.
The Challenge
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The Ghosts of Fashion Past
1Inspired by this recent Retro-styled post by Meredith at Oh, The Thinks you can Think about her childhood fashion faux pas, I have searched through my photos to see what I could come up with. It was the 70s, so the chances of finding something truly atrocious were reasonably high.
I was actually searching for a specific photo. This is the photo that I will be keeping in mind when my mother is old and feeble and I am responsible for choosing her clothing, which will probably be something in loud, floral-print polyester. If you’re reading this Mum, I want you to remember that when you’re trying to work out why you are wearing bright red slacks with an orange and pink print blouse. It’s called karma.
So, here it is. Apologies for the dodgy photography. We’ll blame the 70s for that, as we can for so many other things.
This stylish chocolate brown and gold-striped vest and trouser ensemble was made by my grandmother. The vests were actually satin-lined. My grandmother was obviously having a moment when she chose the material, but otherwise the clothing was beautifully made. I guess I can’t blame my mother for the outfits, since it was her mother-in-law who actually made them. I guess I’ll just have to blame her for the red sandals with white socks that I am wearing with the brown and gold suit. *shudder*
As proof of my grandmothers’ talent, let me show you Exhibit B, a photo of myself and my sister. The blue crocheted dress worn by my sister was made by one grandmother and the pink and maroon knitted dress I am wearing was made by the other. I think both look quite cute.
I’ve enjoyed searching through the old photos to find these gems. I’ll have to some more in the future, as there are some wonderful (and when I say ‘wonderful’, I mean ‘truly hideous’) fashion moments to share.
Since Meredith closed with an image of her father in what I can only hope and pray is fancy dress (nice fishnets Mr G), I will finish this post with a photo of an undisclosed male senior family member (not my father) who is also hopefully in fancy dress.
Do you have some appalling fashions from your childhood to share? Please join in the fun and blog about it then leave a link here and at Oh, the Thinks you can Think so that we can share the scary fashion love. 
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Book Review – Railway Portraits by Robert and Bruce Wheatley
1Title: Railway Portraits
Author: Robert Wheatley and Bruce Wheatley
Publisher: WriteLight, 2006 (112 pages)
ISBN: 0-9752450-6-6
Topic: Steam Engines + Australian Railroad History
One of the highlights of our recent excursion to Hunter Valley Steam Fest at Maitland was meeting Robert and Bruce Wheatley and purchasing a signed copy of their book Railway Portraits.
More than a book about steam engines, this collection of black and white photographs captures the spirit of the age of steam.
I am by no stretch of the imagination a railway enthusiast, but even I find the photographs in Railway Portraits fascinating. They are more than snapshots of trains and stations and they are more than a record of social and technological change and advancement.
For me, these photographs are intrinsically artistic, capturing not only moments in time but also preserving a glimpse of what makes the Age of Steam so fascinating for so many. What makes the artistic beauty of the shots even more remarkable is the age of the photographers, just 13 and 16, when their passion for steam engines and railways first led them to capture images of the railway life and “essence of the steam locomotive”.
Photographs span the years 1964 to 1979 and include images capturing the everyday life of railway workers driving and maintaining the engines. There are images of couplings, backplates, fittings and even the Goulburn North signal box cat (taken in 1978). My favourites are the two photographs of young children hanging over picket fences to gaze with fascination at a passing train.
Robert and Bruce mentioned another project soon to be completed and I admit that I can’t wait to see what other treasures their passion for steam engines and photography might produce. Watch this space for more details.
Visit Suite101.com to read a more detailed review of Railway Portraits.
